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New 3DS XL Review for Nintendo 3DS

New 3DS XL Review for Nintendo 3DS

Not New, but Definitely Improved

The 3DS has enjoyed a successful life after its initial launch stumbles, turning into arguably the most highly rated mobile gaming platform of all time. Nearing four years in its lifespan, the system boasts an incredible library of quality titles from first and third-party developers alike. With such a strong presence in the market, Nintendo has had little pressure to push forth an entirely new series of handhelds. Instead, their latest family member, the New Nintendo 3DS, smartly improves nearly every aspect of the system, silencing some major criticisms of its predecessor, while boosting its internal power to handle heavier games going forwards. It’s still not a completely perfect package, but is enough to keep the system on its pedestal for a few more years to come.

New 3DS XL Screenshot

Calling it the “New” Nintendo 3DS is a bit misleading, and somewhat of a poor name choice for marketing. When trying to explain to the non-gamers in my life that I am picking up a New Nintendo 3DS, their immediate reply is, ” What’s wrong with your old one?”, and then ensues the explanation of all the features in the “new” system. Calling it the Improved Nintendo 3DS would be more accurate, although neither choice rolls off the tongue. But then again, Nintendo never had a knack for choosing globally accepted names for its systems. Despite this, the dedicated gaming community is well aware of the upgraded system, and if you’re questioning whether the purchase is worthwhile, the answer in every case is a resounding yes. Whether new to the 3DS family or currently the owner of a 3DS XL, the New Nintendo 3DS has enough improvements to warrant a purchase or trade-in.

With a side-by-side comparison of the 3DS XL and New 3DS XL, you’ll easily spot the changes in the physical makeup. The volume slider has been moved to the side of the top screen and the power button now placed at the base of the system, making accidental volume spikes and system shutdowns a non-issue. The Start and Select buttons have been placed on the right side, leaving a compact Home button alone at the bottom of the touch screen, again a much better placement for those buttons. The coloring of the letters on the A,B,X,Y buttons pays homage to the old Super NES controllers, a superfluous though thoughtful touch. Two new trigger buttons, ZL and ZR, are meaningless additions for current games, but offer more control versatility for future titles.

New 3DS XL Screenshot

By far the most important physical control upgrade is the addition of the C-stick nub. Eliminating the use of the bulky Circle Pad Pro attachment, this extra analog input allows for manual camera controls from the user without having to rely on the simplistic D-pad. It doesn’t provide the pressure versatility of the Circle Pad, and the sheer small size requires a little getting used to, but you’ll quickly find that the sensitivity of the nub manages the camera efficiently.

The second analog input is a welcome addition, but is trumped by the inclusion of the system’s extra camera dedicated to facial tracking, henceforth eliminating every criticism about finding the “sweet spot” with the 3D effect turned on. Dubbed “Super Stable 3D”, the feature backs up that title, finally allowing players to enjoy the system’s titular glasses-free 3D feature. The device can be tilted and shifted a generous distance before noticing any displacement between the visual layers. It’s such a enormous improvement, you’ll likely go back through your entire arsenal of games you originally played with the 3D turned off, only this time cranking it up to full and basking in the depth-defying glory.

New 3DS XL Screenshot

Of course, playing games under the full effects of 3D drains the battery considerably faster, and the only slightly updated lithium-ion battery means plenty of hours spent plugged into an outlet. But wait, make sure you have a spare charger, since the New Nintendo 3DS comes packed sans an AC Adapter. Nintendo assumes this a minor inconvenience to keep the retail cost of the system down considering how many consumers have a charger on hand from a previous 3DS or DSi system. However, there’s likely a sizable populace of New 3DS owners who will be trading in their prior model, having to include the adapter in the trade as well. Naive parents could also purchase the system as a new gift for their young ones, only to find they need to run back out after cracking open the box and finding no charging cord. This is a situational criticism, since it could be meaningless to some and a pain in the tuckus to others.

The bottom screen now comes equipped with NFC (near field communication) technology, allowing the system to be compatible with Nintendo’s Amiibo line of figurines straight out of the box. Considering the successful launch of the figurines and the vast possibilities of their applications in future titles, having this feature built into the New Nintendo 3DS will likely be one exploited often, more so than on the Wii U considering the quantity of titles the handheld produces over the home console. However, this is the only improvement to the touch screen. It maintains the resistive style display, which is less responsive and overall a poorer design choice than the standard capacitive displays found on most tablets and smart phones these days.

New 3DS XL Screenshot

The system has been beefed up under the hood, now sporting a quad-core processor. Until we see games developed specifically for the upgraded CPU, like Xenoblades Chronicles 3D, we won’t be able to compare the graphical quality and increased content between the new and old 3DS models. What is immediately apparent is how fast everything runs on the New 3DS. Games boot up in a fraction of the time, load screens are almost instantaneous, and built-in apps run without delay. Finally, loading up the Miiverse doesn’t require staring at those bobble-headed Miis dancing around the globe while listening to a sleep inducing lullaby for an entire minute. With the New Nintendo 3DS, you can play without delay.

It’s easy to look at the improved features the New Nintendo 3DS has plastered on its retail box or the Nintendo website and dismiss them as slight upgrades. Testing out the system yourself, however, will make you a believer. The more powerful processor, extra analog stick, and finally a 3D experience that lives up to the original hype are sizable enough enhancements to merit a purchase from every current 3DS owner and certainly those few still on the fence. It may not be “new”, but it’s certainly improved.

RATING OUT OF 5 RATING DESCRIPTION 4.7 Overall Rating – Must Buy
Not an average. See Rating legend below for a final score breakdown.

Review Rating Legend
0.1 – 1.9 = Avoid 2.5 – 2.9 = Average 3.5 – 3.9 = Good 4.5 – 4.9 = Must Buy
2.0 – 2.4 = Poor 3.0 – 3.4 = Fair 4.0 – 4.4 = Great 5.0 = The Best

Game Features:

  • Face Tracking 3D – Using the inner camera, face tracking 3D provides an improved 3D gaming experience from a wider range of viewing angles compared to Nintendo 3DS. The New Nintendo 3DS XL system automatically adjusts the 3D “sweet spot” based on the location of the user’s face.
  • New Controls – The C Stick opens a new world to your games. With certain games, you can freely control the in-game camera to get a new point of view. And, new ZL and ZR buttons give you more options than ever.
  • Built-in Amiibo Support – Tap an Amiibo figure to the near-field communication (NFC) reader on the lower screen to enjoy Amiibo features in compatible games. Get bonus items and content, customize your character, and more when you use Amiibo figures (like Mario!) with Amiibo-compatible games.
  • Faster Processing Power – Improved processing power allows for faster loading of applications, such as Miiverse and games. Plus the improved CPU performance allows you to enjoy faster speeds for downloading software.


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