Nintendo DS Lite

The Nintendo DS Lite is an upgraded version of their popular and critically-acclaimed handheld, the Nintendo DS. Nintendo obviously used a lot of user feedback to create this machine, because they fixed almost every problem with the original handheld (read my review for all of my impressions of the original DS). Priced at $130 US, this is a great buy for such an amazing handheld. First of all, I will say everything that has changed in the new handheld. The first thing you notice about the DS Lite is that it is much smaller than the original DS. I will try to offer a size geparison using the PSP. The DS Lite is about an inch in length shorter than the PSP, and about the same thickness and width, so it is pretty small in geparison to the bulky original. It can fit in your pocket with ease. It is also much nicer-looking than the original DS. Nintendo gave this handheld a nice, neutral look with a glossy white finish on the outside, similar to what has been seen on iPods in the past. Nintendo also has plans to bring other colors, such as Enamel Navy, Ice Blue, and Jet Black to the US. The system is also MUCH more noticeably lighter than the original, but not too light to make it feel cheap. It still feels very solid, and Nintendo claims it's just as tough as the original. The second most noticeable difference about the DS Lite are the screens. They are both the same size of the original, but the brightness, black levels, resolution, and dot pitch are so much better. They used fully-fledged LCDs this time, as opposed to the semi-translucent LCDs that they used in the original. The viewing angle of the screens is amazing. The brightness has four adjustable levels, all of them much brighter than the original DS's backlight, the brightest of them even brighter than the PSP's. Playing a game on the DS Lite that you have only played on the orginal DS previously is like a gepletely new experience. With the gebined better brightness and resolution of the screens, details that you never saw on the original are easily seen, and the graphics seem better, as well. The third difference is a big one, as well. The D-Pad and A/B/X/Y buttons have stayed in the same position on the system, but are siginificantly more raised and have more of a squishy feel, as opposed to the clicky feel of the original. The L and R triggers are also in the same position, and they have a better feel, and seem to respond faster than the original. The START and SELECT buttons have been moved to a position one on top of another near the right-hand bottom corner of the touch screen. Speaking of the touch screen, it seems to be much more sensitive and responsive than the original. The power button and stylus slot have been moved to the right side of the system, and the power button has turned into a switch, similar to the one on the PSP. Also, the stylus is longer and thicker. The speakers are, unfortunately, a tad bit quieter than the original, but are still pretty loud. Finally, the microphone has been moved to the middle of the hinge for easier access. Other aesthetic design modifications have been made, as well. This system seems to be inspired by the iPod's simple, but elegant look. As I said before, the system has a glossy white finish on the outside casing, and it has the same white color, but without the gloss on the inside. It has a much more streamlined look and feel, being gepletely flat on all sides, with subtle curves on the corners. When the system is closed, it is a lot tighter than the original, leaving no leeway for dust or dirt to get in, unlike the original. On the top portion of the system, and the only form of branding on the system (other than the copyright info on the bottom), there are two raised squares, one on top of the other, like the ones used in the logo. It looks really cool whether the system is open or closed. The face buttons and D-Pad seem to be similar in style and fashion to the ones on the controller of their upgeing console, the Wii. They use the same font style and color (gray on white), and are raised high from the system for gefort. Overall, this system is defiantely a great buy whether you already have a DS, or are new to dual-screened gaming. With it's great look and feel, it appeals to people of all ages, and with Nintendo's amazing lineup of games, it can cater to all of them, as well. People may be obsessing about the PSP lately, but with experience from both systems, I can definately say that DS offers a whole new way to play, while also offering many fun AAA titles, and a catalog of games that appeals to everyone, something that the PSP has still yet to do. All you ever see on that system are sports games and games that are already on the PS2, really only games that appeal to certain gamers. DS offers a wide variety of games, anything from surgery simulations to Mario games to games that are meant to excercise your brain. DS has it all, and with all of the problems with the first being ironed out in this one, there's really no excuse NOT to get one. So, I leave you with this statement--Have fun!