logo

Info

Reviewbucket.co.uk scanned the internet for Nintendo 3DS XL reviews.
You can find all Nintendo 3DS XL reviews and ratings on this page.

Read the reviews.

Analysis

For Nintendo 3DS XL, 1924 customer reviews collected from 1 e-commerce sites, and the average score is 4.5.

Detailed seller stats;
Amazon has 1924 customer reviews and the average score is 4.5. Go to this seller.

Detail

Click to list all products in this category.

Similar Items

2.10.2013

This review is meant for people who do not have a 3DS at all and are wondering which model to buy.EDIT: Before reading this review, please be aware than in February 2015 a NEW model 3DS will be released, the "New 3DS" and "New 3DSXL" have many improvements, including faster processing speed, a minor graphics upgrade, extra controls (meaning you no longer need the circle pad pro attachment for games that required it) and a big improvement to the quality of the 3D (including motion tracking that means you don't have to hold it completely still to enjoy the 3D effect). If you want the best version of the 3DS I recommend waiting until mid February and buying the new one,but if you want a decent 3DS at a lower price I also recommend waiting, since the release of the new 3DS models will likely drive down the price of the old models significantly.Anyway, back to the review:I bought this as an upgrade to my old DS lite so that I'd be able to play 3DS games and play my old DS games on a larger screen.Overall this is a very good system and I'm glad I bought this, I'm enjoying the games I bought for it and it's a fun and easy to use system, I REALLY LIKE THIS CONSOLE, but there are a few things that could be better and I recognise that other people considering buying may want different things from their console, so for people still not sure I have put together a pro vs. con review to help them decide. For comparisons between the standard 3DS and the XL I've been looking at my nephew's 3DS.Let's get the cons out of the way first:For the XL specifically:- as many people have mentioned, the XL does not come with a charger, you will have to buy it separately, but it's only about £5 from Amazon so it's not that big a price difference, you can pay more than that just for having a different colour, this is just something to be aware of when buying: unless you have a compatible charger already, order one with your purchase.- the larger size and weight of this console makes me feel a bit paranoid that I might drop it when playing, whereas the smaller DS I have is very easy to keep a good grip on and I feel comfortable letting my nephews use it without fear of them dropping it but I wouldn't let them use my 3DSXL, so for people with small hands or buying for their kids the standard 3DS might be better. Also, the back plate of the XL clicks a little when pressed in the middle, as it's a removable plate and made from slightly flexible plastic, whereas on previous smaller versions the back has a small plate in it that could be removed for replacing a damaged battery, etc so the standard 3DS has a more solid back.- the larger size also makes the device less portable than its smaller counterpart, which is pretty much pocket-sized, so if you want to carry the console around with you a lot you might prefer the smaller 3DS, there are some neat carry-cases for the XL though.- the SD card on the XL is a lot harder to remove (if you want to replace it or put music or videos on it) than on the standard 3DS, I found it quite fiddly and tricky to get to. (New 3DS will be even more fiddly because you have to remove the back plate to get to the SD card).- Yes, the 3DSXL is expensive, and for some people not worth it. Currently the standard red and blue versions are the cheapest on Amazon, so if you don't want to pay out too much get those, but if price is your biggest concern then there's the ordinary 3DS (which is marginally cheaper and comes with an adapter) and the 2DS (which is much cheaper but with no 3D and is solid rather than hinged) to consider too, I do think the console is worth the price though for what you get.For the 3DS family in general:- the 3D effect can be hard to maintain on some games, as it goes blurry every time you move away from the "sweet spot" and can make the models appear more pixelated.(note, "New 3DS" models have a face tracking addition that apparently makes the 3D more stable, something to consider if buying now)- the games on the nintendo e-shop seem rather expensive compared to retail price, and that goes for the virtual console games too, you could buy physical copies second hand for about the same price as the downloads. I also think the full 3DS games would quickly fill up the provided SD card so I'd recommend buying the retail versions.- the headphone jack is on the front, which means it can be a bit uncomfortable if resting the 3DSXL against your chest while playing, (all the DS and 3DS range have their headphone jack at the front, including the "New 3DS" models I'd expected the larger console to have it at the back as there's enough space for it but it is at the front too)- the built in browser is kind of... bad, it doesn't play flash videos, (although there is now a youtube ap. available for free from the nintendo e-shop, so you can at least watch youtube videos, though not in great quality) and for most websites it uses the mobile phone version of the site -- but let's face it, you don't buy a games console to browse the internet, you'd have a smartphone for that or just use your computer.Edit: the browser has been updated and is better than the old one, but still fairly slow. It's been said that the speed of the browser and other online functions will be greatly improved with the New 3DS models though.However, there are a lot of good reasons to buy this system:For the XL specifically:- the 3D effect does look surprisingly good, as I said it can be a little tricky to keep in the sweet-spot but when you do the effect does add a lot of depth, especially on the larger screen.- the larger screens really do look good, when comparing my old DS lite to the 3DS XL the difference in the size and clarity of the screens is very clear, the 3DS XL provides a much better gaming experience just in how much better the games look when played on it. I'd recommend screen-protectors though, as the screens will scratch, especially the bottom one when you use the stylus, and also the default brightness setting is quite glaring, so turn that down to three or four.- the 3DSXL comes with a decent sized 4GB SD card, twice the size of the standard 3DS, on which you can save game data, audio, pictures and video etc. and transfer them to your computer by removing the card and putting it into an SD card slot or getting a USB adapter that will do the same, you can also transfer mp3 music onto the SD card to play them on the 3DS and there are programs you can find online to convert video into a format and size that you can play on the 3DS too. As I said the only trouble is that it can be a bit fiddly getting the card in and out.- the hinge clicks into place nicely, the build is sturdy (and feels much more substantial than the old DS lite I have) and there are a lot of small features that are improved over the standard 3DS like the position of the stylus and the finger-print-resistant surface.- the rounded edges make this much more comfortable to hold than the smaller 3DS, which my nephews have, and if you have larger hands you will find it easier to use the controls on the XL than the smaller version, also the analogue pad is actually pretty good, though I still prefer to use the D-pad for most games.(note: the "New 3DS" will have the same rounded edges and matt finish in both the small and XL models, so this is only an advantage over the old 3DS)For the 3DS family in general:- the home page and the various aps you get with the console and can purchase for it are very nicely laid out and easy to use, and the 3DS comes with a number of built in applications that are rather neat such as the letter box (update: which *used to* let you send notes to friends but alas due to a few irresponsible users sending inappropriate messages and pictures the sending of notes has now been disabled) and a few built in games like the mii plaza games (although some of these require streetpasses) and "face raiders" that are quite fun, so you can use this console straight away even if you haven't bought any games for it yet.- both the 3DS and 3DSXL have three built-in cameras, one on the inside to take pictures of your face for some games and applications, and two on the outside which allow you to take 2D and 3D photos and also videos, which can be played back on the 3DS or transferred to a computer using the SD card.- parental security controls, if you want to buy one for your kids then on all the 3DS platforms there are parental controls you can use to disable internet access and some other features if you don't want your kids using them, you can read more about it on the nintendo webiste.- the streetpass and friends list features are very handy and let you link up with friends online for multiplayer easily, and both the 3DS and 3DSXL support WEP and WPA security for wifi, whereas the DS only supported WEP. There's also some neat things you can do with the mii plaza games by collecting street passes, as I mentioned above.- although I mentioned that the retail games on the e-shop are a tad expensive, there are a great variety of games available on it, and some reasonably priced download-exclusives, plus although I think the virtual console games are a little over-priced this does let you play some great old titles on this portable platform, which is a neat feature.- as for retail games, well there is a great variety, and they generally use both the touch screen and the 3D effect well, but I go into more detail about that below.GamesThe most important thing to consider when buying the console is whether it will cater to your gaming tastes. For me the main reason for buying this console is the games, there is a good variety of genres that cater for a range of ages, including games for children, games for teens and adults (including some you might not expect like Metal Gear Solid and Tekken), and games that everyone will enjoy, but most of all the games I bought this console for were the exclusive titles like Mario, Pokémon, Professor Layton, etc.It's also great that as well as 3DS games you can play old DS and DSi games on this system, which means you'll have a lot of games available to you between those platforms, so if you don't have a DS at all but want to play the games then this is the handheld for you since it will play them all. You can't play Gameboy Advance games on the 3DS like on the old DS, but the gameboy advance is pretty cheap second hand these days if you really wanted one, or if you're upgrading from the old DS with a GBA slot, just keep the old one, as you won't get all that much in trade value, then you can still play your old GBA games and also do self-trading in games like pokémon.I hope my review has been helpful, I've tried to cover every consideration so sorry if I seem to waffle on a bit.Summary:Overall this is the best handheld console Nintendo have produced to this day*, so really it boils down to exactly what you want from a gaming device. Take a good look at the games available, if they don't spark your interest then you're better off with a smartphone, but if nostalgia grabs you when you see Mario 3D Land, Luigi's Mansion, Star Fox 3D or Pokémon X and Y then go for it. As for other DS models, well if you're buying for young kids and want something sturdy and less expensive there's the 2DS, if you want something more portable or you want a console for smaller hands that will still have 3D then get the standard 3DS, but for the best visuals and ease of use I'd say the 3DS XL is the best in the range, just don't forget to buy the power adapter with it.*Again, until the "New 3DS" range come out.
Read more..

31.12.2013

Since this product includes both the 3DS and the Zelda: A Link Between The Worlds game, I'll do them separately.Firstly, the DS. It's a XL (extra-large) 3DS and yes, it's large. I had personally never seen the appeal of the XL 3DS before, feeling that it was too over-the-top and excessive. The normal sized DS had always treated me well so I couldn't imagine why you would want to go any bigger. However upon playing a 3D game for the first time, I realised that the XL option is practical. The 3D mode is strange and does give me a headache after a while, but I am glad for the large screen - I can appreciate the detail and complexity of the 3D, and since there's so much to look at I'm not forced to focus on one part of the screen,which would probably make me feel even more sick. Technology these days seems to keep getting smaller and smaller, but in this case I definitely think bigger is better.As for the black and gold Zelda design of the 3DS, it's wonderful. The colour isn't too shiny or too bold, but it's still pleasing to look at. The triforce image just completes the picture. I would definitely recommend buying this version of the DS for any die-hard Zelda fan just for the fact that it feels special. Especially when I'm playing A Link Between The Worlds.The only downside to this model? No charger included! Why? How is that practical? I want to play my 3DS, not keep it on the shelf and stare at its beauty. Really.Speaking of the game, lets move on. I was surprised when I found out that there was no hard copy of the game included - instead you download it onto the DS! As someone who was replacing a DS Lite, this was a huge step for me into the many things this new DS can do. Wifi? A shop? A camera? It's like a computer! (As a side note here, all these things work easily and swiftly, but since I'm more interested in the game I didn't spend a long time exploring them). The positive to downloading games onto the DS means that you'll never have to worry about damaging, losing, or breaking the tiny little game - it's always on the DS. However there doesn't appear to be any way, to my knowledge, of sharing the game. For games like Pokemon where you can only create one account, this isn't a problem. But I'm not the only Zelda fan in my house and I always share my games with my mum - you can create three accounts on one Zelda game afterall. These means that for her to play the game she's going to have to use my DS. Not very practical.For Zelda fans and potential Zelda fans alike, we're finally getting to the most important part of the review. Playing the game. I'll try not to include any spoilers to the plot, but the majority of the games in this series all run by the same basic plot - something happens to Zelda, you get called to save the world, and you must complete a set of tasks to become stronger. As expected, this game is split into two halves. I felt that the first 'half' of the game was unfortunately easy. Now I am a teenager and thus using the DS comes almost naturally to me, but even so the first part of the game doesn't really put up much of a fight. Thinking back to the Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask (yeah we're going back a while), these two games were challenging. They made you think. Even Twilight Princess (my personal favourite) made you run around for hours trying to find things and piece the world together. The world in A Link Between The Worlds is small. Most things are easily accessible. The first couple of temples I did in one sitting; one attempt. They were boring.However, with the 3D mode activated, they were a wonder to look at. 3D was made for games like this. It adds a whole new dimension to how you play and perceive the game. It does make me feel sick after a while, yes, so I only turn it on when I'm in the temples. You can, however, play the whole game in 2D if you want and it's still great but - trust me, turn the 3D on from time to time. Especially for the cut scenes.Now I haven't completed the game, but I think I'm quite far through. The second 'half' of the game (once the key aspect comes into practice - this is, becoming a painting and merging with the walls) is more challenging. Suddenly the temples and the enemies are almost 4x as hard. Not all of them, mind, some temples are definitely harder than others. But this is the part of the game that finally feels like one of the tough Zelda games. I do have to say though, that the DS Zelda games have always been easier than the console ones; there is unfortunately less you can do with a DS game. But I think A Link Between The Worlds is trying its hardest.Stepping away from that, this game has character. The feature music and places from the previous games make an appearance. What I love most, though, is that this game feels like I'm playing my old Oracle of Seasons (game boy colour) again. It's quirky and retro but it's new at the same time. To me, that's the best part of the game.The biggest and most obvious difference to the old games is that you don't have ammo for your bombs, arrows etc. Instead you have a metre gauge that runs down when you use an item and then gradually increases over time. The positive is that you don't have to run around looking for arrows when you suddenly run out while fighting the boss. The downside is that all of your items use the same metre so it can run out extremely quickly. But I like it. Oh, and the items themselves? In previous games you find an item i.e. the hookshot in the temple you need it. In this game you have to buy or RENT the items, and can do so at your leisure. So it's good in the fact that you can get what you want when you need it, but having played a number of the older Zelda games I do miss the characteristic 'finding items in temples and then using it to beat the boss'. But I don't think the idea is a bad one.Oh wow, this has gone on. In summary:XL size: useful and necessaryZelda edition 3DS: a wonderful design, I adore it. BUT NO CHARGER?Download not hard-copy game: has it's practicalities, but has negatives too - can't share, for oneGame plot: predictable, but it's Zelda so that's not necessarily a bad thing, and lacks in challengeGame 3D mode: great for temples, but not really needed elsewhere (plus, headache)Game design/features: it's a charming mix of old and new; whether or not you like it is personal preferenceThe game's character makes up for it's lack of difficulty and complexity. I'd definitely recommend this to both a Zelda fan and a first-time player.
Read more..

20.2.2014

Whenever I come back to look at this product page the Amazon Instant Order Update makes me smile, because I purchased it on the 8th January 2013. Any Pokemon fan can probably make an educated guess as to why.I'm really glad I waited so long to upgrade from my beloved DS Lite, because all of the negative reviews about the 3DS barely holding a battery charge of 3 hours really concerned me. After my DS's 10+ hour charge, 3 hours seemed pitiful. I also did not like any of the colour options available (as at the time Pink, the only one I liked, was bundled with Nintendogs and not available for separate purchase). When I first set eyes on this 3DSXL, I just KNEW it was what I'd been waiting for.I'd already fallen in love with the specs when browsing online reviews - the expanded battery life, the massive screen, oh yes please. And then they went and released it with a bloody great Pikachu on the front. How could any gamer girl pokemaniac of 15 years resist?I had my DS Lite for 7 years, and it was hands down the best console I'd ever owned. Wifi capability, where before there had only been a cruddy link cable which constantly threatened to pop out and ruin your saved data mid-battle or trade. I could now sit in my bedroom and trade a Totodile with a kid from Japan. What an age we live in! You charged it and could play hardcore for at least a week without needing to plug it in again. The touchscreen interface was easy to learn and a pleasure to use, the screen brightness clear and beautiful and being able to set the console down while playing was a massive advantage(after the Gameboy Advance it was like a mini laptop!). I loved the colour options (mine, a birthday gift, was baby pink). I loved how absurdly light and portable the thing was. I eventually obtained a spare DS 'phat' for trading with myself and there was no comparison; my DS Lite was elegant and smooth and feather light.In fact, this is the only area where the 3DSXL loses points. It is a bulky, heavy little git. The price you pay for the massive deluxe screens is aching wrists. I often play Pokemon just before sleep (I find it more relaxing than reading) and let me tell you that lying horizontal in bed holding up the DS Lite in front of you with one hand and the stylus in another is not a problem. But the 3DSXL I cannot manage with for more than 10 minutes, tops, or my muscles start to hurt. And I'm a fit 25 year old, so it's definitely a thing to bear in mind if you're considering the console as a gift for an elderly relative! Perhaps a 'lite' version will be on the cards someday, but bear in mind that even if it gets lighter it cannot get any smaller without reducing what you bought it for in the first place - those cinematic screens - so if you like to be able to slip your consoles in your pocket you might want to settle for the regular 3DS.Other than that one sort-of-understandable flaw, the 3DSXL does everything the DS could do and so much more. Connecting to wifi was a bit of a nightmare with my DS Lite, involving lots of typing in of number and headaches and general stress because certain games wouldn't connect to WEP, they needed WPA (etc etc insert lots of technobabble here). The 3DSXL is a poppet. You ask it to connect, it find a connection, and hey presto you're on the internet. It is dummy-proof. It even has a browser, for gosh sake, so you can now pause your games halfway through, start up the internet, go looking for the gym leader's roster so you're prepped, and return to your game. All without leaving your chair or reaching for your tablet. Youtube was also recently added for FREE to the Nintendo eshop, and once downloaded you can sit and surf through hilarious cat videos or walkthroughs to your heart's content, all on those 2 big beautiful screens in your hand. Internet browsing is a bit laggy but Youtube comes through crystal clear and with no tiresome 'buffering'. As a girl from the Gameboy Colour generation, I sometimes can't believe I'm watching HD clarity video game trailers and music videos on my games console. It's amazing.I also adore the camera function - several games such as Animal Crossing New Leaf allow you to store screenshots taken from your game on your SD card and upload them online; it's like your player character can social network and show off their town!I have to confess the one function I do not use on my 3DSXL is the 3D function. I find it makes my eyes go squiggly and makes me feel sick, so I just keep it off the whole time. It saves battery power!And I have to talk about the Pikachu cover. It is a sunny, happy thing of beauty. It means I cannot pick up my console without grinning. I have received compliments about it when I'm out! When I first took it out of the box I was a little disappointed that only the outside of the shell has the yellow decorations, but after owning it a year I think the white inside is calmer on the eyes and less distracting; and there's plenty of Pika to go around on the outside! This case was limited edition so I'm glad I grabbed it for £160 when I did as the price seems to have skyrocketed these days. My advice is if you are a Pokemon lover and you see it at a bargain - grab it! You can do no better for a happy and attractive console design.The 3DSXL is a bit of a behemoth, but with those expanded viewing screens all the better to feast your eyes on every gorgeous pixel of the gaming experience, it is to be expected. It is more than the best console on the market - it is a smooth internet browser, a decent digital camera, a pedometer, and with that adorable yellow face peering up at you it is your new best friend.Full marks, Nintendo, for finally releasing something impressive enough to tear me away from my darling DS Lite (whose screens now seem puny and inferior in comparison!!).
Read more..

4.1.2013

I ordered this for myself as a Christmas present, and I don't mind telling you that I am VERY impressed!! The difference between this and a standard 3DS is a lot greater than you may think. I realise that compared to the resolution of the PS Vita this will seem quite inferior, and after the cost of the Vita dropped not only here on Amazon but also in the high street just prior to Christmas, I was beginning to think I had made the wrong choice, I can assure you, I didn't. The build quality is sublime and it feels very heavy and sturdy in the hand and gives the impression of a top quality product, especially when "locking" the screen to one of the 2 fixed positions.The buttons and the analogue controller feel pretty much the same as a standard 3DS so no problem there. Some people have complained that unlike the Vita, there is only one analogue stick present, and I must admit that the inclusion of a second would have been a great idea if Nintendo had decided to go ahead (apparently their president said the unit was not large enough?). As it happens though, I have bought Metal Gear Solid for it, in my opinion a game that probably would benefit from a second analogue stick to control Snake with, but I didn't really notice to be honest. Rumor has it that a version of the famed Circle Pad Pro is going to be made to fit the XL anyway, so it's just a matter of time.With regards to the screens, this is obviously where the new version shines, although Nintendo have not updated the resolution from the original 3DS (Upper Screen)800 x 240 WQVGA resolution. (Lower screen) 4.18 LCD touch screen at 320 x 240 QVGA resolution. It still works, and for those of you who own a collection of original DS games, by pressing and holding the start button when turning on the power, the game is portrayed in it's original resolution, albeit with a black border. I happen to think that although there is slight pixelation when playing an original DS game on the bigger screen (in this instance New Super Mario Brothers) it still works and is very pleasing on the eye!! With regards to the 3D aspect of what the larger screen means, it simply shines. I have played quite a bit of the pre loaded Super Mario 3D Land and it looks amazing!! Admittedly you have to ensure that the screen is held directly in front of you to fully appreciate the effect and the depth of field, but on a larger screen as a glasses wearer I found that the effect was much less debilitating and potentially headache inducing than my daughters standard 3DS.Another key feature regarding build quality are the Select, Home and Start buttons. On the 3DS XL they are actual buttons, and not something similar to a simple rubber dome configuration covered in a thin sheet of plastic with the relevant titles denoted in a white print, reminiscent of a cheap pocket calculator from the mid 80's. These are buttons you can see being physically pressed and have the words laser etched in to them. Just a small piece of detail, but one that lends itself well to the overall build quality of the unit. I found though that the sound volume compared to the original has been reduced at least without earphones. It is loud enough but at the same time noticeably quieter than the standard version.With regards to the included 4gb Memory Card, I have since swapped it out for a 64gb SDXC version. I did do some research on this, and after reading that someone had used a 128gb SDXC card to store their information, games, photo's etc, I decided to take the plunge. This works very well, but only AFTER you have converted the card to be in a FAT32 file system. This is quite an old file system by modern PC standards and an SDXC when first used is in the exFAT file system. Copying the included cards data from one to the other is also very easy, simply creating a new folder copying the content from the included SDHC card and then copying it back to your now FAT32 SDXC card. You get the picture, tons more space in terms of blocks possibly too many, and having already made good use of the Nintendo eShop all the titles I have downloaded work perfectly with no flaws, glitches or otherwise. Again, the large screens are far superior when playing old classics like Super Mario Land (Game Boy Dot Matrix Display & Super Mario Bros 8 Bit pixels and colours).I was surprised to see that the European version of the unit comes without a PSU and this is something that Nintendo need to rectify as to buy an official one from Amazon (PSU only) is if I remember correctly, only approx £7 plus P & P, hardly a fortune. I paid £189.99 at the beginning of December for mine, and yes, won't deny that seeing it now for £20 less is a little annoying, but not the end of the world. I certainly would not rate this product 1 star as another reviewer has done, solely because a PSU is absent from the packaging?! If you hover your mouse pointer over the picture of the box, it magnifies it and the text printed on the box stating this is clearly legible, so if you look properly, you will see that a separate PSU is needed before you click add to basket.Overall this version is brilliant, from the build quality to the sheer size of the screens compared to the original 3DS!! Anyone looking to buy a current generation handheld, or a 3DS, the XL really is a no brainer especially as they themselves are still in the region of £130 without the inclusion of a title to get you started. I must admit I would have preferred a cartridge containing Super Mario 3D Land to be included separately in the box, but it being pre installed on the included memory card is a very handy feature, and means until you have played it to death, is always there for your amusement, before you decide to erase it.
Read more..

29.10.2013

The Nintendo 3DS XL is generally speaking a high-quality portable gaming device with some excellent features. The graphics is generally quite good, the 3D effects work quite well for many (but not all) games, and the "clam-shell" design has the advantage of offering greater protection to the screens when closed as well as preventing dust from falling on them. The controls generally work very precisely and very well, including the circle pad which is certainly not inferior to the more "traditional" analog stick design. The general build quality of the hardware is quite solid and good and the console should last a long time even with heavy use and a few knocks now and then without malfunctioning,particularly as the screens are well-protected by the device's "clam-shell" design. There are also quite a few good 3DS games out there, plus it has full backwards compatibility with almost all DS and DSi game titles too.However, this device still has a few shortcomings. While generally speaking the XL model is better than the original 3DS model in many ways, such as a more immersive experience due to its larger screens (especially with 3D effects), and easier for the hand to hold onto due to its larger size and more "rounded" corners (as well as better access to the D-pad which is too close to the edge on the original 3DS but not so much on the 3DS XL) while playing for prolonged periods, the main flaw is that with a considerably bigger screen the actual screen resolution has stayed the same. Even on the original 3DS the screen resolution is not that high, but on the 3DS XL the low resolution becomes more noticeable. This is a shame because the actual graphics processing power of this device is actual quite good (and better than what some people would think), if one looks at graphics-intensive 3DS games like Resident Evil Revelations which utilise the console to its maximum. The graphics is clearly at least comparable with PS2/original Xbox quality. However, at the moment relatively few 3DS games actually push the console to such an extent, most do not actually utilise its full graphics processing power. The point here though is that this good graphics capability is marred not by any intrinsic limitations of the processor, but by the relatively low resolution of the screen. If the screen had a better resolution (say comparable to PS Vita's) then the games would generally look significantly better even with exactly the same core hardware. The 3DS/3DS XL would also have been better if a second circle pad is included and the quality of the bottom touchscreen improved. When the original DS and later DS Lite first came out, its touchscreen was still a very novel and advanced feature, but today the touchscreen on the 3DS/3DS XL which has not really improved compared with the DS version does look somewhat dated compared with contemporary smartphones/tablets and the PS Vita, since it does not support multi-touch and it's generally not responsive enough to be used effectively with a finger, and one has to use the stylus provided instead.Having said these, I feel most of these relative shortcomings are quite minor ones, and overall speaking the 3DS/3DS XL is still a very good portable console. The low resolution screen does not affect gameplay, which is quite smooth even for relatively graphics-intensive games, and its negative effects on graphics quality are not significantly noticeable either. And there is even a "circle pad pro" extra hardware accessory to give the 3DS/3DS XL "dual stick" capability if one really needs it, though it is an extra cost and seems quite bulky rather than aesthetically stylish.There is quite a bit of rivalry between portable gamers who prefer the 3DS and those who prefer the PS Vita, but personally I like both of them since I have both of them. Both are good in their own ways and have features and games which the other does not, which means owning both is actually quite a good idea since while there are a few game titles which are released on both consoles (e.g. Virtue's Last Reward), there is little "duplication" among the two. The PS Vita does have somewhat better graphics but the gap is not as great as some people think. The Vita looks better mainly due to its higher resolution screen rather than intrinsic graphics processing ability. The Vita also has built-in dual analog sticks which make playing certain games (e.g. FPS or Action RPG) easier. On the other hand the 3DS/3DS XL's dual screens is an useful feature for many games, and as of yet (late 2013) there are still more interesting game titles for the 3DS than for the Vita, though there are a few good games for the latter too and it's gradually "catching up" to the 3DS in this aspect. The 3DS/3DS XL I feel is also more accessible and attractive to a more diverse audience (e.g. younger children) compared with the PS Vita which is mainly aimed at the teen and young adult market, but it still has features and games that can attract older and more mature gamers too. I bought both the 3DS XL and the PS Vita at discounted/reduced prices, even though both were bought new. It's quite a good bargain since I got 2 good quality portable consoles for almost the same amount of money (less than £300 in total) as the original launch price of the Wi-fi + 3G PS Vita model (£279.99) by itself.To sum up, I would recommend the 3DS/3DS XL for anyone of any age who is generally interested in portable gaming, and if you can, you should buy both the 3DS/3DS XL and the PS Vita.
Read more..

30.12.2012

I'm a 14 year old girl who really likes playing on a ds - especially Professor Layton.I got my first ever DS lite when I was 8 or 9 for a birthday present and I loved it. It was bright red and it had it's own little imagine babies ds game with it. However, as time passed on it got old and the screens got scratched and dirty, the calibration went really badly off and I coudn't fix it.Around that time I went to my friend's house and we played Professor Layton and the Lost Future. I had never played any PL games before and I found it really fun solving all the puzzles and seeing ow the story went on etc. I ended up buying the other two games that were out at that time too and finished them both.My friend and I finished Lost Future on her Ds which was a dsi and I couldn't help noticing how much better her's was than mine. Hers could take pictures and morph them and it could record sound data and go on sims. All mine could do was play games and even then it didn't always load them properly.So I started begging my Mum for a new DSi close to my birthday and Christmas, and kept reminding her that a dsi would probably be reasonably cheap because the DSi XL and 3DS were already out and eventually she gave in and I got a new DSi for my christmas,4 or 5 years after my DS lite. I was contented with my DSi for quite some time, it was also red and I loves the newer, thinner stylus and the marginally bigger screen and all the new quirky features that came with it. I also liked how the volume control had turned into buttons rather than an irritating slider and that the power button was actually a button that you pressed rather than some weird switch thing like it was on the DS lite.I bought the fourth Professor Layton game and completed it and then waited eagerly for news of the fifth. I eventually found out about Miracle Mask and watched a trailer for it on YouTube. It looked great! But then I realized that it was only for 3DS and I was really upset. I'd just been given a brand new DS just so I could play my favourite Professor Layton games on it and now I wouldn't be able to! I had to settle down with the fact that I now wouldn't be able to get the fifth game for a while, and as I didn't particularly want a 3DS there was no point spending my own money on it. I had found in shops that the 3D wasn't fantastic quality and it gave me a headache after just 5 minutes of a demo! My other friend who played Lost Future wasn't going to get the fifth game either as she said she wasn't upgrading to 3DS either, she wanted a new tablet instead.It wasn't until a few days before Christmas this year that I even thought about the 3DS xl. I knew they'd made a new model but I didn't know much about it. I saw an advert on TV that described how you could download the new Professor Layton game in January for free if you got a 3DS xl and had it registered with the internet. This looked a fantastic offer to me so I looked up the 3DS xl and read many happy customer reviews about the feel of the model being great and the huge screen and how the 3D looked better and didn't make people feel as ill as the original. I begged and begged my parents and they ended up paying £100 and me £69 for it. We ordered it on the 27th December and it arrived earlier today on the 29th December - just 2 days later which is amazing since we used free super saver delivery which usually delivers items within 3-5 days.The item was well packed and arrived safely. I opened it up and was immediatley impressed with the smooth feel, and rounded corners and it's huge size. It looks so much more sleek and sophisticated next to my previous DSs', it's hard to imagine they're the same thing. It's definitely heavier and harder to hold but the screen is ginormous! My games already look so much better. I love all the little apps it comes with, like Argumented Reality and Face Raiders etc. I also like how easy it was to set up and connect to internet. I like the power button again and I also like the left and right buttons at the top, they feel much more like the DS lite ones and less like the DSi ones which felt as if they might break off! I like the little control pad thing on the left hand side. It's a nice touch. The 3D adjuster is very easy to use. I can swap from 2D to 3D in virtually no time at all. The cameras are good and it can even take video which is very, very impressive. My only downsides would be that the volume has gone back to that annoying slider which really is hard to control as it's easy to set the volume too high or low, whereas with the Dsi it was easy to prevent. Also, the microphone has moved to a really strange place by the start button. I have no idea why! I liked it where it was before as it was easy to get to and you could still see the game.Other than that there are no problems that I can see and it seems to be loading and playing games fine. Overall, it's a very good product and worth the money. I will need to get a case for it as I can see it's going to get easily scratched!!!!
Read more..

22.8.2013

I am very happy for the opportunity to let you know about the Nintendo 3ds XL. This past year we bought Liam a 3ds XL - and he LOVES it! I was really impressed with everything the 3DS XL could do, but I have to say, Nintendo has taken the 3DS to a completely new level with their new 3DS XL - Fire Emblem!The Nintendo 3ds XL has a sleek, new look and is packed with exciting features:- 3D screen- A widescreen display on the top screen shows 800x240 pixel resolution, allocating 400 pixels for each eye to create the 3D effect.- The bottom LCD touch screen operates at a resolution of 320x240--with both screens capable of displaying a brilliant 16.77 million colors.- The Nintendo 3DS system uses its two outer cameras to see the world in 3D,much like the human eye. This allows for the creation of 3D photos, 3D video, and even 3D stop-motion animations, that make for an eye-popping addition to your next picture.- 3DS XL systems come with a 4GB SD Memory Card- Almost all existing Nintendo DS and Nintendo DSi games can be played on a Nintendo 3DS system in 2D. With backwards compatibility, your existing portable games look and play just as well.- When playing Nintendo 3DS software about 3-5 hours. When playing Nintendo DS software about 5-8 hours. Battery duration differs depending on the brightness setting of the screen. The information regarding battery duration is a rough standard. It can be shorter depending on what functions of the Nintendo 3DS system are used- 3DS XL offers Wi-Fi connectivity . Your Nintendo 3DS system can automatically connect to a wireless internet access point. Once connected, special items will download automatically to your system via the SpotPass feature, even while in sleep mode. Some of these surprise items include exclusive content and promotions from Nintendo Zone(tm), unique 3D videos from the Nintendo Video(tm) service, and add-on game content from your favorite Nintendo 3DS gamesI know when a company writes about their products, they are going to put them in the best light possible, but I can honestly say the Nintendo 3DS XL lives up to the "hype". There is so much to tell you about . . . more than I can put in just one post, so I'll let you know about some of the things regarding the 3DS XL which I especially like.There is really much to like about the Nintendo 3DS XL; I like the XL design and the Fire Emblem: Awakening limited edition is especially cool.In reality I am a non-tech person, so I am very pleased to see how easy it is to use, how simple the instructions are and how engaging the apps are. Liam (my son) - was excited to open the box of the Nintendo 3ds XL as soon as it arrived and was able to sit right down and immediately start using the applications which Nintendo loaded. He played a couple of inbuilt games (face raiders, AR games), took photos and made a video (one of his favorite things to do with his regular DS. When I asked him if he liked the 3DS XL, he said, "I felt in LOVE with it!!!I'm particularly happy to learn the games and apps we have already purchased for Liam's normal Nintendo DS will also work with the new 3DS XL! I'm extremely impressed with Nintendo for making the decision to allow this compatibility between their machines - it seems so often when companies upgrade one of their items you have to purchase all new programs for the new machines. I'm very glad this is not the case with the 3DS XL.Another superb advantage of the Nintendo 3ds XL is the opportunity to play games with other over the internet. New games provide the opportunity for two player games and this is so much fun! I played Mario Kart 7 with my son - and although I kept running into the walls, mud, trees, mountains, etc, it was a lot of fun! Along with being fun, this game helps children learn and develop their reflexes!One of Liam's favorite new features is the StreetPass Mii Plaza. It lets you meet and play with Mii characters created by other gamers. Simply carry your Nintendo 3DS(tm) system with you in Sleep Mode, and it'll collect Mii information (and send yours) when you pass other players. When you visit your StreetPass Mii Plaza, you'll see the new Mii characters you've collected. You never know who you might meet!A totally new revised feature is the The Nintendo eShop. In actual facts this is the digital store for Nintendo 3DS, your one-stop shop for a range of amazing content-downloadable right to your Nintendo 3DS system. Discover great software such as original 3D games, all-time classic titles re-mastered in 3D, legendary portable "virtual console" games, and more than 350 Nintendo DSiWare(tm) games. You can also view video game trailers, screenshots, and info for downloadable and retail games.I hope this was helpful. The specifications and features mentioned above reflect the Nintendo 3ds official site : [...]
Read more..

6.8.2012

To start with I'd just like to say that I have previously owned 2 Nintendo DS and a DSI XL however i did not get the 3DS as I did not want to downsize my screen from the DSI XL.As my title suggestes i can only go off my past experiences in the last 3 days. To start with it took a long while to persuade myself to splash the cash on a 3DS XL but I eventually twisted my own arm and thought "why not!"I travelled to a local store approximately 40 minutes away and purchased the blue Console in a bundle that came with Kingdom Hearts: Dream Drop Distance for £199.99 (which i didn't think was a bad offer at all, sorry amazon but you don;t do bundles) I also purchased Final Fantasy Theatrythm for a bit of musical fun.Anyway...I got back to the car and thought I'd Get the console set up and ready for when i got home, i noticed that I had about 50% battery already on the console and decided I'd have a play on Dream Drop Distance...well thats what I thought! The intro Cinematic began and 20 seconds later the system froze and i could only press the home button, so i started all over from the beginning after taking the cartridge out and blowing out the socket in the 3DS. It managed to make it about 3/4 through the intro video and then did the same. I then went into the cinema with great frustration, upon returning I thought I'd give it another shot in case I was just having bad luck...It made it all the way through the intro and finally got to the game, I watched the game opening scenes and then it got to the tutorial "please press A" to which I did...however it did absolutely nothing! I then tried to press the home button...nothing! I powered the 3DS off in annoyance and then attempted to try out Theatrhythm in case my Kingdom hearts cartridge was faulty, it wasn't, the same happened with this game also. I tried various other things when i eventually got home, including full system update, trying multiple other SD cards, reformatted the console but still locking up, freezing and game crashes left right and centre! (apologies for the great detail but not one other person has had any other issues so i thought i would incclude the various issues in case anyone else has them)I then had to travel back to the shop I had it from the following day to argue with the staff and finally get it replaced after waiting for 15 minutes for the console to go wrong whilst it was in the shop.I now have a 3DS XL that doesn;t crash (so far) and actualy allows me to play my games...although I do want to Point out that i think that the right speaker on my replacement console has a fault due to the fact if the speakers are up to full volume it buzzes every now and then when music gets a bit bassey. RANT OVER!(please note I am not saying ALL the consoles will be this way its just my experience)Onto the good things!I had never played a 3DS before and i think its absolutely brilliant, the depth that you get in just the menus is fantastic and it gets even better when you are playing a game such as Kingdom hearts:DDD as the intro video is just...WOW! The audio (when it isn't buzzing) is actually enveloping, its one of the best ive heard on a handheld console! I see people moan about the view points on the 3D screen but come on, we all knew this before we bought it, you have to be looking at it directly to get the effect, its obvious. The actual feel of the console Is as expected, it feels similar to the DSI XL although it is a little lighter in weight. Up to this point I'm a little unsure about the colours they have had, the DSI XL seems to go for a more adult look but the £DS XL's have gone for more of a younger look with vibrant Red and Blue, but I guess there is still the silver but It's a little too boring for my liking. The stylus of the 3DS XL is of a good size and we at least dont have that stupid extra Pen you get with the DSI XL that looked uterly rediculous.On a minor note i will mention that the bottom screen feels a little bobbly under the stylus and It did glitch 2 times on me last night when I was required to press and hold the stylus on the screen and It didn't acknowledge the stylus was still pressed down.As you may have noticed I have still given the device a 4 star as I still think its a great idea/console but i dropped the 1 star as I felt that by now companies such as Nintendo would Hopefully be able to reproduce a past product (but a bit bigger) without having any "Faulty out of box" incidents.All in all a great product and I really enjoy all of the 3D aspects that are provided with this console...bring on tales of the abyss and Paper Mario!!
Read more..

31.12.2013

I bought this console bundle for my wife at £180 (I note it's gone up by about £50 since) and will review at that price point.Currently there are four obvious choices for portable gaming - iOS, Android, PS Vita or Nintendo's 3DS. Having owned several dedicated portables in the past (Atari Lynx, Gameboy Pocket, Gameboy Advance, PSP, DS) we recently thought a dedicated portable was unnecessary and our portable gaming needs could be met by our smartphones and tablets. Between us we own an iPhone, a Samsung S3, an iPad2 and now the latest iPad Mini with Retina.Unfortunately it seems that tablet/smartphone gaming has a LONG way to go before it can provide the depth of experience on Sony or Nintendo's handhelds.Having hesitated to buy either a Vita or a 3DS, now we have one, I regret not getting one sooner.Simply put, a dedicated handheld is in another league when it comes to quality, and what better example of that than the Zelda bundled with this 3DS. Designed and polished to perfection, it's almost impossible to fault, and ridiculous to even begin a comparison with the best games on tablets/smartphones which are shallow and usually spoiled by nasty microtransactions (not just the cost, but the impact on balancing and design). You could argue that I'm comparing a £40 game with games that are free or only a couple of quid. Sadly the market is changing and many of these 'free' games are unplayable without paying extra, which is typically uncapped. Clash of Clans for instance is a lovely game, impossible to play for more than a few minutes without being made to wait hours for something to happen UNLESS you cough up more money. Packs include a £70 bag of gems, which will quickly be consumed in the game. Suddenly a £40 title with no extra costs seems like a bargain. And that's not to mention the difference in price between a 3DS and an iPad or Samsung phone.So the console itself. It's great. Sturdy, decent screen size, retains the innovative double screen which gives the developers lots of design options unavailable elsewhere. The 3D is a gimmick in my opinion, and difficult to use for any length of time. The resolution is a letdown now we we're spoiled with the smartphone resolution arms race, and whilst my instinct is to ignore it because of the quality of the games, I can't. It's particularly pronounced on the XL model which has a bigger screen but the same resolution as the smaller 3DS. Being conscious of the black lines between pixels is not cool.The low resolution might be acceptable if the battery life was impressive, but it's a paultry 3-4 hours. Not impressed. A subjective point, that I don't like the design of the buttons under the bottom screen. Quite toy-like really, which would be 'classic Nintendo' until you look at the beautiful DS Lite which gave Apple a run for its money in the 'aesthetically desireable tech' stakes.Final criticism is the awful UI on the main screen. All options are represented as square icons in a long line (you can adjust to two lines or a grid), but it smacks of them not knowing how to design it, so just throw everything together. Finding stuff is hard and not intuitive and the UI is messy as a result.Compared with Vita's beautiful screen and UI, Apple's high resolution and slick interface, Nintendo's 3DS seems like a relic of the past, a generation (or two) out of date.BUT... none of this matters. Only by comparing can we find the criticisms. By looking at the console by itself it's wonderful, full of joy and Nintendo magic. And by that I'm really talking about the games. Nintendo has such strong quality in their titles, such innovation, the perfect combinaton of accessibility and challenge.Having sampled all of the portable gaming options right now, I have no doubt that the Nintendo 3DS is the best option if it's games that you care about. PlayStation Vita is a close second, with an increasing portfolio of games, and interesting 'cross play' possibilities if you're a PS4 owner.
Read more..

28.4.2013

I borrowed my brothers original 3DS for a while to see if I wanted a 3DS and then opted for the 3DS XL.I got the Mario Land 3D pack which represents a nice saving on buying the two separately although granted as the Mario game is installed on the SD card you cannot trade it in when you complete it.I also purchased a 16GB SD card and had no problems copying over the contents of the packaged 4GB card (with the Mario 3D game) to the new card.I was very impressed when I opened the box and saw the 3DS XL in the white colour. It looks beautiful as the edges are all rounded and the white plastic looks nice with the larger black screens.The screen size was jaw dropping compared to the original 3DS I had been playing.Even better is that I no longer get cramps in my right thumb which was something that blighted my experience on the original 3DS.For that reason I'd have no hesitation in recommending that owners of the original 3DS buy one of these as an upgrade.The one thing that disappointed me was the sound though. It didn't seem as loud as my brothers 3DS. Maybe because it is new and the speakers haven't loosened up or something or maybe when holding the bigger, chunkier device you just expect more volume?The other issue was that reviews claim that the larger screens give you a wider "sweet spot" in which the 3D works. I have not found that to be the case as to me it seems exactly the same as the original 3DS. The big screens do seem to be the optimum size for a device held at the typical distance people hold these things when gaming. It seems to fill my field of view to just the right amount so that you get drawn into the game world where as on the original 3DS I felt like I was outside the game world and looking down at two small screens.I will give the system overall a 4 out of 5. It loses 1 star because the system is quite dated from a tech point of view. It really could do with being more powerful and having a higher resolution screen. This is no more of a problem on the XL than it is on a regular 3DS but it does make either systems graphics look dated and limits its multimedia capabilities. The 3D camera is also rendered pointless by its noisy low resolution images. Oh and it doesn't have rumble which may or may not be an issue depending on individual preferences. Personally I like rumble and miss it especially when playing Star Fox.It is still a great system and well worthy of 4 stars however. A quick play on Mario 3D Land reminds you of why Nintendo have such a strong following and there are so many great games on this system.Be warned that the price of games are absolutely scandalous. I am used to buying brand new AAA games on Steam for my PC at £25 where as the Nintendo e-shop is selling very basic, far cheaper to produce hand held titles (some of which are rehashed N64 games) for £40. Even the £30 price you will pay for the physical copies from places like Amazon is far too pricey for what you are getting. I mean seriously? I paid £23 for Bioshock Infinite at launch where as Nintendo want £40 for a polished up N64 game like Star Fox that I think I paid less for on my N64 nearly 15 years ago.Ultimately you are buying a system that costs as much as the full blown home consoles, has far more expensive games than those home consoles and unlike the Vita you can't really justify it by saying that the 3DS offers an almost identical system on the move. I'd gladly ditch the 3D slider and play these games in 2D if they were on a Vita with its far superior graphics. Just a shame the Vita doesn't have such quality games. Obviously you rate the performance of a system based on the price and I feel the performance is adequate and it is the pricing that is wrong.TLDR:+ Huge upgrade over the original 3DS, I'd even urge existing 3DS owners to upgrade.+ Superb catalogue of games with more coming.- No rumble- The console and games are pricey given the spec.
Read more..

2.12.2013

Held out on buying a 3DSXL for a while but when I saw this baby it was love at first sight. I already owned the Ocarina of Time Lmtd Edition 3DS but this trumps it and 'Zelda A Link between worlds' is such a fun game too!This 3DSXL is slightly different to most special editions in that it incorporates a design on the underside of the shell, and is actually a clever idea rather than a load of pretty images dotted around. The Triforce is mirrored along the spine of the 3DS to represent the light and dark worlds found within the game and it looks simple but beautiful.For those that don't know 3DSXL is the same as a regular 3DS but with a 90% larger screen. The quality of the image isn't enhanced as the resolution is the same,but the added size definitely helps immersion and for a game like Zelda looks just splendid. Really I couldn't see why any Zelda fan wouldn't want this model.As for the game, I was miffed to find that there was no option for a physical copy of the game with the console but only a downloadable version. Now personally as I never sell my games and would like to download a lot more to save space around my house this wasn't a deal breaker but for those who like to sell to fund other purchases will be annoyed. Despite this, the download is easily done, redeeming the code provided in the box on the Nintendo shop, all that you require is a wireless internet connection.The game itself surprised me in a great way! I was skeptical of returning to top down view since the awesomeness of Ocarina of Time on the small screen, but it works really well for this game. I can see they've gone for retro style graphics but whilst they are appealing they aren't anything special and the 3D cut scenes within the game look dodgy.Those looking for a deeper Zelda narrative with complicated characters are going to have to wait a bit longer because the story on offer here has little depth although it does introduce some cool new characters and themes. The template follows the same Zelda formula of collect x amount of x to defeat x but with some new refreshing twists. For the last few Zelda games finding an item in a dungeon like the bombs has always just felt like standard procedure and really lost that sense of awe and excitement from the earlier games, so now most items are on offer from the start of the game! This completely changes how your adventure will play out because you can overcome different obstacles and dungeons at your choice and the sense of exploration hasn't been this good in a Zelda game since Wind Waker. There are loads of treasures and things to do scattered around Hyrule and Lorule. This game shines through its gameplay, the combat is simple yet satisfying and the sheer satisfaction of solving a puzzle within a dungeon are some of the most rewarding moments you'll experience in any game! The bosses are also fun to fight and look great.The game really is nostalgic for anyone who played Link to the Past all those years ago, containing some of the same monsters and characters as well as a near identical overworld. Don't get that confused with it being a copy though, as I assure you this is entirely its own game. Overall its still the same Zelda we know and love with some very refreshing twists that I'm hoping Nintendo will continue to incorporate in future Zelda games a long with some new ideas!One last thing, all 3DSXLs don't come with an adapter (recharger) which really confuses me and would be frustrating for someone that didn't order one alongside the bundle at first (like me). It would actually work out a bit cheaper to buy a regular 3DSXL and physical copy of 'Link between worlds' than buying this special edition. But, its a Limited edition for a reason and for a few extra quid will you really regret purchasing this baby? I sure don't. Hope this helps.
Read more..

30.10.2013

Benefits over 3DS:- Better battery- More comfortable- Better buttons- Ships with bigger memory card- Screens are much nicer to play games on- Ships with bigger memory cardDisadvantages:- Not small enough for all pockets- Battery life is not as good as the DS family- No charger in box- Nintendo’s online infrastructure is still miles behind competitors- Might be too large for young childrenI have the original 3DS and really felt it was lacking. Short battery life, uncomfortable buttons and small size meant it was just not great to be playing games on. I needed something better to sink hours into Pokemon so decided to get the XL.Firstly, everything is improved. The larger screens make a world of a difference when playing games,since the console can be held at a more comfortable distance without what is being displayed on the screen being too small. Yes, the resolution is the same as the original 3DS, but I don't find the graphics looking too pixelated. The screen is good enough for what it is, and my only gripe with it is the visibility in sunlight is not too great, although much better than the original 3DS.The larger size of the body means holding this is not cramp inducing as well! I have medium sized hands and found the original 3DS too small, but the XL is perfect. Battery life is much, much, much better than before. I cannot stress this enough. I can now take this out a whole day, leave it on standby with wireless on and not have to worry. Owners of the original 3DS know that this was next to impossible before, however the battery still does not hold a candle to the DS line, which is a shame. The buttons are no longer the small, very stiff ones found before. They resemble more of the DS lite, which is to say sturdy but easy to press, and the shoulder buttons aren’t so small and hard to grip, meaning comfort is a lot greater.The finish of the console is also much improved, coming in matt colours rather than glossy, and personally I feel that it looks much sleeker.I’m not going to mention much on the Vita, just to say that personally, I am not enjoying it as much as my XL, and feel the content on the 3DS surpasses it at present.In the box there is a 4GB card (rather than 2GB in the original 3DS), although this is hardly big deal considering the cheapness of the cards nowadays. What is ridiculous is the lack of charger in the box. You do have to buy it separately, and although only £6 on amazon, I have no doubt some people will be disappointed when opening the box only to realise too late. Although if you owned a DSi, DSi XL or 3DS, that charger will be fine!Content is something which is personal, and if you don't like Nintendo games then there really isn't much here for you. If you do though, I must say the library of games has become terrific. Lots of variety and original games are to be found. If you liked the DS, now is definitely the right time to upgrade. The eShop has some fantastic games on it now as well.Transferring data from the original 3DS is simple, but very long. Annoyingly, there is still no account system, so any purchases made are locked to the console meaning if you lose it, you have to call Nintendo to get your games back. Also, make sure to back up save files for downloaded games before doing a system transfer (you do this by selecting the game, and in the bottom left hand corner is an option to backup data).In summary, if you owned the original 3DS or tried it, and just didn't like the ergonomics of it or felt the games library was lacking, these are not issues anymore. This is definitely a worthy buy!If you have never liked Nintendo or the DS line, then this won't convert you.
Read more..

7.8.2013

Having had two 3ds models go faulty on me, I decided to add on and upgrade to an XL. Being an Animal Crossing fan, I choose the New Leaf XL. I already had the game so I downloaded the save data transfer tool from the eshop, then it copied my save data from the cartridge (after doing a system transfer which needs an internet connection and re-downloading the game from my newly merged eshop) and transferred it to the sd card. I then traded in my physical copy for credit, so now I carry the game with me without the fear of losing the cartridge itself.I won't go into what New Leaf is about, however, I will say that as a jump from Wild World, there's masses of new features and things to do.While the goal still remains the same (build your town up, catch all the bugs, fish etc), being mayor definitely adds to the game. While the ordinances are limiting, you can at least customise your town from the list of Public Works Projects. However, this is not a game that is meant to be rushed- it takes weeks to unlock all the shops and months before your bug/fish collection is complete. Need some games to play? After a few days, you can visit the island where's it's always summer. Not only can you get exclusive items, but you can catch valuable bugs and fish which can be traded for bells and help you build the town of your dreams. Also new are the dream suit (which again needs to be unlocked) where you can visit other towns should you have an internet connection, the Happy Home Showcase where you can see other people's homes via streetpass and spotpass and buy items you may need and club LOL (needs to be unlocked), where you learn emotions from Shrunk, see DJ KK Slider and party the night away.If you're after an action packed game, step away. For anyone else wanting a relaxing experience, give this a try.For the XL itself, this is what I have found:Pros:*Bigger screens means games are more immersive*ds games look better on original mode and can still see it (press start and select)*Lovely design*Comes with a 4gb memory card*Stylus at the side not at the back*Seems to pickup streetpasses easier than my 3ds model did*Proper home, start and select buttons*Top screen doesn't get marked*Matt finish means no fingerprints*Doesn't feel too heavy*Battery last much longer than 3ds didCons:*Personally find the volume quieter than a 3ds*Sweetspot not as big*3d can be slightly overwhelmingPlastic stylus (I preferred the metal one)*NO CHARGER INCLUDED (I borrow my sisters but an annoyance)*Have to have the internet to do a system transfer*No way of backing up New Leaf data (other games have this feature)*If the internet is interrupted during a system transfer, it starts from the beginning*Had to get used to holding it differently to 3ds model (not great for kids)*Slightly slower starting up*Graphics are a little stretched but it's nothing to get worked up about.Despite the cons, I'm glad I went for the XL version. To me, it seems far more sturdy than both my previous 3ds models ever did. Due to this being a limited edition model, the price has skyrocketed, just like the Pikachu version (which I wanted but couldn't afford at the time), as quantity has gone down. My advice would be to try high street stores should amazon run out. If you have a 3ds model and can afford the upgrade, go for it. I'm replaying older 3ds titles and am enjoying super Mario 3d land MUCH more than I did the first time round. Don't hang around though- these models will be gone before you know it!
Read more..

31.7.2012

I bought the 3ds XL the day after it's release and also did the trading in of my original 3ds like others no doubt. This was not an easy decision as i loved my aqua/blue 3ds and probably like other people was sceptical about the XL version, however i need not have worried as many of the problems with the orig 3ds have been rectified such as the battery life, the top screen being scratched against the bottom screen, the stylus positioning, and comfortability being vastly improved (i am an adult gamer = larger hands) My first impressions when taking it out the box was WOW it's big but also instantly comfortable what with the now rounded corner design (no more digging into your palms on longer gaming sessions)and it just felt natural to me as an adult.I have to say i also agree with another reviewer here in that i don't think the 3d sweet spot has been changed from the orig 3ds but it's less of an problem keeping the 3d as it should be maybe due to the bigger screen and i think with use people will adjust anyway.The first game i loaded up was zelda OOT and oh boy did that impress me it just felt more like i could see the depth of the 3d better but also bigger and link on epona on the title credits was fantastic to watch and hear which leads me on to the audio this in my opinion has been improved it just sounds crisper and clearer and like the orig 3ds has plenty of volume (with or without headphones).The clamshell casing and matte finish is more appealing and much less prone to fingerprint prob's (i got the blue/black version as blue is my favourite colour) also when you open the XL you will be very pleased to hear a nice firm click in 3 different positions that do not wobble or suffer from the orig 3ds floppy hinge design (yeah it annoyed me aswell) another big improvement is the top screens reduced glare (apparently from 12% is now down to 3% from a nintendo article) so hopefully will be better if you are taking photo's outside for example.The lower touch screen does seem more responsive to me (though maybe just me) and all the button positioning is better laid out due to the increased size of the console.The circle pad, d-pad, and face buttons are all responsive and the start, select, and home buttons are now actually separate buttons (very welcome) the best thing is the little rubber pads that when the lid is closed now prevent the top screen from rubbing against the raised bevel which caused no end of worry to me with the orig 3ds.I played zelda OOT for about 3 hours last night and it felt much more immersive and just a more engrossing experience with the bigger display everything was a joy to use, also the lower touch screen is less fiddly now i was a bit sceptical about the top screens brightness at first but having played now i think it's probably equal to the orig 3ds (so no prob's there) and i have resi revelations yet to play :) (though not till my birthday at end of august darn it) others have said the mario games are amazing on it so lots to look forward to :)I kind of hope that what i have said above helps you decide if you are wanting to upgrade from your old 3ds and don't get me wrong i loved and always will love the orig 3ds and as many critic reviews have stated there is nothing new technically on the XL as far as improved resolutions graphically etc. but i do feel that nintendo have fixed most of the orig 3ds prob's that annoyed most users in the first place.
Read more..

20.12.2012

I bought this as an early Christmas present for myself and couldn't be more pleased. As a big Pokemon fan (and what Pokemon fan doesn't love Pikachu) I couldn't resist. I already own the Zelda edition 3DS, and this was a nice step up.So! A few things I looked at when I received it: When the screen is lifted, the inside of the console is a little different than I expected, as it is white and I did assume it to be yellow all over, but this makes it nice to play on as it's the most neutral of colours and yellow may have been distracting. Also, it's a nice touch that Pikachu's tail carries on from the back of the front screen and on to the back of the console. It also has sort of a smooth Matt Finish,unlike the 3DS' glossy finish, which allowed fingermarks all over it, a nightmare for people who like their console's pristine! So no more fingermarks on the 3DS XL.Comparing this as a 3DS XL to the 3DS and previous DS consoles, I had no experience with 3DS XL's since they have come out, and so had no idea what to expect. But having owned one of every DS console released, I can honestly say this is the best one yet.The top screen is crystal clear and bright, and much bigger compared to the DSi XL, (and the biggest DS screen yet) which makes it easier to use the 3D and is just overall more comfortable to use. The console itself seems more 'finished', compared to the 3DS which still seemed very much like a prototype from it's appearance when it was released, it was clunky and square and not very attractive. But the 3DS XL has been nicely rounded off to look more like it's from this decade.This also makes it easier to use as it sits more comfortably in your hand. The light weight for it's size is another important factor, for what it is - being an XL console with 3D, it would be assumed to be weighty, but actually it's fairly light and this makes it easy to play happily for hours. The Sound is also much clearer compared to any other DS console I've used before.The 'Select', 'Start', and 'Home' buttons have been made more like buttons this time, rather than embedded into the console like the 3DS, they are still in the same position - below the bottom screen, but are now much easier to access if you're mid-game and need to pause. The 3D slider can now be snapped down to an 'off' position, and it will be held there, unlike the 3DS where it could be accidentally knocked on again. The SD card slot is now on the right hand side rather than on the left like the 3DS. For me, the improvement I found most helpful (but also minor) is the stylus! The stylus itself has been changed back to the older style, just a plain plastic stick, none of the extendable aluminium stuff, it is also larger (around the same size as the one given for the DSi XL). And the slot for the stylus has been put back to the side of the console, and sits above the SD card slot on the right hand side. I found it so annoying with the 3DS that if you needed it mid-game you'd have to reach behind it (and fail)to grab it, and then try and extend it to the size needed, so a well thought-of improvement.Obviously yes, it doesn't come with a charger but I don't see this as a problem due to the superb price. It is labelled clearly on the box. If you owned either the DSi, DSi XL, or the 3DS, all of the chargers included with those console work fine. If not, you can buy an official one at a reasonable price.
Read more..

List All Products

Terms and ConditionsPrivacy Policy