The Daily Dose: Nintendo 3DS XL

The Nintendo 3DS XL is set to land in the EU July 28th and the US August 19th. It's less than a month away now before I have to start considering upgrading to the new 3DS model, but is it really going to be worth the £179.99 asking price?

Nintendo have decided to have a few slightly new colours that will be available of the XL on release. Both the EU and US will be receiving red and blue variations with a black trim. Europe will also be getting the option of a silver and black version as well. The 3DS XL will come with two screens that are a massive 90% larger than its predecessor. So now you might actually be able to see what your doing when playing games such as Rayman Origins. The XL will also come bundled with a 4GB SD card for everyone who loves to buy from the Nintendo eShop.

It's great that Nintendo are offering quite a decent sized SD card, but the problem isn't a lack of space. It's the fact that almost everything is so ridiculously over priced on the eShop. It amazes me that Nintendo actually get anyone to buy a single thing off it? Each game I have downloaded on it so far was given to me for free, seeing as I'd already been screwed over by the initial 3DS release price. (I don't think being a Nintendo Ambassador was a cool as Nintendo made it out to be.)

I don't think I can choose!

The new device will not be shipping with an AC adapter in Europe. Nintendo have stated that this is to keep costs down, as they believe than anyone buying the new handheld will probably have a 3DS already. Well that's all well and good... but what if I want to trade in my my old one to put the money towards the new XL huh? Thanks again Nintendo, guess I may as well just keep mine and leave it sitting on the side collecting dust while I use its AC adapter for my new model.

Nintendo have also said that the XL will have a larger battery life, even though it now has to give out and increased power to the two larger screens. This would definitely be a welcome addition; the amount of times my 3DS has died on me even after having power saver on, setting brightness to minimum and having the 3D turned off pretty much all the time. What's the point of having a handheld that I am constantly scared to play in it's best quality as at any point I know that bloody red light is going to start flashing to tell me, "No more game time for you, suffer on this long arse bus journey without me mwwhaha!"

I do believe the 3DS XL will be a big improvement to its little bro. I think the rounded edges of the new design coupled with its larger size should make for a much more comfortable and enjoyable experience. But unless I can get a decent trade in or sale price for my own 3DS, I don't think I could ever really justify the upgrade. As much as I would want to. (They better not bring out a limited Zelda edition, or Miyamoto will go missing I swear.)