Reviews// Nintendo 3DS XL

eXtraLarge

The main focus of the new console, though, is within its name. The larger screen comes with obvious concerns. Resized games and how the added screen area would effect the 3D capabilities were pushed to the back of my mind instantly, however, as neither are an issue.

The 3DS games don't look stretched or pixelated and there seems to be no reduction in viewing angles to enjoy the 3D gaming. However, the camera suffers quite a bit. Photos look a lot less clear on the larger screen and with that one of the party tricks that the 3DS had up its sleeve goes out of the window.

Glare reduction has been added to the upper screen and it shows. Next to no glare can be seen when gaming inside with a light on. Although it doesn't have the power to fight off sunlight while you're gaming outside it's still playable, which is more than what could be said for the original.

With the screens being 90% bigger, you would expect the overall unit to be much larger, surprisingly it's not. What is affected though is how heavy it is.

The 3DS XL is noticeably heavier than its little brother. I've always thought that weight is no bad thing with a controller and this is certainly the case here. It sinks into the palms of your hands without putting strain on your wrists and only really gets uncomfortable when playing lying on your back in bed.

Fully Charged

Another of the 3DS's major flaws was its battery life. I was getting frustrated with not only having to cut my gaming sessions short, but how poorly the sleep mode maintained battery power. This has been improved in the 3DS XL. Not really to the capacity I was hoping, but enough stave off my moans and tuts.

Putting the machine in sleep mode still saps too much of your battery life, though. Remembering to shut down is something we're not too used to doing in this day and age but it's a must with the 3DS and XL.

One decision that still baffles is the removal of a charging cable for the device. The 3DS XL uses the same charging connection as the 3DS and it would seem that Nintendo decided that there was enough of these cables in households to keep people happy.

It makes absolutely no sense whatsoever. If I'm buying electrical goods at any price point I expect to be able to charge the sealed rechargeable battery. I had only got about two hours worth of play in before I had to visit three local supermarkets in order to track down the last charging cable on one of their shelves so that I could continue.

It was a poor decision and one that shows a lack of respect for its consumers. Even a USB charger would have been acceptable, but to completely remove it from the box is just inexcusable.

So should you buy it?

The 3DS XL isn't an upgrade unit. It offers nothing new in terms of software or control capabilities. What it has over the 3DS won't whip its owners into a purchasing frenzy, but if I'm honest I don't think that's what Nintendo was going for. What it does offer is a nice looking unit with a larger screen to enjoy your games on. It's a refinement and nothing more.

Considering this, those who enjoy their smaller device can sit back happy with their purchase. They own a wonderful machine, and one that shouldn't be dropped so quickly after its launch.

Those new to the market have a question to ask themselves. Is the 3DS XL worth £40 more than the original? I would argue that it is. It has more than enough improvements to justify its asking price and you'll notice the better quality that your money buys.

But if you're on a budget then don't beat yourself up over getting the cheaper unit. Take the money you saved and buy one of the many great games the console has to offer.