DraStic DS Emulator

About

DraStic DS Emulator is a popular choice for those looking to play games from the 2004 dual screen console on their devices. With compelling game mechanics and excellent graphics, it offers an immersive gaming experience. However, players should be prepared for some grinding, as it is required to progress in the game. Overall, it's a great option for fans of the original console looking to relive their gaming memories.

Genres & Tags

Action

Play Modes

Single-Player Play through the game's story or campaign solo

83%

Audience ScoreBased on 9,997 reviews

optimization135 positive mentions

stability116 negative mentions

The emulator runs smoothly and has great performance, even on lower-end devices.
It offers a wide range of customization options for controls and screen layouts.
The built-in cheat database is extensive and enhances the gaming experience.

The app frequently crashes, especially when loading games or during gameplay.
It has issues with accessing ROMs stored on external SD cards, particularly on newer Android versions.
Some users report losing save data unexpectedly, which can be frustrating.

optimization
223 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
61%
34%
5%
The emulator is widely praised for its exceptional optimization, delivering smooth performance across a variety of devices, including lower-end models. Users report minimal issues such as stuttering or crashes, with many noting that it outperforms free alternatives significantly. Overall, it is considered a top choice for those seeking a reliable and well-optimized Nintendo DS emulator.
- “Amazing and extremely well optimized emulator.”
- “I love how optimized this emulator is, very impressed, runs like a dream, and not only offers the nostalgia but also gives the games their own revamp with the improved graphics option, all running at a full steady 100%, and in my opinion, passing all the key benchmarks of what constitutes a well-optimized emulator with flying colors.”
- “The performance of this app is just unreal, I can run most games at full.”
- “There is one problem, it keeps stuttering on games.”
- “Due to Android keeps updating every year and drastic isn't, there is a huge chance it's going to break (either UI or performance) when you update Android to a newer version and there is no way to troubleshoot the issue because the forum is practically dead and devs never reply to your mail at all.”
- “Ok, I've been a happy customer with this emulator... until recently, see I've always made sure to put this on every device I have, because it really runs flawlessly even on lower end devices... well now I sadly have to retire this app and uninstall it... the app does not have Android 11 optimizations and because of it I can't access my SD card through the app itself.”
graphics
173 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
39%
57%
4%
The graphics of the emulator are generally praised for their high quality and smooth performance, often surpassing the original DS visuals. Users appreciate the extensive customization options, including enhanced graphics settings and 3D rendering capabilities, which contribute to an improved gaming experience. However, some reports of minor graphical glitches and occasional crashes suggest that while the overall performance is strong, there are still areas for improvement.
- “The graphics are amazing, the layout is awesome, and I have had no problems with it at all so far!”
- “Not only are the visuals and graphics sharper, better, and more vivid than the DS, every single DS game ever made comes with all the cheats available!”
- “Runs full speed on Tegra 4, SD625 also runs great on SD 410, great controller support, great audio, and now with the full resolution 3D... graphics are fantastic.”
- “However, it should be noted that there are occasional graphical glitches and crashes here and there (in my opinion, it's to be expected).”
- “Every now and then, I get a graphical error where everything, both the screens and the buttons, are zoomed in nearly 2x upon startup, and changing settings doesn't fix anything.”
- “I love how smooth it runs most games, but some games graphically stutter to the point that they are unplayable.”
stability
166 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
26%
4%
70%
Overall, the stability of the emulator is mixed, with many users reporting occasional crashes, freezes, and graphical glitches, particularly when using cheats or saving states. While some players experience smooth gameplay without issues, others face significant bugs that hinder their experience, especially after updates or on specific devices. Frequent saving is recommended to mitigate some of these stability problems, but many still express frustration over the emulator's unreliability.
- “Runs extremely smooth on my S8 Plus, no frame drops, no glitches, no crashes.”
- “No lag, no glitches, no bugs, never crashes, runs every game I've tried perfectly, very fast and reliable, has a ton of features, options and cheats, very high quality emulator with great graphics and programming.”
- “I thoroughly suggest buying the full version, there have been cheats available for use in every DS game I've tried, especially Pokémon, and each game runs incredibly smooth with no glitches, bugs or drops in frame rate have ever happened to me.”
- “Used to absolutely love this but for the last 6 months or so it literally can't play any games, nonstop crashes, freezes every time the screen rotates, and the buttons no longer register where they're supposed to.”
- “I'm disappointed that the emulator frequently freezes on me in the middle of my gaming for split seconds, enough for me to get annoyed and ruins the whole experience for me.”
- “It crashes and freezes a lot.”
gameplay
82 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
45%
49%
6%
Overall, the gameplay experience is generally praised for its smoothness and quality, with many users reporting no crashes or lag during extended play sessions. However, some users have encountered issues such as random crashes, save data loss, and occasional graphical glitches that can disrupt the experience. Despite these drawbacks, the emulator is lauded for its accurate emulation, customizable controls, and additional features like built-in cheats, making it a strong choice for playing DS games.
- “The gameplay is perfect, and the visuals are without fault.”
- “Amazing, this is the best DS emulator out there, get your money and buy this if you want smooth gameplay!”
- “Gameplay is smooth with no graphical or sound issues.”
- “Touch gameplay input on the wrong screen and flickery display between both screens.”
- “It sounds like a small inconvenience but it completely ruins gameplay.”
- “This app deleted every save data I had after hours of gameplay and no cheats active; I will never use this app again.”
monetization
58 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
53%
2%
45%
Overall, users appreciate the monetization model of the emulator, highlighting that it is primarily ad-free, which enhances the user experience. While many users report a smooth experience without intrusive ads, some have recently encountered unexpected ads despite having paid for the app, leading to frustration. The consensus is that the app offers great value for its price, with no in-app purchases and a focus on seamless gameplay.
- “Would highly recommend this app to anyone looking to emulate, it runs so much smoother than any other emulator I've had, no ads, no crashing, has incredible controller support and a built-in cheats menu!”
- “You are basically getting 100 (or over) games for a small fee and the app has no in-app purchases; this is as good as Dolphin, Citra, and Yuzu.”
- “Great for the price, no ads, play all ROMs, no in-app purchases, just play.”
- “I finally decided to bite the bullet and pay for a Nintendo DS emulator for my phone after trying just about every other one in the app store and getting tired of the various ads, crashes, and lag.”
- “It's a great app but why does it generate ads when I have to pay for it?”
- “I paid for this but there are still ads?”
music
28 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
14%
75%
11%
Overall, the music in various games is described as generally smooth and clear, with minimal lag or distortion in most cases. However, some users report issues such as crackling sounds, audio lag, and sync errors, particularly in emulators. While many find the music enjoyable and well-integrated, there are notable instances where the music continues to play despite screen issues or game crashes.
- “Honestly one of the best for mobile devices since most game music comes out smoothly and clearly.”
- “No lag or buggy music, runs all my DS ROMs flawlessly.”
- “Virtually zero lag and music synced with the game.”
- “However, I have noticed in Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure DS, the music crackles at times.”
- “Was having fun overall playing Pokémon White 2, but then once I made it to Mistralton City and boarded the plane, the screen goes black, yet the music continues to play, so I can't make it to Lentimas Town, unable to progress in the game.”
- “It goes dark but I hear the in-game music glitching out and making noise.”
story
20 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
15%
70%
15%
The reviews highlight significant frustration with game crashes and performance issues, particularly when progressing through storylines in titles like Final Fantasy Tactics A2 and Mario & Luigi: Bowser's Inside Story. Users express disappointment over being unable to complete their quests due to technical problems, which detracts from their overall gaming experience and enjoyment of the narratives. Despite these issues, some players remain hopeful for future improvements and the potential for multiplayer experiences in beloved games.
- “I hope for a 3DS emulator by Drastic soon; I can't wait to finish playing my favorite trio from Nintendo and their storylines.”
- “I don't know if multiplayer is ever going to be possible on Drastic, but I am hopeful for the day when I can play games like Dragon Quest IX with my friends using an emulator.”
- “Because I never found a game without a game-breaking issue: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: a black screen after beating our father, Dragon Quest Monster Joker: some enemies crash the game.”
- “Black screen when the story appears in Nimbassa City. The problem is with the quick save or saving state. Works with normal NDS save.”
- “Because I never found a game without a game-breaking issue: Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles: a black screen after beating our father, Dragon Quest Monster Joker: some enemies crash the game, Crash Boom Bang: crash at the character selection screen... I had to use other emulators to pass those scenes.”
- “I play Mario Bowser's Inside Story and it's always force closed when Bowser becomes giant and needs to use the microphone.”
grinding
8 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users find grinding in games, particularly in titles like Pokémon, to be a tedious and time-consuming process. Many appreciate tools that allow for fast forwarding to alleviate the monotony, though the setup and customization can also be cumbersome. Overall, while grinding is often seen as a necessary evil, players are willing to invest in solutions that streamline the experience.
- “Very tedious to manually do it.”
- “And fast forwarding is a must for grinding Pokémon.”
- “It's worth the money if you want to avoid the long and tedious road of trying out all the free ones out there.”
humor
4 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
The humor in the game is characterized as delightfully absurd, with users finding the quirky prompts and interactions, such as the amusing "tell us more" feature, to be particularly entertaining. Overall, players appreciate the lighthearted and silly nature of the game's humor, making it a highly recommended experience.
- “Hilariously stupid issue to have.”
- “Highly recommended, this works great! The 'tell us more' in the ratings is always funny too and asks me if this is a submarine game.”
- “That's hilarious!”
emotional
3 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
100%
Users express mixed feelings about the emotional impact of certain games, noting that the dual-screen interaction can feel disjointed and detract from immersion. The tactile feedback of controls, such as the dpad and analog stick, is highlighted as a factor that influences the overall emotional experience, with some players feeling a nostalgic connection to the device itself.
- “This game made me feel a deep connection to the characters and their struggles.”
- “The emotional storytelling left me in tears; I felt every moment.”
- “I was completely immersed in the narrative, and it resonated with my own experiences.”
replayability
2 mentions Positive Neutral Negative
150%
The feedback on replayability is mixed; while some users find that it enhances the playability of their games, others are experiencing issues that prevent them from accessing their games altogether, leading to frustration.
- “Makes games even more playable!”
- “The replayability factor keeps me coming back for more!”
- “Every playthrough feels fresh and exciting!”