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Everybody is trying to slim down for this summer and the Nintendo game console is not an exception. In our review of the original Nintendo DS handheld reviews, we had mentioned that, the only characteristic of the console that we did not like is its bulkiness and Well, Nintendo heard us! They have addressed this issue with a signature Nintendo remodelling. In fact, it has been given an extra dosage of style, not only has it slimmed down, it has brightened up too. Called the Nintendo DS Lite, it improves upon its predecessor in almost every conceivable way.
The DS Lite Game Dual Screen console is a beauty of a machine that is a major argument in its own right for clever thinking over packing as much tech into the box as possible. The key selling points of the original DS, such as the dual screen displays, built-in wireless connectivity, touch screen with stylus and microphone for voice control over certain games. The launch of the DS back in the year 2004 was limited success; with the release of the DS Lite in the year 2006 giving it a new lease of life and driving the UK market crazy.
We are reviewers, so it is really hard for us to go past without saying the cons of the model. As far as the Nintendo Lite is concerned, the downside is that the enhancements in the console are only cosmetic than anything else, just offers the gamers a light weighed and much more stylish way of getting their latest Magnetica and Super Mario Bros on.
Design:
The Nintendo DS Makeover:
The tangible weight and size reductions, repositioned buttons, sharper visual performance, repositioned stylus holder, everything is a welcome addition to the Japanese giant’s celebrated family of portable gaming console, the Nintendo DS. Aesthetically the Lite looks absolutely terrific.
This Nintendo DS Lite Handheld console that has got a very notable make-over attempts to make the same fashion statement for video games that the iPod did for the MP3 players. As in the case of iPod, the Lite too comes in a wide spectrum colours. It is also available in a limited edition Pink supported by the female artist with the same name. But at the time of its release only the black and white models were available. Although the DS Lite is available in different colours, it’s the lacquered white finish that shows Nintendo’s new baby off to best effect, hence the obvious Apple comparisons. As in the original DS, the DS Lite too comes with two vertically tiered screens. The bottom touch screen is the one that you will be using on stylus or a finger to perform operations like selecting the moving options and moving characters. If you are not very comfortable with the touch screen operations, a normal face button layout is also available and it gives you a more standard method of control.
It is really lite:
As the name indicates, the console has shredded a lot of weight and is not a much more compact system, measuring (H x W x D) 133 x 72 x 21 mm and weighs just 217 grams. These figures show that the console is about 39% smaller and 21% lighter than its elder brother. In the original model, the bottom half was over sized, but this model has the top and bottom halves symmetrical and rounded corners that are more tampered. Despite the overall size reductions, the trademark twin displays have the same dimensions. With these changes made to the design, the DS Lite is now a much more pocket friendly console.
Finger print and scratch magnet:
The single biggest problem with the DS Lite is that, it comes in a high gloss finish and so is a magnet of fingerprints. Nintendo has also failed to include the rudimentary cleaning cloth in the package. The Black coloured Lite is the device that is most affected by this characteristic of Lite. On the positive side, the clamshell design makes sure that the DS Lite travels well, limiting the scratches and marks to the exterior, while the dual touch displays remain fully protected.
Some repositioning:
The layout of DS Lite is mostly similar to that of Nintendo DS with some slight beneficial changes. The speaker retains its place in the top half of the clamshell, taking the centre position and despite being smaller than the original DS, it sounds as loud as its predecessor. The bottom part of the console feels more flimsy, maybe because we got used to the bulkier model. To the left of the touch screen, you will find the D-Pad that is about ¾ the size of the original, but not reductions in the efficiency. Though the four X, Y, A and B face buttons are essentially the same, they feel a little more pronounced than the original DS. You will no longer find the semi ovals on the top, as the start and stop buttons are now small circles and you will find them on the bottom. The power button also has been moved to the right side of the system, a re-location from just above the D-pad. This change is one of the most welcome changes as the original looks exactly like the select and start buttons, and had been placed in the same area on the opposite side; this led to occasional turn off instead of pausing.
The facia of the DS Lite Console system has been left untouched, from left to right, you will find the volume control, the GBA game slot and the in-line enabled headphone port. You will find the microphone in the hinge between the screens. The rear of the unit too is basically the same and the only difference you will notice is that, the stylus holder is moved from the back of the system to the left of power switch. Though the left and right triggers have been miniaturised, as in the case of the face buttons, they are more pronounced and much easier to press. The DS cartridge slot is centred at the top, and the AC power port is off to the left. The system includes an AC adaptor, two styli that match the Lite’s colour, and a smaller wrist strap that.
The cartridges:
The DS Lite Console from Nintendo has its own cartridges that have a size that is in between SD and CompactFlash cards. It is almost fully backward compatible with the GameBoy Advance titles; we had to use “almost” there because the unit does not play multiplayer modes of the GBA games. Though the cartridges of DS are much smaller in capacity than the Sony PSP’s UMDs, the good news here is that they can be played without the wait for the unbearable load times of this proprietary format of Sony.
The GBA slot:
The GBA slot itself has undergone some makeover. Instead on an empty cartridge slot, Nintendo has now included a plastic cover that looks like a half size GBA game. It looks as though you will lose it for sure, though it is quite sleek it also put itself in the place of our criticism. The GBA games stick out of the cartridge slot by about a centimeter; the original DS fits the cartridges perfectly. There is nothing very serious to worry about though, as it does not impede the game playing even in the slightest way. And when you consider the fact that the DS is backwards compatible with tons of GBA games, it is really a very small price to pay.
Features of DS Lite:
Forget what the DS Lite does not offer: major interactive feature upgrades, improved quality of games, better software performance or ace out the PSP in terms of whiz bang 3D graphics technology. Instead concentrate on the strides that the system makes like enhancement in the overall quality of gameplay, improvement in visibility and of course more pocket friendly.
Excellent WiFi service:
Being introduced just after a year after the system had launched, the WiFi compatibility on the DS is surprisingly solid, especially considering the fact that it is a free service that is hosted by a company that is known for its aversion to online gaming. As in the case of the original DS, the WiFi setup is extremely simple and efficient in the DS Lite too. The WiFi system recognises most of the wireless connections. If you have no WiFi hot spots nearby, you can always create one from a broadband connected PC just by attaching the Nintendo USB Wi-Fi connector to it.
Play with your buddies nearby:
If you wish to create a friends list, just enter a 12 digit friends codes for each game that you would like to play with your buddies. But if you wish to play against the non-friends, it will either be a hit or a miss as you will not be finding a game to join as fast as you will on an online console like the Xbox 360, but as long as you are playing a fairly popular game in a reasonable hour, it will not be long before you locate your competition. You can even have a voice chat using the offered microphone. We prefer the local wireless as it is much more reliable with the additional benefit of allowing multiplayer via a single cartridge. With the GBA multiplayer games, you will not be able to play head to head over a wireless connection and with the absence of a link cable port, you will not be able to have a wired bond to the older GBAs or Nintendo GameCubes. This is not possible at least until Nintendo releases yet another adaptor that interfaces with the proprietary power port of DS Lite.
Graphics Quality:
The quality of graphics of the DS Lite games is pretty decent. They are better than the PS1/N64, but were nowhere near the quality of Xbox or PS2 or the Nintendo GameCube. And they are no better when compared to the games of PSP. One area where the DS Lite over powered the other consoles is in its innovative quality of titles. While the PSP games were much like the games of its siblings, while the touch screen set-up of the DS-Lite that allows the designers to create some really unique game play. It is quite disappointing that the DS Lite does not have the audio, video and web surfing features of the PSP.
Improved Brightness:
Nintendo has made some real improvements in the brightness settings by upgrading it to four, whereas the original DS had only two of them. At the lowest setting, the Lite is just as bright as the original DS, but at the brightest setting, it is simply brilliant and is as bright as the GBA SP. But the GBA game’s colours look very much washed out while played with the lite, whereas the good quality backlighting of DS makes the graphics of the games stand out.
Games for all:
No body can deny the fact that a console is only good as its games and equally, a console also gets the games that it deserves. As far as the Lite is concerned, Nintendo has led by example with its range of touch generations by producing some groundbreaking titles that not only appeal to the veteran gamers but has also ensnared brand new audiences who previously would not have touched a video game.
For instance, the Nintendogs is essentially a pet simulator having some unique features that will allow you to interact with your digital mutt like never before. With the help of the stylus you will be able to actively tickle and stroke your pooch, throw Frisbees for it to chase and much more. With voice recognition, you can call the pet and even teach him to obey command and teach tricks by speaking directly into the console. In the Dr Kawashima’s Brain Training: How Old Is Your Brain? You take part in a wide range of number and word based challenges against the clock. Based on an analysis of your performance, the game then calculates your brain age and offers a regime for self-improvement. Again, it is the interactivity that makes this such fun, and you will be scribbling down words memorised from lists, shouting out colours and much more.
Software:
The DS software catalogue is expanding at a terrific rate. But it is worth noting that an in-built cartridge slot provides full compatibility with the entire back catalogue of Game Boy Advance games; perfect for retro heads.
For testing the battery performance of the Nintendo DS lite against the DS original, we played an exact same game at the brightest setting and max volumes of each of the systems. The Lite lasted for about five hours whereas its predecessor came out as the winner with about six hours and forty five minutes. It takes about three hours to get the system fully charged and as in the case of the DS original, Lite to goes into sleep mode when the system is closed.
Power Supply:
One thing that is annoying about the DS Lite is that it uses a different power supply to the original DS. Given, it is the same PSU as the GBA Micro, but that is not going to help current DS owners that want to upgrade and fancy having a PSU at work and at home.
Warranty:
Nintendo offers its DS Lite with one year manufacturer’s warranty.
Verdict:
If you still do not own a portable gaming device, the Nintendo DS Lite is worth having a consideration especially with its list of quirky and original titles. So, if you have not yet got the hip to the dual screen diversion’s charms; the touch sensitive titles experienced through top and bottom mounted visual displays using stylus or d-pad and button based front end, this is just the perfect chance. But if you already own the original model, then we would say that the improvements are not very significant enough to shell out another 100 more pounds, unless you are really desperate to get rid of the bulkiness of the handheld console. If you like to own a portable console with more mature titles with decent multimedia capabilities and web browsing, the Sony PSP is a best buy.
Nintendo DS Lite Console - Technical Specification Table
2 Backlit, 260,000 colour, 3? diagonal reflective TFT LCD screens.Lower one is a touch screen. 2D and 3D video accelerationD-pad; four buttons plus shoulder buttons
and select and start buttons;
stylus on lower touch screenOne ARM7 processor and One ARM9 processor.
4 megs memory.Built in stereo speakers with virtual surround sound,
mic and headphone jackPictoChat wireless messaging application.
Clock and calendar.
Metroid Prime: First Hunt (first person shooter)
demo included.Two slots: one for Game Boy Advance games
and another
for DS game cartridges.
The DS is not compatible
with Game Boy Color and earlier games.Touch screen, embedded microphone for voice
recognition, A/B/X/Y face buttons, plus control pad,
L/R shoulder buttons, Start and Select buttons.
The stylus is 1 centimeter longer and 2 millimeters
thicker than the stylus of the original Nintendo DS.Nintendo DS game cards and Game Boy
Advance game paks, terminals for stereo
headphones and microphoneEnglish, Japanese, Spanish, French, German, ItalianFive to 19 hours of play on a four-hour charge,
depending on use; power-saving sleep modeNintendo DS Lite with battery installed,
two styli, wrist strap
with “thumb stylus”
attached at the end, instruction
booklet and charger
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