Buyer’s Guide: Which Nintendo DS is right for you?

The Nintendo DS has been knocking around for a fair while now…but for those not yet initiated in the ways of the handheld gaming it might all be a bit confusing…..luckily BANGBANGTECH is here to help!

The Nintendo DS was first released back in late 2004. Since then we’ve seen two reincarnations and are set to get another on the 5^th of March when the DSi XL will be hitting the shelves here in Blighty.

With sales well over 100 million, the DS has been a huge success for Nintendo and it shows no signs of slowing.

Despite the different models there are some commonalities. The dual screen set up is one of the most notable, with the lower making use of touch screen technology, sadly not all games make the most of this.

If you feel like a bit of “retro” gaming, the DS will suit you, with backwards compatibility you can pick up and play the old games with ease, the DSi/DSi XL require you to download these from the DSi Store. All the models come with a compact mains charger – not a hefty old power block in sight.

You’ll be hard pressed to find a new original DS anywhere, but it’s very easy to pick up a second hand one. For around £40-50 you should be able to find one that’s complete and in good condition.

This model would be great for people that are on a budget. It includes a Gameboy Advance (GBA) slot that broadens the portable gaming horizons with thousands more games.

The size of the console may mean it’s better suited for those of you with larger hands and bigger biceps, it might only weigh 300grams but after awhile it does start to feel like a whole lot more. It has affectionately been nicknamed the “DS phat” for this very reason.

The DS Lite has all the same features as the phat. Released two years later than its predecessor, clearly it had been on a fairly drastic diet that saw it shrink in size and weight. With a brighter screen than the original and better battery life (the DS Lite has the best battery life of all released DS versions), the lite seemed to be an all round improvement on its larger ancestor. The Lite suits hands of all sizes despite being smaller. With prices ranging from £90-100, it’s the second cheapest DS out there.

Next up is the DSi. Released just last year, this is the most recent version available outside of Japan and is aimed at the more tech savvy user as it includes the ability to download media, such as games and music.

It’s 12% narrower than the DS lite, and has a brighter screen and enhanced volume and sound quality. The DSi also includes two motion detecting cameras that can be used in-game with select titles, one on the external shell and the other on the inside.

With the ability to expand storage space with SD cards, it’s easy to have several games with you on the go. However, in order to purchase the games you will have to use the built in DSi Store over Wi-Fi.

With the exclusion of the GBA slot this might be a deal breaker for those out there interested in retro gaming, but there is the option to download many of the classics from the store. At roughly £140 the DSi may well be worth the extra cash if you value the additional online extras and cameras.

Last but not least, is the DSi XL, which is due for release in the UK on the 5th March.

With many similar features to the DSi, the XL will appeal to those looking for a much larger screen and somthing ultimately more substantial. Not content with simply making it bigger, Nintendo has also given the DSi XL’s screen an improved viewing angle – allowing for one of the best sofa multiplayer experiences possible on a handheld.

The battery life has also been improved from the DSi, and is very similar to that of the lite. There are two different styluses; a longer version of the normal stylus and a new “pen-like” stylus for a more comfortable feel.

The DSi XL comes pre-programmed with a few bits of software, like the DSi browser, a dictionary and a few DSi Ware titles. With pre-order prices of £140-£150 it’s a little dearer than it’s smaller cousin, but comes with extras worth the difference.

Which ever DS you pick there are thousands of games out there for all tastes and ages, and a few features that you’ll find as (pretty much) standard across the DS range:

Most include:

Dual-screen
Touchscreen technology
Wi-Fi connection (original needs adaptor)
Microphone port
Wireless network (range 30-100m)
Backwards compatibility (DSi, DSiXL*)


DS
Larger size
Cheap	N/A	N/A
GBA slot
DS Lite
Smaller/Lighter
Cheap	£94.73 (Red) £99.99 (Pink) £111.17 (Black)	£99.99 (White)
GBA slot
DSi
Small/Light
Games on the go, built-in memory
No GBA slot	£124.98	£139.99 (Pink)
DSi Store
Camera
Music Playback
DSi XL
Larger screen – 93% bigger than DS Lite!
Brighter screen
DSi Store	£149.73 (Dark Brown) £149 (Wine Red)	£149.95 (Wine Red) £149.95 (Dark Brown)
Music Playback
Camera
Glossy finish
Bigger stylus
No GBA slot

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