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Japanese DS Game Substantially Different Than US?
Eurogamer has the story that the Nintendo DS title Mr. Driller may have a very different feature set in the US and Japan. From the article: "According to widespread reports - which we've been unable to confirm as we haven't got a copy of either version - the Japanese version allows players to engage in various multiplayer battles in groups of up to four players using just one of the DS's game cards, whereas the US version requires multiple copies to achieve the same result." Interesting, if cynical, decision.
In the Japanese version there is "download play" with a single cart (so only one person needs to have the game and the rest of the people download a copy to their DS to play along in multi-play). Whereas with the US version each player needs their own copy of the game to join into a multi-play session.
The Japanese version also includes Dristone Mode, which isn't in the US version either (it's a modified version of single player with slightly different rules). Given that DS games are region-free, if anyone is seriously interested in the game, it might be better to import it.
...but also, apparently an entire mode.
Dristone/Drillstone mode is a sort of RPG mode, and I guess the US version doesn't have it--Namco did reply to an inquiry about the exclusion of some features here.
"We didn't have the time to implement the some elements/features in order to make the DS launch date in North America,"
Which is kind of funny, as they launched simultaneously.
Kids these days. They don't know the difference between classic, and just plain old.
The GBA has a number of titles that can be link-played with only one cartridge. Usually, you can only play mini-games or other small features this way.
For instance, in my Kirby & the Amazing Mirror game (which rocks by the way), there are 3 mini-games that can be played up to 4 player with only one cart.
You can also play the main game with 4 players, but for that each player needs a cart, which makes sense, as each player can explore the whole game world simultaneously. The slave GBAs would need to load pretty much the whole game world off of the master, or at least a sub-world at a time.
I can't think of any other games that can link without more carts, but I know I've read about some in the past. I believe some of the Mario ones, and perhaps the Zelda one.
-Grant
My stupid web site