• Hey Guest. Check out your NeoGAF Wrapped 2025 results here!

3DS XL First Impressions/Previews

Status
Not open for further replies.
QFT. I sold my old 3DS for a Vita back when Vita came out and didnt regret it one bit. I finally got a chance to pick up an XL (blue) and it should be the only system available and the name should be changed to "3DS", not "3DS XL". The old 3DS should be called "3DS mini or 3DS OLD".

For real. I can't think of a single thing I like more about the 3DS Old. *flashbacks to sharp corners stabbing me in the palms*
 
My thoughts after having this over a month are

a) this is absolutely the version to buy over the original without a doubt

b) the system is heavier than expected, but on par with the DSi XL

If you're gonna play 3DS then this is the way to do it.

So you're saying it's the perfect thing to put on a Christmas list? Gotcha.
 
For real. I can't think of a single thing I like more about the 3DS Old. *flashbacks to sharp corners stabbing me in the palms*

Just looking back at it and how ugly it was with the 3 layers all different colors and the small screens. The 3D looks insanely better on these big screens, they almost feel like different games. At first I thought the XL was going to be too big, almost toyish but that wasnt the case at all. Its not much thicker (if at all) than the 3DS and not much bigger than the Vita as a whole. Its very sleek and the colors are gorgeous, well at least the blue is :D
 
So how does Kid Icarus Uprising and Resident Evil Revelations, in particular, look on the XL, given the fact the screen size increased but not the resolution?
 
I was worried about the screen scratching problem with the XL. But after a month of owning it, no problems so far. Really love the system.

Kid Icarus Uprising looks godly on it. So crisp and vibrant.
 
So how does Kid Icarus Uprising and Resident Evil Revelations, in particular, look on the XL, given the fact the screen size increased but not the resolution?

The games all look fabulous even with the increased screen size. The biggest obstacle you will encounter is no circle pad pro or that weird stand they give you with Kid Icarus. If you can handle the controls without the CPP or that KI doo-hickey then the XL is a no brainer.
 
messed around with an XL in GameStop a few weeks back.

i hate you, OG 3DS.

I saw the 3DS XL right next to the original 3DS and it made the original 3DS screen look TINY, the difference is much more obvious than I ever thought.

Can't wait to buy XL when the right time comes.
 
The games all look fabulous even with the increased screen size. The biggest obstacle you will encounter is no circle pad pro or that weird stand they give you with Kid Icarus. If you can handle the controls without the CPP or that KI doo-hickey then the XL is a no brainer.
I never needed the stand or CPP for Kid Icarus, but is the XL a lot heavier?

And more opinions on how RER and KIU look would be appreciated. I might just buy the new system while keeping the old.

Also, how do system transfers work?
 
I never needed the stand or CPP for Kid Icarus, but is the XL a lot heavier?

And more opinions on how RER and KIU look would be appreciated. I might just buy the new system while keeping the old.

Also, how do system transfers work?

Its heavier for sure but its not a brick. If you are not a small child you will be able to hold it up no problem. 3DS games look better on the XL period and KI:U and RER are no exception.

As for system transfers, someone is going to have to chime in because I didnt get a chance to do one even though I was an original ambassador. :(
 
So... More impressions of how KIU and RER look? What about 3D Land and Mario Kart 7? And how do system transfers work?

Sorry to sound like a broken record but I'm -this- close to buying one on the way home from the office. I just realized that with how much I love the 3DS and how some of my favorite modern games are on it, I might as well. I'd like to be able to transfer my Ambassador games, though.
 
Besides the resolution and quiet speakers, the 3DS XL is better than the orginal in every way.

The colors are better and especially the buttons and feel of the system are way better.

For the first time in a while, I decided to play some Mario Kart 7 on my original 3DS after gaming a ton on the XL and it seems absurd in comparison, rather pathetic though I never had many problems with the orginal system when nothing to compare it to.

3D on the XL when turned all the way up can be iffy as it's harder to not lose the effect but overall, no way I could go back to the orginal 3DS unless I wanted a laugh.

Even the sound quality of the XL doesn't bother me anymore as while the orginal is louder easily, it doesn't seem tons better quality, just louder.

The shape and feel and circle pad on the orginal is shitty compared to the XL.

I've JUST gotten used to the shoulder buttons on the XL as sometimes I accidentally release the button(hard to hold or used to be in dragging items in Mario Kart) but the difference between the systems is night and day.
 
So... More impressions of how KIU and RER look? What about 3D Land and Mario Kart 7? And how do system transfers work?

Sorry to sound like a broken record but I'm -this- close to buying one on the way home from the office. I just realized that with how much I love the 3DS and how some of my favorite modern games are on it, I might as well. I'd like to be able to transfer my Ambassador games, though.

Everything from your old 3DS transfers to your new 3DS.
 
RER and KIU don't look like blurry ass now on XL, do they?

And how do transfers work, exactly?

Revelations might not look quite as sharp but blurry, no.

It looks good but I think you will notice a difference, not in a bad way but not in the quite as smooth way.

I think it depends on the game, Mario Kart 7 to me looks easily better with the bigger screens.

None of the games that I have look shitty on the XL.
 
Would you say RER receives any visual benefit from the XL?

Bigger characters and environments.

I haven't played it on the XL then gone back to my orginal 3DS like I just did with Mario Kart so it's tough to say.

One of the first things I did though was see briefly how the games looked on my new system.
 
It's really awesome how the XL becomes the norm for you after playing a few hours with it, whenever I get back to my OG it feels like my hands grew magically, and that's fun because I have really small hands. :p
:lol
 
Question, has the screen scratching thing been resolved? It seemed to effect a lot of people at launch but now as far as I can tell if it isn't scratched out of the box (and therefore replaceable) it does not scratch itself when closed in normal use, that right?
It's much better now but if you are worried just slap on a hori screen protector.

Would you say RER receives any visual benefit from the XL?
In 2D yes, 3D makes the moiré effect on some of the textures more pronounced, then it comes down to preference - it always has the bigger screen going for it and the reduced glare, which is godsend if you are actually gaming on the go.
 
I have a question for those of you with an XL. Does the back cover feel loose? On the left side of my unit I can squeeze and feel/hear the plastic creak in and out. My unit is only 2 weeks old and has not been dropped or mishandled in any way. I only noticed it last night because I finally played a stylus based game so I was forced to hold the unit differently.

If this isn't normal I'd like to exchange it at the store to get a solid unit. If it is common/normal then I am going to be really disappointed because the constant creaking while I'm playing a game makes it feels cheap and bugs the crap me. However I don't want to go through the hassle of system transferring and returning what I have if its normal build quality.
 
I have a question for those of you with an XL. Does the back cover feel loose? On the left side of my unit I can squeeze and feel/hear the plastic creak in and out. My unit is only 2 weeks old and has not been dropped or mishandled in any way.

The back of my 3DS XL is OK, but the bottom of my system has started creaking. I have had mine for about a week.

Nintendo made some odd aesthetic choices with the XL. There are gaps, possibly intended to be stylish, between the colored shell pieces and the internal plastic. I have already had to clean a fair amount of gunk out of these gaps on the bottom half of the XL. They often catch my palms when shifting the system during play. I can't help but feel that a good snag would break off a piece of the outer shell.

Another issue is that the system is never fully closed... when closed. The touch screen on the bottom half of the console is raised to point where the d-pad and button areas are still exposed when the console is closed. This could lead to all kinds of problems in the future. Because the system is never sealed, it accumulates quite a bit of dust. These gaps in the button and d-pad areas also compromise the structural integrity of the console when closed. This will probably lead to stress cracks over time.

The 3DS XL just feels a bit flimsy when compared to previous DS models.
 
Question, has the screen scratching thing been resolved? It seemed to effect a lot of people at launch but now as far as I can tell if it isn't scratched out of the box (and therefore replaceable) it does not scratch itself when closed in normal use, that right?
Just this week I have noticed scratches in the form of small dots that run along the edge of the screen where it rests on the bottom screen. I was a victim of screen scratches first time round, so I'm prtty mortified. They're not visible when the screen is on, currently. If they get any worse I'll call Nintendo. Still not fixed, I'm afraid.
 
Eh, got sidetracked by riveting discussion at the office and refresh this page to see talk of yellow tint, screen scratching, creaky backsides and potential for stress cracks/snags. Guess I won't be buying an XL and I'll just stick with my 3DS. :-\
 
Eh, got sidetracked by riveting discussion at the office and refresh this page to see talk of yellow tint, screen scratching, creaky backsides and potential for stress cracks/snags. Guess I won't be buying an XL and I'll just stick with my 3DS. :-

Even if I hate the yellow tint, my XL is worlds, planets, universes better than the old 3DS. Never going back to that ghetto.
 
That's actually why the yellow tint on mine is starting to get to me. I just saw a display unit at Best Buy, and it had no tint. It was glorious. Mine is very noticeably yellow but only cause the bottom screen is perfectly white.

In short, YMMV.
 
That's actually why the yellow tint on mine is starting to get to me. I just saw a display unit at Best Buy, and it had no tint. It was glorious. Mine is very noticeably yellow but only cause the bottom screen is perfectly white.
Hmm. So if I buy one tonight, I can tell if it's "yellow" by simply looking at how the colors on the top compare to the bottom?
 
I'm assuming this is the yellow tint
tint said:
WeMni.jpg
 
Mine definitely had a yellow thing going on back in August, but either it's gone or I just find it completely unnoticeable now.

To be honest, when I go back to the OG, it looks purple :\
 
On IGN, a poster wrote this regarding the yellow tint: "The brightness is different than the original 3DS. The original had more of a blue "cool" hue to its brightness. The XL has more of a yellow "warm" hue to its brightness. I prefer the warmer, its easier on the eyes for longer playing sessions. THIS IS NOT A DEFECT OR ISSUE and I am not sure why others on here seem to think so. It is no different than changing the image settings on a TV from "Vivid" (original 3DS) to "Warm" or "Movie" (XL)"
 
On IGN, a poster wrote this regarding the yellow tint: "The brightness is different than the original 3DS. The original had more of a blue "cool" hue to its brightness. The XL has more of a yellow "warm" hue to its brightness. I prefer the warmer, its easier on the eyes for longer playing sessions. THIS IS NOT A DEFECT OR ISSUE and I am not sure why others on here seem to think so. It is no different than changing the image settings on a TV from "Vivid" (original 3DS) to "Warm" or "Movie" (XL)"

I think I'd prefer the screen not to be "warmer." I believe I also heard that the backlight bleeds a bit on some units. Anyone had that happen to them?
 
OK, took the plunge and picked up the blue XL.

This.

System.

Is.

Glorious.

I'm not the richest guy and worried I'd have a severe case of buyer's remorse. Couldn't be farther from the truth. The colors, the crispness, the 3D effect, all absolutely wonderful on the XL. In fact, my brother, who turns off the 3D on the normal 3DS, found 3D on the XL far easier on the eyes.

No yellow tint that I can see, and the image still looks crisp -- it's not fuzzy like I thought it would be with the same resolution on a larger screen.

I tried the following games and they all looked superb on the XL:

- Resident Evil Revelations (even tested it on Normal, Strong, and Super 3D, accessible through the in-game options)
- Kid Icarus Uprising
- Mario Kart 7
- Super Mario 3D Land
- Ocarina of Time 3D
- Pilotwings Resort
- Pushmo

Pilotwings, Mario Kart and Kid Icarus looked especially amazing. RER now feels like I'm playing with massive action figures, lol. Soooooo cool! :)

Also, I was always fine playing Kid Icaurs just holding it in my hands, but with the XL it's even easier -- the system is slimmer, lighter, more expansive and smoother, so it's effortless holding the system in one hand while playing now. :)
 
Wheeeere are my sheeeeells, 3rd parties

All that's available are cheap colored metal cases... I need some company to make a replica of the Charizard XL shell >:I
At the very least, some company needs to make black replacement top and bottom shells pronto. My desire for an all-black (or white) XL grows by the day :V
 
Congratulations on the XL, Neiteio.

I realize I might have sounded overly critical in my earlier post. The 3DS XL really is a beautiful system. In the short time I have had it it has become one of my favorite handhelds. Right up there with the Neo Geo Pocket Color. Only time will tell if it will hold up as well as my previous Nintendo handhelds.
 
You know what would be exciting for North America and Europe. A 3DS XL Lord of the Rings edition, bundled with LOTR Lego. Gandalf the WHITE edition. Come on Nintendo, surprise us over here.
 
The back of my 3DS XL is OK, but the bottom of my system has started creaking. I have had mine for about a week.

Nintendo made some odd aesthetic choices with the XL. There are gaps, possibly intended to be stylish, between the colored shell pieces and the internal plastic. I have already had to clean a fair amount of gunk out of these gaps on the bottom half of the XL. They often catch my palms when shifting the system during play. I can't help but feel that a good snag would break off a piece of the outer shell.

Another issue is that the system is never fully closed... when closed. The touch screen on the bottom half of the console is raised to point where the d-pad and button areas are still exposed when the console is closed. This could lead to all kinds of problems in the future. Because the system is never sealed, it accumulates quite a bit of dust. These gaps in the button and d-pad areas also compromise the structural integrity of the console when closed. This will probably lead to stress cracks over time.

The 3DS XL just feels a bit flimsy when compared to previous DS models.
Thank you for the reply.

I'm surprised the reviews out there nor the impressions in this thread aren't bringing this up. Either we have faulty units or the build quality of this thing is awful. I noticed several pages back one other person was having this issue and they ended up super gluing it tight as a fix. Not only does it creak but the battery cover creates a sharp edge that cuts into my hands, especially along the bottom of the unit.

It just makes the whole unit feel really cheap. I'm playing dragon quest 5 on mine right now and every single time I push down on the dpad it creaks in my hand. If I pick up my ds lite or my dsi xl they both feel rock solid.

I'm going to be returning mine to the store this weekend (there goes two more of my system transfers) and if the new one has the same issue then I'm just going to do the super glue idea. I hate to have to do it to a brand new device but constant plastic creaking while I play dpad games is driving me crazy.
 
Thank you for the reply.

I'm surprised the reviews out there nor the impressions in this thread aren't bringing this up. Either we have faulty units or the build quality of this thing is awful. I noticed several pages back one other person was having this issue and they ended up super gluing it tight as a fix. Not only does it creak but the battery cover creates a sharp edge that cuts into my hands, especially along the bottom of the unit.

It just makes the whole unit feel really cheap. I'm playing dragon quest 5 on mine right now and every single time I push down on the dpad it creaks in my hand. If I pick up my ds lite or my dsi xl they both feel rock solid.

I'm going to be returning mine to the store this weekend (there goes two more of my system transfers) and if the new one has the same issue then I'm just going to do the super glue idea. I hate to have to do it to a brand new device but constant plastic creaking while I play dpad games is driving me crazy.

I wish to ask a question to XL owners that's a bit related to this.

Do you notice that the XL scratches easily? My top and bottom covers have scratches and being an owner of a majority of handhelds who apply a lot of care, this is the first one to have so many scratches.

I carry it inside the Club Nintendo Red Pouch which shouldn't scratch anything but I'm very disappointed.
 
Hi guys,
How can I check which version of Adventure Time I have preordered from gamestop?

I clearly told the clerk that it was the 3DS version, but I don't think he got it right/or cared.

In any case, I just want to make sure.
 
I'm assuming this is the yellow tint

Oh wow, while my top screen definitely has a warmer tint to it than the bottom it is barely noticable and both screens are definitely cold in tone. And none of my screens are that yellow even WITH power saving turned on. The only thing power saving seems to do is make it slightly darker and make colours way less pronounced, like the pattern in Mii Plaza being invisible.

I now consider myself extremely lucky.

Edit: In fact, while comparing (though this may be dumb considering the color tone of the monitor I'm viewing it on), my XL is much more closer to the original 3DS in tone than anything else. Also no creaky buttons. It's as if my XL is as perfect as an XL can be.
 
Oh wow, while my top screen definitely has a warmer tint to it than the bottom it is barely noticable and both screens are definitely cold in tone. And none of my screens are that yellow even WITH power saving turned on. The only thing power saving seems to do is make it slightly darker and make colours way less pronounced, like the pattern in Mii Plaza being invisible.

I now consider myself extremely lucky.

Maybe that photo I found was a defect? I would hope that Nintendo is not purposely selling units like that.

I still need to go to a store and check out an XL for myself. I love the look of the blue. I just want to check out the screens and how it feels to play. My aqua blue 3DS feels too small in my hands, especially after long sessions of Mario Kart when my hands cramp up a lot.
 
Maybe that photo I found was a defect? I would hope that Nintendo is not purposely selling units like that.

I still need to go to a store and check out an XL for myself. I love the look of the blue. I just want to check out the screens and how it feels to play. My aqua blue 3DS feels too small in my hands, especially after long sessions of Mario Kart when my hands cramp up a lot.

There have definitely been cases of people getting units with yellow'y screens though, and this problem seems more widespread in the XL units.

Maybe my superior European Silver model is just too good to have any weird shit going on :P
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Top Bottom