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Nintendo 3DS XL Review: Silver Mario & Luigi Edition

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When you talk about video games and gaming consoles you can’t leave out the importance of the Nintendo brand. This company is responsible for some of the most iconic game consoles, like the N64, or the the revolutionary Game Boy in 1989. Most of us in this tech industry have grew up with characters such as Mario, Luigi, Donky Kong, Zelda, etc.

Being a company that has to adapt to different technological times and generations; becomes a challenge, even for an icon like Nintendo. So it came to no surprise when Nintendo delivered a refresh to its DS brand. Every 18-months or so, they upgrade their handheld hardware. And for the most part, they deliver positive results every single time; the 3DS XL is no exception.

The big selling point is the size boost. The 3DS XL looks the same as its predecessor, but its screens are around 90 percent larger than the 3DS’, with the top 3D display jumping up more than an inch in size from 3.53 inches to 4.88 inches. Nintendo says the huge screens on the XL should make the the 3DS games you play even larger.

Can Nintendo’s 3DS XL stand up to the rest of the competitors out there? Let’s find out.

The Good
  • Double the memory
  • Larger screen
  • Better battery life
The Bad
  • Games still cost $40
  • Still lacks a legitimate account system

Hardware

This year's model was all about refining the small details missed in the previous version. Gone is that awkward feel, and most notably, the irritatingly tiny screens surrounded by huge bezels. As I've said before, the new 3DS XL offers 90 percent more in the display department, but manages to keep the dimensions of its predecessor. The 3DS XL measures at 134 x 74 x 21mm (5.2 x 2.9 x .82 inches). What's even more reassuring is the device can still fit in your pocket, even though it's one millimeter thicker than the 3DS.

The design overall is much cleaner and subtle than the 3DS, too. Nintendo did a good job at giving customers a bigger screen and building the device in a way that protects that extra display. Each U.S. XL variant comes in a two-tone design with a colored shell on the outside and a matte black finish inside. This Mario & Luigi Edition has a silver cover on it, with Mario and Luigi placed on the bottom left-hand corner. Touching the XL and pressing the buttons feels like you're handling a premium product, similar to gaming with a controller on any console.

The only changes found on the XL from the 3DS are minimal but improvements, nevertheless. The headphone jack has been moved from directly under the lower screen to the bottom left of the unit, and the SD card slot has switched from the left side to the right. In addition to those changes the XL's stylus is non-retractable and is stored horizontally on the unit's right side. I love where the stylus is placed, as it makes it super accessible when trying to navigate between menus while gaming.

Another good addition is the changes made to the “3-D volume” slider (a feature that changes the strength of three dimensional game play). The 3D effect can now be clicked off reducing those accidental moments of turning the 3-D on.

If there were any complaints with the hardware, I'd have to say its with the speakers. The speakers aren't horrible but they're not top-notch either.

Software

What can you expect, you ask? Well, expect to see the usual cartoon-ish look with Nintendo's software. It's weird, but Nintendo's playful user interface works for some reason -- even if its lacking the visual design elements found on today's tablets and smartphones. Diving into the software further you'll find the browser unbearable as it's hardly usable, media playback support is a joke, and online gaming still requires the use of Nintendo's friend codes to add to your player list.

Besides that, the system brings an interesting new feature called StreetPass which lets you automatically trade, gain coins for in-game items and save handwritten notes. Moreover, users can share Mii avatar information with the people around them, however, it's only good for those who carry their 3DS frequently. Nintendo also brings some more fun apps like SwapNote along with firmware updates that have added features such as folder support, video recording, extra StreetPass games, and 3DS-to-3DS software transfer.

I couldn't give this review justice without briefly mentioning my experience with the game Mario & Luigi Dream Team. The game is obviously important because it came with the package, so a little game analysis is necessary here. The game offers fresh ideas to a repetitive concept as it introduces new means of interaction, short mini-games and elements that completely change how battles are fought -- in short, the game stays fresh.

The interesting plot of this game (beside Princess Peach being kidnapped) is Mario discovers he can enter Luigi's dreams, giving the brothers access to a different reality folks on the island had no clue existed. It's a good game, can't wait to finally beat it.

The Final Take

Now there's some things I didn't get ridiculously in-depth on such as the quality of the display, camera, and battery life. Truth is, you're not really missing anything when it comes to two out of the three. The display is like the previous version, it looks the same, but it's bigger; the camera gives a 3-D visual when taking shots but the quality is worse than taking pics with a tablet. The battery-life is worth mentioning because it did add improvements: 3DS XL has 3.5 to 6.5 hours of battery life, versus the original 3DS’ 3 to 5 hours. In straight up gaming I got up to four hours consistently.

In the end, if you already have a 2013 3DS, then it's hard for me to justify buying the XL for $200. However  the improved design, screen, and battery performance make the XL clearly worth the extra $30 (the 3DS retails for $169.99). Those of you who happen to be rocking an older DS, DS Lite, etc., then it's a no brainer.

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