DS Lite Review

‘Sad geek Boy’* Floyd Hayes gives us his review of his imported Nintendo DS Lite:

Had a lovely Monday morning surprise, my DS Lite arrived from importer-supreme, Lik-Sang.com.  I was prepared for a long wait, particularly following this weeks news that DS Lite mania is still going strong in Japan with 120,000 sold last week, literally selling out the moment they hit the stores.

The "old" style DS sales are selling respectable amounts too, with 40,000 sold during the same period.  The PSP is struggling to catch up with 31,000 sales… proving once again that game content sells consoles, not multi-media doo-daddery.

So a very quick first impression review then, the packaging is minimal and tasteful, the unit itself  is a vast improvement on the boot-ugly DS-original.  Feels very nice in the hands with a pleasing heft and even with my massive mitts, button access is intuitive and comfy.

At 30-odd % smaller it actually fits into the front pocket of my strides. I managed to squeeze in a quick 30-minute blast on Mario Kart at lunchtime and noticed the screen quality is vastly improved, sharp as a pin with rich, bright colors. 

Should you get one if you already own a DS? Well, if you are a Nintendo fanboy, with a bit of spare cash and like your gaming gadgets to look as well as play the part, it’s probably worth pre-ordering one.  If looks aren’t an issue for you, I’d argue the improved screen and ergonomics could well be worth the investment.   Besides, you can always sell your "classic" to offset the cost.

*His words not ours….