The ten most anticipated DS games of 2008

So we come to the article that should see a drop of cold sweat rolling down the writer's back. A skill lodged somewhere behind the mystic gypsy on the end of the pier and the professional number cruncher with his bank of computers, predicting the best games of 2008 is no easy task.

Indeed, taking a strict look back 12 months at our jauntily-titled Why 2007 will be the best ever for DS feature, it's easy to see how expectations can be completely over-enthusiastic, as well as being splintered by the substandard actions of developers and publishers who should know better.

Notably, Wario: Master of Disguise at No.2 in the 2007 list, Diddy Kong Racing DS at No.5 and Rayman Raving Rabbids at No.9 were three games that failed to set anyone's year alight. Equally, the failure of release for Panzer Tactics (No.10) should be view as another mishap of prognostication (although we'll let you apportion where the majority of the blame should go).

Still, we did manage to predict The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (No.1) and Pokémon Pearl/Diamond (No.4) so it wasn't all dumb and dumber. Sadly though, as the release schedule currently stands, 2008 doesn't offer up such obvious treasures, which makes our job more difficult and has us cautious about echoing last year's acclamation that 2008 will the best ever for DS.

But let's not get too cup-half-empty before the year has properly begun. Yes, there will be disappointments but there will be happy surprises too, so let's end the disclaimer analysis and get on with the list.

Your views, corrections and additions are, of course, welcome via the comments.

The ten most anticipated DS games of 2008

10. Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword Developer: Team Ninja Publisher: Tecmo Release: March (US), TBA (Euro) Considering the uber-hardcore status of the Ninja Gaiden games released to date, the series' first portable outing could mark a significant moment for the DS – particularly as most publishers are moving their 2008 releases for Nintendo's handheld towards the casual market. But it's not just its existence that makes Ninja Gaiden Dragon Sword an interesting project. Most obvious is the fact it requires you to hold your DS in the vertical book-style popularised by Hotel Dusk and Brain Training, while the game also looks to push technical boundaries. The backgrounds are pre-rendered but the battling warriors are proper 3D, with all the ninja's movement and fighting triggered by your actions on the touchscreen. It will either be brilliant or rubbish.
9. New International Track & Field Developer: Sumo Digital Publisher: Konami Released: April (Euro) When it comes to the competition between New International Track & Field and Mario & Sonic at the Olympic Games, we reckon there can be only one winner. While Nintendo and Sega's marketing tie-up will probably sell better, Konami's remake of its classic Track & Field should be the real deal. Not only is UK developer Sumo Digital in charge of development, but the design of the various superdeformed characters from Konami games such as Silent Hill and Frogger come from the Udon art collective. There are also 24 events up for grabs, with victory requiring a mixture of rhythm action to temper the relentless repetition of stylus-scraping and button-mashing.
8. Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 Developer: Konami Publisher: Konami Release: January (Euro) The top of the table battle for the title of best DS footie game is getting more competitive. EA's FIFA and Gameloft's Real Football have already released their 2008 versions, while Pro Evolution Soccer 2008 was delayed from its initial autumn kick-off into the New Year. Other bad news is that Konami's 2007 version, Pro Evolution Soccer 6 – its first DS version – didn't meet the high standards expected of the series. But with an impressive mobile version released for the first time, the company should be well aware that no game bearing the name can fail to score, no matter what the platform. On the basis, we expect Pro Evo 08 to push the playability of DS sports games to new heights.
7. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates Developer: Square Enix Publisher: Square Enix Release: spring (Euro), March (US) The Final Fantasy series divides opinion as much as it ever did, but even the most passionate fan must feel a bit overwhelmed by the sheer number of FF products Square Enix has unleashed on the GBA, DS and PSP during the past couple of years. As such, Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: Ring of Fates, a sequel to a minor GameCube release, may not immediately strike you as particularly special. But an enthusiastic Japanese reception, combined with some of the most beautiful graphics and animation yet seen on DS, and a focus on four-way multiplayer gaming via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, should see this cute role-player surprise western audiences with its charms (despite the silly name).
6. Advance Wars: Days of Ruin Developer: Intelligent Systems Publisher: Nintendo Released: January (Euro) The first Advance Wars on DS demonstrated the series had successfully made the jump to dual screen with its tongue-in-cheek attitude and strategic depth in balance. Days of Ruin sees the series take something of a new approach, however, thanks to a darker, apocalyptic atmosphere in which natural disasters have wiped out 90 per cent of Earth's population. And that's before the war starts. New Commanding Officers and fighting units will refresh the turn-based action, although the CO's battle-turning powers have been tuned down somewhat. Excitingly, Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection multiplayer support will also be included for the first time.
5. Dragon Quest IX Developer: Level-5 Publisher: Square Enix Released: TBA For various reasons too commercial to go into, the Japanese role-playing series to make it big in the west was Final Fantasy. In Japan, however, the Dragon Quest series just edges its competition; at least in terms of sales. But with one-time rival publishers Square and Enix now combined into one giant RPG production line, it's time for us to enjoy the benefits of the DG universe. Sadly the excellent Dragon Quest Heroes: Rocket Slime didn't get a UK release, which will make Dragon Quest IX the series' DS debut here. More significantly, it also marks the first time a main game in the series hasn't been released on a home console. Unsurprisingly, anticipation in Japan is sky-high, despite a delay which pushed it into 2008. We just hope we'll get to experience an English-localised version before December is through.
4. Star Wars: The Force Unleashed Developer: n-Space Publisher: LucasArts Released: summer Oh, the painful lottery that marks the history of Star Wars games. When it comes to The Force Unleashed, however, the lack of information, let alone screenshots means it's almost impossible to tell how the dice will fall this time. Technologically-wise, the DS iteration will certainly be very different from the version released on current-gen consoles, although the narrative revolving around being Darth Vader's secret apprentice out to destroy the remaining Jedi will, of course, be firmly in place. The crux for success or failure will revolve around the control system; notably, how use of the Force and lightsaber is mapped to stylus and touchscreen. But with the afterglow of Lego Star Wars: The Complete Saga still with us, we can but hope for good times being bad.
3. Miami Nights: Singles in the City Developer: Gameloft Publisher: Ubisoft Released: January (US), spring (Euro) With plenty of publishers developing a 'cross-platform casual gaming strategy', taking games from web to mobile and DS (or the reverse) will be all the rage in 2008. At least when it comes to the transfer of four million-selling mobile game Miami Nights to the Nintendo portable, the process is based on good gameplay while the actual porting is being carried out by Ubisoft's mobile arm Gameloft. For those reasons, we expect Singles in the City to demonstrate a drop-in-and-out experience for DS audiences attuned to a daily dose of Dr Kawashima, while even the hardcore should be able to relax enough to enjoy The O.C. crossed with The Sims: Hot Date role-playing experience expected.
2. Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution Developer: Firaxis Publisher: 2K Games Released: April (US), summer (Euro) As if to prove that this prediction game is harder than it looks, our 2007 list of top 10 DS strategy games didn't really reveal itself to be terribly successful, with half the games not yet released and a further four being substandard (The Settlers anyone?). Still, Sid Meier's Civilization must be the closest thing to a strategy game home run you can get. On that basis, Sid Meier's Civilization Revolution, which sees you battling from the dawn of man into the space age through 16 vaguely historical tribes and nations, sits high on our 2008 most anticipated list. Particularly when you consider the wealth of multiplayer options that could be available via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection.
1. Viva Piñata Developer: Rare Publisher: TBA Released: TBA How could a game combining the DIY fun of Rare's colourful garden-and-animal sim with stylus and touchscreen control be ranked as anything but top dog for 2008? The developer has cleverly pre-rendered the complex Xbox 360 graphics, leading us to hope the DS version will highlight the game's strong original design and gameplay that sees you creating specific environments to attract different species. Indeed, the play-at-your-own-pace should suit the handheld market perfectly, while the DS's audience will also be much better matched to the Viva Piñata cartoon series than that of Microsoft's latest console. And you'll be able to wirelessly trade piñatas with your friends, too. Bring on Hudson Horstachio, we say. Check out some more of our DS top 10 charts.