November 24, 2004 - So, you've managed to pick yourself up a Nintendo DS. Or maybe you're hoping to get one sometime during the holidays. Throw a couple games in there and you may think you have everything you need for the complete DS experience.

Or maybe not… With every new hardware launch, and especially portable Nintendo system launches, a slew of accessories flock to store shelves, waiting for completist gamers to pick them up in droves. Not all of them are necessary, or even good, but there they are.

So what's available? Today we're going to run through Nintendo's official accessory list. Check out Nintendo's DS accessory site for info on obtaining these.

Official Accessories

AC Adapter

This is a replacement adapter for the included adapter. If you happen to lose or misplace your included adapter, pick up one of these.

This could be useful in a scenario where you're often traveling to multiple locations and you'd like to save space in your pockets or backpack by not having to haul your adapter around. Pick up an extra one and leave it at grandma's.

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Stylus

Replacement styli are sold in sets of three. Handy for when you drop one down the toilet.

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Replacement Battery

This'll power the crap out of your Nintendo DS. If you aren't getting the crap powered out of it, maybe your old battery is faulty and you need a new one. Hopefully that won't happen anytime soon, but if it dies a couple years down the road, hook up one of these puppies.

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Battery Cover Kit

Holds the above battery in place. You shouldn't need one if your DS is still intact, but your dog somehow manages to bury the cover in your backyard while you're swapping out the battery, snag this.

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Wrist Strap

A replacement for the included wrist strap. This, second to maybe the set of styli, is possibly one of the more useful replacements as your wrist strap may suffer from a fair bit of wear-and-tear over time.

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-- Chris Roper