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What did the Nintendo 3DS mean to you?
With this week's announcement of Nintendo's new Switch Lite console, we've been thinking about the handheld that preceded it: The Nintendo 3DS, a successor to the wildly popular DS that took the dual screen and added the ability to display games in 3D -- without glasses. When Engadget reviewed the first model of the 3DS, it hit big with its satisfying clamshell design, circle pad thumb slider and 320 x 240 touchscreen. Reviewer Tim Stevens found the 3D gameplay a bit finicky but a nice enhancement to the graphics quality in titles like Ridge Racer 3 and Face Raiders.
Nintendo's latest 2DS XL is a tribute to Link's Shield
Nintendo has a history of dressing up its handheld systems in festive fashions, and the 2DS XL is no different. This time out, the clamshell console is getting a special edition that resembles Link's Hylian Shield from The Legend of Zelda franchise. From the looks of it, the Gamestop-exclusive hardware's styling betrays the 2Ds' flat motif.
'Minecraft' is available on Nintendo handhelds right now
Surprise! Minecraft: New Nintendo 3DS Edition is out today on the Nintendo eShop, with a physical version coming in the future. The game is playable on the New 3DS, New 3DS XL and New 2DS XL -- leaving original 2DS, 3DS and 3DS XL owners in the dust.
Nintendo World Championships return on October 7th
You won't have to wait nearly so long for the third Nintendo World Championships as you did for the second. Nintendo has revealed that its third World Championships will take place in New York City on October 7th, 2017. Anyone in the US or Canada can register (it's not really a world tournament, is it?), but you'll have to qualify by playing Mario Kart 7 for the 2DS/3DS at certain Best Buy locations in eight American cities. The first qualifiers start August 19th in New York City and San Jose, while Chicago, Los Angeles, Minneapolis, Dallas, Seattle and Miami are also on deck.
Nintendo's 2DS XL lands in the UK for £130
There's nothing like a summer holiday spent chilling in an air-conditioned hotel room playing computer games. And if you're looking for something portable enough to chuck in your hand luggage, Nintendo's new 2DS XL might be just the ticket. Launching today in the UK, the £130 handheld ditches the wedge form factor of the original 2DS in favour of the classic clamshell style. It features a 4.88-inch primary screen like the 3DS XL, but packs it into a smaller package -- sans stereoscopic 3D display, of course.
Nintendo’s New 2DS XL is the closest you’ll ever get to a ‘3DS XL Lite’
When most of us think about Nintendo hardware, we think about the gimmick. The motion controls of the Wii, the second screen of the Nintendo DS, the stereoscopic visuals of the 3DS and the duality of the Nintendo Switch. These innovations define Nintendo's brand -- but it's not the only hallmark of Nintendo hardware. The company is as much of a house of iteration as it is innovation, particularly when it comes to portable gaming. Almost every one of its handheld consoles -- from the original GameBoy to the Nintendo DS -- has been revised, retooled and released in a new form. Nintendo has made five versions of its original 3DS hardware, and it's about to release one more: The New Nintendo 2DS XL.
Nintendo hasn't forgotten about 'Pokémon' on the 3DS
Okay, so, today's brief Nintendo Direct didn't reveal the Switch version of Pokemon Sun and Moon, but if you aren't a fan of traditional fighting games and still prefer the 3DS to the Switch (see: battery life) there was still some silver lining for you from today's Pokémon Direct. Pokémon Ultra Sun and Ultra Moon will be released November 17th. The pair will feature pocket monsters not found in the original releases and a different story, along with new features that "will allow you to enjoy your adventure even more, making this truly an 'ultra' title," according to the video. Sure! So, while they're definitely the "latest installments," they really aren't 100 percent new per se.
Nintendo's 2DS XL doesn't need 3D to be a solid handheld
Nintendo's latest portable, the New 2DS XL, isn't even out yet and people are already questioning its existence. Does the company really need another hand-held gaming console, especially with the recent launch of its hybrid Switch? For Nintendo, the answer is an obvious "yes," based on the belief that consumers want a 2DS with the form factor of a 3DS XL. At $150, the 2DS XL will slot in between these two models, which cost $80 and $200, respectively. So, what exactly do you get in return? If you're comparing it to the 2DS, the extra-large version is nearly identical, with the main difference being the clamshell design. Otherwise, they both come with the same processor, same battery, same low-resolution cameras and, well, you get the point.
Nintendo's latest portable is the $150 2DS XL
Nintendo is dropping the NES Classic Edition from its lineup, but it has new hardware on the way with this just-announced New Nintendo 2DS XL. The portable system will cost $150 when it goes on sale July 28th, with the same large screen and features of the 3DS XL, but as its name implies, it will only display "Nintendo 3DS, New Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo DS" games in 2D. To keep expanding that library of games, Miitopia and Hey! Pikmin are releasing the same day as the new 2DS XL. In the US it will be available in the black/turquoise color shown above, however, in Japan it launches July 13th in two colors, adding a white/orange option.
12 gifts for the gaming geek in your life
Whether they've got a fully tricked out PC gaming rig or just looking to get a little retro button mashing done on their new 4K TV, we've got the gift for the gamer in your life. Obviously, with some new consoles on the scene, there's an obvious upgrade out there for the hardcore in the PS4 Pro and Xbox One S. But you don't need to drop $300 - $400 to upgrade your favorite geek's gaming experience. A high-end mouse, top notch controller or a new headset can make a world of difference for those glued to online battles. And, for those in your life that prefer their gaming be a little more... let's say physical, you can't go wrong with a board game like Mechs vs. Minions or King of Tokyo. For our full list of recommendations in all categories, don't forget to stop by our main Holiday Gift Guide hub.
Nintendo's 2DS is now cheaper than ever. Play these games.
Who needs stereoscopic 3-D, or a hinge? Nintendo's cheaper, flatter 2DS is now a mere $80. It even includes a free digital copy of Mario Kart 7. That's a bargain for a current-generation hand-held, but where should you start your games collection? How about here, with Engadget's favorites. (And remember, the console plays DS games, so there's over 10 years of hits to pick from.) We'd still advise starting with some of the most recent titles, which include animal villages, a particularly weird Zelda title, Square Enix's resurrection of the JRPG and Mario, somewhere, along the way.
Japan gets Nintendo's 2DS in limited-edition 'Pokémon' colors
Pokémon will soon be 20 years old. But before you reach for another egg-nog, here's how Nintendo is really going to twist your arm with the strength of nostalgia and bright primary colors alone. It's announced four different 2DSes (two that'll be exclusive) to launch alongside its incoming Pokémon remakes (the Game Boy classics Red, Blue, Green and Pikachu Yellow) for the 3DS (and 2DS, of course). The red and blue see-thru models have already appeared in Europe alongside the launch of the last Pokémon title, but it'll be the first time the 2DS has appeared in Japan at all. Cheaper Nintendo handheld and a Pokémon game bundled in? Sounds like a license to print money to me. Let's just pretend that Yo-Kai Watch doesn't exist. The 2DS bundles will launch in late February.
Nintendo opened an eBay store for some reason
Looking for a good deal on a refurbished Wii U, but don't like using Nintendo's clunky online shop? Now you have another option -- the company just opened an official eBay store, stocked with new and refurbished games, consoles and accessories. Don't expect to find any deals though: almost everything on the official eBay store conforms to current retail prices (fixed using eBay's "buy it now" feature) or Nintendo's existing refurb pricing.
Nintendo drops the 2DS to $100
Anyone who's been holding out for a new Nintendo handheld, we really hope you didn't buy a 2DS last night. Nintendo has dropped the retail price of the 2DS -- its dual-screen, non-3D handheld -- from $130 to $100. The 2DS is a single plastic block (no clamshell) with two screens, an analog pad, directional pad, four action buttons and a stylus, and it plays most of the games available on the 3DS and DS. The $100 2DS includes a digital copy of Mario Kart 7, just like the former, pricier version.
I tried and failed to love a 'Monster Hunter' game
It was roughly two months ago that I received a midnight email from our gaming editor Ben Gilbert. The subject: "Review Code -- Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate for 3DS." The email: "Assuming you want this?" I didn't. Sure, I'd played an older Monster Hunter on the Wii a few years back, but I gave up 15 hours in, shortly after the grueling tutorials ended. I've always felt like I should be into the series, though. I'm into RPGs; I'm into grinding. I use up the precious few vacation days I have crawling through Persona Q's dungeons or leveling up familiars. So I decided to offer up 100 hours of my free time to see if I could learn to love Monster Hunter. I tried so hard to love it. But I failed.
Crystal Red and Blue Nintendo 2DS available Nov. 21
Nintendo announced today that its Crystal Red and Crystal Blue 2DS units, which were previously announced for Europe, will also be available in North America later this month. The units will launch on November 21 at $99. That just happens to be the same day Pokemon Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire hit stores. What a total kawinkydink! As Tiny Cartridge posted late last week, the 2DS has been showing up in retail circulars at the new price point. General reminder that the New 3DS will launch outside of Japan next year. Meanwhile, Japan receives Poke-themed New 3DS for the game's launch.
Nintendo's new 2DS designs are straight out of the '90s
Back in the nineties, Nintendo showed the world the future, and that future was translucent plastic and circuit boards. Both the Game Boy Pocket and Game Boy Color offered see-through casing, not to mention the Game Boy Advance a few years later, and kids everywhere loved them. Now, Nintendo's treating us to a pair of new 2DS handhelds crafted in the same mold.
2DS to go see-through in EU with new designs, out in Nov.
Two new transparent 2DS skins are coming to Europe in November, letting continentals take a peek at the innards of the 3DS variants. The red and blue models first launch in the region on November 7, with Pokemon Alpha Sapphire and Omega Ruby bundles arriving alongside the Poke-remakes on November 28. Nintendo of Europe didn't disclose prices in its press release (2DS standalones are regularly priced £110 on Nintendo UK's online store) The transparent bundles clearly come with the games pre-installed on a 4GB memory card, with the red system including Omega Ruby and the blue system Alpha Sapphire.
Three new 2DS Mario Kart 7 bundles race toward retail
Following Nintendo's earlier announcement of a new 3DS model, the Japanese gaming giant has also unveiled three new bundles headed to North America, including the 2DS handheld and a copy of Mario Kart 7. According to Nintendo, at some point in "early October," retailers will begin to offer bundles including a download voucher for Mario Kart 7 and one of three new 2DS colors: Electric Blue, Crimson Red or Sea Green. Despite the inclusion of Mario Kart 7, these new 2DS bundles feature the same $130 price point as standalone 2DS handhelds. Edit: This post initially stated that a standalone 2DS is available at $100, when it is in fact priced at $130. [Image: Nintendo]
2DS digs for euros with New Super Mario Bros 2. bundle
A new 2DS bundle is coming to Europe on July 4 featuring gold-crazy platformer New Super Mario Bros. 2. The box includes the red-and-white system and the game pre-installed on a 4GB memory card, with all the Coin Rush add-on content bundled in too. There's no word on a price, but we expect it'll be available at the system's regular tag of £130/130 euros. The new bundle is the latest in a burgeoning line of color variants and packages for the unhinged handheld. When we say it's unhinged, we don't mean it's a bit nuts - you can be the judges of that - rather that it doesn't bend like the regular 3DS. Also, while the system can play all 3DS games and DS games too, it doesn't display them in 3D. [Image: Nintendo]
