Support NeoGAF

[Opinionatedfish]

I would go N3DSXL.

Although.. had there been a New 2DS.. I'd buy that in a heart beat. Seriously, the thing is so damn comfortable to hold.

With the New 3DS XL, I seriously need someone to release a grip that relocates the ZL/ZR buttons.

 

[tronic307]

N3DSXL because the 2DS is so flimsy and cheap it hurts my stomach. It's like the Wii mini of handhelds.

 

[NCR Redslayer]

Since you don't have to do the fucking system transfer with the New3ds and the old 3DS, the New 3DS is the way to go.

 

[Massa]

I bought a 2DS with Mario 3D Land and immediately regretted it. Don't do it. I guarantee you that not being able to see 3D in areas designed for 3D is far more annoying than some ugly graphics due to pixel density. Ugly games are ugly on all 3DS versions.

If you want to save $100 get a used regular 3DS. The new 3DS will come out in NA, it's just a matter of time.

 

[Tenebrous]

Just try and hold both in your hands.

I've had both a standard 3DS and a 3DSXL, and they're about as comfortable to hold as the wrong end of a spiked mace. On the flipside, the 2DS is gorgeous in the hands, and I can play for hours without so much as a twitch.

I'd pay £200 for a "new" 2DS, because that 3DS design is horrid for someone with large hands.

 

[sixteen-bit]

Just try and hold both in your hands.

I've had both a standard 3DS and a 3DSXL, and they're about as comfortable to hold as the wrong end of a spiked mace. On the flipside, the 2DS is gorgeous in the hands, and I can play for hours without so much as a twitch.

I'd pay £200 for a "new" 2DS, because that 3DS design is horrid for someone with large hands.

I agree. 2DS gets a lot of good will from me for being so comfortable to hold. Pair it with the PDP trigger grips and you're in large hand game controller heaven, lol.

 

[timshundo]

n3DS XL for sure. The 3D stabilization and IPS screen make the biggest difference over the old XL.

 

[Tenebrous]

I agree. 2DS gets a lot of good will from me for being so comfortable to hold. Pair it with the PDP trigger grips and you're in large hand game controller heaven, lol.

I had to snag some PDP grips for the Vita-1000. Couldn't play for more than 20 minutes without my hands feeling weird... Thankfully, there wasn't much on Vita worth playing, so it didn't bother me for long.

The PDP Grips are A tier, though. Awesome build quality.

 

[batrush]

I would not recommend a 2DS even if you are on a tight budget. It is much less comfortable and its build quality is considerably lesser than that of the XL. Plus, it isn't future-proof. Both machines have embarrassingly poor battery life. The IQ of the XL is tolerable, and some games benefit from the greater screen size.

 

[Mufti Nabiyu Erin]

The 2DS is amazing, and is the only 3DS variant I can hold for longer than 10 minutes without getting cramps. Unless you really like 3D (I personally think that it's a gimmick that's not worth the battery life), I'd say go for the 2DS.

Also, the issue of "future proofing" is largely exaggerated, I think. The economics of making games exclusive for a device that only 5-10% of the user base has are laughably bad, so I really can't see many n3DS exclusive games coming out, much like there weren't very many DSi and GBC-exclusive games during their time periods. If you were a publisher, would you publish a game that around 50,000,000 people could possibly play with all 3DS variants, or that only 750,000-1,000,000 could play with the new 3DS? I think that the answer is quite apparent.

 

[bomblord1]

Getting some very conflicting reports about the comfort of the 2ds

 

[Rogue_Ledr]

n3dsXL. Some games will only work the newer hardware.

Or they will work much better!

 

[Kssio_Aug]

I had the same doubt. Bought a N3DS XL and am loving it so far! =)

 

[shouamabane]

N3DSXL

 

[rdaneel72]

Haterz, FUAD! I love my 2DS. Got it last summer for $99.99, and it has been a dirt-cheap gateway to all the great 3DS games without the extra price for a finicky 3D gimmick!

I've got large hands, and the 2DS is perfectly comfortable. I've been playing MH4 on it for the last 6 weeks with no issues. Buttons are exceptional. Build quality is excellent, and the lack of a hinge makes it feel extra sturdy. Just spend $10 for a nice, soft zipper-up carrying case to protect your screens; you can afford it with the savings.

I plan on getting a New3DSXL eventually, but 2DS is a perfectly capable device that does everything the rest of the 3DS family does, minus one. The only reason to ignore the 2DS is if you want the 3D visuals. If you don't care about 3D, the 2DS is an excellent choice!

 

[Spyware]

Just try and hold both in your hands.

I've had both a standard 3DS and a 3DSXL, and they're about as comfortable to hold as the wrong end of a spiked mace. On the flipside, the 2DS is gorgeous in the hands, and I can play for hours without so much as a twitch.

I'd pay £200 for a "new" 2DS, because that 3DS design is horrid for someone with large hands.

Small handed person here and 2DS is still more comfy to hold. The "hold the whole thing between your hands" sort of design (2DS, GBA, PSP/Vita) is so much better than leaving the top half without support (GBA SP/all DSes). XL especially get's so top heavy that it hurts my wrist holding it steady for more than a little while.

I dunno why people call it flimsy. Yeah it looks a bit cheap (since it is, here in Sweden you can more often than not buy it new for 1/4th (~500kr) of the price of a N3DS (~2000kr)). Yes, it also "sounds" cheap if you start tapping on it or anything odd like that, but holding it you won't feel anything like that at all. The buttons are great and I've played lots of Smash on mine without any problems. It doesn't feel flimsy or cheap when you play on it.