After reviewing Sony PSP and GP2X, we couldn’t avoid to test the Nintendo portable console, the Nintendo DS. Anyway, this review will deal with the version Lite of DS released since few months in Japan and, still not in commerce in Europe.
Thanks to Goldenshop.com.hk for providing testing material and kindness
After reviewing Sony PSP and GP2X, we couldn’t avoid to test the Nintendo portable console, the Nintendo DS. Anyway, this review will deal with the version Lite of DS released since few months in Japan and, still not in commerce in Europe.
Thanks to Goldenshop.com.hk which allowed us to have this brand new product and test it.
The console:
Nintendo DS is a portable console characterised by two screens (DS = dual screen), one of which is a touch screen similar to PDA’s one. This represents a great innovation for handy games interactivity. For sure all of you that use a PDA to play with puzzles and games with this facility have an idea of what Nintendo is offering.
From a mere technical point of view, DS is far away from its antagonist PSP. Here you are the technical specs:
- Dimensions (closed): 14,86x8,46x2,87 cm - Upper screen: TFT retro lighted 3 inches, resolution 256X192 and .24 mm dot pitch - Touchscreen: same that upper one, with touchscreen - Colours: up to 260,000 colours. - Wireless comunication: IEEE 802.11 and property format by Nintendo. - Processors: One ARM9 and one ARM7 - Battery: Li-ion from 6 to 10 hours - Sounds: Stereo speakers able to produce sounds in virtual surround - Jack for stereo headphones and microphone. - Slots for Nintendo DS cards and for Game Boy Advance games. The Nintendo however has always taught us (and will keep on doing with the Wii) that the polygons number or the textures are not the fundamental elements that make a game amusing. What is really necessary is imagination used in the right way; the clear example is Mario, the Italian plumber, which is amusing people of every age from two generations.
Let's now analyse DS Lite, it differs from his predecessor for the reduced dimensions, the weight and the two screens totally renewed as far as regards brightness and contrast. Here it is what we find in the box:
- Nintedo DS Lite - 2 pens - AC adapter 110V - Wrist string - Cover for GBA slot - Manuals
As the Console we are testing is an importation one, the charger doesn't suit Italian Voltage (220V). Fortunately Goldenshop.com.hk provided us for a universal charger 110V-220V without additional costs (you can see it together with original one in the picture).
Here you are how the console looks like from the above:
The material is a shiny plastics, very similar to one used for Ipod and PSP, therefore well made, and extremely easy to dirty with the fingers… The two status leds can be immediately noticed, we find them out on the right-upper corner. They respectively point out the operation of the console and battery status:
Here a view of the bottom of the Lite. Here we find the battery slot, the one for the pen and the two slots for DS Game boy advance games. This because, if you don't know it yet, the DS in general and therefore also the Lite supports both the native games than those for Game Boy Advance. In the Lite however the cassettes for GBA will stick out of some millimetres, in order to reduce dimensions the console has been shortened, anyway nothing annoying with it.
The upper part shows the slot for DS games, small cards we will speak about later. You can also notice the two dorsal buttons L and R and the owner connector (unfortunately different from the one of the first DS) for the battery charger:
The lower part is dominated by the great slot for GBA cartridges that can be also used for accessories like expansions for games, additional pack for vibration, camera etc.. There is also a hardware regulator for system volume and the jack for standard headphones:
On the left side we find the pen and the console power control:
The pen is made up of plastic material, it is quite comfortable due to its dimensions:
Here you are how DS Lite looks like once opened. Fortunately the inner side is not in shiny plastic material, better for keep it clean:
What you can immediately notice are the two TFT screens. The inferior one, as already said, is the touch screen one. The zip that keeps the two parts of the device together is very resistant and well done, and does not give that annoying feeling that sooner or later we'll have two half DS Lite in our hands…
Let's now analyse the two parts. In the inferior one there is the first screen, the directional cross and the classic buttons X,Y, and B. Then select and start buttons:
The superior part shows the second screen and the two stereo speakers. Also important to notice that small line among the two screens, that it is not anything else than a microphone. A small parenthesis have to be opened about this characteristic, in fact the microphone is currently used by some games and can be also useful for giving vocal commands or even for chatting during a multi player game. Rumours say that soon Nintendo or third party could release a program that uses VoIP protocols!
Here it is how DS Lite looks like once opened. The two components are really thin:
Here finally a comparison among PSP and the DS Lite. The console is smaller and thinner. We however have to remember that the PSP has an optic reader that compromise its dimensions:
Finally a comparison between the DS Lite displays and PSP's one. We have to consider that the single displays are smaller than the Sony's one, but together the wider screen is the Nintendo one. Moreover with maximum brightness the DS Lite is brighter:
This is a picture for the most nostalgic ones…. We put to comparison the first portable Nintendo console, the first colour one and the new DS:
Software:
The Nintendo DS Lite use the same Operative System used by previous version DS. Each time we switch it on, we are advised about potential harmful given by games:
Pushing a button, we arrive to main menu, a sort of desktop, by which we can start games, manage settings and see hour and calendar:
From settings we can manage the hour, our nick and birthday, the theme and so on, everything is very easy and of friendly usage:
Like for PDA, also for Nintendo DS Lite, the calibration of screen is possible:
The only application we find already installed in the console is Picochat, a nice application that allows chat and draw through Wi-fi. The only limit is that it can only be used with direct connection among console, and therefore not through an infrastructure connection:
Games:
Nintendo DS games are sold in a plastic box similar to DVD’s one, but thinner:
Games, unlike for PSP, are not distributed on optic supports, but on static memories, similar to a Secure Digital, but bigger:
Here it is a comparison among a cassette for the first Game Boy, UMD for PSP, the card for DS and Multi Media Card one:
Conclusions:
With the DS Lite, the Nintendo has surely get closer to the philosophy and to the European and American audience, taking care to the purely videogaming aspect and to the esthetical one. The Nintenod DS Lite doesn't represent only a restyling of the already good DS, it represents a great improving, due to its two screens that for brightness perfectly compete (and as many said also overcome) the splendid screen of the PSP. By asking to a holder of both the Nintendo consoles, you will be answered that on the new version every title seems to be different with an improved graphics. All for the absolute neatness of the new displays. In conclusion the Lite is a good device, very well done, surely with a competitive price and with rich games possibilities that, together with the innumerable number of games for GameBoy Advance, overcome any records for number of games. To testify the excellent result of this console is the fact that in Japan and in the US (where it is on sale since few days), all stocks have been practically exhausted in the first two days of sale. Also the price is excellent in comparison to the PSP. In fact, you can find Here the Nintendo DS Lite at $159, around €125.
At this point, as both PSP and DSL are of good consoles, with good games and very well done, the question raises spontaneously …. Which to choose? This is not surely the place for a direct comparison (that will surely be done soon for x50v.it readers), but the only thing I feel like to say is that the two consoles are absolutely complementary, both from a graphic point of view, than for gaming experience, and that therefore, money allowing, the ideal choice would be to have them both.
