Customised DSi Review Part 8

The Nintendo DSi was launched in late 2008 in Japan, but if you lived outside of Japan, you had to wait until early 2009.

It came with many new features that made it a lot more powerful compared to the previous Nintendo DS Lite, including dual cameras, an enhanced sound system, a built-in web browser; SD card support and an online store to buy DSiWare (though it’s no longer open in 2025 and there’s no workaround to access it).

But as futuristic as it was for the time it came out, neither the console or the games were exactly accessible for disabled people, especially when compared to modern day accessibility settings and devices in gaming.

And this is hence why I’ve been trialing and testing a customised DSi for the last few years, which has been customised to include a switch interface with two 3.2mm headphone jacks that map to the L and R buttons on the console itself.

In this blog, I’m going to outline a few more games I’ve tried out on it, with summaries about how accessible each one is on the customised DSi, and whether or not these games are made any easier to play on the customised DSi than on a DSi console that hasn’t been customised.

Game 1: Theme Park

A strategy game rated 3+ and published/developed by Electronic Arts, ‘Theme Park’ is a game that places the gamer as the boss of a theme park. Throughout your time playing through the game, you’ll decide what facilities and other features appear in your theme park, such as restaurants, rides, entrances and more. Plus, you’ll also get to hire staff, change entrance fees, improve salaries etc, while also getting details about how much money your theme park makes year by year.

The controls for the game include:

• The A, B, X Y or D-PAD buttons for navigating around the theme park.
• The L/R buttons for accessing the next page of text.
• The START button for pausing the game.
• The Touch Screen for selecting items, circling an item or selecting menu options.

So how much have I enjoyed this game and has the customised DSi made this easier to play?

Well overall, I found this game really enjoyable, but it’s a game that you may find more enjoyable if you’re a gamer that enjoys a creative or relaxing game that doesn’t include many rules.

However, something else I also appreciate is how the switches plugged into the L/R interface can be activated with only a single press, instead of having to hold the button down. This eliminates the need for using additional mounting equipment, so it’s a game that physically disabled gamers will be able to play with very little equipment.

So overall, while I have encountered a minor issue with ticket adjustments not registering properly on the version of the game I have, I’ve really enjoyed playing through it, and the switches I had plugged in responded incredibly well to the game.

Game 2: Lock’s Quest

An Action-Strategy game published by THQ and developed by 5th Cell, ‘Lock’s Quest’ has you playing as Lock, a young hero who — after a diabolical mechanical army devastates his kingdom — is left to defend his kingdom.

Whether you help Lock build customised towers, traps, walls, weapons or other defences, you’ll have to help him defeat his enemies, until the kingdom is safe again.

The controls for the game include:

• The TOUCH SCREEN for moving Lock, attacking enemies and moving buildings.
• The D-PAD for camera controls.
• The L/R buttons for rotating buildings.
• The SELECT button for returning to the menu / pausing the game.

So does the customised DSi make this game easier to play?

Well, although I’ve only played through a short amount of the game at the time of writing, I had an extremely fun time playing through the start of the game, and so much that I can’t wait to get back to playing through the rest of it.

Rotating buildings requires only a single press of the switches that are plugged into the L and R ports (but you’ll have to press one switch for going left and one switch for going right), and this therefore makes gameplay more manageable.

However, how the switches react in the game isn’t the only thing that is beneficial when it comes to the accessibility the game has to offer, as combat only relies on repeatedly tapping an enemy with a stylus.

So overall, I found the game one of the most accessible games tested on the customised DSi as someone with a severe physical disability, and while it may be extremely difficult to play on a DS that has not been customised, the switch interface makes it playable and extremely enjoyable.

Game 3: WarioWare Touched

A single player Action game developed and published by Nintendo, ‘WarioWare Touched’ is a game filled with 5 second mini-games.

It doesn’t require a customised DSi to play.

However, as my main expectations for ordering it was to get some experience playing Wario games, I personally find it a bit underwhelming.

For this reason, while it is accessible, it isn’t a game I’d be in a rush to spend any great amount of time on, and I’d honestly be more interested in saving a version of the game to my SD card then trading it back in.

game 4: Kirby Mass Attack

A platform game developed by HAL Laboratory and published by Nintendo, ‘Kirby Mass Attack’ is everything I wanted it to be.

It doesn’t require a customised DSi to play, but it is an EXTREMELY fun game to play, filled with hidden object puzzles, mini-games and more!

Set amongst the background of an evildoer with a magic cane splitting Kirby into ten pieces, the gamer has to help restore Kirby into his original form, as you set off on a fun-packed side-scrolling adventure. As you guide Kirby through numerous different puzzles, mini-games and stages, you’ll have to take charge of up to ten Kirby at once, then defeat enemies who try to hurt you along the way.

So what are my main thoughts about the game and why do I count it as one of my surprisingly favourite games?

Well, the reason I love it is because the controls are really simple, but there’s also a really good narrative that helps guide the game along. Although it becomes really difficult at times, the difficult moments are still made fun, and it has to be one of the only games that I’ve played over the last while that doesn’t require any additional buttons but that I’ve still had an extremely good time playing.

Plus, it is also a good game to play if you want to get your frustrations out, especially if those frustrations extend to certain politicians or leaders of countries (and no, I don’t think of ANYONE in particular each time I have to throw a Kirby at a wall).

game 5: Mystery Tales of Time travel

A single player Puzzle game developed and published by Most Wanted, ‘Mystery Tales of Time Travel’ follows the story of a French writer who has just moved into the house where her deceased aunt used to live. After moving in, she stumbles upon an old diary, which she soon discovers has the power of transferring her to different historical periods throughout history, including Ancient Rome and Victorian Britain.

Throughout the rest of the game, you have to help the writer find missing objects, in order to help her unravel the mystery.

The controls for the game include:

• The Touch Screen for tapping and scrolling.
• The D-PAD for navigation.
• The L/R Button for scrolling through items, such as for selecting hint, viewing letters within the game etc.

So how much easier does the customised DSi make this game to play and what do I think about it?

Well, like similar puzzle games I’ve played, I like how much the game makes you think, and from the small amount of time I’ve spent playing the game so far, I’ve enjoyed the mystery elements that I feel sort of mix together with gothic elements, as well as history.

But in relation to accessibility, I’ve found the game very easy to play on the customised DSi, as you equally don’t have to hold down the accessibility switches and only have to tap them once. The only annoying thing about the game is that you can only use hints twice per level, so for that reason, it isn’t the best if you feel tired, but saying that, it does make you think, which makes it enjoyable if you have the brain cells to work out what the game is asking you.

So overall, I have found all of these games playable on the customised DSi, though they are all aimed at different people.