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DS

North America

Nintendo DSi XL

by Aaron Kaluszka - February 27, 2010, 1:57 am EST
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Is bigger better?

I had plenty of hands-on time with the DSi XL since all of the DS games at the Summit were demoed on them. One thing’s for certain: the larger screens help with filming. The big, bright screens don’t really add to games, but they don’t take away from them either. Yes, you can see the pixels. No, it’s not a big deal. The larger size means it won't fit in your pocket, but it's better suited for household locations such as the kitchen counter when used in conjunction with cookbook software and the like.

The only minor problem I had with the larger screens is that games that require large motions will now require even larger motions, which may take a slight bit of adjusting. The default stylus isn’t any bigger, and the bigger stylus that also comes with the system was unavailable – a bigger stylus would have helped in navigating the larger screen.

I found it a little odd that the overall dimensions were increased, but the button sizes weren’t. Also, the rectangular edges placed where your palms go is a little more of a problem than it is on the DS due to the increased torque created by the increased weight and height of the system. Whatever happened to the rounded edges and buttons from the original Game Boy days?

If you have a DSi, you probably won’t have a reason to pick up a DSi XL. But the XL should be great for those who have held off their purchases because the screen was too small for them. It’s a functional release that perhaps could have been refined more, but still should satisfy its target audience.

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Genre
Developer Nintendo

Worldwide Releases

na: Nintendo DSi XL
Release Mar 28, 2010
PublisherNintendo
jpn: Nintendo DSi LL
Release Nov 21, 2009
PublisherNintendo
eu: Nintendo DSi XL
Release Mar 05, 2010
PublisherNintendo
aus: Nintendo DSi XL
Release Apr 15, 2010
PublisherNintendo
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