3DS XL First Impressions/Previews

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Yeah, the Gamereactor hands-on video posted a couple pages back is really terrific; it should be added to the OP. This looks to be a great revision, maybe the best since DS -> DSLite.

I have a 3DS now, and I'm really trying to cut down on nonessential purchases, but I may just have to get this day 1, regardless of color.
 
DBebm5 said:
Yeah, the Gamereactor hands-on video posted a couple pages back is really terrific; it should be added to the OP. This looks to be a great revision, maybe the best since DS -> DSLite.

I have a 3DS now, and I'm really trying to cut down on nonessential purchases, but I may just have to get this day 1, regardless of color.
Click to expand...

But it is. :p
 
This has made me excited for the 3DS again. I still need a new a few more major games before I can jump in, probably a new Zelda, but it looks like it is just a matter of time. Last handheld I owned was Gameboy color.
 
It looks amazing, but I'll hold off for the inevitable special console releases. I'm also tempted to just get a 3DS XL from Japan so I can import, and use my regular 3DS for American localized games. We'll see if I can not impulse purchase this like I did for the 3DS.
 
I'm really trying to make myself like the exterior design of the system, but it really does look poor in comparison to the standard 3DS. Outside of color, it's pretty plain, which I would usually dig but in this case it looks rather cheap. I hate to say it, but looking at a close unit, it really does look like an inexpensive piece of crap lol. Now once the system is opened, my tastes for it's aesthetics are much more positive. The overall flow of the lines and separations of one component from the next look more to what I would expect from a "luxury" nintendo unit such as the SP, Micro and XL.

I'll still get it if they when they release it in a different color in US, or a solid color. The black unit helps conceal some of the cheap-ish look to me, and since this would be a completely unnecessary purchase as I'm satisfied with my currect 3DS, that matters when I normally wouldn't give two shits about it. The main thing that keeps me wanting to pull the trigger anyway is that it looks like it feels really good in your hands. Don't have any issues at all with the vanilla 3DS, but if this is better, then I'm all for it.
 
DBebm5 said:
Yeah, the Gamereactor hands-on video posted a couple pages back is really terrific; it should be added to the OP. This looks to be a great revision, maybe the best since DS -> DSLite.

I have a 3DS now, and I'm really trying to cut down on nonessential purchases, but I may just have to get this day 1, regardless of color.
Click to expand...
I think the best after that was DSL -> DSi XL; the added function to DSi are really good; I guess the problem here is that OG 3DS, unlike DSL, wasn't something a lot of people would want to buy. I think one reason is that DS had a lot of 2D games or very basic 3D, so the small screen was adequate, but for 3DS games OG 3DS was just 'way' small.

And personally, I love how big it is to play DS games in 1:1
 
abstract alien said:
I'm really trying to make myself like the exterior design of the system, but it really does look poor in comparison to the standard 3DS. Outside of color, it's pretty plain, which I would usually dig but in this case it looks rather cheap. I hate to say it, but looking at a close unit, it really does look like an inexpensive piece of crap lol. Now once the system is opened, my tastes for it's aesthetics are much more positive. The overall flow of the lines and separations of one component from the next look more to what I would expect from a "luxury" nintendo unit such as the SP, Micro and XL.

I'll still get it if they when they release it in a different color in US, or a solid color. The black unit helps conceal some of the cheap-ish look to me, and since this would be a completely unnecessary purchase as I'm satisfied with my currect 3DS, that matters when I normally wouldn't give two shits about it. The main thing that keeps me wanting to pull the trigger anyway is that it looks like it feels really good in your hands. Don't have any issues at all with the vanilla 3DS, but if this is better, then I'm all for it.
Click to expand...

I don't think anything can look or feel cheaper than the standard 3DS model.

After the sexiness that was DS Lite (and to a greater extent, DSi XL), 3DS feels like a piece of junk.
 
Anth0ny said:
I don't think anything can look or feel cheaper than the standard 3DS model.

After the sexiness that was DS Lite (and to a greater extent, DSi XL), 3DS feels like a piece of junk.
Click to expand...
The 3DS DID come off as kind of gaudy. Like they WANTED to make it seem valuable, but didn't nail it. Doesn't help that they went and released it in a shade of blue green few liked and a black that tried to go for a gradual lightening that just made it look older and more worn than it really was. Red came out amazingly well though.
Teknoman said:
Is it still going to have that...filter on the DS games if you decide to play them full screen?
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Inevitable without exact pixel duplicates. While I don't think I'm much for pushing technological limits, I do wish Nintendo went just a few steps further with the original DS to have 320x240 as the resolution on both screens, at worst the system would've just been a better fit for NES/SNES/N64 ports, and if kept the same for the 3DS then it'd be an undeniable boost with little need to keep a DS around.
 
Anth0ny said:
I don't think anything can look or feel cheaper than the standard 3DS model.

After the sexiness that was DS Lite (and to a greater extent, DSi XL), 3DS feels like a piece of junk.
Click to expand...

Although I'm not super gushy over the looks of the 3DS(not sure I have been on any initial Nintendo hand held), I felt it looks pretty decent. I like the industrial design of it with its angles, and the layers looked better in person than I imagined they would when viewing pics. Hell, I even like the back/bottom plate on it. The inside though...the bottom half specifically, is pretty bad lol. I'm hoping I like the LL more in person, so I can't wait to see it in the wild. It's by far the worst "main" revision from an aesthetic standpoint...from pics anyway.
 
Teknoman said:
Is it still going to have that...filter on the DS games if you decide to play them full screen?
Click to expand...

Nintendo says it's not a filter. So, I guess no.

abstract alien said:
It's by far the worst "main" revision from an aesthetic standpoint...from pics anyway.
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Oh man, you must have not seen the latest hands on video. It looks fantastic in that, but then again, I didn't have that much a problem with the design from the pictures.
 
just watched Gamereactor video, this is pure ecstasy! I was hesitant about them going for 3D instead of a better screen, but I guess with XL, it's being 3D will come into a new life too for real!


There is no filter. If you play a DS game full-screen it will stretch the picture to fit the 3DS aspect ratio.
Click to expand...
The aspect ratio remains the same, it only makes the game designed for a lower resolution being displayed on a higher resolution [without re-rendering them]
 
walking fiend said:
just watched Gamereactor video, this is pure ecstasy! I was hesitant about them going for 3D instead of a better screen, but I guess with XL, it's being 3D will come into a new life too for real!
Click to expand...

Wait, so you were hoping for a 3DS without the 3D? I mean, I'm sure they could have had both if they had really wanted a better screen. They aren't going to ditch 3D in the middle of a systems life.

Psi said:
If you're talking about the image distortion from playing them at non-native res then it will probably be about the same.
Click to expand...

From the way it looks in video it's really nice.
 
walking fiend said:
just watched Gamereactor video, this is pure ecstasy! I was hesitant about them going for 3D instead of a better screen, but I guess with XL, it's being 3D will come into a new life too for real!



The aspect ratio remains the same, it only makes the game designed for a lower resolution being displayed on a higher resolution [without re-rendering them]
Click to expand...

No idea why I said aspect ratio, haha.
 
TheCongressman1 said:
Wait, so you were hoping for a 3DS without the 3D? I mean, I'm sure they could have had both if they had really wanted a better screen. They aren't going to ditch 3D in the middle of a systems life.
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haha sorry if I sounded confusing; I didn't even expect them to add a second analog, let alone removing the 3D; that would be so insane.

I was referring to their initial decision to go for 3D; obviously there was and is no turning back; and I believe they will also use it in their next handheld too; maybe the Wii U Them will have a 3D screen too, lol


I think they were themselves aware of limitation of 3D screens initially, but they thought with themselves that if they don't add it, they won't be able to do anything about it; but even if it is not good enough, they can make it better through hardware revisions.


No idea why I said aspect ratio, haha.
Click to expand...
lol, I just said something confusing myself too
 
TheCongressman1 said:
Oh man, you must have not seen the latest hands on video. It looks fantastic in that, but then again, I didn't have that much a problem with the design from the pictures.
Click to expand...

I skimmed through it a little, but didn't watch too much of it. From what I did see, it doesn't look as good as the SP, Micro, and XL though. My main beef seems to be with the outer top shell and overly rounded edges. It probably looks a lot better in person than what I'm lead to think about it.
 
walking fiend said:
haha sorry if I sounded confusing; I didn't even expect them to add a second analog, let alone removing the 3D; that would be so insane.

I was referring to their initial decision to go for 3D; obviously there was and is no turning back; and I believe they will also use it in their next handheld too; maybe the Wii U Them will have a 3D screen too, lol


I think they were themselves aware of limitation of 3D screens initially, but they thought with themselves that if they don't add it, they won't be able to do anything about it; but even if it is not good enough, they can make it better through hardware revisions.
Click to expand...

Ahh, that makes more sense. Yeah, the XL seems to be a great way to improve on the decision to go 3D. The bigger screen really seems to help, from what we've heard.


abstract alien said:
I skimmed through it a little, but didn't watch too much of it. From what I did see, it doesn't look as good as the SP, Micro, and XL though. My main beef seems to be with the outer top shell and overly rounded edges. It probably looks a lot better in person than what I'm lead to think about it.
Click to expand...

The rounded corners took me a little bit to get used to, but now I think it looks really nice. The more I watch the videos the more it grows on me as a whole. I can't wait until we get footage of the white. Oh man.
 
TheCongressman1 said:
The rounded corners took me a little bit to get used to, but now I think it looks really nice. The more I watch the videos the more it grows on me as a whole. I can't wait until we get footage of the white. Oh man.
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I would buy a black, white or purple one in a heartbeat. I mean, I wouldn't even think about it at all :^(
 
hwy_61 said:
It really doesn't, because at the end of the day, it's still a fucking 3DS XL. You think someone buying the red or blue one at launch, is doing it because they have lower standards? You're willing to not buy the device, and wait for a couple of months, simply because it isn't your favorite color? You're gonna miss out on playing 3DS/DS games on that big ass screen? Over a COLOR? Isn't the XL black when you open it?


So, no. I don't think really want one.
Click to expand...
I know you weren't talking to me, but yes, I am not getting one because of the color.

If it was all blue or all red I might get one, depending on how it looked, but no, both colors are basicly all black and theres a few reasons I don't want black.

1: I already have a black 3DS and always wanna switch colors for the next system.

2: I am getting tired of black in general. Everything that I have besides my Wii and PSP Go is black.

3: The black on the 3DS XL just looks bad. The black on my 3DS looks 100x better.

4: Its not a new system, its a redisign. When I got the 3DS, I wanted it at launch to play its games and have the activity log feature for DS games so I had to make due with the two launch colors. I originally wanted red, because the one they showed at E3 looked awesome. As is the final red version. But I had to make due with black. Now that I already have the system, I will wait to a color that looks good. Might be white, might be something else. I will have to wait to colors of white, and more colors down the line look good via unboxing/review/impressions videos since white could look horrible in person. So far, the Aqua Blue looks 10x better on the 3DS than the outside of the black 3DS XL. So I shall see how the colors look.

I really want those screens, but this could likely be my final 3DS and I want it to be perfect. Don't know what else they could add to a redisign of the XL or normal model. I might not get it at all since I have started to like the glossy look of the 3DS and have grown on my black 3DS.

I guess I'll see, when videos of the white color, and any other color that gets announced. If I don't like white, and Nintendo keeps releasing black colors and pretend its green or yellow since its green or yellow on the outside then I will never get it since like I stated, I do not want black.
 
Cant wait for this. The game reactor video hyped me to insane levels :0

Gonna go blue. I hated it at first but it looks extremely nice in real pictures. Still need to see red before I make the final decision. Still, I wish we got white in NA :/
 
abstract alien said:
Although I'm not super gushy over the looks of the 3DS(not sure I have been on any initial Nintendo hand held), I felt it looks pretty decent. I like the industrial design of it with its angles, and the layers looked better in person than I imagined they would when viewing pics. Hell, I even like the back/bottom plate on it. The inside though...the bottom half specifically, is pretty bad lol. I'm hoping I like the LL more in person, so I can't wait to see it in the wild. It's by far the worst "main" revision from an aesthetic standpoint...from pics anyway.
Click to expand...

I feel exactly the same to be honest in regards to both the 3DS and the XL.

At first, sure, I didn't like the look of the 3DS, especially the Aqua Blue version they were so insistent about showing off. But over time I've come to love its design, especially the layers and the back plate. Inside I absolutely love the top screen with the black display no matter what colour 3DS you have. Bottom half, as you said, isn't quite as nice. I also like the metal stylus and 3D slider.

But the XL? Parts of it look fine, but I think it's way too curved. Not the corners, but the actual top and bottom. Looks like a wallet or something. It doesn't look as bad in the previews we've seen so I'm hoping in person I won't mind it as much, but in the renders I think it looks awful. Especially with the colours they've gone for.

In my opinion though the perfect handheld they've designed is the DSi/DSi XL. I love its design and colour scheme so much. So classy. DS Lite is a close second.
 
Wow in the gamereactor video...when he show both 3DS and XL touchscreen...How did I play my 3DS without those huge screens, I need it!
 
hwy_61 said:
It really doesn't, because at the end of the day, it's still a fucking 3DS XL. You think someone buying the red or blue one at launch, is doing it because they have lower standards? You're willing to not buy the device, and wait for a couple of months, simply because it isn't your favorite color? You're gonna miss out on playing 3DS/DS games on that big ass screen? Over a COLOR? Isn't the XL black when you open it?


So, no. I don't think really want one.
Click to expand...

Hah. I remember as a kid, I was pretty mad that the only GBA the store had left was the pink one. I almost told my parents not to buy it because I couldn't fathom the idea of walking around with a pink GBA.

Still don't like the color, but I still have that GBA. But that little experience made me not care about handheld colors anymore. It's really the games that matter to me, not the overall aesthetic of the system. I mean, I'm not going out of my way to pick an uglier color, but if it's the only options... oh well.
 
plc268 said:
Hah. I remember as a kid, I was pretty mad that the only GBA the store had left was the pink one. I almost told my parents not to buy it because I couldn't fathom the idea of walking around with a pink GBA.

Still don't like the color, but I still have that GBA. But that little experience made me not care about handheld colors anymore. It's really the games that matter to me, not the overall aesthetic of the system. I mean, I'm not going out of my way to pick an uglier color, but if it's the only options... oh well.
Click to expand...

To me its just the vessel that delivers the games I want to play. There is no one of any import whose opinion about the color of my toys matters enough to sway me to not buy something. I can't fathom really wanting a handheld, but not buying it because it's the wrong color. But those people exist and god loves them too. Group hug.
 
plc268 said:
Hah. I remember as a kid, I was pretty mad that the only GBA the store had left was the pink one. I almost told my parents not to buy it because I couldn't fathom the idea of walking around with a pink GBA.

Still don't like the color, but I still have that GBA. But that little experience made me not care about handheld colors anymore. It's really the games that matter to me, not the overall aesthetic of the system. I mean, I'm not going out of my way to pick an uglier color, but if it's the only options... oh well.
Click to expand...

I once bought a girlfriend a DS Lite and all the store had was pink. She wouldn't have anything to do with it so I gave her my light blue one and kept the pink. The experience taught me

pink > x
 
Refreshment.01 said:
By any chance. Any comparisons of the closed 3DS XL and the Vita?
Click to expand...

Not that I've seen. This is as close as it gets that I know of:

3ds_xl_vita_comparison.jpg
 
Can't find the offical dimensions. If anyone knows please share.

I think i saw them in the Nintendo Direct video but i can't find the original link or a youtube one.

Funny thing is that the 3 color gradation of the original 3DS makes it seem like it's thicker than the XL.
 
Clevinger said:
So how long did it take for the original 3DS to get new colors? I really want to buy this, but not in red or blue.
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I believe red was the first new color in every region

Came out July 2011 in Japan (5 months)
Sept 2011 for NA (6 moths)
Dont know about EU

I could be misremembering though
 
hopefully theres a trade in deal for the 3ds towards this at eb or something.

Can someone explain how ambassador games would transfer over?
Would i need to call nintendo , or can i just transfer the sd card and be done with it?

Thanks!
 
Clevinger said:
So how long did it take for the original 3DS to get new colors? I really want to buy this, but not in red or blue.
Click to expand...
Could be a good chance for a special color or edition for Black Friday or Christmas as they have been doing in the past. (Zelda 3DS) for example. )
 
Jarsonot said:
I'd like red, but if the first store I go to only has blue, blue it is!

I get that it's important to some people, but it's not to me.
Click to expand...

I'm the same as you, but I want to see just how nice the red is first.

Still no good look at the Red XL, besides the crappy PR materials?
 
Refreshment.01 said:
Thanks for being so quick :D

So closed the XL is smaller than the Vita? Really cool. I see if i can get the official dimensions of both devices.

Edit:
Franchuzas87, thanks for the extra comparison.
Click to expand...

Nope, with the XL closed it's still bigger than the Vita. It has the leg up on portability though given its clamshell design.
 
It seems to have much better build quality than the regular 3DS, judging from that gamereactor video. And the silver actually looks pretty nice, guess I'll get that one before I wait for the white version that'll never come.
 
Cursed Frogurt said:
You lucky sonofabitch.
Click to expand...
Hahahahaha. Talk about a typol i of course meant the original 3DS.
plc268 said:
Hah. I remember as a kid, I was pretty mad that the only GBA the store had left was the pink one. I almost told my parents not to buy it because I couldn't fathom the idea of walking around with a pink GBA.

Still don't like the color, but I still have that GBA. But that little experience made me not care about handheld colors anymore. It's really the games that matter to me, not the overall aesthetic of the system. I mean, I'm not going out of my way to pick an uglier color, but if it's the only options... oh well.
Click to expand...

Same with me, I also got my GBA Pink. I actually secretly liked it but never wanted to let that become public knowledge. I was 9 I think, so thats probably why I didn't want anyone knowing I had the pink color and liked it.

I think I sadly sold i with my awesome green game boy pocket after I got the platinum GBA SP. There was no point in having them anymore since the SP could play all games, had a light, and never had to spend money on batteries.

I somehow got a Glacier GBA afterwards. I have sucky memory and I don't know how. I think I got it brand new for twenty dollars or something in like 2004 or 2005...

I don't get colors that look bad. the Black 3DS XL looks bad and itsall we are getting. The Pink GBA looked cool when i got it. I will never sell any systems from here on out since I like collecting them...I miss that GBA. Maybe I'll rebuy it tho theres not really any point in doing so when I could spend that money on new games lol.
 
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