This feature kicked so much fucking ass. You just needed one copy of a game, and 2-8 players could play multi-player for free.

I am still amazed how little lag it had having 7 other people join in on one person owning Mario Kart.

>Mario Party DS was also peak
>NSMB Mario vs Luigi mode is severely underrated

If you know then you know. But if not? You can't understand how fun it was to essentially have portable couch co-op with random people.

>>713687931 (OP)
I liked how the Wii channel gave you free DS game demos via download play.
that was how I first discovered Dragon Ball Origins (2)

>>713688069
Yea. It felt oddly advanced.

I remember playing Kirby mass attack because of that feature.

Oh yeah, that shit was pretty good.
Feels like we are regressing by comparison nowadays.

>>713687931 (OP)
it is impressive only in retrospect as nintendo decided to do friend code shit and for some reason are unable to to wrap their heads around just straight online play and lobbies. Plus online was free back then.

>>713688161
Ikr? It set a high bar for me.

I was disappointed with the 3DS and Switch not having the same functionality (most likely out of greed).

I would argue the feature would sell more copies of a game, because the more people try it and have fun, the more likely they will want their own copy.

>>713688403
It was impressive back then to. Going from the GBA with its shitty link cables to open air download (without a need for multiple copies of a game) was extremely cool to kids like me back then.

Balloon battle in Mario Kart alone was amazing.

>>713688529
>I would argue the feature would sell more copies of a game, because the more people try it and have fun, the more likely they will want their own copy.
it absolutely did, I bought Dragon Ball Origins 1 and 2 within weeks of playing the demos, playing Mario Kart DS at school with kids who owned it via Download Play inspired me to buy the game as well
demos are an objective good and should continue to be a thing, especially for consoles oriented at kids, kids don't watch online trailers, I sure fucking didnt, the most effective way to get someone to buy your game is giving them a nice feeling vertical slice to play with.

>>713687931 (OP)
Yeah, download play was great. It's kinda like the handheld equivalent of couch co-op in console games; it gives you a way to play multiplayer with your bros without everyone needing to own a separate copy of the game
>>713688529
>the 3DS and Switch not having the same functionality
Huh? The 3DS did have download play.
Would be nice if the Switch had it too, but I guess its absence is understandable since the Switch already capable of couch co-op. Personally I'm more upset about it not having streetpass

>>713689063
3DS did, but it was much more limiting. Most games required multiple copies.

>>713689063
>Would be nice if the Switch had it too,
the Switch 2 is starting to bring it back, but only AFTER nintendo took it away artificially for a whole generation

>try to play Metroid Prime Hunters with friends via download play
>nobody is as used to the controls as me
>they're only allowed to play as Samus
>back to Mario Kart

>getting together with the bros and playing bomberman for a while via download play
shit was awesome.

>>713687931 (OP)
It was awesome, and it was also a good advertisement for games since a lot of my friends would pick up a game after playing it for a few times. After they got rid of it you basically couldn't play anything other than Smash and Mario Kart with people, it was awful.

>>713687931 (OP)
>Playing Jump Ultimate Stars with a buddy back in the day.

GBA and DS are peak.

>>713687931 (OP)
>for free

Oy vey!

Doesn't Switch and Switch 2 do this?

>>713687931 (OP)
>peak

>>713692936
>play ds download metroid multiplayer with friends
>he uses trace and missile clips outside of the map
Fucking nigger.

>game has exclusive content for people who don't own the game

test

>>713687931 (OP)
>I am still amazed how little lag it had having 7 other people join in on one person owning Mario Kart.
the game isn't transmitted while you're racing, you goddamn tech-illiterate retard.
I hate you fucking tendies so fucking much it's unreal. go drink a cyanide and ammonia cocktail

why arent you gamesharing chess with your bros, /v/?

they had similar things on the GBA too, you could play Mario Bros Vs with any of the Super Mario Advance rereleases or Mario & Luigi, if you had any one cart the other GBAs receive the data via link cable. MK Super Circuit also had it I wanna say
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y9jPbF_NDXA
>tfw picking up cousins and throwing them in the trash can
>mfw fucking bowser shows up