The Nintendo DS, a handheld gaming console juggernaut, boasts over 150 million units sold across its various iterations. Its extensive library of titles, including classics like Mario Kart DS, New Super Mario Bros., Pokemon Diamond and Pearl, and Nintendogs, cemented its place in gaming history. Now, two decades after the DS first launched, a never-before-seen prototype has emerged from the shadows.
A Reddit user recently spotted an eBay listing for LEGO Battles: Castle on a prototype Nintendo DS cartridge. The seller, selling4fun2319, offered this incredibly rare, unfinished build of the game, which ultimately sold for an impressive $950. This highlights the significant collector’s value attached to such unique gaming artifacts.
Although LEGO Battles: Castle never officially launched on the DS, its development wasn’t entirely in vain. Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment and Hellbent Games eventually released LEGO Battles for the Nintendo DS in 2009. This title featured a broader scope, incorporating pirate, space, and medieval themes into its gameplay.
It’s highly probable that the groundwork laid in LEGO Battles: Castle contributed to the final LEGO Battles product. Instead of focusing solely on a medieval setting, Hellbent Games seemingly opted for a more diverse approach, expanding the game’s universe.
While original copies of LEGO Battles are still readily available, this LEGO Battles: Castle prototype likely represents one of only a few in existence. This rarity justifies the high price paid by the collector, securing a piece of Nintendo DS and LEGO gaming history.
