If you have read my post about my gaming history, then you will have known that Nintendo has played a big role in my gaming life. It first started with the Nintendo Entertainment System. After that, video games weren't allowed in our house for a couple of years. Shortly thereafter, my brother and I each got our own Game Boy Color. Then came the Nintendo 64; then the Game Boy Advance; then the Nintendo GameCube; and then the Nintendo Wii.
Little by little, my interest in Nintendo began to dwindle. I never was too excited to get a Nintendo DS (the same could have been said about the PSP). When the Nintendo 3DS came out, I started considering buying another Nintendo handheld. It helped that Ocarina of Time was being ported to the 3DS. I ended up buying my friend's Nintendo 3DS. I kind of liked it, but I didn't like how it felt in my hands. I thought the Nintendo 3DS XL would remedy that, since it was much larger than the 3DS. I traded in my 3DS and bought a 3DS XL. About six months later, I sold the Nintendo 3DS XL.
At home, I hardly found myself playing the Wii. It was either PlayStation 3 or Xbox 360. When Pokémon X and Pokémon Y were announced, I had begun to regret selling my Nintendo 3DS XL. I didn't want to buy another Nintendo 3DS XL, considering how much money it was going to cost me to buy it and Pokémon X. Of course, an alternative came out of the blue. In early September, Nintendo revealed another member of the 3DS family. That is, the Nintendo 2DS. It is probably a long lost cousin, twice removed or something.
I battled with the idea of buying the Nintendo 2DS. There wasn't too many positive things to find on the Internet. It wasn't the easiest decision, considering I would never hold a 2DS in my hands until I bought one. I did it anyway. I pre-ordered the Nintendo 2DS and waited a month for it to be released. I often wondered if I should cancel my pre-order and buy another 3DS or 3DS XL, but I wanted something new. I already knew I had a hard time with the 3DS or the 3DS XL.
The Nintendo 2DS is the strangest looking device I have seen in a long time. Unlike the other DS systems, the 2DS ditches the clamshell design, replacing that look with a slate-like look. Personally, I really like the slate-design of the Nintendo 2DS, as odd as it may look. It reminds me of the Game Boy Advance, which I really liked during my younger years. To add to the weird design, the 2DS looks somewhat like a wedge. The bottom part of the 2DS is pretty thin, but has a thicker build as you move up. Even though the upper part of the 2DS is thicker, it doesn't feel heavier when you hold it in your hands. Nintendo hasn't stopped making weird looking hardware, and the Nintendo 2DS is a testament of that.
The 2DS's design does have some perks though. I wasn't too impressed with the shoulder buttons of the 3DS and the 3DS XL. They were pretty small. The 2DS's shoulder buttons are big. It feels comfortable placing my index fingers on them. The face buttons are placed perfectly on the 2DS. There were times that I didn't like how the 3DS XL would feel in my hands.
I've also noticed that the D-pad and the A, B, X, Y buttons are a lot softer. Even the Start and Select buttons are soft to the touch. I also like the Home button. It is very similar to the Home button on the Nintendo Wii U game pad.
Because it lacks the clamshell design, the 2DS has a switch that puts the handheld to sleep. Sometimes it is easy to forget where the sleep switch is located, but after some use, it becomes second nature. You'll definitely want to buy the carrying case for the 2DS because it is without the same protection that the 3DS and 3DS XL each have. Another thing that is different on the 2DS is the Wi-Fi switch. Instead, you will have to resort to turning Wi-Fi on and off in the Home Menu. All you need to do is click on the wrench icon. It is a little counter-intuitive, so I just leave Wi-Fi on all the time.
I'm a little surprised that Nintendo didn't improve the battery life though. It doesn't last that long, and that is what disappoints me about the 2DS. I have only had to charge the Nintendo DS lite I recently bought one time, while the 2DS has needed to be charge numerous times because of its poor battery life. You'd think that because it lacks 3D, the battery could have been improved, even by just an hour.
As the name suggests, the Nintendo 2DS lacks 3D capabilities. I never cared much for the 3D on either the 3DS or the 3DS XL, but I can see myself possibly missing it when I notice moments that would be nice to view in 3D. The thing I know I do miss about the 3DS XL is the screen size. I have gotten accustomed to the 5-inch screen on my PS Vita, so having to play on a screen that 3.5-inches is kind of a letdown. You would think that it wouldn't make that big of a difference, but it really does. I tried playing the Kingdom Hearts 3D demo and it was hard playing on such a tiny screen.
The Nintendo 2DS is geared more towards children. The price tag is the cheapest of the three 3DS devices, but it doesn't feel cheap once you get a hold of it. Not only is it cheap, it also looks cheap as well. Holding it in your hands will make all the difference though.
The Nintendo 2DS should be considered an entry level handheld for those new to video games. I wouldn't necessarily recommend buying this device if you already have a 3DS or a 3DS XL. It just doesn't make much sense. Of course, if you're like me, then I definitely think you should buy the Nintendo 2DS. It is a nice change. I have really liked playing Pokémon X and Resident Evil: Revelations on my 2DS.
OVERALL SCORE:
8/10
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