diff --git a/backends/platform/ds/background.cpp b/backends/platform/ds/background.cpp
index fafe4dab74f..606aaf45494 100644
--- a/backends/platform/ds/background.cpp
+++ b/backends/platform/ds/background.cpp
@@ -23,17 +23,32 @@
 #include <nds.h>
 
 #include "backends/platform/ds/background.h"
+#include "backends/platform/ds/blitters.h"
 
 namespace DS {
 
-BgSize getBgSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB, int &realPitch) {
+Background::Background() :
+	_bg(-1), _visible(true), _swScale(false),
+	_realPitch(0), _realHeight(0),
+	_pfCLUT8(Graphics::PixelFormat::createFormatCLUT8()),
+	_pfABGR1555(Graphics::PixelFormat(2, 5, 5, 5, 1, 0, 5, 10, 15)) {
+}
+
+static BgSize getBgSize(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, bool swScale, uint16 &realPitch, uint16 &realHeight) {
+	if (swScale) {
+		isRGB = true;
+		width = (width * 4) / 5;
+	}
+
 	BgSize size;
 	if (width > 512 && !isRGB) {
 		size = BgSize_B8_1024x512;
 		realPitch = 1024;
+		realHeight = 512;
 	} else if (height > 512 && !isRGB) {
 		size = BgSize_B8_512x1024;
 		realPitch = 512;
+		realHeight = 1024;
 	} else if (height > 256) {
 		if (isRGB) {
 			size = BgSize_B16_512x512;
@@ -42,6 +57,7 @@ BgSize getBgSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB, int &realPitch) {
 			size = BgSize_B8_512x512;
 			realPitch = 512;
 		}
+		realHeight = 512;
 	} else if (width > 256) {
 		if (isRGB) {
 			size = BgSize_B16_512x256;
@@ -50,6 +66,7 @@ BgSize getBgSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB, int &realPitch) {
 			size = BgSize_B8_512x256;
 			realPitch = 512;
 		}
+		realHeight = 256;
 	} else if (width > 128 || height > 128) {
 		if (isRGB) {
 			size = BgSize_B16_256x256;
@@ -58,6 +75,7 @@ BgSize getBgSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB, int &realPitch) {
 			size = BgSize_B8_256x256;
 			realPitch = 256;
 		}
+		realHeight = 256;
 	} else {
 		if (isRGB) {
 			size = BgSize_B16_128x128;
@@ -66,42 +84,133 @@ BgSize getBgSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB, int &realPitch) {
 			size = BgSize_B8_128x128;
 			realPitch = 128;
 		}
+		realHeight = 128;
 	}
 	return size;
 }
 
-void Background::create(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, int layer, bool isSub, int mapBase) {
-	const Graphics::PixelFormat f = isRGB ? Graphics::PixelFormat(2, 5, 5, 5, 1, 0, 5, 10, 15) : Graphics::PixelFormat::createFormatCLUT8();
+size_t Background::getRequiredVRAM(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, bool swScale) {
+	uint16 realPitch, realHeight;
+	/* BgSize size = */ getBgSize(width, height, isRGB, swScale, realPitch, realHeight);
+	return realPitch * realHeight;
+}
+
+void Background::create(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB) {
+	const Graphics::PixelFormat f = isRGB ? _pfABGR1555 : _pfCLUT8;
+	Surface::create(width, height, f);
+	_bg = -1;
+	_swScale = false;
+}
+
+void Background::create(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, int layer, bool isSub, int mapBase, bool swScale) {
+	const Graphics::PixelFormat f = isRGB ? _pfABGR1555 : _pfCLUT8;
 	Surface::create(width, height, f);
 
-	BgType type = isRGB ? BgType_Bmp16 : BgType_Bmp8;
-	BgSize size = getBgSize(width, height, isRGB, _realPitch);
+	BgType type = (isRGB || swScale) ? BgType_Bmp16 : BgType_Bmp8;
+	BgSize size = getBgSize(width, height, isRGB, swScale, _realPitch, _realHeight);
 
 	if (isSub) {
 		_bg = bgInitSub(layer, type, size, mapBase, 0);
 	} else {
 		_bg = bgInit(layer, type, size, mapBase, 0);
 	}
+
+	_swScale = swScale;
+}
+
+void Background::init(Background *surface) {
+	Surface::init(surface->w, surface->h, surface->pitch, surface->pixels, surface->format);
+	_bg = -1;
+	_swScale = false;
+}
+
+void Background::init(Background *surface, int layer, bool isSub, int mapBase, bool swScale) {
+	Surface::init(surface->w, surface->h, surface->pitch, surface->pixels, surface->format);
+
+	bool isRGB = (format != _pfCLUT8);
+	BgType type = (isRGB || swScale) ? BgType_Bmp16 : BgType_Bmp8;
+	BgSize size = getBgSize(w, h, isRGB, swScale, _realPitch, _realHeight);
+
+	if (isSub) {
+		_bg = bgInitSub(layer, type, size, mapBase, 0);
+	} else {
+		_bg = bgInit(layer, type, size, mapBase, 0);
+	}
+
+	_swScale = swScale;
+}
+
+static void dmaBlit(uint16 *dst, const uint dstPitch, const uint16 *src, const uint srcPitch,
+                    const uint w, const uint h, const uint bytesPerPixel) {
+	if (dstPitch == srcPitch && ((w * bytesPerPixel) == dstPitch)) {
+		dmaCopy(src, dst, dstPitch * h);
+		return;
+	}
+
+	// The DS video RAM doesn't support 8-bit writes because Nintendo wanted
+	// to save a few pennies/euro cents on the hardware.
+
+	uint row = w * bytesPerPixel;
+
+	for (uint dy = 0; dy < h; dy += 2) {
+		const u16 *src1 = src;
+		src += (srcPitch >> 1);
+		DC_FlushRange(src1, row << 1);
+
+		const u16 *src2 = src;
+		src += (srcPitch >> 1);
+		DC_FlushRange(src2, row << 1);
+
+		u16 *dest1 = dst;
+		dst += (dstPitch >> 1);
+		DC_FlushRange(dest1, row << 1);
+
+		u16 *dest2 = dst;
+		dst += (dstPitch >> 1);
+		DC_FlushRange(dest2, row << 1);
+
+		dmaCopyHalfWordsAsynch(2, src1, dest1, row);
+		dmaCopyHalfWordsAsynch(3, src2, dest2, row);
+
+		while (dmaBusy(2) || dmaBusy(3));
+	}
 }
 
 void Background::update() {
-	u16 *src = (u16 *)getPixels();
+	if (_bg < 0)
+		return;
+
 	u16 *dst = bgGetGfxPtr(_bg);
-	dmaCopy(src, dst, _realPitch * h);
+	if (_swScale) {
+		if (format == _pfCLUT8) {
+			Rescale_320x256xPAL8_To_256x256x1555(
+				dst, (const u8 *)getPixels(), _realPitch / 2, pitch, BG_PALETTE, h);
+		} else {
+			Rescale_320x256x1555_To_256x256x1555(
+				dst, (const u16 *)getPixels(), _realPitch / 2, pitch / 2);
+		}
+	} else {
+		dmaBlit(dst, _realPitch, (const u16 *)getPixels(), pitch, w, h, format.bytesPerPixel);
+	}
 }
 
 void Background::reset() {
+	if (_bg < 0)
+		return;
+
 	u16 *dst = bgGetGfxPtr(_bg);
 	dmaFillHalfWords(0, dst, _realPitch * h);
 }
 
 void Background::show() {
-	bgShow(_bg);
+	if (_bg >= 0)
+		bgShow(_bg);
 	_visible = true;
 }
 
 void Background::hide() {
-	bgHide(_bg);
+	if (_bg >= 0)
+		bgHide(_bg);
 	_visible = false;
 }
 
diff --git a/backends/platform/ds/background.h b/backends/platform/ds/background.h
index 4bce40ca14c..c64e0f89a9e 100644
--- a/backends/platform/ds/background.h
+++ b/backends/platform/ds/background.h
@@ -29,7 +29,13 @@ namespace DS {
 
 class Background : public Graphics::Surface {
 public:
-	void create(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, int layer, bool isSub, int mapBase);
+	Background();
+
+	size_t getRequiredVRAM(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, bool swScale);
+	void create(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB);
+	void create(uint16 width, uint16 height, bool isRGB, int layer, bool isSub, int mapBase, bool swScale);
+	void init(Background *surface);
+	void init(Background *surface, int layer, bool isSub, int mapBase, bool swScale);
 
 	void update();
 	void reset();
@@ -51,8 +57,9 @@ public:
 
 protected:
 	int _bg;
-	bool _visible;
-	int _realPitch;
+	bool _visible, _swScale;
+	uint16 _realPitch, _realHeight;
+	const Graphics::PixelFormat _pfCLUT8, _pfABGR1555;
 };
 
 } // End of namespace DS
diff --git a/backends/platform/ds/ds-graphics.cpp b/backends/platform/ds/ds-graphics.cpp
index 33f13686c6f..1404882cd2a 100644
--- a/backends/platform/ds/ds-graphics.cpp
+++ b/backends/platform/ds/ds-graphics.cpp
@@ -23,7 +23,6 @@
 #include <nds.h>
 
 #include "backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.h"
-#include "backends/platform/ds/blitters.h"
 
 #include "common/translation.h"
 
@@ -83,24 +82,17 @@ void setTopScreenTarget(int x, int y) {
 	subScTargetY <<=8;
 }
 
-void setGameSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB) {
+void setGameSize(int width, int height) {
 	gameWidth = width;
 	gameHeight = height;
 
-	vramSetBankB(VRAM_B_MAIN_BG_0x06020000);
-	vramSetBankD(VRAM_D_MAIN_BG_0x06040000);
-
 	if (g_system->getGraphicsMode() == GFX_SWSCALE) {
-		REG_BG3CNT = BG_BMP16_256x256 | BG_BMP_BASE(8);
-
 		REG_BG3PA = 256;
 		REG_BG3PB = 0;
 		REG_BG3PC = 0;
 		REG_BG3PD = (int) ((200.0f / 192.0f) * 256);
 
 	} else {
-		REG_BG3CNT = (isRGB ? BG_BMP16_512x256 :BG_BMP8_512x256) | BG_BMP_BASE(8);
-
 		REG_BG3PA = (int) (((float) (gameWidth) / 256.0f) * 256);
 		REG_BG3PB = 0;
 		REG_BG3PC = 0;
@@ -108,8 +100,6 @@ void setGameSize(int width, int height, bool isRGB) {
 	}
 
 #ifdef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
-	REG_BG3CNT_SUB = BG_BMP8_512x256;
-
 	REG_BG3PA_SUB = (int) (subScreenWidth / 256.0f * 256);
 	REG_BG3PB_SUB = 0;
 	REG_BG3PC_SUB = 0;
@@ -281,6 +271,8 @@ void initHardware() {
 
 	videoSetMode(MODE_5_2D | DISPLAY_BG3_ACTIVE);
 	vramSetBankA(VRAM_A_MAIN_BG_0x06000000);
+	vramSetBankB(VRAM_B_MAIN_BG_0x06020000);
+	vramSetBankD(VRAM_D_MAIN_BG_0x06040000);
 	vramSetBankE(VRAM_E_MAIN_SPRITE);
 
 	scX = 0;
@@ -314,7 +306,7 @@ void OSystem_DS::initGraphics() {
 	oamInit(&oamMain, SpriteMapping_Bmp_1D_128, false);
 	_cursorSprite = oamAllocateGfx(&oamMain, SpriteSize_64x64, SpriteColorFormat_Bmp);
 
-	_overlay.create(256, 192, true, 2, false, 0);
+	_overlay.create(256, 192, true, 2, false, 0, false);
 }
 
 bool OSystem_DS::hasFeature(Feature f) {
@@ -404,17 +396,27 @@ Common::List<Graphics::PixelFormat> OSystem_DS::getSupportedFormats() const {
 
 void OSystem_DS::initSize(uint width, uint height, const Graphics::PixelFormat *format) {
 	Graphics::PixelFormat actualFormat = format ? *format : _pfCLUT8;
-	_framebuffer.create(width, height, actualFormat);
+	bool isRGB = (actualFormat != _pfCLUT8), swScale = ((_graphicsMode == GFX_SWSCALE) && (width == 320));
 
 	// For Lost in Time, the title screen is displayed in 640x400.
 	// In order to support this game, the screen mode is set, but
 	// all draw calls are ignored until the game switches to 320x200.
-	if ((width == 640) && (height == 400)) {
-		_graphicsEnable = false;
+	if (_framebuffer.getRequiredVRAM(width, height, isRGB, swScale) > 0x40000) {
+		_framebuffer.create(width, height, isRGB);
 	} else {
-		_graphicsEnable = true;
-		DS::setGameSize(width, height, (actualFormat != _pfCLUT8));
+		_framebuffer.reset();
+		_framebuffer.create(width, height, isRGB, 3, false, 8, swScale);
+		DS::setGameSize(width, height);
 	}
+
+#ifdef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
+	if (_framebuffer.getRequiredVRAM(width, height, isRGB, false) > 0x20000) {
+		_subScreen.init(&_framebuffer);
+	} else {
+		_subScreen.reset();
+		_subScreen.init(&_framebuffer, 3, true, 0, false);
+	}
+#endif
 }
 
 int16 OSystem_DS::getHeight() {
@@ -485,37 +487,6 @@ void OSystem_DS::copyRectToScreen(const void *buf, int pitch, int x, int y, int
 	_framebuffer.copyRectToSurface(buf, pitch, x, y, w, h);
 }
 
-void OSystem_DS::dmaBlit(uint16 *dst, const uint dstPitch, const uint16 *src, const uint srcPitch,
-                         const uint w, const uint h, const uint bytesPerPixel) {
-	// The DS video RAM doesn't support 8-bit writes because Nintendo wanted
-	// to save a few pennies/euro cents on the hardware.
-
-	uint row = w * bytesPerPixel;
-
-	for (uint dy = 0; dy < h; dy += 2) {
-		const u16 *src1 = src;
-		src += (srcPitch >> 1);
-		DC_FlushRange(src1, row << 1);
-
-		const u16 *src2 = src;
-		src += (srcPitch >> 1);
-		DC_FlushRange(src2, row << 1);
-
-		u16 *dest1 = dst;
-		dst += (dstPitch >> 1);
-		DC_FlushRange(dest1, row << 1);
-
-		u16 *dest2 = dst;
-		dst += (dstPitch >> 1);
-		DC_FlushRange(dest2, row << 1);
-
-		dmaCopyHalfWordsAsynch(2, src1, dest1, row);
-		dmaCopyHalfWordsAsynch(3, src2, dest2, row);
-
-		while (dmaBusy(2) || dmaBusy(3));
-	}
-}
-
 void OSystem_DS::updateScreen() {
 	oamSet(&oamMain, 0, _cursorPos.x - _cursorHotX, _cursorPos.y - _cursorHotY, 0, 15, SpriteSize_64x64,
 	       SpriteColorFormat_Bmp, _cursorSprite, 0, false, !_cursorVisible, false, false, false);
@@ -523,34 +494,11 @@ void OSystem_DS::updateScreen() {
 
 	if (_overlay.isVisible()) {
 		_overlay.update();
-	} else if (_graphicsEnable) {
-		u16 *base = BG_GFX + 0x10000;
-		if (_graphicsMode == GFX_SWSCALE) {
-			if (_framebuffer.format == _pfCLUT8) {
-				Rescale_320x256xPAL8_To_256x256x1555(
-					base,
-					(const u8 *)_framebuffer.getPixels(),
-					256,
-					_framebuffer.pitch,
-					BG_PALETTE,
-					_framebuffer.h );
-			} else {
-				Rescale_320x256x1555_To_256x256x1555(
-					base,
-					(const u16 *)_framebuffer.getPixels(),
-					256,
-					_framebuffer.pitch / 2 );
-			}
-		} else {
-			dmaBlit(base, 512 * _framebuffer.format.bytesPerPixel,
-				(const u16 *)_framebuffer.getPixels(), _framebuffer.pitch,
-				_framebuffer.w, _framebuffer.h, _framebuffer.format.bytesPerPixel);
-
+	} else {
+		_framebuffer.update();
 #ifdef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
-			if (_framebuffer.format == _pfCLUT8)
-				dmaCopy(base, BG_GFX_SUB, 512 * 256);
+		_subScreen.update();
 #endif
-		}
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.cpp b/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.cpp
index 0473971704f..2c6b265c143 100644
--- a/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.cpp
+++ b/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.cpp
@@ -45,9 +45,8 @@
 OSystem_DS *OSystem_DS::_instance = NULL;
 
 OSystem_DS::OSystem_DS()
-	: _eventSource(NULL), _isOverlayShown(true),
+	: _eventSource(NULL), _disableCursorPalette(true),
 	_graphicsMode(GFX_HWSCALE), _stretchMode(100),
-	_disableCursorPalette(true), _graphicsEnable(true),
 	_pfCLUT8(Graphics::PixelFormat::createFormatCLUT8()),
 	_pfABGR1555(Graphics::PixelFormat(2, 5, 5, 5, 1, 0, 5, 10, 15)),
 	_callbackTimer(10), _currentTimeMillis(0)
@@ -130,18 +129,6 @@ void OSystem_DS::getTimeAndDate(TimeDate &td) const {
 void OSystem_DS::quit() {
 }
 
-void OSystem_DS::engineInit() {
-#ifdef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
-	videoBgEnableSub(3);
-#endif
-}
-
-void OSystem_DS::engineDone() {
-#ifdef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
-	videoBgDisableSub(3);
-#endif
-}
-
 void OSystem_DS::logMessage(LogMessageType::Type type, const char *message) {
 #ifndef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
 	printf("%s", message);
diff --git a/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.h b/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.h
index f257545cda0..cc3351fcbcb 100644
--- a/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.h
+++ b/backends/platform/ds/osystem_ds.h
@@ -39,9 +39,11 @@ enum {
 
 class OSystem_DS : public ModularMutexBackend, public ModularMixerBackend, public PaletteManager {
 protected:
-	DS::Background _overlay;
-	Graphics::Surface _framebuffer, _cursor;
-	bool _graphicsEnable, _isOverlayShown;
+	DS::Background _framebuffer, _overlay;
+#ifdef DISABLE_TEXT_CONSOLE
+	DS::Background _subScreen;
+#endif
+	Graphics::Surface _cursor;
 	int _graphicsMode, _stretchMode;
 
 	static OSystem_DS *_instance;
@@ -60,9 +62,6 @@ protected:
 
 	void initGraphics();
 
-	void dmaBlit(uint16 *dst, const uint dstPitch, const uint16 *src, const uint srcPitch,
-	             const uint w, const uint h, const uint bytesPerPixel);
-
 	bool _disableCursorPalette;
 
 	const Graphics::PixelFormat _pfCLUT8, _pfABGR1555;
@@ -138,9 +137,6 @@ public:
 	virtual void setFocusRectangle(const Common::Rect& rect);
 	virtual void clearFocusRectangle();
 
-	virtual void engineInit();
-	virtual void engineDone();
-
 	virtual void initBackend();
 
 	virtual Graphics::Surface *lockScreen();