[DS][2004-2012?] DS game set in a desert with pixely graphics?

Platform(s): Nintendo DS

Genre: It sort of seemed RPG-esque?? I think there was a party system or at least you could play different characters, there was a gear/armour/tool system that makes me think of that but it wasn't in the typical RPG like game sense, like your health wasn't at the bottom like typical RPG/MMORPG games.

Estimated year of release: It was older, so I'm assuming anywhere between the release of the console and like early 2010's. But I could be wrong about this.

Graphics/art style: Realistic but not like. extreme realism. Realism in a fantasy sense, no not like Final Fantasy, I've ruled it out entirely since the style doesn't fit what my brain just barely lets me make out. The models for characters were 3D, at least I remember them being that way, or at least 3D in appearance? The UI was boxy, and I believe also pixels but I could be misremembering. It was also pretty much entirely in warm colours I believe, like yellows and reds and such. Also, it was not an anime style game.

Notable characters: I can't quite remember any in particular, but I believe the main protag you'd primarily play as was some big guy?? With black hair?? And I think there was someone you had to save but I'm not sure if that's my brain making it up or not.

Notable gameplay mechanics: As I mentioned the gear system, my brain is just baaarely letting me make it out, it was odd in the sense of you could get multiple of the gear, not? sure why entirely? And there were multiple sets of armour, and you could get them from I think shops and enemies? And I think there were scorpions you had to fight??? And I think you could do different stuff with said gear, not really enchant it but you could do something with it, my brain refuses to let me think of it though. It was a pretty unique mechanic though.

Other details: I know it had to be on the DS, though I'm not sure if it was the usual small cartridge or the wider cartridge that could be plugged into the front bottom of the DS, and I think I remember the main game being on the top screen, the menus on the bottom but I also feel like it could be reversed? It's all very blurry. The game itself was entirely set in a desert, as far as I remember with it, and it wasn't inherently realism at all, but it had very stemmed in realism type of graphics, in that sort of old realism vibe with an outline to the characters I think? Again, it's blurry for me since my memory isn't the best. The only games I've found that give off a similar energy based on their box art only is Defenders of Oasis and Mazes of Fate. I think the name itself was short but again, it's impossible for me to recall it.

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I hope I set this up right, and I apologize for sounding like a madman probably, but the vaguest memory of this game got beamed into my skull from a video about anti-piracy screens?? And my poor husband has had to sit with me going insane the past few hours about it because it won't leave me alone. It was a childhood game of mine that I played a ton, and I just hope someone else may know it so my plight can be resolved lest this keeps me up for weeks on end, lol.