Despite the fact that hybrid Nintendo Switch, the release of which took place in the beginning of March, sells like hotcakes, the Japanese company is not going to throw the support of another of his brainchild – the ruler of handheld devices 3DS and 2DS. In 2015, I have already told our readers about the updated model handheld New Nintendo 3DS. Console with analog joystick, removable decorative panels and a more powerful iron is relished very much. The range of budget devices, the Nintendo 2DS was unfairly deprived of the attention of the manufacturer. The time has come to correct this historic injustice. Welcome! The new portable console New Nintendo 2DS XL.
Traditionally begin my review with a study of the packing device. Box with the New Nintendo 2DS XL, despite the presence of XL in the name of the console, is incredibly compact. On the front surface of the packaging we see the name and picture of the device, as well as age limits for different regions. In Germany, there is a rating system USK (Unterhaltungssoftware Selbstkontrolle) and console approved for sale without any restrictions. In the remaining countries of the European Union, according to the system PEGI (Pan European Game Information), New Nintendo 2DS XL is allowed to sell children over 7 years. According to the Russian legislation, the device is suitable for children from 6 years.
The back of the box briefly telling us about picking a gaming console.
After opening the package the first thing I learned and studied the accompanying documentation. It was surprisingly little. Only a thin user manual. I remember the days when the box of Nintendo 3DS lay a heavy book in several languages, which weighed almost more than the gaming console. Also included you will find a packet of cards used in the games of augmented reality. Nothing new here. Therefore, to consider separately their I won’t.
Here is the console. The new model came in two colors: turquoise-black and white-orange. The case was bright and attractive. The design of the updated 2DS retreated from form-factor “monoblock” and turned into so-called “cockleshell” or “clamshell”. In other words, the device became a clamshell-like and older model, New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL. Top console cover is textured and is covered with pleasant to the touch the parallel grooves. In the corner you can see the logo of the Japanese company.
The reverse side of the console is unremarkable. Except that the presence of stereoscopic camera with two lenses I was somewhat discouraged. Despite the fact that the console lacks the ability to display stereo content, the manufacturer for some reason is still the possibility to make 3D-pictures. However, in the case of the previous model 2DS, the situation was exactly the same. So I’m not surprised.
Stereo speakers migrated to the top of the console on the bottom and located at the corners of the housing. Such engineering solution I think is fundamentally wrong. When you play, it is likely that the palm will block the holes and make the sound dull. Practice has shown that it is, though it happens not very often. Here you can see the power button is bright orange and LEDs of the connected power supply and an active wireless connection.
In the top of the console you notice a massive convex array with loops, which held the top of the screen. Under it there is a port for connecting the charger and also the infrared port for communication with various accessories.
On the side faces of the interface elements, only the slider to adjust the volume. Incidentally, he was much nicer in terms of tactile sensations. Adjusts the sound accurately and very smoothly.
The screen size of the console are the same as the model New Nintendo 3DS XL. The top screen has a diagonal of 4.88 inches (resolution of 400 x 210 pixels), and the bottom is 4.18 inches (320 by 240 pixels). Please note that the frame around the top of the screen became much thinner, so the console is visually reduced in size. The top of the screen and the space around it is covered with a layer of protective clear plastic. This little touch makes the console even more stylish.
The main analog stick and d-pad D-Pad remains unchanged. In the left part features a Home button that allows you to leave the game in the system menu.
The right is also virtually unchanged. A traditional set of buttons A, B, X, Y, Start and Select, as well as a second analog stick C-Stick. About him I told in my previous review. For convenience, it hasn’t changed: it’s still the same taut rubber “stub” that is used far not in all games. However, it still simplifies management in some cases, so that to abandon it would be simply stupid.
Front facing camera is located directly between the two screens of the console. To the right is a microphone, used in some games. The left – sensor ambient light level for automatic brightness adjustment displays.
In the lower part of the cover under which the hidden slots for game cartridges and memory cards microSD. It is very convenient, given that the New Nintendo 3DS you had to Unscrew the back cover to replace the memory card. Yes, and from dust, this plug protects the connectors well.
Next to the 3.5 mm headphone Jack you can see hidden in the housing of the stylus. It is short and uncomfortable, so praise him I do not dare. Don’t know what prevented Nintendo to invest in the kit telescopic stylus, as in some previous models. This hold right is impossible. He tries to fall out of fingers, and the brush starts to hurt from using it.
Lenses stereoscopic camera located at the back of the console. 3D photos you can see only moving pictures of the console with stereoscopic screen. On the screen of the New Nintendo 2DS XL, you will see a flat image. Don’t forget that we are dealing with a budget line of devices which cut out all unnecessary to reduce the cost. However, the presence of two cameras is somewhat contrary to the philosophy of saving.
At the top of the console, two pairs of triggers, L and R, as well as extra buttons ZL and ZR, which were introduced with the release of the New Nintendo 3DS console. The triggers are quite comfortable and responsive. Using an additional pair of buttons, not all games, but sometimes it is really very out of place.
To my great delight included with the console I found the charger. You’d be surprised, but with some previous models of the console charge not supplied. It had to be ordered in the online store of Nintendo or look in retail networks. On the one hand, this solution can be understood: to consoles came charging from older models and those who passed to new handheld could use them. But what do the people who buy the console for the first time? Now such problems should not arise. And I think that’s great. But that is not great for the console will not produce a convenient dock. I have not found her special contacts for quick charging. This means only one thing: to charge the battery now only possible through the wires, utykayas slot. No dock for us.
The console got the hardware the older model, New Nintendo 2DS XL. This means that it is based on a more powerful ARM processors and 256 megabytes of fast RAM. Games are downloaded significantly faster, and the glut of scenes of three-dimensional objects in the picture will not slow down. With New Nintendo 2DS XL you will be able to play such technically advanced projects like Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, and enjoy improved graphics in some other games. For example, in Hyrule Warriors Legends, Super Smash Bros., Pokemon Sun & Moon, etc.
The console is powered from a rechargeable lithium-ion battery at 3.7 volt with a capacity of 1300 mAh. With the discontinuation of the 3D console screen, had to work significantly longer, but the miracle did not happen. The Nintendo engineers just decided to save on the cost of components and stick it in the console is very mediocre battery. However, its charge is enough for several hours of comfortable play with high brightness, loud sound, and connecting to a wireless network. The console weighs only 260 grams, which is much less than the weight of the same New Nintendo 3DS XL (329 grams). At the bottom of the screen embedded NFC reader to interact with the collectible Amiibo. Also included is a memory card of 4 GB, which you no doubt want to change to a more capacious.
Here is a graphic comparison of the sizes of the consoles in the form factor clamshell of the 3DS family, the New 3DS, and now 2DS.
As you can see, the length of the new console slightly more than Nintendo 3DS XL.
But in width as well as lost by reducing the frames around the screen. That’s what helped her to throw off tens of grams of the excess weight.
The brightness of the screens remained on the same level as them. Of course, compare the pixel density with the wonderful screen of the new Nintendo console Switch — occupation the extremely ungrateful. However handheldmed family 3DS today own tens of millions of people. And most of them wave happy with their devices. So, to paraphrase a famous saying: it is not in the permission and how that permission to skillfully use.
During testing, the New Nintendo 2DS XL, I carried out the transfer of dozens of their games on the old model Nintendo 3DS XL to the new one. The process was painless, and after only 40 minutes I’ve played your favorite games on the new hardware.
I was a bit confused, is the fact that the screens New Nintendo 2DS XL emit very warm light. In other words – slightly yellow (on photos it is not visible). The problem is not new, and for the first time people have noticed it yet at the time of the release of the New Nintendo 3DS, which was Gentile screens compared with the screens of New Nintendo 3DS XL. The answer was simple: handheld used different accessories and displays from different manufacturers. The picture quality is not affected, but if you prefer a light cold you can purchase a different model of the console.
Another drawback I noticed immediately. The zone LEDs in the lower part of the housing assembled in such a way that the blue led does not allow the body parts fit tightly to each other, creating a small gap. How to be a trifle, but a trifle is not very pleasant. At first I thought that the only problem I have. But then he looked at the console his friend, he was repeated. The second point associated with the Assembly, is a small vertical strip shining through the plastic to the left of the top of the screen. It does not hurt the eye and is visible only in the dark, but the fact remains. With the Assembly until there is a small cosmetic problem.
Package contents:
- Game console New Nintendo 2DS XL
- Stylus New Nintendo 2DS XL
- The augmented reality cards (6 units)
- MicroSD memory card 4 GB
- User manual
- Power supply
Features:
- Color: white-orange, black and turquoise
- Material: plastic
- Top screen: LCD 4.88 inches
- Lower screen: LCD, 4.18 inch
- Stereoscopic image: no
- Analog joysticks: 2
- D-Pad: is, 4 directions
- Triggers: there are 4 pieces
- Built-in NAND-memory: 2 GB
- Expandable memory: microSD
- Reader NFC: there is
- Embedded MVD decoder: there are
- Camera: 2 main, 1 front
- Microphone: there are
- CPU: ARM11 MPCore, 4 cores, 268 MHz
- Coprocessor: VFPv2, 4 cores
- Additional CPU: ARM9, 134 MHz
- The GPU: PICA200, 268 MHz
- RAM: 256 MB
- Video memory: 10 MB
- Battery capacity: 1300 mAh
- Weight: 260 g
Pros:
- Great design and soft touch materials.
- The console is integrated with significantly more powerful hardware.
- Support without exception, all the games library of the 3DS.
- The presence of two auxiliary triggers ZL and ZR.
- Having a second analog stick C-Stick.
- The charger included in the kit.
- Direct access to the memory card.
- Built-in Amiibo reader.
- Very nice price on a new console.
Cons:
- Not very good location of the speaker.
- The build quality raises a number of questions.
- The lack of a docking station for recharging.
- Short is not convenient stylus.
Nintendo continues to experiment with its lineup of handheld consoles, expanding the range, improving the packaging and trying to please every fan. If you’ve never been to excited about stereoscopic 3D (such as people, I’m sure, a lot), buying New Nintendo 2DS XL could be your best option of getting access to a huge library of Nintendo games. The console is 9999 rubles, which is by modern standards a fairly modest price. For comparison: New Nintendo 3DS XL is 14 999 rubles, and inside it is the exact same iron, except the top stereoscopic screen. Is it worth to pay 5000 for the dubious function, which you probably won’t even use? For myself, this choice has already been made and successfully moved to the new console, as you suggest.
An overview of the game console, New Nintendo 2DS XL
Sergey Grey