Six years since the 3DS first launched, Nintendo's New 2DS XL lets the handheld go out on a high. Forget the standard 2DS - a heavily stripped back version of the console released at a budget price - the 2DS XL is a very different beast. It includes almost all the features of the New 3DS XL, including its extra processing power and 256MB of RAM. You get the C-stick controls and ZL/ZR shoulder buttons as well, plus Amiibo NFC support. But as the name of the machine suggests, the obvious change is the complete removal of the auto-stereoscopic 3D display, and the head-tracking technology.
These cutbacks translate to a lower £130 price-tag, shaving a good £30-40 off the New 3DS XL, and making it less than half the price of a Nintendo Switch. For anyone itching to check out a huge catalogue of 3DS and DS games, and just aren't fussed about 3D, there's a lot to like - fundamentally, this is a well-built piece of kit. However, there are a couple of nitpicks too.
Nintendo could have stuck with its existing New 3DS XL design, but instead, the platform holder has made a number of changes. The New 2DS XL's processing power remains the same, but the exterior casing has been revamped. It's simplistic - as befits its price-point - again using mostly matte plastics for the body, and a redesigned hinge that lets both screens lay out evenly when snapped to the last position. The only criticism is that there's still a wobble to that top screen when moving around, with the hinge not quite as solid as it should have been - but that's a long-running problem with Nintendo's clamshell designs.
0 comments:
Post a Comment