Customised DSi Review Part 9

The Nintendo DSi first arrived in the lives of 2000s kids in 2008 and 2009, carrying on from the original chunky DS and the more popular DS Lite.
It introduced a range of upgrades that made it more powerful than the earlier consoles, such as two built-in cameras, improved audio, a built-in web browser, SD card compatibility and an online store to download games and apps (even if that online store is no longer available, after it was discontinued back in 2014).
But one thing it didn’t have was good accessibility beyond gameplay on the touch screen, with physically disabled fans not even being able to remap controls.

My name is Phoebs Lyle, and over the last few years, I’ve been testing a customised version of the Nintendo DSi, which has been customised to include a switch interface where the stylus would normally go. This interface has 2 3.5mm jacks in it: one that maps to the L button on the DS and the other which maps to the R button, both of which you can plug accessibility switches into.

In this blog, I’m going to review another few games I’ve tried out on it, and whether or not the games I’ve tried out are made easier thanks to it.

Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth

A single player Adventure game developed and published by CapCom that is rated 12+, ‘Ace Attorney Investigations: Miles Edgeworth’ takes the Ace Attorney series away from the courtroom and straight to the crime scene, where the gamer plays as Miles Edgeworth, while completing challenging puzzles that are presented to them.

Throughout the rest of the game, you have to help uncover the truth behind crimes using collected information, the evidence and logic.

The controls include:

• Touch Screen Controls, such as touching, sliding, accessing the Logic Panel, playing through conversations, moving characters and tapping examine.
• The X button for presenting evidence, connecting information when using Logic and to deduce when investigating.
• The A button for confirming, examining and for accessing advanced messages.
• The B button for cancelling or returning to the last section.
• The Y button for opening the partner screen, to turn on the microphone when the mic icon is displayed and to switch the screens when the switch screen icon is displayed.
• The D-PAD for moving Edgeworth (when you don’t want to use touch).
• The L button for opening the Logic panel.
• The R button for opening the Organiser and switching files when using the Organiser.

There’s only one set of special controls built into the game, which is holding B and the D-Pad to run, but it isn’t necessarily needed.

So what did I think of the game overall?

Well, although it has been challenging to play through, I’m happy I’ve been able to play it without any clamps. It may require A LOT of brain injury, but I’ve found it easy to access the Logic panel and the Organiser using the switches I had plugged into the interface, so while it may be taking me a while to work myself through the story, I look forward to getting back to it.

Rooms: The Main Building

A Puzzle game by Big Fish developed by Handmade Games and published by Big Fish, in ‘Rooms: The Main Building’, you use the stylus to slide tiles in order to complete puzzles, which your character, Mr X, can walk through.

As it isn’t a game you need a switch adapter to play, you can play the game just using a stylus. But nevertheless, I have had an incredibly good time playing the game, and it’s definitely one of the easier puzzle games that is easier and funner to work out.

Mysterious Case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde

A single player Puzzle game by O-Games and rated 7+, ‘Mysterious Case of Dr Jeckyll and Mr Hyde’ is based off the classic 1886 novel by Robert Louis Stephenson.

Set on Friday the 13th of August 1886 in the lanes of Soho, you find yourself playing as Inspector Newcomen after a wealthy citizen is murdered. After Dr Jekyll becomes the only person who can provide you with answers, you have to fight your way through puzzles as you investigate and solve this very strange case, while looking for details in every corner.

Although you can play it mainly with the touch screen, you can also play it using the D-Pad, X, A, B, Y, L, R and Start buttons, which help you with a range of actions, such as receiving hints.

So what do I think about the game so far and how easy has the customised DSi made it to play?

Well, although it can be difficult to find certain hidden objects due to the extremely low brightness of the game, I’ve found it easy to play, and although it took me a few times to start and restart the game in order to find a few objects, it did test my memory skills.

I don’t think I had to use the accessibility switches much in order to do anything else, but I also found it easy to request hints, though it was difficult to commit to doing it under a certain amount of times.

So overall, it is an interesting game to play, but it’s not one for people who have short attention spans.

Hotel Dusk Room 215

A single player Point And Click game developed by Cing and published by Nintendo, ‘Hotel Dusk: Room 215’ has the player taking on the role of Kyle Hyde, an ex-peeler (cop) turned salesman who is trying to track down a missing friend.
Throughout the rest of the game, you have to track down an eerie, old hotel which is rumoured to have a very strange room where wishes are granted. And this is where you have to unravel the mystery, as the gritty adventure continues to unravel.

The controls include:

• The A Button: for confirming.
• The Touch Screen: for moving.
• The R Button: for confirming.

However, it also gives you a choice between Left Handed and Right Handed mode which can change things up a bit.

If you tap Left Handed, your controls will be:

• D-Pad Up.
• D-Pad Down.
• D-Pad Left.
• D-Pad Right.
• A Button.
• R Button.

If you tap Right Handed, you’re controls will be:

• Y Button.
• A Button.
• B Button.
• X Button.
• D-Pad Up.
• L Button.

You can use the D-Pad to make selections, open next messages, to move Kyle and to use sliders, then if you want skip messages you’ve already seen, you can hold the D-Pad, the A button or R button while tapping bin to scroll forward quickly.

It’s also a game that you have to play with the DS on its side.

So how much easier or harder does the customised DSi make this to play?

Well, unfortunately I found the game extremely hard to get into thanks to how difficult it was to play, and although I may try to play through it again, it was difficult to move around while pressing buttons.

Crime Scene Criminology

A single player Puzzle game by South Peak, ‘Crime Scene Criminology’ tasks the gamer with combing through numerous crime scenes and untangling scenarios, as you play as a young officer, Matt Simmons.

While playing as Simmons, you get to practice using a wide range of investigative tools, such as learning how to take blood samples, collect fingerprints, use voice recognition software, identify murder weapons, and to conduct DNA analysis and more.

The controls for the game include:

• The Touch Screen, which you’ll use when choosing whether to create a new game or to load an old one and navigating.
• The A, B, X, Y Buttons for moving across the screen.
• The D-Pad, which you can also use for moving across the screen.
• The L and R buttons, which you sometimes have to press at the same time.
• The Start Button, if you want to save your game, adjust your microphone settings or to return to the main screen.

So how much easier does the customised DSi make this game to play and does it therefore become easier to play if you are physically disabled?

Well, although it is a game you’ll have to consider using playing using clamps, it is interesting to play, and I love how much detail is included in crime cases. By all means, I didn’t have the time to play through it as much as the other games included in this blog, but it’s a very fun game to play through if you have the skills to work it out.