Shoddy design and minimal sound quality make this a secondary choice, at best.
When the Nintendo 2DS was initially announced, it practically turned into a laughingstock amongst hardcore 3DS gamers. How couldn't it? Just looking at the thing, the first thing that you were thinking is, "It can't fold!" That means awkwardly carrying it about without being able to put it in your pocket. Plus, it's so ridiculously small compared to the 3DS XL that those with lesser quality eyes could barely even make out what's going on.
But, after spending some time with it, is the 2DS really that much of a joke? Considering its general purpose, not really. I mean, it's not going to unseat the 3DS XL's top spot on gamers' lists, but if you're looking for a decent handheld for your youngens, you could do worse.
First up is the feel. Though the awkward square shape takes a little getting used to at first, it's certainly more comfortable than the original 3DS and its somewhat hard grips. It's easy to access the controls, and the shoulder buttons work surprisingly well, despite going through a slight redesign from the original model.
Then there's the design. I still have qualms about this, especially considering the pint size of the screen and touch-screen compared to the XL. It's like going back to a minor size compared to the jumbo you got. That said, for younger gamers, it's still pretty good, as they can see what's happening on the screen – in 2D, it's not 3D enabled this time around – and do enough functioning on the bottom. It's not amazing, and hardcore players won't want to "trade down," if you will, but It's surprisingly sufficient.
