Gamertell’s top 10 2009 DS games

Tons of fantastic DS games were released in 2009, and now that we’re entering into 2010 it seems only fitting to honor 10 of the best released last year. Compling such a list is a difficult task, especially considering how many fantastic games were released in 2009, but the final choices mark the best of the best of 2009.

There are quite a few others games though, that do deserve to be acknowledged as runners-up. Games that were good, but not quite good enough to make the top 10. For exampe, there was The Legendary Starfy, Dragon Quest V, Pokemon Platinum, Phantasy Star Zero, Rhythm Heaven and Henry Hatsworth in the Puzzling Adventure. Many great games were released, but only 10 can be considered the best.

And now, on to Gamertell’s 10 best DS games released in 2009.

10. Style Savvy

A pleasant surprise from Nintendo, a game for girls that isn’t pandering and actually offers a challenging, quality gaming experience. It looks good and is fun to play, more than you can say about those Imagine or Petz titles Ubisoft keeps churning out. Plus, its great for gamers of either gender.

9. Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands

Harvest Moon: Sunshine Islands could be the best portable Harvest Moon game available in North America. It fixes almost every glitch from Harvest Moon: Island of Happiness, adds in additional characters, provides a new challenge of raising all the islands and allows you to befriend animals on the island. It’s a great way to get sucked back into the farm life.

8. Suikoden Trierkreis

Probably not quite the full Suikoden adventure everyone was expecting, but Konami did an admirable job of capturing the feel of the series in this portable adventure. There’s still the full 108 Stars of Destiny to recruit, and the story, involving the idea of multiple universes, is quite interesting. RPG fans definitely should take notice of this adventure.

7. Avalon Code

Surprisingly, this game from XSEED didn’t seem to get its proper due in 2009. In it, the world is ending and players are tasked with using a Book of Prophesy to record everything that should be saved. Then, when the world is destroyed, the book will resurrect everything recorded inside of it. Avalon Code gave players a remarkable amount of control over the world and its characters, allowing you to tweak the entries of people, monsters and items recorded in the book with codes to change them in the real world.

6. Professor Layton and the Diabolical Box

Once again players get to join Professor Layton and his apprentice Luke on a journey to solve a mystery. You help the duo not only discover the truth behind the Elysian Box, which supposedly kills anyone that opens it. Once again, there are 150 new brainteasers and puzzles to solve.

5. Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days

Other members of Gamertell’s staff may not agree, but I thought Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days was fantastic. The story was a little weak and the camera isn’t perfect, but its one of the best looking DS games to date and the the gameplay is wonderful. Plus, the multipler is entertaining if you have friends with the game to play with.

4. The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

This game just squeaked in at the end of 2009, but definitely deserves a spot on the list. Spirit Tracks fixes everything that may have been troublesome in Phantom Hourglass, gives Zelda a more prominent role and delivers quality gameplay fans of the series have come to expect. Plus, it makes great use of both the touch screen and microphone.

3. Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor

Atlus’ strategic RPG with visual novel elements was one of the best surprises of the year. The multiple endings and different kinds of demons you could recruit and fuse provided tons of replay value, and the story was fresh and interesting. It’s one of those games that you’ll keep carrying with you until you completely master it.

2. Scribblenauts

If it weren’t for its control issues, Scribblenauts could have been number one on the list. Well, control issues, coupled with the fact that many objects didn’t act the way they should and that knowledge that most puzzles can be solved by conjuring up a pair of handcuffs and a vending machine. Nonetheless, Scribblenauts deserves kudos for its clever design and innovative gameplay ideas.

1. Mario & Luigi: Bowser’s Inside Story

The third Mario & Luigi RPG is easily the best and most entertaining. It has a wonderfully written script that’s always amusing, bright visuals and an adventure that you feel you have to follow until its conclusion. Plus, Bowser gets to play the anti-hero in the game, which adds an interesting twist.

So, what do you think? Are there any DS games that came out in 2009 that you believe deserve to be in the top 10, but weren’t listed above? Let us know in the comments!