Instructions for Playing Nintendo DS Games

If you are new to the portable gaming system, you may be in search of some good instructions for playing Nintendo DS games. After all, enjoying some of the fun titles on the DS is quite a different experience than waving the remote around with the Nintendo Wii or partaking in World of Warcraft on the PC.

Before we dive into the more specific instructions for playing Nintendo DS games, consider how a Nintendo DS works. The differences between the original Nintendo DS (sometimes called the DS Phat) and the newer Nintendo DS Lite are fairly subtle, so the gameplay experience hasn't changed all that much.

Opening the clamshell design of the DS, you'll find the familiar directional pad on the left side. This is functionally identical to the directional pad that you may have already used on the original NES or many subsequent home consoles. On the right side are the four face buttons: A, B, X, and Y. These perform different actions in different games. There are also two trigger buttons, L and R, located near the top of the DS, flanking the DS card slot on either side.

What makes the Nintendo DS unique is that it happens to boast dual screens, hence the DS moniker. The upper display is fairly conventional, but the lower display is a touchscreen. Using the provided stylus, you can interact with this touchscreen in fun and innovative ways.

Now that you understand the basics, we can take a deeper look into instructions for playing Nintendo DS games.

As you might suspect, different titles on the portable gaming system will come with a different set of instructions. Whether you are a novice or a seasoned pro, it is usually a good idea to read through the provided instruction manual for each game before starting. However, more experienced players may find this step unnecessary.

To give you a sense of how the different games operate, here are brief overviews for three of the most popular titles.

In terms of instructions for playing Nintendo DS games, one of the best examples of what the portable console can do is Animal Crossing: Wild World. This simulation title is a great entry point for those new to the DS and DS Lite, because it offers both main types of gaming.

On the one hand, Wild World can be largely enjoyed using conventional controls. The on-screen character can be moved using the directional pad and the main actions can be performed using the face buttons. On the other hand, the on-screen character can also be moved using the stylus on the touchscreen. The character will run in the direction you tap. Similarly, items on the screen can be selected either with the touchscreen or with the d-pad and face buttons.

For a slightly different take on the conventional video game, look no further than Brain Age, an educational title that is meant to stimulate the brains of adults and seniors. Instead of holding the DS so that one screen is above the other, Brain Age gets the player to hold the DS sideways, as if holding a book.

The instructions for playing the various activities are usually displayed on the left (top) screen, whereas input is largely made through the right (bottom) touchscreen. There are also some activities that require vocal input using the microphone located in the center of the DS. For some strange reason, Brain Age better understands "brew" as "blue." rather than "blue" as "blue." Go figure.

Racing fans can always get a kick out of Mario Kart games and Mario Kart DS is no exception. In terms of instructions for playing Nintendo DS games, this title is about as conventional as it gets. You steer with the directional pad, give gas with the button, and brake with the B button. Hopping (and drifting) is performed with the R trigger, while weapon deployment is performed with the L trigger.

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