6/6/2006
It doesn't only look different...
Nintendo’s system revision wasn’t just about outer appearances – there are quite a few changes on the inside of the system too. The most noticeable of these changes are the LCDs. They are now far more vivid and colorful then those on the original DS. Also, the brightness of these LCDs can be adjusted – the lowest setting is just as bright as the original DS’s only setting. Additionally, the battery life has been extended. Finally, the control pad, buttons and stylus design were changed.
While the original DS’s LCDs were not bad by any means, Nintendo took a chance to improve on them anyways. Both screens are now far prettier – colors are richer and more vivid. This gives an illusion of the graphics being slightly better, even though the system’s hardware wasn’t changed, just the LCDs.
Another major difference in the screens is the brightness. Before, you could only turn the system’s backlight on or off. However, with the DS Lite, you can switch between four different brightness settings. The first one is roughly equivalent to the original DS’s brightness while the fourth one is nearly brighter than the sun.
The system’s battery life is also longer – while I don’t have any exact numbers, I don’t have to put the system on to charge nearly as much as I did with my original DS. If you run on the top brightness setting, you’ll still get good amount of play time, though it will be slightly shorter than the time you’d get from the original DS with the backlight on. However, the first or second settings will give you more playtime with the second still being brighter than the first DS.
The last big change involves the controls. Before, the buttons were either ‘on’ or ‘off’. They still haven’t changed to an analog-style control, but they feel like it. They are springier and feel better after extended play sessions – you’ll have a better feel of when you hit a button. Also, the stylus is slightly shorter but is significantly thicker. The change to the stylus is, by far, the best control change made to the system – especially since Nintendo has included two of them incase you lose the first.
A few of the buttons have also been placed differently. The power button is now on the side of the system and the start and select buttons are arranged vertically under the A, B, X and Y buttons. Neither of these changes have a positive or negative effect on gameplay, though.
One change that may have an effect on gameplay, though, is the movement of the microphone. Before, it was placed at the bottom of the system and you would sometimes have to look away from the top screen to get it to pick up your voice. The new placement of the mic is more natural – you’re already looking at that area anyways and your voice will be directed there when you try to talk to the system. However, the quality of the mic itself doesn’t seem to have been improved very much.
Conclusion
The DS Lite definitely improves on the original DS. The systems smaller footprint makes for a less tight fit in your pocket while the better quality and brighter screens give a higher quality gaming experience. The re-designed controls and better stylus make it easier to play the games.
In the end, there are two major selling points for the system. The first involves the new look for the system. Those that resisted at first because of the size or the toy-like feel will be pulled in with the system’s sleek new look. They won’t feel as geeky when they carry it around. To those that already own a DS, however, this may not be enough -- the second selling point will be the hardware changes made. The brighter and better quality screens, the redesigned controls and the better stylus all make for a better experience with the system.
With a planned price of $129, current DS owners will have to decide if the hardware changes warrant a new system purchase. The upgrade won’t cost them $129 – they could sell their original DS on Ebay or trade it in at their local game store. For new system adopters, the choice between the old and new DS is a no brainer – the DS Lite is better in every way when compared to its older sibling.
I feel the system is worth the cost, though – and I paid $200 to import it. You may not be able to find one right off here in the US, though, if you haven’t pre-ordered it. It is worth the wait, though.
