Nintendo DS Lite Review

Nintendo DS Lite is arguably the best of the DS upgrades. XL being preferred to some by its bigger size, it is in the versatility that the Lite shines. Nintendo DS Lite is the smallest out of all the DS handhelds and in effect is easier to travel with. It fits comfortably in most adult pockets or purse. The system is also the lightest in weight.

The biggest advantage the Lite has compared to the newer DSI and XL is that it includes a Gameboy Advance(GBA) slot. DSI and XL removed that slot to put in a camera. Has a result Nintendo DS Lite is compatible with older games from the GBA series. Camera may sound appealing to some, is hardly worth the removal of backward compatibility with older generation system. This particular slot is also used in various new DS games. Band Hero, Guitar Hero, and the Pokemon series come to mind. Pokemon DS series allow the importing of Pokemons from the GBA series. Band Hero use the slot to play guitar, so on.

However, even with all the benefit there is one flaw the console has that cannot be overlooked. The hinges of the dual screens are likely to break. Putting a hard casing and taking proper care of the console does help prevent that. Hard casing is almost mandatory if you wish to prevent it from breaking for a child. Nerf or Hori Brand hard casing are my recommendation however any works.

That being said, the real reason any person should consider buying a console is for the games it can play. Nintendo DS has some of the best Role Playing Game(RPG) and Puzzle games this generation. RPG like Dragon Quest, Final Fantasy, and Pokemon Series have remakes of old classics as well as new version exclusively for the DS. Puzzle games like Professor Layton, Brain Age, 9 Hours 9 Doors 9 Persons, and Phoenix Wright are among the best the DS has to offer. The system also has traditional Nintendo games like Mario, Donkey Kong, Kirby, Metroid, Zelda, and so on. There are many other great games, I merely named some because there tend to be a few people who buy the console but don't know what games to buy.

Overall, the Nintendo DS Lite is superior to the DSI and XL in that it allow the owner to play a bigger game library. DSI and XL have built in camera, if prefer that to more game options, then should consider buying those instead. The console must be treated with care or with extra protection(Hard Casing) because it does have a decent probability of breaking from the hinges if abused. Other then that the game selection is superb and I highly recommend trying any of the Nintendo DS consoles.

Even for adults

I bought this to give me something to do while waiting for my next job at work in my truck. The list of DS titles is really expansive and lots geared towards adults (puzzle games are really addictive and DS also has began to release M rated titles like GTA) the dual screens make for easy viewing and the button layout accomadates even medium size adult has rather well. Its amazing some of the better games and how much information they can fit on a single cartridge with cut scenes and hours of storyline gameplay. It fits easily in you trvel bag and ready to play at a moments notice subway,plane,bench,long car ride you name it and they battery life is really good to 4+hours of continus game play.Overall very good and couldnt ask for more in a portable game system.

Best DS to Date!

I looked at several of the new DS game machines including the netbook size DSi XL. The battery life and screen resolution on the DS Lite is fantastic. It is extremely well built and durable. Best of all this is the last "Backwards Compatible" DS machines made. I have a library of many great older GBA titles and still enjoy playing them. The only negative thing I can think of is the difficulty the DS Lite had connecting to my WEP protected WiFi network. I had to set up dedicated MAC assignments and drop the WEP in order to connect. Other than that I highly recommend this nice compact, portable, gaming system. You can't beat the library of games!

Great handheld electronic video game system

I purchased this Nintendo DS, video game system, a few weeks ago as a birthday gift for my soon to be 9 year old son. The system was just as described. Used, but in excellent condition. The features are amazing. You can charge it in about 5 - 6 hours and play everyday for about 4 days until it needs to be recharged. There are games that allow you to play together with the built-in wifi. You can just message chat with thoes around you with a nintendo ds. There is a headphone outlet, so I don't have to hear the game when my son plays. The games on this system are way more kid friendly than on other systems. We have tried them all. The games for this system are budget friendly as well. It is small and compact. It fits in my purse, diaper bag, or his pocket. I recommend this system not just for kids, but I enjoy playing on it myself. It has great games at reasonable prices and is great for long trips or doctor apts.

Simple, fun, and better than PSP.

I like the Nintendo DS Lite because it is simple, functional, and more interesting to play than anything else on the market. I once owned a first-generation PSP while I was on a military deployment a few years ago, and quickly bored of it. I bought this DS for a similar reason - for entertainment during slow periods in between work projects. It's more durable, more compact, has universal appeal with classic franchises as Mario and Zelda, the games and accessories are a LOT cheaper, and overall, I'm very pleased with it. There are a wide range of games available to suit anyone's tastes, and with the touch-screen interface, many have a unique playing style. I also greatly value the dual screens, as this makes RPG games less cumbersome to play (don't have to go into a menu to see statistics/data). A great purchase, thanks to eBay!