Nintendo 3DS XL Review

The 3DS has hit it's stride and it's a great place to jump on board.

 

 The Nintendo 3DS is in a boom and its momentum seems unstoppable. I originally picked up a 3DS in 2011, after it went on sale, and I have to say that it was definitely worth the investment. I spent many an hour re-visiting old DS classics like Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney, Radient Historia and 9Hours 9Persons 9Doors. Then the flood of 3DS titles arrived in a tsunami of variety; Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Resident Evil: Revelations, Kid Icarus: Uprising and that's just to list a "few". Need less to say there has been no shortage of games to choose from, when it comes to 3DS games. The system itself is quite sturdy. It is available in both its original 3.5 inch screen variant( which comes in a variety of colors including; Cosmo black, Aqua blue, Red and purple variations) and the heavily marketed 90 percent larger screen variant the 3DS XL, which comes in at around 4.8 inches. The XL comes in fewer color variations as of this post including red, blue and more recently pink/white.



The buttons on the XL are, as one would expect, larger than that of the normal 3DS version and, all the same, they feel solid and responsive. One change from the 3DS to the XL that is of note--besides the screen--is the more tactile, raised select, home and start buttons. The enlarged screen of the 3DSXL goes a long way towards immersing you into the gaming experience on the handheld. While the resolution remains the same on both the normal 3DS and the XL it doesn't detract from the overall experience.The 3D on either version of the system is, in my opinion, not so much a necessary feature as it is a gimmick. I do appreciate the, literal, added depth of the 3D, but, for the most part, I keep the 3D slider(which allows you to adjust or completely turn-off the 3D effect on the top screen) set to off. The 3D slider on the XL locks into place, which is a nice touch. the resolution on the top and bottom screens of the 3DS are nothing short of underwhelming, but let me just say ( regardless of the 800 X 240 of the top screen and the bottoms 320X240) the games on the 3DS tend to have some of the best art direction and look spectacular, especially if you can appreciate them for what they are. The touch screen on the XL has the added space needed for some games, such as Art Academy, and extra real-estate in-general makes the use of the bottom screen a bit more convenient on the XL; this, of course, does not mean that the original 3DS suffers from any dysfunction or is in any way wanting due to a lack of space as it functions well and is just as responsive as the XL's.

With a newly minted E-shop that continues to improve and includes a slew of downloadable titles that cover a wide creative breath, including Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword and Crashmo, the 3DS is no stranger to those interested in the online-network features. The friend code system can be a bit overbearing as it places an extra barrier in the way of adding and managing friends and lists and when compared to the streamlined and well established systems on the PSN/ Xbox Live. The 3DS also offers street pass, which allows users--at the discretion of the publishers/developers of their games--to trade information or gaming data in exchange for extra content or features being unlocked in-game. There is also a spot pass feature which utilizes an internet connection in order for Nintendo or other publishers to send you extra content (add-ons, unlocks, videos, etc.). I find street pass and spot pass to be quite enjoyable, mostly when I can find someone around me with the same games and/or even a 3DS.

Overall I would definitely recommend the 3DS and the 3DSXL because while they might not boast the most advanced technology out there, the 3DS is a solid handheld with, most importantly, a great games library that seems to grow monthly. So, with recent releases like Animal Crossing: New Leaf, Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon, Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and future releases like Mario and Luigi: Dream Team the 3DS looks like a sure bet and less like a risky deal.     


Thanks for reading. I will most likely post more info on my 3DS experiences, especially gaming-wise, in the future. So, if your interested stay tuned.

• If I had to give a score for hardware, lets just say I'd go nuts. So, I think I will give hardware a recommendation for now. Thus I wholeheartedly recommend either the original 3DS or the 3DS XL.