I thought I would illuminate just how great this Summer will be for our precious little two screened engine that could. I'll break this down by release date so you fine folks can start saving your pennies. The DS will break your bank account this Summer. Begin!

Summon Night: Twin Age
June 3rd 2008
Developer: Banpresto
Publisher: Atlus

   

In this fully stylus-driven action RPG set in the popular Summon Night universe, your DS is the key to the world of Clardona, whether as your swinging sword or your shimmering wall of fire. From a very young age, the human girl Reiha displayed great aptitude for the magical art of Summoning. While still a child, her powers caused a terrible accident during a major Summoning experiment. It was reported that Reiha had died as result, but she survived, along with a young Summon Beast named Aldo that had been pulled into her world...

Following the accident, the two children grew up together as brother and sister on the tropical island of Jarazi, among a race of people with beast-like features. There they learned to commune with the Nature Spirits that surrounded them. One day, the Spirits began acting strangely, prompting Reiha and Aldo to investigate. Their quest to find out who or what is behind the corruption of the Spirits will lead them back to the human lands where the cataclysm first brought them together...

 

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles
June 10th 2008
Developer: ARC System Works
Publisher: Aksys Games

 

  

Jake Hunter: Detective Chronicles is an interactive digital novel that follows the adventures of Jake Hunter as he attempts to solve three different crimes. Players must hone their detective skills by by interviewing witnesses, uncovering clues, and following leads, all to uncover the truth.

 

Arkanoid DS
June 17th 2008
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Square Enix

   

 

The classic arcade game comes to the DS and is packed with all new features. Explore three game modes that offer varied gameplay, decorate the game with colorful designs by trading points gained through gameplay for fun backgrounds and icons, and rock to an irresistible soundtrack produced by Zuntata, TAITO’s award-winning sound team.

 

Etrian Odyssey II: Heroes of Lagaard
June 17th 2008
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus

 

   

In the Grand Duchy of High Lagaard, it is said that the Duke is descended from inhabitants of a castle in the sky. When an unforeseen crisis befalls the nation, it is decreed that the first explorer to retrieve the Grail of Kings from that mythical floating palace will be rewarded with wealth and fame beyond imagining. Enter the central city of Lagaard and begin your journey to the clouds!

Space Invaders Extreme
June 17th 2008
Developer: Taito
Publisher: Square Enix

   

A "cool" and "extreme" (according to the game makers) version of the classic space shooter. Blast the aliens before they reach the bottom of the screen and attack your firing base. This "Extreme" entry in the series features wild new lighting and graphic effects to give the game a trippy look. The DS version also allows for a DS Paddle Controller (plugged into the GBA slot) to give simple and accurate analog control.

 

Wacky Races: Crash and Dash
June 17th 2008
Developer: Farmind
Publisher: Eidos Interactive

 

   

Players join Dick Dastardly and the gang, racing across a variety of action-packed and colorful cross-country rallies from the TV series. Racers watch out for traps and speed ahead to win the ultimate title of World’s Wackiest Racer! Wacky Widgets are collected during the race to gain “Wacky Powers,” as well as a character’s super-special “Way Out Wacky” power, which can be used to gain the upper hand over sly opponents.

 

Guitar Hero: On Tour
June 22nd 2008
Developer: Vicarious Visions
Publisher: RedOctane

 

   

Your jock will be rocked with the first DS entry in Red Octane's music series for guitar gods. This portable version features the same rhythm-based "play to the music" gameplay of console game, and will even have its own peripheral to get the job done: Red Octane has developed what it's calling the Guitar Grip to give players the ability to finger chords in similar fashion as the console version's guitar peripheral. Guitar Hero: On Tour will contain a wealth of licensed songs from bands as Nirvana, OK Go, and No Doubt, allowing gamers to rock out to tunes by some of their own guitar heroes. Players will be able to pick from six different guitarists to represent them in-game, with secret venues and outfits to unlock. And in addition to a full Career Mode, the game also has co-op or competitive two-player play, including special "On Tour" challenges exclusive to the DS game (with power-ups that will send opponents into a frenzied touchscreen autograph session or set their pyrotechnics display to go haywire and require players to blow out the fire.)

Final Fantasy Tactics A2: Grimoire of the Rift
June 24th 2008
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

   

School is out for the summer, but mischievous Luso Clemens must first face detention to make up for his misbehavior. Alone in the library, he stumbles upon an ancient book with magical powers that summons him to the mystical land of Ivalice. Warped into the middle of a battlefield, Luso joins Cid and his clan to set off on an adventurous journey looking for a way home.

Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Ninja and Mega Man Star Force 2: Zerker X Saurian
June 24th 2008
Developer: Capcom Production Studio 2
Publisher: Capcom

   

Geo Stelar and crew return to battle a whole host of UMA's (unidentified animated beings) and a new rival character appears named "Rogue." Amidst this new conflict, a mysterious organization emerges with plans to revive the ancient civilization of "Mu" by utilizing the force of an ancient heritage "OOPArt." It's up to Geo and his virus-busting buddy, Omega-Xis, to thwart this latest threat.

 

Soul Bubbles
July 1st 2008
Developer: Mekensleep
Publisher: Eidos Interactive

 

  

In Soul Bubbles the player controls a young shaman apprentice, who is entrusted with saving lost “souls” and guiding them to safety. He must protect these fragile beings from the hostile and dangerous world around them, and he does this by creating protective bubbles to keep the spirits safe.

Manipulate your bubbles by first drawing them, then deflating them, cutting them or joining them to other bubbles, filling them with water or gas; then escape traps, extinguish fires and avoid all the sticky or dangerous surfaces that will slow the bubbles down.

The game features 8 worlds, with over 40 levels to explore which will challenge the shaman in a variety of ways – and push the physics capabilities of the Nintendo DS to the max.

 

Trauma Center: Under the Knife 2
July 1st 2008
Developer: Atlus
Publisher: Atlus

 

   

The fast-paced medical action that made the handheld original a classic is back, along with all of your favorite Trauma Center characters. Dr. Derek Stiles and Nurse Angie Thompson faced humanity's greatest threat and triumphed. Now, in the aftermath, they find themselves in unknown territory, forced to deal with the disastrous consequences of the killer virus. Join them as they scramble to address questions left unanswered and put an end to the mystery behind the disease. With numerous enhancements, including new difficulty modes and new operations, handheld surgeons have a lot to be excited about.

 

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution
July 7th 2008
Developer: Firaxis
Publisher: 2K Games

 

  

Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution offers players a chance to experience the epic empire-building world of Civilization in an all new accessible, visually immersive, and action-packed world specifically designed for the console and handheld gamer. There are 16 civilizations to master and lead to victory, with an array of famous historical leaders to play as or compete against, and accessible maps and streamlined time scale for quicker games, intense combat, and constant action.

Final Fantasy IV
July 22nd 2008
Developer: Square Enix
Publisher: Square Enix

   

Seduced by the promised power of the Crystals, the kingdom of Baron begins employing unprovoked force to seize powerful crystals from peaceful nations. The dark knight Cecil – Lord Captain of Baron’s elite force, the Red Wings – is ordered by his king to obtain the Crystals, but soon begins to question the monarch's motives. Enraged, the king accuses him of disloyalty, strips Cecil of his command, and sends him off to slay a mysterious beast that lurks in the nearby Valley of Mist. Cecil embarks on a fateful journey that will bring trials, betrayals, friendship, loss and self-discovery. Can Cecil open his eyes and become the man of honor that he must be?

Now featuring full 3D graphics, fully-voiced dramatic cutscenes, and added content, Final Fantasy IV for DS is a must-play for those looking to jump into the best-selling RPG franchise in the world.

Gauntlet
July 22nd 2008
Developer: Backbone Entertainment
Publisher: Eidos Interactive

   

Gauntlet for the Nintendo DS is a feature rich game that includes some of the most memorable features of Gauntlet from the arcade with an updated look, additional attacks and powers, and a new Experience-based combat system. Players will encounter the challenges of 32 enemy types, including a cadre of completely original monsters as well as fan favourites such as Skeletons, Thief and even Death. Scattered throughout the maps players acquire amazing pickups to assist on their journey -- from Bait that attracts nearby monsters to the Glacier Freeze potion that temporarily freezes the hordes of enemies around them. Players must also seek out gold to increase their Fame levels and strengthen their projectile attacks.

Izuna 2: The Unemployed Ninja Returns
July 22nd 2008
Developer: Ninja Studio
Publisher: Atlus

   

Izuna and her gang are back -- and just in time for a wedding! Lured by the promise of free food (Why else would Izuna attend?), the festive event becomes a puzzling mystery when Izuna's sidekick Shino suddenly disappears, off in search of her long-lost sister. And making matters worse, the foreign gods have also arrived on Japanese soil, and they aren't very happy with the meddlesome, unemployed ninja. With disgruntled deities on the warpath, a sidekick to track down, and a missing sister out in the wild, it could all shape up to be one of Izuna's more exciting adventures. Sounds like a lot of work for a girl out of a job

 

New International Track & Field
July 22nd 2008
Developer: Sumo Digital
Publisher: Konami

 

   

New International Track and Field is a truly Olympian experience, with more than 20 athletic challenges to face, including the 100 meter dash, pole vault, high jump, archery and even throwing the javelin. As your athlete progresses in the game, it can be customized with new equipment, outfits, animations and other cool items. Each athlete also has a "Challenge Event" that will test player skills in unique and entertaining ways. New International Track and Field also incorporates a unique Voice Boost feature; using the microphone on the Nintendo DS, players can give their character a performance boost by cheering them on. The louder you are, the bigger the boost.

Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness
July 29th 2008
Developer: Natsume
Publisher: Natsume/Marvelous Interactive

   

Work with your friends to create a farm on a deserted island in this entry of the popular farming game. Choose from a male of female character and begin the game as you arrive on a island following a disaster at sea. Joining you is the old timer Tarou, his daughter Felena, and her two kids, Natalie and Eric. The island offers some hints that it may have been inhabited in the past, but it now seems to be deserted. Working with your fellow refugees, your first order of business is to create a farm. As you build up your farm, people who have an interest in the farming biz move on over to the island. These people open up shops and facilities, contributing to the island's development, and giving you new areas to explore and new people to speak with. You can also make friendly with members of the opposite sex, conversing regularly and giving presents with the ultimate goal of getting married.

 

Air Traffic Chaos
July 29th 2008
Developer: TBA
Publisher: Majesco

 

   

In Air Traffic Chaos, players use the Touch Screen to safely manage takeoffs, gate assignments and landings for all incoming and outgoing airport traffic for 14 different airlines in varying weather conditions. Outstanding performance will earn players 16 different merit badges, including Veteran ATC and ATC Legend. An in-depth tutorial teaches players the basics of managing the busy skies while three difficulty levels with five stages in each offer plenty of challenge. Players can also share their high scores with up to 7 friends while Rumble Pack support makes the experience more realistic for aspiring air traffic controllers.

August releases on Post 2 right below...

 

Continued...

 

Grid
August 1st 2008
Developer: Firebrand Games
Publisher: Codemasters

 

   

Grid is a true evolution for Codemasters' acclaimed racing series. Challenging players to become the number one race driver in a new world of exhilarating motorsport, Grid takes players on a tour like never before! Bringing a new world of motor sport to life, players will race at beautifully realized and diverse locations across three continents. In Europe, race prestige marques on the world's most famous circuits including Spa and the Nurburgring. In the U.S., compete in powerful muscle cars through the streets of San Francisco to Washington DC. Taking the race to Japan, experience the unique exhilaration of drift racing on the neon-lit streets of Shibuya and then compete in Touge events, downhill races that are just barely legal.

Exclusively for the Nintendo DS edition, Grid will feature the evolution of the critically acclaimed track editor, first seen in Race Driver: Create and Race. With over 60 individual pieces, the creation system offers near-limitless design options, including the ability to personalize trackside hoardings and billboards. Players will be able to craft complete championship circuits in detail or, using the simple Free-Draw tool, create and race within minutes.

Bangai-O Spirits
August 12th 2008
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: D3 Publisher

   

In this DS remake of the classic Bangai-O, you take the roles of Riki and Mami and strap into the powerful Bangai-O suit to undertake the task of catching criminals red-handed. Bangai-O Spirits provides gamers with shooter gameplay and punishing supermoves, along with strategic and tactical elements. The game also offers co-op, competitive multiplayerfor 1-4 players via local wireless, a powerful level editor tool which allows players to edit in-game levels or create new ones from scratch, and the revolutionary new ability to transfer data among DS systems through sound data transfer technology known as Sound Load.

 

Elebits 2
August 12th 2008
Developer: TBA
Publisher: Konami

 

(There are no images of this game yet.)

 

N+
August 12th 2008
Developer: Silverbirch Studios
Publisher: Atari

 

   

A minimalist and yet feature-packed puzzle/platform action game, N has you as greedy ninja driven for gold.

Commando: Steel Disaster
August 19th 2008
Developer: Mana Computer Software
Publisher: XS Games

   

As the gun-toting hero Storm, you must put an end to an evil organisation called Rattlesnake in this side-scrolling blast-a-thon. Of course, you get to do this with a range of heavy weaponry, with plenty of different weapons and pick-ups that each have its own attack method and power. Plus, some guns can be used to find secret items. Alongside the main action-packed adventure mode, there are a variety of touch screen mini-games.

 

Bleach: Dark Souls
August 26th 2008
Developer: Treasure
Publisher: SEGA

 

   

Bleach: Dark Souls delivers an authentic anime experience with non-stop action and swordplay. The game features an expanded cast of characters voiced by the actors from the anime series.

Developed by Treasure and localized for North America, Bleach: Dark Souls features a multitude of enhancements to Bleach: The Blade of Fate. These enhancements include multiplayer games with expanded personalization features, special Bankai moves, 30 new Spirit Cards, power-enhancing crystals, seven new gameplay modes, and over 40 playable characters including Rukia, Kon and hero Ichigo.

Time Hollow
August 29th 2008
Developer: Konami
Publisher: Konami

  

Time Hollow is an adventure game directed by Junko Kawano, whose previous titles include Rhapsodia, Genso Suikoden IV, and Shadow of Memories. The scenario is being written Takehiko Hata, a famous Japanese author.

You play as a high school student named Horo Tokio. The day before your 17th birthday, your dad tells you that he has something important to tell you, the next day. That night, you see a dream. In the dream, you're a child and you're surrounded by fire, and your parents disappear. You wake up and the world has changed so that your parents actually disappered 12 years ago, and you also come into posession of a mysterious item called the Hollow Pen. This allows you to open holes into the past and change past events. This is the key to figuring out what happened to make the world suddenly change...

 

...and there you have it! Quite a Summer indeed. I'll put the noteworthy release for the rest of the year in a small list right here too.

 

September 

Mushroom Men: Rise of the Fungi
Sonic Chronicles: The Dark Brotherhood
Spore
Viva Pinata: Pocket Paradise
Construction Combat: Lock's Quest
Dragon Quest IV
Monster Lab
de Blob
Naruto: Path of the Ninja 2
Exit DS
The Legend of Kage 2

October 

Puzzle Quest Galactrix
Spectrobes: Beyond the Portals
Tecmo Bowl: Kickoff
Tom Clancy's EndWar

November 

(Nada)

December 

Skate It

Q4 2008 

Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia
From the Abyss
Rock Revolution
Trackmania DS

TBA 2008 

ASH
Dragon Quest IX: Protector's of the Sky
DS Air
Egg Monster Hero
Kirby Ultra Super Deluxe
Luminous Arc 2: Will
Metal Slug 7
Moon

Here's the complete list of upcoming releases from IGN for those interested:

http://ds.ign.com/index/release.html

 

 

Saved

I need to show my DS more love. I only have about 8 games, and all but two are made by Nintendo. I know there are other good games out there, I just need to find them.

Hot stuff! Looks like a lot of good times. =)

Final Fantasy IV and Grimoire Of The Rift look good.

so it's the DS that gets all the RPG's.

No wonder I cant find any new for my PS360 or Wii.

Naum said: so it's the DS that gets all the RPG's. No wonder I cant find any new for my PS360 or Wii.

Let's just put it this way. For every RPG the Wii, 360 and PS3 get combined, the DS probably gets about 3 or 4. You're basically not an RPG fanatic if you don't own a DS because it is the new PS2 and SNES all rolled up into one.

 

Ugh... I wish the DS had more Western support.

Ooooo Izuna 2 thats what im going for and some other games on that list. i am going to go broke because of all these games this summer (its going to be my Bday next month)