See what's new and different with Nintendo's latest hardware revision
To everyone's surprise, Nintendo brought along a couple of 2DS systems to their Handheld Gaming Lounge at PAX this year. As the latest member of the 3DS family, the 2DS plays every 3DS and normal DS games, but without the stereoscopic 3D mode of the other two models. It also sports a new design, bigger shoulder buttons, and a much cheaper price point of $129.99.
Getting to actually hold the system was an interesting experience. Since the system isn't segmented like the 3DS and 3DSXL, it was tough to initially get a feel for how to properly grip it, but after playing New Super Mario Bros. 2 on it for a few minutes it started to feel like second nature. The circle pad, D-pad and buttons are all easily reachable, and the L and R buttons have a nice click to them, similar to the original Game Boy Advance.
The Start and Select buttons are placed below the face buttons, similar to the DSi, and the wireless switch is now a system setting from the 3DS's home menu in the same space as the brightness settings. On the bottom, we now have a sleep switch, which puts the system into standby mode, replacing the traditional method of putting it to sleep by shutting the system.
While the 2DS is not my ideal way of playing DS and 3DS games it's still a really comfortable and sturdy system, and should be perfect for the five to six-year-old audience that Nintendo is aiming for. The 2DS launches October 12 of this year.