Nintendo have made a whole lot of gaffes. We all know that, mostly because we've been so constantly reminded of them by the kind occupants of camps Sony and Microsoft. Given their once dominant position in the industry, they've shown an astonishing ability to tear themselves down: alienating Sony with the SNES, an obnoxious attitude towards third-parties, poor commercial decisions with the N64, dragging their feet with Gamecube�the list goes on. But I'm delighted to report they have done one thing right: the DS. In fact, it may be the smartest thing they've done since a certain 3D-based console was released in the summer of 1996.

Yes, I know we've been going on about the DS for months now. About how revolutionary it is, about how it shows Nintendo's interminable ability to surprise us, about how much Reggie just loves it. It did get a bit tiresome, we understand. But when I got my hands on the DS a few days ago�it all appears justified now. In fact, the normally hyperbolic build-up to any new console was, in retrospect, right on the money. Because the DS is damn impressive. And the more I play it and watch other people play it the more I think it's the best reflection of what Nintendo are all about.

It was other day at school that clinched it for me. The console was greeted with the usual curiosity you get when someone brings in a new shiny toy, but what was strange was how much people were taking to it. My Sony-loving, Nintendo-bashing friend has become irreparably addicted to the 'Wanted' mini-game on Super Mario 64 DS, his hands now reduced to a shaking mess resembling a man sixty years his senior. Another friend, who has openly confessed to just not getting games at all, and who is dumbfounded what exactly we see in them; even he admitted to liking SM64's mini-games. You want more? Another schoolmate, a war-obsessed, Xbox-loving Halo junkie found himself sucked into both 'Wanted' and the Bob-omb Squad game. All of a sudden we found ourselves � shockingly � reminiscing about Nintendo; specifically our respective line-ups in the original Pokemon games. Turns out this Ancient History nut favoured a strong bird and plant presence with his monsters. New information to me.

It was happening with everyone who can into contact with the console - people who weren't even 'into' games were giving it a whirl and having a grand time. It was the most peculiar sight. I didn't really take them as big Nintendo fans but now they were fighting over rights to the next go and constantly expressing just how much they hated Luigi (he was constantly messing up their Wanted runs).

All of a sudden, everyone's getting a DS next month.

What is it, then, about the DS and the mini-game based shenanigans of SM64 DS and FTM that was so attractive to all these different people? I think it's the console's ability to tap into that gamer in all of us. All human beings like to play, whether it's kicking a can in the street, building and tearing down sand castles, or recreating Empire Strikes Back's finale with whatever long implements you have handy (what?). It's just a natural desire, as normal as food, sex and happiness. And videogames are, in theory, designed to appeal to this desire.

The problem with modern games is how we've lost sight of this inherent thread in humanity: rather than diversify and provide for everyone's streak we grab some mortar and build big thick concrete walls around the medium and hang a bit "Trespassers will be shot" sign on the front. And we're not joking: the bloke keeping watch on the roof has completed Halo on Legendary. Seven times. To an outsider videogames and its following most look quite undesirable � a bunch of geeks talking in acronyms, dabbling in increasingly dubious grammar on message boards, and indulging in bad cases of egotistical narcissism.

Game stores aren't much better. Rows and rows of the same action poses, big guns, scantily-clad women and games with titles so eye-catching and self-consciously cool they make you cringe. All the while the cashier is trying to get a deposit down for the "most exciting new game ever" that's coming out in just ten short months. Better get out the wallet; can't miss the tenth instalment of that series that always looks the same to you anyway.

The DS cuts past all this garbage and delivers an almost pure gaming experience. All you need to know is how to hold a small pen. Rules? Just connect the slides; find Luigi; hit the bombs; match the cards. Buttons? Who needs them? Just give the passer-by a stylus and a screen to touch and watch their eyes light up. Anything more is just cumbersome, as my attempts to explain the admittedly rather simple Advance Wars to a female classmate a few months ago proved: it was an utter nightmare. The more I explained the different rules and CO abilities the more I could see the interest fading in her eyes, and I knew I had lost her. Not so with SM64 DS' mini-games: it was literally touch and go.

The Playstation may have brought videogames to the twenty-something laddish demographic, but in the past couple of years reform of games interface has broadened games' appeal even more. The Eyetoy, Singstar on the PS2 and now the DS are all part of this. The way we interact with games has been stuck in the same rut since the NES: just look at how little controllers have changed since then. But Eyetoy; now there's a wonderful little device. No controllers needed with it, just a lack of inhibition. And Singstar may just be the perfect party device. When copious amounts of alcohol have been consumed, there's really nothing like belting out a terrible version of Madonna's Like A Virgin to liven up (or, in my case, kill) the mood. Twister really has been made obsolete.

Gradually traditional attitudes towards games are being eroded, with developers looking at a greater audience with their games, the increasing social aspect of them and the affordability and practicality of new technologies. Perhaps all this jumping about in front of the PS2 and drawing on the DS is hindering games' validity as 'serious art' but�who cares? Being fun is infinitely more important than being respected. Because in the end that's what games are: games. To be played. To be enjoyed. By as many people as possible.

Which brings me back to the DS, and the inevitable comparisons with Sony's PSP. The PSP will sell like hotcakes obviously: it will appeal to people because of the sleek looks, graphical wow factor and, well, because of the immense brand power. That's fair enough for Sony: good luck to them, they obviously know what they're doing. The DS, though, will sell for completely different reasons. It'll sell because of how it plays, not how it looks. Because it taps into the play-loving kid in us all.

Of course, there's a flipside to all this. The frantic, simple, time-draining mini-game mantra of SM64 DS and Feel The Magic are perfect for luring in spectators and sparking Tetris-like compulsiveness, but for the DS to succeed as a console on its own right it will need the traditional genre games. There's only so long any number of mini-games can keep you occupied. But thankfully it does look like we'll be getting those too, given the big developer interest in the DS.

But I'm getting a bit ahead of myself. Right now I'm just enjoying the fact that people are now talking with energy and buzz about Nintendo again. Feels like old times.

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