Graphics
Graphically the DS and GBA games are the same with the DS version receiving a few minor touch ups, mostly from the increased resolution. It’s slightly disappointing to see the developers not harness the power of the DS to make the Pokemon sprites take the next step as they did when the series moved from the GB to the GB Colour and then to the GBA. However it was probably more convenient considering they released 2 versions not to do things separately and graphics have never been a major selling point of the Pokemon series anyway.


Sound
The tunes in the game are fairly suitable such that they are not the kind of tracks that will drive you insane when you have to go through a dungeon for the 100th time but rather fall’s in with the presentation of the dungeons. Once again there is nothing to write home about here but everything works well and adds rather than retracts from the core game play.


Conclusion
Pokemon Fushigi no Dungeon is a great game with a very addicting game play structure. However unless you can understand at least some basic Japanese I do not recommend that you import this title and instead pray that they release the game in English. This is because although the game is definently playable without a working knowledge of Japanese you will not be able to immerse yourself in the game and you will remain limited to a very blunt amount of the game to play while the more intricate aspects remain out of bounds. It has however become obvious from my time with the game why the Fushigi no Dungeon series is popular even though I have only been able to scratch the surface and if it ever does get a English release you would do well to give it a go.


Differences between the GBA Red version and DS Blue version
One thing keeping the DS version back is that the developers did not feel the need to utilise what the DS had to offer the title. The top DS screen is only utilised to display the health and level of the Pokemon in your party. The touch screen is only utilised such that there are a few touch screen buttons squashed along the bottom of it which only mimick the exact same actions as pressing the ABXY buttons. They are also awkward to use and in most cases players will ignore them. These additions do not add anything crucial or even that helpful to the game play and are quite disappointing.

Graphically the DS version is only slightly better, but nothing that you will even notice unless you put them side by side. The one crucial advantage that the DS version holds over the GBA one is that it sounds much better. We all know and are used to GBA music but it can never compare to the CD like quality the DS can produce. Once you have listened to the DS version the GBA version will most likely annoy you.

It is my therefore my recommendation that GBA version at a significantly cheaper price I would recommend you buy it over the DS version as you aren’t getting a significantly different game for your money. Currently both sell for the same price so in this situation you might as well just buy the DS version if you have a DS.