Nintendo’s handheld gaming device may have missed some time in the limelight at E3 2012 but that doesn’t mean that the company has forgotten about its handheld gaming device.
Today, Nintendo has announced the 3DS LL (the device will be called the LL in Japan and the XL in the West). The 3DS LL will come in three colors – White, Red & Black and Silver & Black. The device will launch in Japan on July 28 for ¥18,900 and will be available in the US on August 19 for $199.99. To cut the cost of the device, the AC adaptor of the portable gaming system will not be in the box, but will have to be purchased separately by consumers. If you own a 3DS, then your AC adaptor will be compatible with the new system.
The biggest upgrade to the Nintendo 3DS XL has to be the screen. The top screen is now 4.88 inches as compared to the 3DS that has a 3.53-inch screen. The bottom screen is 4.18 inches as compared to the 3.02-inch screen on the 3DS. That’s almost a 90% bump in the screen size.
Apart from the screen size, Nintendo claims that the battery life of the device has been improved as well. For playing 3DS games, the 3DS LL will last for about 3.5 to 6.5 hours as compared to 3 to 5 hours on the 3DS. The 3DS LL will last for 6 to 10 hours for regular DS games as compared to 5 to 8 hours for the original 3DS. It will also ship with a 4GB SD card, compared to the 2GB SD card that came with the 3DS.
From the images revealed, the biggest disappointment is that the device still has just one analog stick. For the original 3DS, Nintendo released an externally attachable right analog stick. We wish the device would come with dual analog sticks as that would account for a more fulfilling gaming experience just like the PS Vita.
So far, Nintendo has revealed three launch games for the 3DS XL, Kingdom Hearts 3D: Dream Drop Distance, TheatRhythm Final Fantasy and New Art Academy.
The biggest USP of the Nintendo 3DS is its glasses-free 3D display on a handheld gaming device. It isn’t perfect but it’s the best glasses-free 3D we have seen on a gaming device yet.
Source and images: Kotaku
