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Thinking ahead: 10 DS strategy games worth waiting for

Or: how Nintendo's handheld could become the thinking gamer's pocket favourite

Thinking ahead: 10 DS strategy games worth waiting for
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DS

When we first tried to play a demo of Age of Empires on the DS, the experience was laughable. We didn't have any instructions, there was no tutorial and we had no idea how the game worked.

Fast-forward two years and, in the wake of the success of games from Advance Wars to Harvest Moon and Zoo Tycoon, strategy games are shaping up to be one of hottest genres for Nintendo's touchscreen handheld.

In fact, we'd argue the DS could eventually become second only to the PC as the best platform for strategy gaming. The touchscreen enables developers to come up with intuitive and fluid control systems, while the DS' wi-fi connectivity (both local and via the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection) means there are plenty of opportunities to go head-to-head against human players.

In fact, the only real restriction is the low resolution of the available screens. But at least with two of them, it's easy to split up the information required for directing battles and resource management into logical streams.

But don't take our word for it. There are plenty of PC strategy game specialists who are keen to move onto DS, and their work will be key to ensuring DS fulfills its potential as the thinking gamer's console. Canadian masters Bioware set up a DS division in 2006, while there have been umours of DS games from other companies such as Warcraft and Starcraft creator Blizzard and Civilization studio Firaxis. Even mod makers are getting in on the act, as this homebrew project to put Command & Conquer: Tiberian Sun on DS demonstrates.

So, which ones are we looking forward to most? Funny you should ask.
The top 10 forthcoming DS strategy games

Warlords DS
Developer: Glyphic Entertainment
Publisher: Strategy First
Due: Winter

Hardly the most high profile strategy gaming title, nevertheless Warlords DS, which is based on the PocketPC version of the Warlords II game, is well regarded among hardcore fans. Mixing role-playing elements with turn-based strategy, this fantasy-themed game will offer you the option of being men, dwarves, orcs, dragons, demons or the undead. Single-player modes will be available, but the key feature seems likely to be the eight player wi-fi mode, which will encourage you to make (and presumably break) alliances with the other players.

Zoo Tycoon 2 DS
Developer: Blue Fang
Publisher: THQ
Due: Unconfirmed

The first of two rather speculative suggestions is Zoo Tycoon 2. The reason we think it has to be in development is the original Zoo Tycoon DS game (shown right) has sold phenomenally well – it's still a top 10 DS game in the UK, despite being way back released in 2005. One problem is that the PC version of Zoo Tycoon 2 had 3D graphics (something it would be harder to do on the DS), but we think the right developer should be able to overcome that obstacle. The other option for Blue Fang would be to skip Zoo Tycoon altogether and instead release a DS game based on its soon-to-be revealed new animal strategy game. We'd like that too.

Steel Horizon
Developer: Climax
Publisher: Konami
Due: Summer

Like a battle group hidden by a smokescreen, the location of maritime strategy game Steel Horizon has been impossible to pin down since its announcement over a year ago. Release dates have come and gone like the submarines you'll get to play. A quick demo at E3 2006 suggested it was going to be a deep experience – sadly we lacked a manual to tell us exactly what to do – but nevertheless we like battleships and conspiracy theories, and so hope Climax will be able to pull off something a little bit different.

Theme Park DS
Developer: EA
Publisher: EA
Due: March

It's an old favourite, but that doesn't mean a new generation of nimble fingers and styluses won't have fun getting to grips with running their own amusement park. The key things we hope the game manages to offer is the humour of the original, and getting the punters to throw up on the rollercoasters. Apart from that, there will be 16 worldwide locations for you to pit your fairground-growing skills over, as well as your own in-game advisor to help you make those tricky financial decisions.

Anno 1701 DS
Developer: Keen
Publisher: Disney
Due: summer

Only recently announced, Anno 1701 DS marks the latest in a long line of European trading sims. Three PC games (1503, 1602, and 1701) have been released in the series, with the DS version obviously a remake of the latter. You'll start out colonising an island, where you'll have to encourage different types of people to settle there by satisfying their various needs. Trading is the main mechanic, but you can also make use of people such as arsonists, spies and poisoners to unsettle your rivals.

SimCity DS
Developer: EA Japan
Publisher: EA
Due: Summer

When it comes to mass market strategy games, SimCity was the one that first got non-gamers interested in spending hours locked in their bedrooms, ruling virtual worlds. The central idea is simple – you're the ultimate town planner, who gets to shape the development of a city by setting tax rates, different building zones and transportation routes. Neat employment of the stylus and the use of two screens, one for the city and one for the city information, makes the DS an ideal platform for such a conversion.

Panzer Tactics
Developer: Sproing
Publisher: 10tacle
Due: Summer

Distilled from the European genre of World War II tank strategy games, Panzer Tactics is one of the most tantalising DS strategy games in development. Partly expectations have been raised simply due to how the game's release date has slipped – from Winter '06 to Summer '07 – but there's also been changes of publisher and graphics. Campaigns for the turn-based game will enable you to play through from the viewpoints of the Axis, Allies and Russians, from the attacks on Poland and Russia to North Africa, Italy, D-Day and the Battle for Berlin. There are also around 150 units, covering elements such as tanks, armoured cars, artillery, planes, ships, and various troop specialisations, and a global four-way wi-fi multiplayer mode is promised. Read our interview with the developer.

The Settlers
Developer: Blue Byte
Publisher: Ubisoft
Due: March

Perhaps the archetypal friendly European strategy game, The Settlers sees you take control of a small tribe, and attempt to build it up into an empire. Resource management is the key gameplay mechanic here, as your tiny folks make their way collecting food, wood, stone, and more powerful items such as iron, gold and coal. You also have to plan the expansion of your town, making sure there are no bottlenecks in how all the items are distributed. You can create the usual array of soldiers and knights, but the slow pace and colourful environment of The Settlers means this should be a pleasant, not warlike, experience.

Advance Wars DS 2
Developer: Intelligent Systems
Publisher: Nintendo
Due: Unconfirmed

OK, so we've made this one up, but the game's pedigree means a sequel will happen: what we don't know is when it will arrive and what it will be called. What we'd like to see is a proper multiplayer mode that uses the Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection, and a return to basics, stripping out unloved curios like the combat mode and the Dual Fronts mode. Let's also have more tactical variation in how we use the current units (how about secondary fire or defensive modes?) as well as some more exotic units to get our hands on.

Spore
Developer: Maxis
Publisher: EA
Due: Winter 2007

We were there when Will Wright first announced Spore and we're still waiting. Frankly, we're almost starting to get a bit bored. We know the PC version of the game that sees you starting out with a microbe and developing it into a race that will take over the universe will be amazing. What's less certain, however, is how the DS version will pan out. Some elements of the game, such as the creature editing tools, seem completely right for the DS' stylus and touchscreen of course, but others – notably the incredible 3D graphics – will be a problem. Maybe all we'll get is a 'based-on' version of the game, something EA did with the DS version of The Sims 2, but we're still hoping for the real Spore. Want more? Check out the best DS strategy games released so far.

Jon Jordan
Jon Jordan
A Pocket Gamer co-founder, Jon can turn his hand to anything except hand turning. He is editor-at-large at PG.biz which means he can arrive anywhere in the world, acting like a slightly confused uncle looking for the way out. He likes letters, cameras, imaginary numbers and legumes.