UPDATE: Nintendo has now confirmed its Next Big Thing – the Nintendo Switch. The console, which has been a huge talking point for the past 12 months, is a very unique piece of kit, as it is both a standalone console and portable gaming device. The idea is you can take it anywhere you go, all you need is battery life. And if you got that you’re good to go for hours, regardless of where you are.
I was very impressed by the overall concept. The games the demoed looked amazing and while the press is very down on Nintendo at the moment, I think the Switch has the attributes to be a big success for Nintendo, particularly if it launches with The Legend Of Zelda: Breath Of The Wild ready and raring to go in March, 2017.
We've all seen the "1DS" jokes that have arrived online since the announcement of the Nintendo 2DS, but the humour is valid - by dropping the 3D effect from its portable hardware, Nintendo has spectacularly backtracked on 3D gaming, despite its recent assurances that the opposite is true. However, as any 3DS owner will readily attest, this "feature" is becoming less and less relevant; the console is now famous for its impressive selection of amazing titles rather than its third dimensional gimmick.
Keeping this in mind, it's easier to see the logic behind Nintendo's recent hardware launch - a cheaper variant of the best-selling console which will surely be manufactured with more margin for profit. But can the Nintendo 2DS overcome the initial scepticism which greeted its unveiling? Let's find out.
Nintendo 2DS review: Design
The clamshell design sported by the original 3DS and 3DS XL was inspired by the DS, which was in turn based on the Game & Watch dual screen LCD handheld from the 1980s. However, Nintendo has reverted back to the form factor made famous by the original Game Boy - there's no hinge and the console is now a slab of plastic.
The reasons for this change are easy to guess at; without the hinge, the Nintendo 2DS is more robust and will no doubt last longer in the hands of unruly children - surely its target audience. But by putting the controls towards the top of the screen and giving the Nintendo 2DS a wedge-like shape, Nintendo has created a machine that is also much more comfortable to game with than the original 3DS.
A quick glance may suggest that the Nintendo 2DS is constructed from cheap and nasty plastic, but it actually feels well-made and sturdy. The refined buttons and D-pad are also an improvement over those seen on the 3DS, although they might be a little small for those who have become accustomed to the larger versions seen on the 3DS XL.
The stereo speakers seen on the original models have been replaced by a single mono speaker - which is a shame, as the audio was pretty impressive on the 3DS. The quality of the speaker on the Nintendo 2DS is also somewhat questionable; it's not especially loud and even then it distorts when at maximum volume.
Nintendo 2DS review: Software
Although the Nintendo 2DS can't perform the same 3D tricks that the 3DS is capable of, it can run every 3DS game and is also backwards compatible with DS software. Furthermore, the system can connect to the 3DS eShop and download titles such as Steamworld Dig, Night Sky and Mighty Switch Force. It can also play Virtual Console titles, such as vintage Game Boy games like Super Mario Land and The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening.
The bottom line is that the Nintendo 2DS has access to a massive library of games, many of which are arguably much better than anything that is available on mobile formats such as iOS and Android. Of course, pricing needs to be taken into account here - while many smartphone titles are cheap or free, 3DS download software is many times more expensive, and retail games can cost £30 or more.
Nintendo 2DS review: Screen
Compared to the displays seen on modern phones like the Samsung Galaxy S4 and iPhone 5S, the screens on the Nintendo 2DS are almost laughably primitive. The top screen has a resolution of 400x240 pixels and the bottom - which has a touch panel - can only muster 320x240.
It's also worth noting that the bottom display features a resistive panel, which means it requires pressure to register a touch. Pretty much every modern phone uses capacitive touch technology these days, and it feels a little awkward moving back to a cheaper, outdated technology.
It would have been nice to see Nintendo upgrade the touch display to a capacitive version, but that would have pushed up the price - and the Nintendo 2DS is all about offering the same experience for less money.
Nintendo 2DS review: Battery, storage and connectivity
Battery life was never one of the 3DS' strong points; with the 3D effect switched on, it would last a few hours before needing a charge. The XL boasted a larger power cell and offered a little more stamina, but still not quite as much as the original Game Boy was famous for.
The Nintendo 2DS, freed of the power-hungry autostereoscopic screen, could have been a long-lasting challenger, but it comes with a 1300mAh cell - the same size as the one which shipped with the original model.
My tests revealed that stamina was about the same as the first version of the hardware; the Nintendo 2DS outlasted both the 3DS and 3DS XL with their 3D effect enabled - although with the 3D slider set to "off", the XL lasted longer and the 3DS was roughly on par with the Nintendo 2DS.
Unlike Sony - which opted for proprietary memory storage medium for its PS Vita system - Nintendo wisely picked widely-available SD cards. There's a 4GB SD card included with the machine but you can upgrade this cheaply with a 32GB variant.
The Nintendo 2DS retains the WiFi connectivity of the 3DS models, which allows it to link to the 3DS eShop for downloads as well as receive "over the air" firmware updates.
There's also the innovative "StreetPass" functionality to consider, which allows users to share data with other Nintendo 2DS consoles (and 3DS, of course) just by passing them in the street. This element has proven especially popular with existing 3DS owners, so much so that Nintendo recently held a National StreetPass Day to encourage owners to take their systems out and about with them.
Nintendo 2DS review: Conclusion
The Nintendo 2DS might seem like an odd idea on paper, but in reality it's a far more attractive proposition than you may at first assume. It has its shortcomings - the mono speaker and the resistive screen, for example - but for the price, it's hard to complain.
The revised form factor is also a pleasant surprise; by dropping the clamshell design, Nintendo has made the Nintendo 2DS a system which is a lot more comfortable to use for prolonged period. It will also appeal to parents looking to buy a robust first handheld for their offspring.
Some may question the wisdom of buying a Nintendo 2DS for £109.99 when the 3DS is available for just a little more, but Nintendo is clearly aiming for a different sector of the market with this device. It's pitching the Nintendo 2DS well below the cost of its rivals and it has access to a massive selection of killer games to boot - including Pokemon X & Y, which launches on the same day as the new console and somewhat controversially doesn't make extensive use of the 3D effect - accident or intention? You decide.
Specifications
| Length | 144mm |
| Width | 127mm |
| Thickness | 20mm |
| Weight | 260g |
| Screen Size | 400x240 pixels (display) and 320x240 pixels (touchscreen) |
| UK Launch | October 2013 |
| Phone Style | Handheld gaming console |
| Typical Price | £109.99 |
| Website | http://www.nintendo.com/3ds/2ds |
| Camera Resolution | VGA |
| Music Formats | MP3 |
| Music Player | Yes |
| Song Storage | Yes |
| Speaker | Yes |
| Radio | No |
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