Nintendo DS Lite user reviews (Cobalt/Black)

4.0 stars

"A better upgrade than the original DS?" on March 24, 2008 by travisp11

Pros: Brighter screen, brightness adjustability, a bit sleeker than original

Cons: can't use previous DS A/C adapter, hinges may be more prone to breaking, cheaper plastics?

Summary: I decided after almost two years that it was time to upgrade from the Hot Rod Red Mario Kart Edition old Nintendo DS to the newer, sleeker, cobalt blue DS lite. But why, you might ask? Answer: The screen. To me the screen seems clearer than my original DS and not to mention that the highest setting on the new DS is almost too bright for normal game-play works wonders for an older gamer such as myself that needs more light to read small images. The trade-off is shorter battery life than the original DS if you crank the screen up.

Also, I like the sleeker design of the new DS and the availability of add on peripherals that is becoming harder to find for the older DS. Do you realize it took me almost a year to find a grip attachment for the original DS? If you are an adult this is almost a must for sports games where you may use multiple buttons at any given time and find the design of the original DS a thumb-numbing experience.

If you are debating on whether or not to upgrade to the new DS or just buy one outright even if yo never owned one before, don't hesitate as it is a nice overall upgrade of the original.

And now for the negatives...Cost, you would think that a price drop would eventually show up but I don't think that will ever happen. Also, the new design is so small that if you plug an original Game Boy Advance cartridge in it the cartridge sticks out from the bottom. Just slightly annoying.

The plastics don't feel as durable as the original DS and I have heard rumors, although I don't want to test this hypothesis out but if you consistently lock the screen back 180 degrees each time you play, the hinges will develop hairline cracks that could seriously compromise the usability and durability of this unit.

So now, you may be asking, why a 8? I like the fact that Nintendo has retained backwards compatibility with the new DS, the adjustable screen is very, very, nice. The unit is lighter and takes up less space and there is a pretty cool selection of colors out there. I have been playing Advance Wars Days of Ruin on my unit of the last few hours before writing this review and overall, I am pretty impressed. Just don't forget the screen protectors and the grip extenders!