I’ve recently come through an extremely rough patch. For a long while, I contemplated trading away my DS for a PSP, simply so that I could play Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories and Tales of Eternia. Binkle made me question the value of this decision, pointing out how expensive the PSP was and how worthless the DS was on the resale market. My hands were shackled to Nintendo’s disappointing handheld console, and I wept large vats of salty tears for my loss.

But I’ve been browsing through IGN’s DS articles, and stumbled upon some interesting developments. The first of these developments is Castlevania: Dawn of Sorrow. Get this. A game with a story, excellent gameplay, and substance has been released for the DS. I knocked back several bottles of Bacardi Rum to see if reality would wash away and reveal this game to be a brittle shell of a true Castlevania game. But, it was no use. Even though I couldn’t see my hands in front of my face, the game remained as a glimmering example of the good things to come.

And indeed, there are many good things on the horizon. Children of Mana, and a newly announced Tales… game for the DS. To quote Matt Wilson’s crazy writing: “I have an uncomfortable boner” at the announcement of these games. Children of Mana - at first - seemed to be a simple remake of Seiken Densetsu 3 (an RPG for the Super Nintendo). Now, it appears to be blossoming into some multi-console epic without any restraints holding it down. All I can say is, fly plaything fly. As for the “Tales…” game, I can only hope it is original, and not a remake of Phantasia again. If DS gets an original “Tales…” release, it will immediately rank better than the PSP in my most prestigious of books, since Tales of Eternia on the PSP will be a mere re-release.

Also, it appears I went into too much effort writing the eulogy for, and mourning over Cyan Worlds. Word on the street is they are back in business. Sweet freakin’ deal is all I can say.

Out.