2009 is looking to be another crazy year in the life of the Nintendo DS. At the Tokyo Game Show and the Fall Nintendo conference we got some word on quite a few new DS games to salivate over, and one thing can be said: if you like RPGs, get a DS. This is in no way a total list of games coming out in 2009, but it has a lot of games that seem to carry the most buzz.

The DSi handheld (November 2008 in Japan TBA in the West)

Although many knew it was coming, Nintendo blew a lot of people away with it’s tight-lipped announcement of the DSi at the Fall Nintendo conference in October. The DSi looks to be a way to bolster more DS sales in Japan as the popular   handheld was seen to be at “saturation point” by many analysts. It will be seen if this will bolster sales, or flop as the Gameboy Micro did, but one thing is promising and that is the DSi’s hardware.

Key differences with the DSi

• The handheld's screens have been enlarged by around 20%.

• The DSi is smaller and lighter that it’s older brother.

• Audio enhancements will make it louder, and you will be able to record a small amount of audio.

• Two 0.3 megapixel (640x480) digital cameras.

• SD memory card slot

• Built-in browser

• The DSi Shop, from which users can download DSiWare from.

• Pricing categories for the DSiWare are: Free, 200 points, 500 points and "Premium" or 800 points.

• Exclusion of the GBA/expansion slot which means no Guitar Hero DS.

• The DSi is region locked.

ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat – (TBA 2009?) 

ASH: Archaic Sealed Heat is a tactical role-playing game developed by Mistwalker and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo DS. It was released on October 4, 2007 in Japan, and is rumored to be fully localized and awaiting release. Although it was slated as coming out in 2008, no announcements have been made other than an ESRB announcement, so it may not come out until late 2009.   It was the first DS game released on a 2 gigabit game card to push the graphical limits of what is thought to be possible on the DS. ASH features video pre-rendering process, where segments of complete animation were already compiled before the gameplay rather than render graphics as the game advances. This technique causes the visuals on the small resolution screen to be of higher quality.

Blue Dragon Plus (TBA 2009)

Blue Dragon Plus takes place one year after the events of the original game, where the world continues to embrace and explore the cube worlds that resulted from the opening of the planet's core. One day King Jibral and Zola encounter a mysterious evil dragon shadow at one of the cubes. Zola has a bad feeling about it and after informing Shu and the party, they find themselves on another adventure to discover this new threat.   Blue Dragon Plus is Mistwalker's second Nintendo DS.  Although initially thought to be a card battling game, it has been revealed that it's a real time strategy RPG.

Dragon Quest IX - (TBA 2009)

The ninth installment in the long running Dragon Quest franchise stunned the world by being the first of its kind to set the main franchise on a handheld system.   This angered some, but was lauded by many, and seems to be the new home for the series. The game boasts fully customizable character appearances and online multiplayer options, as well as a fully realize one player campaign. Expect to see this game in North America mid-late 2009.

Flower, Sun, and Rain: The Endless Park – (Spring 2009)

Suda 51 fans rejoice, as one of his most popular PS2 games gets new life on the Nintendo DS. So far Marvelous interactive has announced plans to release this game stateside in the Spring of 2009. The game follows Sumio Mondo, a "searcher", who makes a living looking for people's lost things. He arrives on the resort island of Lospas and takes a room at the F.S.R. hotel after being tasked with detecting and defusing a time bomb, planted on a plane which is soon to leave the island's only airport. The bomb explodes and Sumio wakes up the same day before the bomb explodes, seemingly to try and get it right this time. Suda 51 + Groundhog Day = AWESOME!

Front Mission 2089: Border of Madness - (TBA 2009?)

After the success of Front Mission 1st on the DS, Square has decided to bring its popular cell phone game to the masses with DS upgrades. Not a lot is known about whether it will be heading stateside, but one can hope.

Kingdom Hearts 358/2 Days - (Early 2009)

This is a no-brainer, if you are a fan of Kingdom Hearts you will want to pick this game up. The story is a “midquel” centering on the daily life of the main character Roxas, exploring the time from Roxas' creation during the first game, to his confrontation with Riku during the interval after Kingdom Hearts: Chain of Memories and leading directly into Kingdom Hearts II. It is planned to feature 3D graphics, and single and multiplayer modes of play.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Feb 2009)

A reinvention of the original NES title with revamped graphics and intuitive touch control, Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon will finally introduce longtime fans to the stories that gave birth to the series nearly 20 years ago in Japan, while introducing the Fire Emblem franchise to a broader audience of strategy and chess fans. Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon also reveals the back story of Marth, the original lead character in the Fire Emblem series introduced and made popular in North America by the Super Smash Bros. series of fighting games.

Mario & Luigi RPG 3: (Early 2009)

The acclaimed Mario & Luigi series returns with another hilarious action role-playing game. Join the Mario Bros. as their travels take them far and wide. So far we have seen the ability to play as Bowser in the trailers, not too much else is known.

Rhythm Heaven: (July 2009)

If you can snap your fingers in time to music, you’re ready to play this simple but infectious rhythm game. Just tap your stylus on the touch screen to the beat of the music.

Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles Echoes of Time (Late 2009)

Not a lot is known about this title other than it appears to be both a DS game and a Wii game where you can play multiplayer with others via many different options. If you have a DS and your buddy has a Wii you’re all set as all variations of 4 player can be tossed together.

Phantasy Star Zero (TBA 2009)

This upcoming DS game is developed by Sonic Team, and was published by Sega for Japanese release December 25th 2008. The game will expand on the gameplay mechanics of online games in the series, such as Phantasy Star Online, but will also feature an offline general story mode. It seems to hold the ability to chat via your own handwriting, so you’ll go blind trying to figure out that your buddy is saying he needs healing.

Infinite Space (TBA 2009)

Infinite Space is a sci-fi themed RPG by Platinum games. Not much is known about it other than the fact that Platinum are trying to expand on what is currently possible on the DS. The game allows the player to design and control a spaceship. The player can customize the ship with over 150 different design models, along with over 150 possible crew members . After designing a ship, the player can explore an expansive game world with a story spanning two galaxies. Characters seen in the game will be displayed in 2D, while ships, exploration, and battles will all be in 3D.

Suikoden Tierkreis (TBA 2009)

While not an official numbered entry to the Suikoden Series, Tierkreis seems to share a lot more with the actual games than any of the previous spinoffs. The player takes on the role of an unnamed character trying to assemble the 108 heroes of destiny to prepare for an attack on an evil warlord called “The One King.”   The game is set in the Kingdom of Salsaville which is rumored to be located west of the original Suikoden setting of Toran / Scarlet Moon Empire seen in the original game. Nothing is known as to when the game takes place in Suikoden’s rich timeline.

Perfect Prosecutor: Miles Edgeworth (TBA 2009)

As a huge fan of the Ace Attorney series, I am pumped for the release of this spinoff. The game centers on Miles Edgeworth, the main prosecutor from the first game in the main series and recurring character. It appears that the game is a slight deviation from the original as you appear to be doing more crime scene investigating than prosecuting, but the series’ trademark battle system will appear as some sort of verbal confrontation between characters. Capcom hasn’t said it either way, but one can assume this will be coming to the west based on the success of the other 4 games.

GTA Chinatown Wars (March 2009)

Nintendo fans have been clamoring for a new entry in the GTA series since the Gameboy Advance days, and soon we will have our first entry in a long time. The story follows the character Huang Lee, a member of the Triads, who must deliver his recently-assassinated father's Yu Jian, a supposed family heirloom and sword, to his uncle Wu Lee. Huang is ambushed along the way, and he must not only recover the sword, but avenge his father's death in the process. The game seems to look back to the graphics of the original two GTA games, while keeping the dark, gritty atmosphere of the newer games.

- Stephen Kelley

skelley@vgchartz.com