The DSi is launching this weekend. It looks nice, and Nintendo knows how to sell a portable. In fact, I don't go anywhere without my DS. I wasn't sure what to think of the DSi, especially given the $170 price tag, but Nintendo invited me to a preview event a few weeks ago due to my Club Nintendo Platinum Status. Since I registered everything I've ever purchased from Nintendo and will never have this many coins again, I may as well enjoy the perks while it lasts. I went out to Universal Citywalk and played around with a DSi. I figured some people may be on the fence, or just curious as to how it looks/feels, so I am here to share my experiences with the DSi.
For starters, the system is a little bit longer than the DS Lite, but not quite as thick. My guess is due to the lack of GBA slot. The matte feels really nice compared to the glossy finish of the DS Lite. The buttons feel pretty similar to the Lite, but the D-pad is much nicer.
The interface looks a lot like a miniature version of the Wii in terms of how it's set up. You can check the firmware, manage data, etc. You use the stylus to navigate through the menus which include the game menu, camera, and music player. I played around with the camera a bit and messed with my face. Like a simple version of Photoshop, one can change the picture to be in black and white, sepia, distorted or split the picture into multiple mirror images. It was fun, although I can't imagine myself using this very much unless it is incorporated into future games. Since Nintendo has said there will be some games in the future with DSi exclusive features, this is a possibility. The people at Nintendo were nice enough to print one picture per person and gave us a spiffy magnetic frame to go along with it. Overall the whole setup was pretty easy to use.
(That's me in my new glasses)
I didn't do too much with the music player, mainly because I didn't have any AAC files on me. I use either mp3s or snobby raw WAV files for my music, but from watching other people test out the music player it does what the other sites say it does. One can play around with the speed of the music and reverse it. It's basically a very watered down version of audio editing software. Again, this is a feature I wouldn't really use, unless it was incorporated into future titles.
Unfortunately there weren't any DSi ware titles to try out and was one of the main reasons why I decided to attend. On the bright side, I did bring some of my own DS games to try out and compare the DS Lite screen to the DSi screen. I put in Puzzle Quest Galactrix (yes I'm still enjoying the game), into my Lite and then into the DSi. The screen is bigger on the DSi and actually made things easier for me to see. While the resolution is the same, there wasn't much of a visual downgrade due to the screen being small as it is, and with the extra brightness level, it made everything look much more vibrant to me. It was kind of nice being able to take the cartridges out without having to completely shut down the system.
Now this brings the magic question: is it still worth getting? My answer is yes and no. The Nintendo rep was very nice and tried to answer my questions, but unfortunately it's not clear yet if we will be able to play DSiware directly from the SD card or if we will have to do some fridge cleaning. That concerns me, although a little less now than before with the 4.0 firmware update on the Wii. The upgrades are really nice, and once there is enough DSiware out that interests me, I will gladly trade in my lite. Until then I'm not sure it's worth it as a DS Lite owner to upgrade. I would say for those out there debating on picking up a DS for the first time, or those who still have a DS phat should get one without hesitation. It will be much easier to see things and with the DS's library, there's TONS of amazing games to play (unless you hate fun. You don't hate fun, do you?)
I kid about that last comment, but this should give people an idea on what the DSi has to offer.
Thanks for this Naia. I still have my DS Phat, and I've been trying to decide between the DS Lite and the new DSi. I think I'll have to go with the one with the larger screens and that offers me the possibility of Super Mario Land and Links Awakening DX.
I'm getting the blue one :)
The DSi is a lot like Platinum for me. I know I don't need it, and I told myself not to get it, but I'm doing it anyways. Glad to hear its worth it!
Maybe I'll get one if there's a golden Zelda: Spirit Tracks edition of it.
I don't know, still just seems like a downsized DS with a Game Boy Camera shoved in it.
I can't get one yet. :( I'm gonna have to wait. Thanks for the hands-on Naia!
Great hands on Naia. I love my DS lite. I think I'll wait until they have some more substantial software specifically aimed at its features.
I just got a DS Lite + R4 because it was on sale as a combo. If the DSi had any kind of R4 that was affordable enough, I would've gone with that instead :)
The camera stuff doesn't really do it for me, but a better dpad is always nice!
Thanks for a levelheaded review of the system. It seems like a lot of people are either really against it for kinda awful reasons, really for it for no good reason, or have a wishywashy opinion... but you pretty much summed up the concerns I have with the system in a very detailed manner.
But, if they do DSiWare right, have some cool advantages for the DSi Carts, and use the new features right, it could be a great improvement. I'm just glad I didn't preorder it or anything.
Huh, I'm glad to hear this is as awesome as it sounds. I didn't think it'd be that much better than the Lite, but it sounds good.
I kinda just want it to say I have it and to pass along my DSlite to a friend so we can play stuff between classes, that would bring the total of DS in my class to 3 :O!!
You just reminded me that I still haven't signed up for Club Nintendo.
I'm so torn... I've basically accepted the loss of the GBA slot (I still have my original GBA), but as shallow as this is, I want a white DSi. I have a white PS2, a white Wii (duh), and a white DSLite, so I like the coordination.
On the other hand I don't mind the blue DSi, and I'm not sure how long GameStop will have that $100 trade-in deal.
thanks for the review! I'm looking forward to it, but not gonna grab one right away since i have a Lite. prob grab it for my bf, he might like the music section a lot =)
I bought one because I was still on the DS Phat, and felt like upgrading to something better. It is MUCH brighter and easier to see, and it's gotten me back into trekking through Etrian Odyssey II again. Damn those FOEs!
why no Lime Green? What about Yellow. I could do yellow. These colours just bore me now...Csn't believe they just brought out that awesome DSL [green] when I'm trying to find reasons to buy a DSi...Man...
Still think it's worth the purchase, just wish the colours were more appealing.