Nintendo 2DS handheld console overview

When Nintendo first showed the world a new redesign of its Nintendo 3DS handheld console in August of this year, many fans of the company thought it was a regular joke. Ridiculous console capable of playing games from 3DS, while depriving them of a unique stereo effect - all this remotely resembles a scene from the beloved cartoon about Prostokvashino: “I brought you a package, only I will not give it to you, because you have no documents”.

Nevertheless, the Nintendo press release turned out to be true. And the Internet instantly filled with jokes, anecdotes and "photojabs", making fun of the 2DS design. Yes, the Japanese company loves to release their consoles in a new form factor. Last year, for example, 3DS was released with enlarged screens called Nintendo 3DS XL. Therefore, the release of 2DS this year was quite predictable. But let's take a closer look at this handheld, and also reveal all its pros and cons.

New design

The design of the new console is what embarrassed everyone in the first place. After all, it has lost the most important distinctive feature of the last two generations of Nintendo handheld consoles - the ability to open and close the console. From the "clamshell" it turned into a monoblock with two screens, which can not be folded in half and put in your pocket. Already where-to-where, and now in a pocket this console precisely you will not thrust now even if very much you will try. And the jokes about the similarity of the 2DS hull shape with the ax still cause a smile.

Of course, the new form factor of the console is dictated, above all, by reducing production costs. Nintendo saved on several points at once. There are no more moving connecting parts between the folding parts of the console, no more special loops connecting the screens, no need to build two different screens into the console - now they are played by one large screen divided into two zones by a horizontal plastic partition in the center of the console. By the way, this distance between the screens has slightly decreased, respectively, reducing the so-called dead zone - the space that hides the game objects from the player at the time when they move from the lower screen to the upper one and vice versa. This is an important detail, critical for very fast games that require high reaction speed and great accuracy.

The controls were raised to the level of the upper screen, the L and R buttons also migrated from the middle of the console to its upper edge, which is why it is a bit unusual to play, but over time this feeling disappears. The stylus is now not hiding from above, but to the right, as it was in the days of the old Nintendo DS.

The console has become 25 grams heavier than its predecessor 3DS. The case dimensions are 144 x 127 x 20 mm. Nintendo engineers are well aware that not every potential buyer has such large pockets, so a special soft case made of fabric is supplied with each console. Finished playing - put the console in this bag, and then in a bag or backpack.

The plastic case of the console is assembled surprisingly high quality. No backlash, creaking and other signs of poor assembly or too cheap parts. Due to the fact that the console now does not fold in half, it began to be felt in the hands of a more monolithic. The lack of glossy plastic, collecting all your fingerprints, is also a very pleasant moment.

Iron

In terms of technical characteristics 2DS has not changed. Nintendo saved a lot only due to the lack of a stereo display operating on the parallax barrier principle, as well as a switch between 2D and 3D modes. For users of 2DS, only a 2D image is available, which is quite obvious from the name of the console. Once, the main reason people bought Nintendo 3DS, the ability to see stereo images without using special glasses, turned out to be cleanly cut out in this revision of the pocket console.

The strangest thing is that the console still has a stereo camera that can take 3D pictures and shoot 3D videos. Only here you can not see the footage in 3D on the built-in display. Is it only if you send it to the 3DS console using a special messenger, and there already enjoy the depth of the pictures and videos you have taken.

The sound in 2DS is output using external monodynamics. In 3DS, stereo speakers were used for this. The sound on 2DS has become noticeably flatter and quieter. Again - savings. Of course, you can enjoy high-quality stereo sound if you plug your headphones into the console.

Despite the fact that the new console lost its special power saving mode, which was used in 3DS, its battery began to hold the charge a little longer. You can play games from 3DS from 3 to 5.5 hours, and games from NDS from 5 to 9 hours without recharging.

The most serious functional innovation is the presence of the SLEEP button on the bottom edge of the console, which allows you to put 2DS into sleep mode if you urgently need to interrupt the game process. 3DS for this could simply be slammed and put in your pocket. In the case of 2DS - this number will not work, so you have to click on the appropriate button.

Games and software

All the standard software migrated to the new console with 3DS. You have access to all the features of StreetPass, listening to music, watching videos, the built-in browser, the instant messenger that allows you to send messages to your friends and other users of the Nintendo consoles, and, of course, the built-in game store, where you can instantly purchase and download any new product.

2DS users have access to any and all video games that came out for 3DS and NDS. And this, I tell you, is a very impressive entertainment library for all occasions. Of course, to enjoy the stereo effect in this case will not work, but as statistics show, this feature of 3DS is used by a very small percentage of Nintendo 3DS owners. You can surprise your acquaintances with this “chip” a couple of times, but then, as a rule, the 3D effect switch takes the OFF position, where it remains forever. So, small loss, as they say.

Price

And now about the pleasant. The price tag on the Nintendo 2DS in the United States is only 129 dollars. In Russia, the new console can be purchased at the official online store Nintendo at a ridiculous price of 5299 rubles. To date, 2DS in our country is sold in two colors: black-blue and white-red.

Total

Considering that 3DS is now widely popular all over the world (today more than 35 million consoles have been sold), you can be sure that its cheaper version in the 2DS face will definitely find its audience. First of all, Nintendo is positioning this console as an affordable device for novice gamers. Including - for children. Agree, if a child accidentally breaks, breaks or fills the console for 5,000 rubles, it will be much less offensive than if he does the same with a more expensive model in 10-12 thousand.

Pros:
- This is the cheapest pocket console Nintendo to date.
- Qualitatively assembled case.
- The console is ideally in the hands.
- Giant gaming library with 3DS and NDS.
- The perfect gaming device for children.

Minuses:
- Lack of 3D-screen.
- Monaural speaker.
- The console is unlikely to fit in your pocket.

The article is based on materials https://hi-news.ru/gadgets/obzor-karmannoj-konsoli-nintendo-2ds.html.