Nintendo DSi review

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OFF DUTY:Since the 1970s, Nintendo has been providing happy times for children and big kids (adults) alike. Then it entered the mobile world with the Game Boy in 1989 and we were lucky enough to be able to feed our gaming appetites no matter where we were.

Fast forward several years and here we are today with the third iteration in the Nintendo DS family: the Nintendo DSi.

The first thing you’ll notice about the DSi, is the fact that it’s a bit of a matte-based looker. And a very svelte one at that, measuring in at just 2.6mm thick. A whole 12 per cent thinner than its older sibling the DS Lite, in fact.

Guitar Hero obsessives may be disappointed however, as you don’t get this thing without sacrifices somewhere along the way. The trade off for the DSi is the GameBoy Advance Slot. Or lack of it. Among other things, that means no Guitar Hero accessory action.

That’s the bad news. The good news is the introduction of an SD card slot, meaning you can take your saved games with you and use them on another DSi if you’re DSi happens to be out of action and you can lay your hands on a loan device.

The menu is easy to use and you can even record sounds if that’s your thing. But the control buttons (think volume et al) aint what they used to be and may confused hardcore DS users at first.

The two new 0.3 megapixel cameras may not be much to look at, but that hint at a potential world of interactivity somewhere down the line which has got us a little bit excited.

At £150, the price tag may seem a little steep and discourage existing DS fans from rushing out and upgrading. That said, those who do take the plunge are likely to find the DSi a welcome companion for those too-little-time-to-get-any-real-work-done gaps between meetings or when stuck waiting for that train/plane/automobile.

We liked: Bigger screen / Matte finish / Two cameras / SD card debut

You might not like: AAC-only music playback / Goodbye GBA slot and Guitar Hero accessory / New fangled charger port

Adapted from an original article by James Billington.

For the full review and detailed specs, please visit sister site iGIZMO.

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