The number one selling point of the Nintendo DSi isn’t the new features that were added to the unit.  The number one selling point of the Nintendo DSi is, and will always be, the list of exclusives that will only appear on a Nintendo console.

Below are the top 4 exclusives that will carry the Nintendo DSi to amazing heights of success:

1.  Mario.  If video game is to be assigned a mascot, it should be Mario.  It would be a crime to promote another character to be the ambassador of electronic entertainment.  Mario is the most recognizable figure in the video game industry.  Every Mario title that is released is a cause for celebration, and the Nintendo DSi is one of only two current generation video game systems that will serve as homes for this digital superstar.  With games like New Super Mario Bros., Mario & Luigi, and Mario vs. Donkey Kong, not to mention the other titles where the affable plumber makes a cameo, we can say that the Nintendo DSi has been blessed with a gracious serving of Mario madness.

2. Mario Kart.  Indeed, Mario Kart is another Mario title, but it has completely defined an entire genre that the franchise is worth an entry of its own in this prestigious list.   The first Mario Kart, released on the SNES, revolutionized racing games with fantastic physics and exciting game play.  Every installment of the series since then has been met with much enthusiasm and excitement, and each entry never failed the humongous expectations they were burdened with.  With Mario Kart DS, the Nintendo DSi received what can very well be the best racing game EVER, one which provides an online multiplayer experience that doubles the excitement and the value of the package.

3. Legend of Zelda.  Many believe that the Legend of Zelda series is Shigeru Miyamoto’s greatest creation.  That’s saying a lot about the guy who gave us Mario, F-Zero, Pikmin, Donkey Kong, and most recently, Wii Music.  But people who believe such a claim have a strong argument going for them: that the Legend of Zelda games are some of the finest titles ever released for any console.  Take, for example, the Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64.  It is the first game that ever received a perfect 10 from EGM and Gamespot.  It also received the perfect score from many other review outlets.  No Legend of Zelda game ever received a score below 90% (or its equivalent in other rating scales).  Blessed be the Nintendo DSi then, for it enjoys two Zelda games: the Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass, and the Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks.

4. Pokemon!  Gotta catch ‘em all!  The hit monster collecting game has become nothing short of a global phenomenon.  Originally intended for kids, the game has even captured the imagination of adults as well.  The Nintendo DSi is home to Pokemon Diamond, Pearl and Platinum, games that were hailed to have revitalized the multi-billion dollar franchise.  Soon to arrive on the Nintendo DSi are Pokemon HeartGold and Pokemon SoulSilver.

The rivalry is as heated as the Lakers and the Celtics, as Ali and Frazier, as Triple H and Randy Orton, and as Conan O’Brien and David Letterman.  The battle for this generation’s portable gaming platform of choice isn’t ruled by one handheld console alone.  Two prominent gaming systems are competing for people’s time and money: the Nintendo Gameboy DS (formally known as the Nintendo DS in the market) and the Sony PSP.

Both portable consoled are technological marvels that revolutionized the way the world views gaming on the go.

Though the Sony PSP holds some technical advantages over the Gameboy DS, this article would promote the latter for the following reasons:

1. The Gameboy DS offers revolutionary game play mechanics via a number of innovative features.  Touch screen technology, dual screen display, microphone integration in game play, multiplayer mode by sensing nearby units, multiplayer mode via wifi, and the likes are just some of the fantastic functionalities introduced by the Nintendo DS.  The newest model of the product line, the Nintendo DSi, introduces even more revolutionary features that the Sony PSP can only dream of having, like dual cam functions, enhanced audio playback, and improved processing power (though admittedly, the Sony PSP is king with this regard).

2. The Gameboy DS has a deeper library of games.  Gameboy DS games outnumber Sony PSP games by a ratio of 3:1.  The Gameboy DS is the handheld platform of choice by many game developers, thanks to the primary audience of the portable: children, and the history of Nintendo as a kid-friendly company.  Software defines hardware.  You will have more choices with a Nintendo DS.

3. The Gameboy DS is home to some outstanding exclusives.  Mario, Legend of Zelda, Donkey Kong, Metroid, Wario, Kirby, Pokemon, Animal Crossing, and Pikmin – these are franchises that will never, ever grace a console that doesn’t have the Nintendo brand stamped on its surface.  The Sony PSP has its own share of exclusives, by their number falls pale in comparison to the sheer amount of original properties that have made Nintendo the number one gaming company throughout the years.

4. The Gameboy DS offers more functional software applications compared to the Sony PSP.  Whether it’s a weight loss coach or a yoga/pilates instructor or even a language teacher, the variety of Gameboy DS applications makes the system a more dynamic platform.  It’s not just all games.  The Nintendo DS can also deliver some life enhancing applications.

5. The latest incarnation of the Gameboy DS, the Nintendo DSi, only improves on what is already an amazing list of features.  2010 is poised to become a battleground for the Nintendo DSi and the Playstation Portable’s newest incarnation, the Sony PSP Go!  Still, the Nintendo DSi is expected to win the war because of the reasons enumerated above and because it still maintains the core philosophy observed by the original Gameboy DS: to revolutionize the way people play games.

Exclusives.  This is the strength of Nintendo, and consequently, this is the strength of its latest video gaming console: the Nintendo Wii.  Properties like Mario, Luigi, Link, Zelda, Samus, Metroid, Donkey Kong, Diddy Kong, Pikachu, Pokemon, and Kirby are staples of every generation Nintendo system.  Newly rejuvenated franchises like Punch Out and Kid Icarus are excellent additions to the current roster.  And new properties like Animal Crossing are guaranteed to bring in new fans for the company.

Hence, it should come as no surprise that the 4 “must own” Wii games on our list will involve these properties that will never appear for any other companies.  Only Nintendo Wii (and maybe even Nintendo DS) owners will be able to enjoy them.

Let’s take a look at the 4 Nintendo Wii games that no Wii owner should do without.

1.  Super Mario Galaxy.  Super Mario 64 for the N64 revolutionized the platforming genre by evolving the gaming experience into a 3D environment.  Super Mario Galaxy takes the evolution a little further.  You won’t be running across a flat surface and jumping over occasional obstacles anymore.  This time, you’ll be running around an entire – albeit conveniently smaller – planet.  Indeed, Wii games are rendering surfaces into spherical planes these days, and Super Mario Galaxy is at the forefront of the revolution.  Add to the foregoing is SMG’s highly addictive game play and very fulfilling rewards system and you have one of the best Wii games available in the market today.

2. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess.  Being a launch title, this installment of the long running – and highly acclaimed – Zelda series had the weight of the work on its shoulders.  Well, it eventually proved to be the bestselling title among the many Wii games available at launch, thanks to its pedigree.  The sales for the title was so strong that industry experts believed that it was able to compel many people to buy the Nintendo Wii, building the momentum that the console has enjoyed and has never relinquished to this very day.

3. Super Mario Bros. Brawl.  Imagine each and every character owned by Nintendo who have appeared in exclusive NES, SNES, Gameboy, Gameboy Advance, N64, Gamecube, DS and Wii games ever released, appearing in one title – a fighting game for the ages.  Link vs. Mario?  Consider it done.  Bowser vs. Donkey Kong?  Let their battle decide who is the best big guy in Nintendo Land.  Princess Mushroom vs. Luigi?  It’s time for the green-attired plumber to prove that he’s not the sissy that everyone paints him to be.  Super Mario Bros. Brawl remains the highest rated among the Wii games released so far, a testament to the quality and fun that are present in the game.

4. Mario Kart Wii.  Speaking of fun, Mario Kart Wii promises to provided countess hours of enjoyment for the entire family.  The games belonging to the Mario Kart series rank among the best driving games in the industry.  Mario Kart Wii is no exception.  Like many other Wii games, Mario Kart Wii makes excellent use of the Wiimote’s motion sensing capabilities.  Hold the Wiimote sideways and pretend that it’s the steering wheel, and you’re all set to go!