{"id":42647,"date":"2012-08-08T15:08:31","date_gmt":"2012-08-08T13:08:31","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/?p=42647"},"modified":"2012-08-08T15:22:11","modified_gmt":"2012-08-08T13:22:11","slug":"nintendo-3ds-xl-review","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mygaming.co.za\/news\/hardware\/42647-nintendo-3ds-xl-review","title":{"rendered":"Nintendo 3DS XL review"},"content":{"rendered":"

Following the surprise post-E3 2012 announcement, Nintendo launched the first major refurbishment to their current glasses-free 3D handheld console; the Nintendo 3DS XL.<\/p>\n

The biggest selling point of the updated console is right there in the name \u2013 it\u2019s a supersized version of the Nintendo 3DS. But is bigger always better?<\/p>\n

The most striking feature of the console is the much, much larger screens. The top screen measures in at 124mm wide, and the bottom screen at 106mm wide. Compared to the original 3DS\u2019s 90mm and 77mm screens, the 3DS XL\u2019s displays are absolutely monstrous.<\/p>\n

The screens are dazzling and you won\u2019t be able to imagine playing games like Mario Kart 7 on anything smaller. You notice things you didn\u2019t see before and become more immersed in your game \u2013 even when playing in 2D mode. The screens aren\u2019t quite as bright as the original 3DS but it\u2019s something you can easily live with.<\/p>\n

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Nintendo 3DS XL versus original 3DS<\/p><\/div>\n

The 3DS\u2019s key selling point is the rendering of 3D effects without using special glasses and the 3DS XL stays true to this trait. The 3D effects are more “noticeable” and dramatic on the larger screens. Things pop out further and the feeling of depth on the 3DS XL is one-of-a-kind.<\/p>\n

It’s also easier to find and stay in the 3D sweet-spot. You\u2019re not as constrained in keeping your head still when viewing 3D images as when playing on the original 3DS. The 3DS XL is great for 3D viewing and prevents it from becoming a complete novelty.<\/p>\n

Nintendo also made a fuss about the new anti-glare treatment of the screens, but I couldn\u2019t really see the difference. I guess you\u2019ll notice it when playing in a studio-lit environment or under a spotlight; environments gamers tend to remove themselves from in any case.<\/p>\n

Unfortunately there is a side effect to the increased screen size; the dreaded pixelation. You can\u2019t stretch a resolution to a larger screen and not expect some quality degradation. While it\u2019s not as bad as the stretch from the DS to DSi XL you do notice some rough edges and blocky animations.<\/p>\n

By no means is the graphic quality on the 3DS XL bad – it\u2019s just apparent that there is a quality difference when compared to the original 3DS. If the 3DS XL is your first encounter with the handheld series you\u2019ll probably spend more time drooling over the 3D effects than worrying about pixels.<\/p>\n

The biggest culprit on the pixelation front is the 3DS XL\u2019s inner and outer cameras. Just like the DSi and original 3DS, the 3DS XL only touts 0.3MP cameras, and photos taken by such lenses are bad enough without being stretched to 3DS XL.<\/p>\n

Playing any of the Augmented Reality games that are pre-installed on the system is a messy business of pixels, distortion, and a sprinkle of embarrassment.<\/p>\n

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Nintendo 3DS XL launch colours<\/p><\/div>\n

Nintendo also dropped the 3DS\u2019s glossy finish and went for a metallic matt-finish on the exterior of the system – fingerprint haters rejoice! The inside of the console remains solid black with a similar matte finish.<\/p>\n

It would appear as if Nintendo learned from some of the 3DS\u2019s mistakes as the 3DS XL has more ergonomically curved sides. This makes it much more comfortable to hold the system, but the increased size almost doubles the weight of the console. After playing a while I felt the need to rest my hands on a table or my lap \u2013 something that doesn\u2019t really happen when playing on the original 3DS.<\/p>\n

One of the biggest concerns with the original 3DS was the poor battery life. The bigger casing of the 3DS XL allows a larger battery and the system can now provide playtime of up to 6.5 hours depending on the back-light options, 3D effect, and Wi-Fi settings. The console did live up to Nintendo\u2019s specs and you can bargain on obtaining at least an extra hour of playtime from the 3DS XL.<\/p>\n

There are no radical changes in the button layout or appearance of the 3DS XL; the D-Pad, Circle Pad, and input buttons are right where you expect them to be, and behave as they should. However, the Select, Home, and Start buttons received a nice little touch up and are much easier to press than before.<\/p>\n

This brings us to the point that everyone had a fit about \u2013 why on Earth didn’t Nintendo include a second Circle Pad on the 3DS XL? It was bad enough when the gaming giant announced a strap-on accessory for the original 3DS, but the idea of a Circle Pad Pro XL is absolutely ridiculous.<\/p>\n

Nintendo claims that they couldn\u2019t include an additional Circle Pad on the 3DS XL because it would significantly reduce the battery performance. I\u2019ll take that statement with a tablespoon of salt, thanks.<\/p>\n

I can\u2019t see how an additional input mechanic will drain the battery faster. There\u2019s more than enough space to include the additional analogue controller below the A, B, X and Y buttons and the incoming Circle Pad Pro XL will add unnecessary bulk and complications.<\/p>\n

An increasing number of games are compatible with the Circle Pad Pro and you\u2019ll need to think carefully about this point before purchasing a 3DS XL. Will you ever play games like Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D or Kingdom Hearts Dream Drop Distance that are optimized for the additional Circle Pad? Will you be happy about buying another accessory that will potentially increase the size of the 3DS XL to that of a tablet PC?<\/p>\n