Finally, we come to the last list, my anticipated games of 2009 for the Nintendo DS.  And quite a long list it is.  This year is shaping up to be a good one for the little dual screen handheld.

Avalon Code
RPG with real time combat.  Interesting premise: rather than saving the world, your job is to write down in a magic tome what is worth saving so it can be recreated.  From the people that developed the DS version of Final Fantasy IV, so you know the devs have the chops.

Blood of Bahamut
Square Enix action RPG game with 4-player local coop mode.  No US release confirmed… yet.

Blue Dragon Plus
Tactical RPG based on the Blue Dragon series.  I’m typically not into this genre of game, but the series is interesting, so it might pull me in.

Dragon Quest V: Hand of the Heavenly Bride
Made an remade in Japan, DQ V finally comes to North America for the first time.  It uses the same engine as the DS remake of DQ IV.  If you can only play one RPG this you, well that sucks, because you’d have to choose between this and Ys.

Dragon Quest IX: Protectors of the Starry Sky
The ninth installment in the Dragon Quest series and the first to be released as a handheld title only.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Echoes of Time
May be THE version to get, considering the Wii version will look horrible. But the gameplay, based on Ring of Fates, makes it a promising title.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon
A different take on the Fire Emblem series, with head to head local or online functionality. Another tactical turn-based RPG… gonna keep my eye on this one.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
GTA done properly on the DS. An advanced top-down view 3D, M-rated game.  Looks like a blast!

Infinite Space
Space strategy RPG based on the novella Childhood’s End by Arthur C. Clarke. Customize over 150 ships and explore the galaxy.  3D space battles.  Sort of reminds me of Elite without the trading.

Legacy of Ys: Books I & II
Upgraded old skoool goodness. If you never played Ys, now’s your chance.

Lux-Pain
Graphical text adventure (ala Phoenix Wright) with the premise of seeking out, destroying, and even autopsying mind controlling worms!

Mario & Luigi RPG 3
There’s no reason to believe the 3rd installment won’t be as good as the first two.  Features the traditional battle system from previous games, plus the ability to play Bowser, where you turn the DS sideways like a book.

Miles Edgeworth: Perfect Prosecutor
Spin-off of the Ace Attorney series, supposedly with a more point-and-click adventure game feel.

My World, My Way
“An off the wall story of a spoiled princess who becomes an adventurer.”  Innovative RPG and a parody on the genre.  Fanboys might pass by this by the “girlie” look and feel, and miss out on the power of whining!

Overlord Minions
Control 4 minions with your stylus to fight or solve puzzles.  Looks promising.

Professor Layton and the Devil’s Box
Sequel to Professor Layton and the Curious Village.  I really need to get around to playing that!

Retro Game Challenge
Compilation of clones of famous 80’s games.  Complete challenges to unlock more.  Based on the Japanese TV show Retro Game Master.

Sands of Destruction
Written by Chrono series writer Masato Kato, you set out to save… errr, I mean, destroy the world! Sweet!  3D rotatable camera and turn based fighting.

Suikoden: Tierkreis
Shares a lot of traits for its console big brother, like a good plot and multiple playable characters (yes, 108 of them).

Valkyrie Profile: Covenant of the Plume
The third in the Valkyrie Profile series and the first VP game from Square Enix on the DS platform.  Yet another tactical RPG!

So that’s the end of the lists for 2009.  What will you be playing??

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