Nintendo DSi XL - Midnight Blue
by Nintendo
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Brand: NintendoAudio: English (Unknown); English (Original Language)
Release Date: 2010-07-11
Platform: Nintendo DS
Model: UTLSBKA
Color: Midnight Blue
Publisher: Nintendo
Product features:
- Includes: Nintendo DSi XL System, 3 Pre-Installed Titles - Brain Age Express: Math, Brain Age Express: Arts and Letters and Photo Clock
- Two free applications: the Nintendo DSi Browser and Flipnote Studio
- Nintendo DSi AC adapter, rechargeable battery
- Nintendo DSi XL Stylus 2 and easy start guide
- Manuals (basic and controls) and support booklet
- AmazonBasics SDHC Class 4 32GB Secure Digital Card
- AmazonBasics SDHC Class 10 4 GB Secure Digital Card
- AmazonBasics SDHC Class 4 16GB Secure Digital Card
Video Game Reviews of Nintendo DSi XL - Midnight Blue
Customer Review: A home for all my virtual critters
Summary: 4 Stars
First off, I should say that this is the first hand-held gaming device I've ever owned; my gaming experience up until this point has been mainly PC games (and a few arcade games back in the 80s). The reason I purchased this unit is because my favorite online game, Faunasphere, has been shut down, leaving me, and so many other Faunasphere "caretakers" (devoted players like myself) absolutely devastated. I've struggled to find an online game similar to Faunasphere, and although I haven't found one, in doing some research I found at least one retail game that might help to fill the void, namely Animal Crossing Wild World, available on the DS. (The Wii version doesn't appeal to me, as I don't own a TV.) In searching further, I came across a multitude of DS games that looked like they'd be fun to play. So I bit the bullet and purchased my first strictly-for-gaming electronic device, and I have been pleasantly surprised by how simply wonderful it is.
I chose the DSi XL over the newly released 3DS version for a few reasons. For starters, of course, the price is more reasonable. Secondly, the larger screens of the XL appealed to me; never having owned a small hand-held, I was worried about screen size in particular. Thirdly, although DS games can be played on the 3DS, I've read numerous reviews and commentaries complaining about screen resolution (and again, small screen size) and as the games I most want to play are DS versions, I felt the DSi XL was the right choice. Don't get me wrong...I bet the 3D graphics are WAAAAYYYY cool on the 3DS, and if they come out with a 3DS XL, I'll probably be all over it. But for now, the DSi XL fits the bill for comfortable screen size and availability of a wide variety of games.
First impressions of the DSi XL: screen brightness = WOW! I actually had to take it down a notch. Volume level = double WOW...had to turn that down to the lowest setting above mute to be able to tolerate it. I'm sure I'll turn it up on occasion, but for everyday gaming I prefer the sound to be subtle as opposed to blow-your-socks-off. The touch screen is surprisingly responsive; I don't own an ipad or smart phone, but I did get a chance to play with my neighbor's ipod recently (6th generation) and hardly noticed a difference between his new-fangled touch screen and my XL's older, "resistive" screen. The only difference I could perceive is that my screen feels a bit more "springy" to the touch, whereas his feels more slick and solid. The XL touch screen is responsive enough to be manipulated with the swipe of a finger as opposed to a stylus...handy, when you are consistently losing the pen-stylus as I am and have large menu options that you can simply touch with the tip of a finger to select.
I find the screen size to be quite comfortable and more than adequate for viewing...no squinting, yay! As for pixelation, it's not bad. I only really notice it when faced with a white (blank) screen; then you can clearly see the pixel grid. But when graphics are playing, it's a non issue. I haven't played any older DS games on it, only the new Pokemon White so far. The rpg graphics are chunky to begin with, and not having a DSi or DS Lite to compare it to, I can't say whether there's any noticeable pixelation in comparison, only that I don't notice it...the graphics seem smooth to me. When my long-awaited Animal Crossing arrives, I'll update this review to let you know whether I notice any pixelation; being an older DS game, I figure it will be a good test. But so far, any graphics I've encountered in Pokemon White or in the XL unit features and games have been pleasantly smooth.
The cameras are a nice touch; I wouldn't buy this unit for the cameras, obviously, because the resolution is truly pretty crappy compared to today's crisp digitals, though the photo quality isn't all that bad in and of itself...it's certainly not great, but passable, at least for "fun" pics. However, the tutorial takes you through some photo editing features, and I have to say, it's a lot of fun to distort an image and use kaleidescope (which does exactly what it sounds like) and turn a photo into something completely unrecognizable yet artistic in its own right. There are all kinds of other editing features which I haven't explored yet, but am looking forward to doing so, in time.
The pre-installed brain-training games are fun, though I'm not sure how accurate they are. On the reading/writing one, on my first try, I got a brain-age of 33 (I'm 38...whooo!), but on the math one I got a brain-age of 74...yikes! Maybe I was tired when I played that one...I did better on another math test (got a brain-age of 55) which was different than the test they initially start you on. And both the math and the reading/writing games purport to assess/train the same brain region, the prefrontal cortex. So how my prefrontal cortex can rate 33 in one game and 74 in another, I don't know, unless that same region processes math and reading/writing differently. Regardless of accuracy, it's an enjoyable pastime to "train your brain," providing you don't take the assessments too seriously. As we age, our brains do need stimulation, so whether it says you're 25 or 95 I don't think it makes a difference so long as you give your brain an occasional workout. (As if video games in general aren't enough of one!)
Setting up the wireless was no problem; just enter your modem (or "WEP") key and wait. I did encounter an error message on the first try, but on the second try it connected just fine. My Kindle did the same thing, giving an initial error message before connecting; seems to be a standard with electronics these days and nothing to worry about...if at first you don't succeed, and all that. I've read several posts of folks complaining that they couldn't connect because their computers aren't up to date, and let me assure you, your DS has nothing to do with your computer's operating system, at least as far as wireless connection is concerned. If you have a wireless modem (the box that allows you to connect to the internet as opposed to a dial-up connection), you can get your DS hooked up easily, you just need the WEP key that is written on the back or side of your modem, the same key you had to enter when you connected your computer to wireless. No special devices, just a modem. Like the Kindle, the DS is a separate electronic device altogether and operates independently of your computer.
And speaking of my Kindle, the web-browser on the DSi is SWEEEEEEET compared to the Kindle's, by a mile. Web pages are in color, with full graphics, and load relatively quickly. No, they won't load as fast as your PC, but one user compared the load-time to that of a dial-up connection, and I think that's unfair. Yes, it does take longer, but not as long as dial-up, at least not in my experience. I was able to get on and immediately check my email (hotmail) with no problem. I did have trouble accessing my mother's email (compuserve) until I clicked the small print on the sign-in screen that offered me a "basic" web view, and from that point forward I had no problems.
And navigation...oh my! What a DIFFERENCE a touch-screen makes! On the Kindle, you have to navigate using buttons, which is clunky and time-consuming. Navigating with the DS is a breeze; on the upper screen of the DS you have a "map" view while on the touch screen it's automatically "zoom." So working between the two (manipulating the touch screen while keeping your eye on the map screen) you can easily navigate to the portion of the page you want to read. And of course you can click links directly from the touch screen. Anytime you need to enter information (such as a username or password) you just touch the box and a keyboard comes up automatically. It even has one-touch selections for commonly used entries like "www." and ".com" which saves keystrokes.
Obviously a direct comparison between the Kindle and the DS is unfair, because the two are built for completely different purposes. However, since I have both and use both for web-browsing on occasion, I don't feel I'm out of line in saying that the DS offers a far better web browsing experience than the Kindle. And while we're comparing the two, let's look at one thing the Kindle excels at...ereading. Can the DS act as an ereader? Well, yes and no.
On the one hand, there are programs out there which, if you are at all tech-savvy, you can implement to give your DS an ereading program. But of course, I can't recommend those because they're considered "homebrew" or "hacking" types of things, so all I can say is that they exist, just not in a retail sense. With that said, there is a legitimate software you can purchase for the DS called "100 Classic Books" which gives you...yes...100 classics, as well as an ereading program that is similar to the ipad with respect to bookshelf-browsing and page-flip graphics. You can find it on Amazon, but if I were you, I wouldn't purchase it unless it's on sale. All of the books offered are free on the public domain, so you're basically buying the cool ereading program and the ability to read their choice of 100 (otherwise free) classics on your DS. You're limited to that selection...you can't (at least not yet) purchase additional books. Also, the ereading capabilities are limited; you can bookmark a single book up to three times, but can't bookmark another one until you've finished that one. Also, as far as I know, there are no annotation features or other ereading extras, such as the Kindle offers. I purchased the software (on sale), so look for my review once I've had a chance to test it out, if you're interested.
On the whole, I have to say I LOVE my DSi XL, and I'm happy I went with it as opposed to the newer and more expensive 3D version. That's not to say I won't purchase a 3DS in the future, but for now I'm waiting for the 3DS XL to come out. :) As a handheld gaming unit, I'm quite impressed by the variety of features the DSi XL has to offer, but more than that, the performance of the thing greatly exceeded my expectations. As for battery life, it's adequate. I don't have specific figures, but I was able to play it for several hours a night for about 3 nights before I had to recharge it. That's substantial, considering the 3DS only offers about 3-5 hours of gameplay between charges.
As for cons, well, it's a bit heavy. You don't notice it at first, but if you're playing Pokemon for hours on end, you might feel it. I got a cramp in my left arm from holding it, as well as neck-strain; I'm going to have to figure out a more comfortable way of holding it, maybe propping it on a pillow as one reviewer suggested?
Also, I noticed that the plastic casing surrounding the d-pad (arrow buttons) of the unit I purchased isn't secured to the frame. So every time I push the left arrow (which, in a game like Pokemon, is a LOT) the casing "gives" under the slight pressure. It's not a huge deal, but it's irritating, and something I wouldn't expect to happen. I don't know if I have a faulty unit or if that's standard, but regardless I'm sending mine back and will update this review when the replacement arrives.
On another note, the XL is a major fingerprint magnet. I got the "midnight blue" color (which is quite nice, though maybe not as pretty as the aqua 3DS) and already after relatively limited use it's completely smudged all over, including the touch screen (and yes, I wash my hands to remove oils before I play...I'm a bit OCD like that). Not a big deal, because I've also purchased screen protectors as well as a decal skin covering which will solve both problems to some degree. Oh, and the pen-stylus that came with it had a tiny piece of poky plastic that protruded from the tip of the stylus, leftover from the manufacturing process...so much for a no-scratch stylus! It hasn't scratched the screen, but it has the potential to do so if I happen to press too hard, so watch out for that if you decide purchase the unit, and make sure you get some screen protectors.
But overall, I LOVE this unit, and I'm quite thrilled with my purchase. I'm giving it 5 stars for the fun factor, but only giving it 4 overall, because of the loose casing and the fact that I have to send it back because of it. Hopefully they aren't all like that; if the replacement is better, I'll give it another star. But if it's standard, then to me that's a pretty major flaw, being that it's a gaming console and of course you're going to be pressing that left arrow button ad-infinitum. Maybe I'll get used to the slight "give" every time, but as it stands, it's a major annoyance. But all things considered, if you're looking for a handheld unit to play a wide variety of cool, family-friendly games (as opposed to the PSP games which seem more action-oriented in general) and you like the larger screens and don't need 3D, then I'd highly recommend this unit. I'm looking forward to getting lots of fun gaming from it, and won't my mother be surprised when I show her the cool ipad-like page-flip feature of the ebook software.:)
After having suffered the rude awakening of having a beloved online game ripped out from under me, I take comfort in knowing that from this point forward, all of my virtual realities and critters will be securely housed in a single hand-held device, and have a (relatively) permanent home therein.
UPDATE: Just received my replacement unit, and while the casing near the d-pad isn't as loose as the previous unit, it still gives slightly under pressure. Also, this one's a bit loose near the A B X Y control as well. Frustrating, but not a deal breaker, for it doesn't seem to affect game-play any. Still, it gives a "shoddy" workmanship quality to what is an otherwise solid device, so the 4-star rating stands. (I told a friend and fellow DS owner about the loose casing, and he tested his own DS Lite version and found it to be quite solid, so maybe it's unique to the XL.) Nintendo, take note...this is something I'll be paying attention to when the 3DS XL rolls out! I don't mean to be nit-picky, but seemingly flimsy hardware doesn't bode well for device longevity, imo. But still on the whole, an awesome unit and I don't regret my purchase one iota...the more I play with it, the more in love I am. Because that's exactly what it encourages you to do...play. :) And it does that beautifully.
Description of Nintendo DSi XL - Midnight Blue
Nintendo DSi XL - Midnight BlueModern handheld gaming has long been dominated by Nintendo and Sony. Each hardware manufacturer has multiple viable offerings derived either directly, or evolving from the respective DS and PlayStation Portable product lines. All of these devices are impressive multifunctional devices, with designs meant to encourage gameplay on the go, integration with the Internet, backwards compatibility to previous games, and so on, but each goes about this in different ways. Taking a few minutes to examine the main features, and getting more familiar with available options, accessories and possible limitations of each handheld is the optimal way to determine which is the best choice for a player.
Handheld Console Choices
Nintendo 3DS View larger | Nintendo DSi/DSi XL View larger | PSP View larger | PSPgo View larger | PlayStation Vita View larger | |
| Suggested Retail Price (prices may vary) | $169.99 | $149.99/$169.99 | $149.99 | $199.99 | $249.99 - $299.99 (February 2012) |
| Display | Dual screen: upper - 3.53" LCD, lower - 3.02" LCD touch screen | Dual screen, backlit, 3.25"/4.2", LCD with 256 x 192 resolution | 4.3" full transparent | 3.8" full transparent | 5" OLED multi-touch screen |
| Internal Usable Memory | 64 MB | NA | 64 MB | 16 GB | TBD |
| External Media Storage | SD memory card | SD memory card | Sony Memory Stick Duo | Memory stick micro | New proprietary "NVG" flash cards |
| Size | 5.3" (l) x 2.9" (w) x 0.8" (h) | 5.4" (w) x 2.9" (l) x 0.74" (h) / 6.3" (w) x 3.6" (l) x 0.84" (h) | 6.7 (w) x 2.7" (w) x 0.7" (h) | 5.0 (w) x 2.71" (h) x 0.65" (d) | 7.2 (l) x 3.3" (w) x 0.73" (d) |
| Weight | 8 oz. | 7.5/11.1 oz. | 6.7 oz. | 5.5 oz. | TBD |
| Colors | Aqua Blue, Flaming Red, Cosmo Black | 7.5 oz. | Piano black (other colors via bundles) | Piano black, Pearl white | Black (other colors to follow) |
| Backwards Compatibility | Plays most DS and DSi games | Plays all DS games | Plays all PSP games in UMD format, or available via download; also plays downloadable PS1 games for PSP | Plays all PSP games available via download and PS1 games for PSP | Plays all PSP games available via download and PS1 games for PSP |
| Wireless Communications | Supports local Nintendo wireless connectivity between devices and IEEE802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connectivity | Supports local Nintendo wireless connectivity between devices and IEEE802.11 b/g Wi-Fi connectivity | Local ad hoc connectivity between PSP devices and infrastructure Wi-Fi connection options | Local ad hoc connectivity between PSP devices and infrastructure Wi-Fi connection options | 3G support in one or two hardware releases; standard ad hoc connectivity between devices and infrastructure Wi-Fi connection options in both |
| Online Media Portal | Nintendo eShop | Nintendo DSi Shop | PlayStation Network | PlayStation Network | PlayStation Network |
| Streaming Video | Netflix* | No | PSN movie rentals, and other video content | PSN movie rentals, and other video content | PSN movie rentals, and other video content |
| Internet Browser | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in | Built-in |
| Console Integration | Yes, with Wii | Yes, with Wii | Yes, with PS3 | Yes, with PS3 | Yes, with PS3 |
| Game Media | Game card and digital download | Game card and digital download | UMD disc and digital download | Digital download | Digital download, alternate media TBD |
| Online Multiplayer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Local Wireless Multiplayer | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Estimated Battery Life | 3-8 hrs | 3-14 hrs | 4-6 hours | 4-6 hours | TBD |
| Input Method | Touch screen, face and shoulder buttons, circle pad, motion/gyro sensor | Touch screen, face and shoulder buttons | Analog stick, D-pad, face buttons and shoulder buttons | Analog stick, D-pad, face buttons and shoulder buttons | Front and rear touch inputs, 2 analog sticks, D-pad, face buttons and shoulder buttons |
| Digital Camera(s) | 3 (0.3 megapixels); 3D capabilities | 2 (0.3 megapixels) | No | No | 2 |
| Built-in Microphone | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Graphic Quality | Top adjustable 3D screen - 800 x 240 resolution; lower screen - 320 x 240 resolution | 256 x 192 resolution | 480 x 272 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio) | 480 x 272 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio) | 960 x 544 resolution (16:9 aspect ratio) |
| General Game Price Range | Standard: $19.99 - $39.99 Downloads: $1.99 - $4.99 | Standard: $19.99 - $39.99 Downloads: $1.99 - $4.99 | Standard: $19.99 - $39.99 Downloads: $1.99 - $4.99 | Standard: $19.99 - $39.99 Downloads: $1.99 - $4.99 | Standard: $19.99 - $39.99 Downloads: $1.99 - $4.99 |
Online Play and Functionality
The wireless revolution in personal electronics has made online functionality and connectivity to the Internet a huge focus in handheld gaming. Every handheld console has an online arena that has either been built specifically for it, or that has been adapted to suit the needs of online players. By utilizing these portals players can greatly expand their chosen platform's potential, maximize gaming fun and increase the overall entertainment value of their devices.
The Nintendo eShop is your one-stop shop for exciting downloadable games, videos, applications, and so much more. Discover all-new 3D software, plus legendary titles from gaming past remastered in 3D. Revisit with classic portable "Virtual Console" games starring Mario, Link, many other faces from the Nintendo catalog of games. Gain access to hundreds of previously released DSiWare games, applications and much more. Browsing the Nintendo eShop is incredibly easy, and fun. Find any title in seconds, then view screenshots, game info, and even video to help you make your purchase. You'll even find details and 3D video of Nintendo 3DS games available at retail stores. All games are able to be saved in your own custom wishlist so you can always remember the titles you want to get.
DSiWare through the DSi Shop is a service that allows DSi players to download games and applications directly to their handheld console in exchange for DSi Points purchased through a local retailer. Experience new and innovative gameplay, fresh takes on the classics-and much more. Just shop, download, and enjoy. Visiting the DSi Shop is easy, just establish wireless broadband connection, click on the Nintendo DSi Shop icon from your menu screen and browse the shop and use Nintendo DSi Points. Games and applications can be saved to SD cards (sold separately).
PlayStation Network is an all access pass not only to a world of gaming, but also one of entertainment at-large. The service is 100% free, only requiring a PlayStation handheld (or a PS3) and a broadband connection to the Internet Once you are in visit the PlayStation Store where users can download games, first run and classic movies, previews, DLC add-ons for games, game demos, music and original PlayStation oriented streaming video content. Purchases can be made using a credit card or a PlayStation Network Card purchased offline. Content can be stored on external media or within the hard drive of the PSPgo.
* Existing Netflix unlimited membership account required.
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