First impressions: Hands-on with Nintendo 2DS

Technology Trends,Thursday, August 29, 2013
When accoutrement video games, sometimes anticipation with your easily is added important than with your eyes or ears.

It's harder not to analysis the Nintendo 2DS -- ablution Oct. 12 for $130 -- after appearing a bit puzzled. Forget that there's no 3-D adequacy (hence the 2DS name). This adaptation of Nintendo's accepted handheld ditches the clamshell design. So, instead of aperture and closing the handheld as you would with 3DS and beforehand DS models, the 2DS arrives with a slate anatomy factor.
Nintendo offered a audience of the 2DS recently, featuring several amateur including Mario Kart, Animal Crossing: New Leaf and Luigi's Mansion: Dark Moon.
While the 2DS retains the aforementioned bifold screens, the accessory feels lighter and thinner. With the hinges gone, the thumbstick, directional pad and face buttons accept been confused up. Two beyond accept buttons sit on top, while the mic has confused to the lower left. Also, the 2DS trades in the about-face to about-face wireless functionality on and off for a Sleep switch.
Pretty abundant aggregate about the 2DS charcoal the aforementioned as the 3DS, including the stylus, the cameras that can still shoot images in 3-D, software options such as Nintendo Shop and added features. Alone two things are missing: 3-D examination -- which few players ability absence -- and the clamshell design.

The Nintendo 2DS.(Photo: Nintendo)
Still abrading your arch about the slate design? So was I. Then I captivated the accessory and started arena some games. It's decidedly comfortable, applicable snugly amid two easily whether you're antagonism go-karts or exploring a alarming mansion.
My lone, accessory affair is attention the screens now that there's no way to abutting the device. Nintendo will advertise accustomed cases alone for 2DS, but analytical how those screens authority up in a haversack or added bag. Also, will a lot of 3DS amateur plan just as able-bodied in 2-D only? The aboriginal bold that sprung to apperception was Super Mario 3D Land, area accepting the 3-D appearance is valuable. Nothing would be added arresting than affairs a 3DS bold for 2DS and acquirements that added ambit would prove actual advantageous in accepting a absolute experience.
At $130, the 2DS could prove a huge agent for Nintendo, targeting barter gluttonous an affordable video bold advantage for themselves or their kids. Based on my abrupt experience, the 2DS architecture doesn't assume to backbite from the abundant alternative of DS and 3DS titles available. We'll accept added data on the 2DS achievement if it arrives on October 12.