When the console first boots up, you're treated to an epilepsy warning. There is no way to turn this off. Every time you boot the console with a DS game, it will show the warning. You need to touch the screen in order to continue. You can turn it off when playing GBA games.

Configuring the system is a pain thanks to a clunky menu system that has no text prompts. Everything is done via pictures. While you can investigate, there are two screens here. Why not have one of them tell you what you are selecting? Also, once into the menu system, you have to end your session there. If you try to leave back to the start up screen, it prompts you to shut down. That's rather ridiculous.

Built into the system is "Pico Chat" software, a basic communication program that works much like "MS Paint," only with a touch screen. Up to 16 people can chat inside one of four "rooms." Everything is done wirelessly and the range seems to pretty strong. Multi-player games work the same way.

This system has launched with a very weak lineup of software, and only "Mario 64 DS" is a must own at this point. The quirky "Feel the Magic" probably uses the system's capabilities the best, including the microphone. "Spiderman 2" is an insult and "Madden DS" is basically the N64 version of the franchise with some nifty touch screen features (selecting plays has never been easier).

"Asphalt Urban GT" looks nice, but it is obviously a very rushed piece of software and "Urbz" is appearing on just about every other console. Sadly, "Spiderman 2" is really the only game to show off the ability of the hardware. It's crisp, hi-resolution graphics are just stunning for a handheld. That included "Metroid" demo is really no slouch either.

Yes, the whole touch screen is nothing more than a gimmick, but it's a good one. The only other system to feature a device like this was the abysmal Game.com by Tiger. This system will either succeed or fail based on how much the developers take advantage of this feature, plain and simple. If all they do is release N64 games without any real enhancements, this portable is doomed. If more games like "Feel the Magic" make it to the market, sales should be solid throughout the life of the system.