Best Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction Deals

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Bruce Banner feels he isn't a person any more he's the HULK, and he walks a thin line between good and bad. He's a big, green timebomb and he's ticking.

As you might tell from the game's intro message, this isn't about a "good superhero going out and facing down evil badguy". In fact, the training mission has you as a soldier in a VR environment, learning about the Hulk's moves in order to learn how to defeat the Hulk. As you move through the game, you get a general storyline about the Hulk, but really, that isn't what the game is about. The game is about destruction.

Where other games have touted their ability to have a "fully utilized environment", the Hulk delivers very nicely. Just about anything you see around you cars, tankers, even moving people and cows can be used as a weapon. Chase down the cow, grab it (with its legs waving wildly) and toss it at the enemy soldiers. Pick up the missile truck and lob it at the helicopter. The buildings can be damaged and destroyed. You can leap amazing distances and lob even very heavy items a quite long way. The results are often spectacular.

The graphics are quite good considering the number of objects that must be fully rendered in all phases of destruction. That is, they can't nicely create a "painting" effect knowing that object will always be seen in that exact same shape. The helicopters are a little blocky, but you can grab them, dent them, fling them at each other, and so on.

The sound is reasonably good really, all you hear is BASH! SMASH! GRRRROWL! plus a few voices saying things like "he's coming!" and some Banner conversations. It's good enough to keep the game going, and the musical score is low key and rumbling.

You can unlock artworks, move along through missions, and expand the storyline. Really, though, you are primarily destroying things with great glee. You can fling soldiers at trucks. Fling cows at building. Jump up and smash rooftops. Take down towers. Destroy, destroy, destroy.

While this isn't a complex puzzle game, there are times in life where you want to put your brain on hold and get rid of stress. Some people go jogging. Some punch punching bags. With the Hulk game, it doesn't matter if it's raining or snowing outside. You can sit down for an hour or two, demolish a ton of things, and accomplish goals along the way. Think of it as a construction worker who has to tear down the old, broken-down building to make room for new apartment buildings. It's destruction with a purpose, and sometimes that can be great fun!

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The game when you first buy it is awsome. i mean who wouldent want to throw cars at helicopters, make people fly 20 yards with your finger, and bunt-kick a police car down 5 blocks? the game lasts a bit because of the "smash smash get some cash" gameplay (the more smash points you get, the more moves you get). the moves are the best part. at one point in the game, you get a move that lets you grab onto a helicopter or a big boss. i always loved riding the helicopter to 5th street... its alot better then skateboarding on a bus if you ask me. anyway, once you get all the moves and beat the story mode AND get the canadian boxers, it gets extremely repetitive.

at the end of the game, when you get critical alert status, the same guys always come.

5/5 stars for the first 3 weeks-2 months... 4 the next month, and basically declining to 3

BUT, whenever you are board and have nothin to do, no good tv is on, all of your friends are offline and every other game is getting booring, its nice to take a good ol trip back to this game and smash a mech or to.. you know, for old times sake.

Best Deals for Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction

This is one impressive action game. Believe the hype, Incredible Hulk: Ultimate Destruction lives up to it.

I purchased the X-Box version because I assumed it would have the best graphics out of the three systems. I don't know if it really does, but I'm quite satisfied with them. To put it simply, things blow up real good. And they sound good blowing up, too.

This game reminds me of War of the Monsters for the PS2. Players of both games will notice great similarities in the action. Both games allow you to destroy nearly everything around you. Unlike War of the Monsters, the areas in Hulk UD are vast, even if there are only two (not counting the church and the military base interior).

The number of moves and abilities the Hulk has at his disposal are staggering. Many of them must be purchased with aptly-named Smash Points in order to be used. Part of the fun is destroying objects and defeating enemy units to rack up enough Smash Points to buy the next ability, which makes Hulk even more effective in action.

As the story progresses the enemies become more dangerous. Tanks get tougher, aircraft get faster, and robots get bigger. But the player has the option to "free roam" instead of advancing the plot. This allows the collection of more Smash Points to better prepare for the next mission. There's lots of freedom in the game, which I love. Did I mention the VAST areas?

Smash Points aren't the only things to collect. There are 60 hidden comic book icons to find which will unlock different items in the main menu. These items consist of video clips about the making of the game, art sketches, Hulk comic book covers, gameplay alterations, and different costumes for Hulk (one lets you play as Mr. Fixit); all nice bonuses.

As if all this weren't enough, the game delivers a solid story, too. For those who don't notice, the voice of Emil Blonsky is the same guy who does the voice of Slade in the cartoon Teen Titans.

It would have been nice to face down more of Hulk's super-powered enemies besides Abomination and Mercy. I would have loved to fight the Leader, or the U-Foes. I guess that's what sequels are for.

I couldn't stop playing Hulk UD until I reached the end. Even then I had more unlockable items to acquire. This is the perfect game for Hulk fans, and a good one for everyone else.

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Parents: The content in this game seems absolutally fine for anyone roughly ten and up. The only reason I see it as rated teen is because this game requires a good bit of hand eye cordination sometimes. Aslo the hulk roaring might get to little kids who are still around the age where they still come up to you in the middle of the night to check there closets for monsters, but basicly if your kids can handel action cartoons like Ninja Turtles and Justice League they deffinately can handel this game.

Anyways...

I wasn't sure about this game when I picked it up. I don't know why, I hadn't heard much about it and I hadn't played many comic book based games besides the Spiderman based one on the Playstation. But I didn't see many other games at the rental store the kids could play on my XBox so I rented it out to see if it was okay.

It is, in my opinion, an absolutaly great game for almost anyone. The entire game was like a digital stress ball for me, you get to rampage to your hearts desire. I spent a few hours alone that week just ignoring the story chapters completely and just wrecking the huge city and desert military bases to game takes place in. Kids would also love it for the same reason they build lego houses and then smash them to bits with their action figures.

The story is a bit odd if you don't know much about the hulk already as it revolves around bruces quest for a cure in order to stop a second more evil and cunning Hulk Bruce Banner Discoverted growing inside him appropriatly named the Devil Hulk. The big green savage Hulk we all know and love also doesn't like the Devil Hulk moving in to Banner's mind, so it becomes more agreeable to suconicous orders Banner uses to get the child-like brute to do what he wants. Meanwhile a new baddie called the Abomination appears after one of the military general stupidly trys to recover one of bruce's failed "cure" attempts in the very begining of the game. All in all the story is okay as you go on, but you can tell they tried to stuff several comicbooks basic ideas into a game story only as an excuse to callenge you with bosses and other unique situations.

As far a gameplay goes, it's fantasic. The more damage you cause, the more smash points you earn and the more moves you can buy later too continue your assult on just about everything. There are mini games and secrets everywhere to earn even more smash points with. In fact, the only thing that's missing is a co-op or two player mode. As far as replayability goes, it's always there.

Anyway, I would recommended this game to a)anyone who has kids roughly around ten, b) anyone who likes third person, single player games and c) anyone one who has been stress out at work one too many times or feels like throwing a temper tantrum :).

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If somebody came up to you and said, "Here, have some super powers" what would you do? Well, The Incredible Hulk Ultimate Destruction basically allows you to take the super powers, and run rampant with them in just about any way you want. While it doesn't contain the level of violence or crime that Grand Theft Auto has, (and lets face it, that's what everyone will be comparing this game to) it doesn't need to. It also does not contain the depth of story that GTA is so good about. But lets face it, when you do and elbow drop onto someone's head from 50 stories up, you can sacrifice some things to do that. When you can hurl a tank into a helicopter and watch them both explode and almost be able to feel the impact of the explosion, everything else just kind of fades into the background anyway. I just beat the game a few days ago, and I don't even remember the first few story missions, because I spent so much time just running through the city, smashing things and jumping from skyscraper to skyscraper, thoroughly enjoying every second of it. You can lose yourself in this game and play for hours without realizing it just like you can GTA, but instead of getting frustrated at the game, you actually feel a sense of relief each time you pound one of your opponents mercilessly into the ground and repeatedly stomp on thier heads, let out a growl, and kick them across the street. Anger management has never felt so good...

Medal of Honor Collection - PlayStation 2 Reviews

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The classic war games of this vein (MOH) are updated for your enjoyment on the PS2! It's a shooting game for those who like historical accuracy (with some artstic license, of course) mixed in with some pretty intense gameplay.

In the Medal of Honor Collection, you have 3 games to play: Medal of Honor: Frontline, Medal of Honor: Rising Sun, and Medal of Honor: European Assault. The first of the 3 games deals with the major battles of WWII, including the water landing at Normandy in June, 1944. The second game is strictly set in the Pacific Theatre, and opens with your character attempting to escape a damaged destroyer before it is sunk by Japanese attack at Pearl Harbor, in December, 1941. The final game in the collection is made with a whole new MOH format, which includes an adrenaline feature so you can go nuts on the enemy without taking damage, floating ammo/heath kit icons (instead of the standard items-on-the-ground format from the previous games.

MOH Frontline is my favorite game so far. The D-Day assault mission is VERY intense. It remainds me of the scene from Saving Private Ryan! There is a recoil on the weapons when firing, and also when a bomb drops, the entire screen shakes. It makes it very difficult to get a good accuracy rating.

MOH Rising Sun is a great game! I have never played a shooter so throughly steeped in the Pacific Theatre as is this MOH title.

MOH European Assault is a good game too, yet I haven't played that one trough very far yet!

One element that successfully ties all 3 games together is, your character actually works cooperatively with other computer controlled allies that help you during the missions. This is especially true in MOH Risisng Sun, and MOH European Assault. A great series of games awaits you in this Collection!

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The Medal of Honor series is not only an excellent first-person shooter game on its own, but is quite entertaining if you are more social and still like to play multiplayer split-screen with friends it's one of only 3 games I play anymore.

While Frontline seems to be single player, (I haven't even opened it) in Rising Sun you can engage in a two-player cooperative campaign! This is unique to Rising Sun EA dropped that play mode for all future MoH iterations and I am not aware of any other first-person shooter like it.

Rising Sun and European Assault also support other multiplayer play modes plug in a multitap adapter and you can split your screen 4 ways for 4-player action. Could be a great party game if you like shooting things!

Rising Sun multiplayer team death match allows you to have up to 8 total players, including AI, so add in some AI players and the fun goes on for a long time. Gang up against against an all-AI team, or divide up into 2 human player teams and add in some AI to help your less proficient friends!

Unfortunately in European Assault they dropped the AI players from multiplayer modes, but they added some fun arena-based games like Capture the Flag. Also European Assault graphics and gameplay are significantly better than all previous MoH iterations I think they are pushing the limits of the PS2 console and it looks great for being a PS2 game! After playing European Assault for a while and then going back to an older MoH game it is apparent I've taken a step back in gaming technology.

You don't get the most recent MoH for PS2 in this collection, Vanguard, but I own that separately and will admit that it is in many ways not nearly as good as European Assault. Seems like they slapped it together to please the PS2 crowd during a time when they were spending most of their resources developing the PS3 game.

Best Deals for Medal of Honor Collection - PlayStation 2

This is a nicely-priced collection of some very popular games, but it comes at a price: online play is NOT supported. I noticed that this info is not listed on the Amazon site, and hope to save someone the frustration of buying this product with the intention of playing online.

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Fun, Fun and more Fun. The high end graphics are not the strenght of this game but the different missions and skill levels will replace that and if you are like me (a 37 year old man child) you will pay no matter to that particular point.

It's perfect to kill time when nothing's good on TV or you want to give a rest to reading Fantasy(wich is just as Fun..or even more depending on what are you reading).

Great price for an incredible combo. Medal of Honor Collection it's a must have.

Cheers!!!

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This is simply a great deal!!!3 games, and all are pretty good ,i had the 1st Medal of Honor already so now i have a dup, but when i seen all 3 well its still a good deal for the other two games which are just as entertaining as the 1st one maybe better??? imo ......

If you like WWII land games this is it along with the Call of Duty series imo...

I see these 2 series, Call of Duty and Medal of Honor as like example:[coke and pepsi] a must for Land World War II games and this 3 pk is a great deal money wise and fun wise..

Review of The X-Files

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If you're a true X-Files fan then you will probably enjoy this game, die-hard adventure and RPG gamers need not bother with it as they will find it too linear and simple. I got about half-way through the game (which is on 4 CD's) before I ran into a section that had me stumped (I'm an X-Files fan but not too good at adventure-type games!) I managed to track down a walk-through for the game which helped me out, and it also mentioned lots of silly things you can do in the game that result in interesing outcomes.

Once you've completed the game you probably won't play again, unless you're looking for easter eggs.

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Reviews of Gen RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim

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I have a perfectly functional cable, which works great when used with an HDMI cable, but it took about 5 minutes of soldering. If you aren't comfortable with this, don't buy this product, as it likely won't work correctly out of the box. If you do purchase, you can fix it by following the steps below.

NOTE: If you break your Xbox, it's your fault and only your fault. If you burn your house down or your finger with a soldering iron, it's your fault and only your fault. Proceed at your own risk.

1) Check the cable... there is a chance it will be wired correctly when you get it. If so, lucky you :-) Make sure you try changing the TV HDMI input to another input, then back to the XBOX. If the XBOX resets, sorry, you need to plug in your soldering gun.

2) Open the plastic on the end of the plug that goes into the Xbox. You might need to tape it closed later, as it tends to break. Not a huge deal, as this won't kill the plug, just make it a little less attractive. Set it aside.

3) Remove the copper outer casing on the plug. This is the trapezoid thin metal outer part of the plug, with no wires connected to it. Slide it off the end of the plug by inserting a blade to release the two plastic tabs in the rectangular holes. Try not to damage this part if possible. Set it aside.

4) Get lined up to which pin is which. You need to focus on pins of even numbers 18 30. I have added a customer image to the product for reference. The easiest way to find these is to look at the wire side of the plug, find the three wires in a row (the optical wires) on the wide side and look at the 7 on the narrow side on the same end.

5) Remove the hot glue from these pins gently using a razor.

6) Make sure there are no connections between or to the last three: 26, 28, and 30. If there is a connection, desolder it. Mine didn't have any, but it is important you check this.

7) Jump (place a blob of solder) pins 22 and 24.

8) Jump pins 18 and 20.

9) Check your connections. This can be done with a continuity meter. 18 and 20 should be connected, 22 and 24 should be connected, and also check for lack of connections between the two groups and 26, 28, and 30.

10) Time to check your work. Your Xbox should not reset when changing HDMI inputs away from and back to your Xbox, and the optical plug on your adapter should be glowing red. You should get sound through the cable. I did this to get 5.1 optical so that I can hear someone behind me just before they shoot me in the head in Halo: Reach.

11) If there are still problems, recheck your work and use Google. You're on your own.

12) Did you remember to unplug your soldering iron? Are the curtains on fire? Why did you think a windowsill was a good place to put a hot soldering iron?

13) If it works, time to put everything back together. Replace the hot glue if you have some to keep things from touching, slide the copper cover back in place, and replace the plastic casing. You may need some tape or glue here. Easiest thing to do is wrap it a few times with electrical tape, stretching it to keep things nice and tight.

14) Game on. Please leave a comment if this worked for you. Sorry about those curtains dude, but things could have gotten much worse. Good thing you had that fire extinguisher handy. Some Halo will take that off your mind. It's hard to think about burnt curtains when a Covenant Mothership has you pinned down.

EDIT: Looks like the seller might have removed the reference picture...

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I actually use this in conjunction with a pair of Turtle Beach X4's. I am fortunate to own an Onkyo 7.1 Surround Sound system (can be found for a great price if you dig a little online) however there are certain times, usually at night when she is asleep on the couch, that my wife just prefers I use headphones will gaming. So since my Onkyo receiver is capable of doing both HDMI Audio and Video, I use the optical connection on this adapter to go straight into the Turtle Beach receiver. So for that purpose, it works like a champ.

It will of course also work if you have a receiver that only does HDMI video but not audio as well.

The only thing I will say is when I purchased this a few months ago, I recall paying no more than $15 for it, and that included shipping, so buyer beware, it appears that some people are taking advantage of the fact that this is a somewhat hard to find item. However shop around if need be, as a $34 asking price is just absolutely uncalled for.

I've also recommended this to two people who had various different home theater setups that required the optical audio connection but they used HDMI for the video, and they both had no issues with this adapter and it worked flawlessly for them.

Best Deals for Gen RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim

This cable does the trick with one major flaw. It is not wired correctly and the xbox360 will reboot if you switch inputs on your display.

For example, if you have a cable/satellite box in tv hdmi input 1, and the xbox is on tv hdmi 2, then if you switch from the xbox to watch tv and return to the xbox the xbox will reboot.

This is a known problem on lower quality cables because they are missing a ground. This cable can be modified, but you have to crack open the casing, and solder in an additional wire. This is not a tv or setup problem. Its a known issue and you can easily find more info on it on the net.

This problem makes it very difficult to pause a game for long periods and return to it. So i have to give this a low review, because a cable either completely works, or it doesn't work at all...

Honest reviews on Gen RCA Audio Cable Adapter for XBOX 360 + Slim

I bought a turtle beach headset (wired) and wanted to keep using my HDMI hookup for my TV. Well I needed this for the job, and it does the job perfectly. Just plugged it into my xbox, plugged my turtles into the audio side, and I had sound.

A little annoying that I had to do this in the first place, but not the product's fault.

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When I bought my first Xbox I couldn't believe that it didn't come with a head phone jack. What would it have cost the manufacturer? Maybe 5 cents? Unless your monitor comes with an audio out, and what HDMI or DVI monitor does, I guess Microsoft figures you don't need sound at all. What is even sadder, Microsoft doesn't provide an add-on adapter that you can buy from them. They charge plenty of bucks to buy a pet for your avatar, but you can't buy audio for your machine! Thankfully, for the cost of a good hamburger, this adapter takes care of all the Xbox audio shortcomings. After connecting your monitor via the HDMI port, just plug this adapter into the port normally occupied by the cable that comes with your Xbox, connect your stereo headphones and you'll hear your game in all of its glory. Soon, you'll forget that there ever was a problem.

Review of Xbox 360 Faceplate Forza 2

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The XBox 360 comes with a removeable faceplate, allowing you to snap on new faceplates to customize your XBox 360's look.

First, the packaging. All of the XBox components we've bought have come in a thick plasic unit, to keep it safe from thieves I imagine. The faceplate plastic outerwear tells you to cut across the very top with scizzors, to help you open it without damaging the faceplate. However, at the very bottom is the instructions, so you have to dig them out!

To begin installation, you have to of course pry off the starting faceplate. This isn't exactly an easy task. At the very bottom of the faceplate (beneath the USB area) is a slot that you have to pull out on. Unless you have a very strong fingernail, find a screwdriver and pull out gently. That should get the faceplate to pull off straight towards you.

You'll be able to see that there are 4 tabs on the upper face and 3 on the lower face that hold the faceplate on. The tabs don't have "edges" like I've seen on most computer faceplates, they are more rounded. Hopefully this will help them not wear out as quickly, but I'm not sure personally that I would want to continuously add and remove faceplates from this system. The tabs don't look like they would last up to multiple pulls.

Simply press the new faceplate on, and you're all set. I like the blue one shown, but they also have a wood-themed one, a black flame unit and a silver unit.

Is it really necessary to have a new faceplate for your XBox 360? Of course not. But it does add a bit of personalization to your unit, and the price is pretty reasonable!

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This is a great buy, it's very dark and actually kinda feels like carbon fiber. Probably coolest looking faceplate out there, buy this.

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I like cars, and love those carbon fibre hoods, if youre looking to give your Xbox a racy feel this it, its discreet yet it is very cool

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I had the original 360 in boring, ugly white for years before I upgraded my whole entertainment center. After getting all new sleek, black electronics in there, the only thing that didn't look right was the 360. Rather than buying the Elite black just for the looks, I bought the Carbon faceplate. It. Looks. Awesome. Now I wish all my electronics had a carbon look.

Installation was simple. The cutouts for the memory, DVD slot, and power ring are just right. No complaints at all.

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Had a small yet deep 1/8th inch scratch on one edge (black marker fixed) and the spring for the front USB lid was completely busted (had to replace with spring from old face plate), and it clearly was labeled as "used, but in like-new condition." ... But, I'm just happy with it because it looks so darn cool on my black 360 case with the blue LEDs on the back fan. Besides those two things, I was very happy.

Buy WRC 2 - FIA World Rally Championship 2011 NEW

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I am a die hard WRC fan stuck here in the states. I have played the Dirt games but they just don't have enough actual rally courses in them. They keep going back to the stadium events, which are alright but they get old rather quick. This on the other hand... OUTSTANDING! I feel like I have actually been in a race though after playing this though. I would highly recommend this to anyone who is a die hard rally fan like myself. The game offers so many levels of customization that it is just insane. The only gripe I have about it would be the cheesy music, but you can always turn it off or down in the options menu. Other than that I think this game is great, I just wish we could get updates or downloadable content for it here in the states.

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This is a very good racer. Bear in mind I have 120+ hours of all Dirt games combined, all of which I liked very much. The graphics in this game are not as good as the later Dirt titles, more like the first DIRT, but the longer stages and rally only racing make it worth it for me. After 1 one race of 3-4 stages of 4+ minutes each, I actually felt like I had been in a race.

Also worthy of note, is that anyone thinking of getting this in the US, it does work! I live in TX, have a NTSC Xbox 360 and it works just fine, even though it says PAL on the box. If you like racing for racing sake , in particular rally racing, then this is a good buy.

I will be putting in many more hours with this one for sure.

Best Deals for WRC 2 - FIA World Rally Championship 2011 NEW

I was unsure as to how deep this game would be after seeing some reviews giving it low scores. I love the dirt games but hated Dirt 3 for being so X-gamey. WRC 2 is strictly rally driving. No stadium lame Gymkana crap making do pointless circles. Just off road racing on 78 of the world's tracks. Great control and damage models on the cars. The garage side of the game blew me away. You have to hire people to handle your repairs, find sponsors, Manage the team and many more, and all your crew can earn experience to make your car handle better. The only downside is the graphics are little unpolished, but to be honest, with controls like this, and the best in car camera view i have ever seen, it's a minor gripe. GET THIS GAME and SUPPORT WRC :)

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One night a week I will take a shower, but I missed it last week because I was so caught up in this game.

It's better than all the Dirt games combined.

My grandma was pretty ticked at me as that night as well due to the fact that my friends were utilizing the wheel chair ramp she uses to get into into her trailer for our BMX bike jumps. We have a competition next week at the skate park we are training for. My friends and I have the advantage over the high school kids because we are in our mid-thirties except for Dwayne who he is forty-two.

Reviews of 120GB Hard Drive Xbox 360

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The item that was pictured and described which I thought that I was buying was not what was sent to me, at least not in it's entirety. To complete my purchase I was asked to pick between a black or gray casing cover for my hard drive and I picked gray, however when the item arrived all I had was an internal (naked) hard drive with no external case to attach it to the XBOX 360 system. The paperwork that was sent went on to tell me that I purchased only the internal hard drive and if I needed the external case I could acquire one from the seller for an additional $17.00. I haven't been so upset with an online purchase since I had my credit card information stolen from an insecure site. On top of this whole thing... the hard drive itself, now that it's all put together, doesn't even work the way it should because there seem to be issues with the 120GB unit. Not my happiest purchase, or a great Bday gift for my son either.

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Plugged it in and bam we are gaming. had it for a few years with no problems at all.

even after all this time I still have plenty of room on the drive for the games I play.

Love it.

Cheap Boogie Superstar with Microphone - Nintendo Wii

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I have never tried the first version, Boogie, which didn't get great ratings. However, I can tell that this version is much better already.

The music is obviously targeted at the younger generation with the Top 40 type of music, as opposed to the oldies but goodies of American Idol 1 (not sure about AI 2 yet). The genres are pop, urban, and electrodance. When you play more often, more songs are unlocked at higher difficulties. Additional songs cannot be downloaded through Wi-Fi, which I heard is a new option for American Idol 2. By the way, my unlocked music is only available for me under my character, while others still have to work at getting more songs to reach the same level.

The music plays at one speed, so I did feel some frustration at the beginning when the lyrics flew across the TV screen. The song words scroll from left to right for both Boogie Super Star and American Idol, while Guitar Hero offers a second option when the lyrics are shown in static mode, meaning one line at a time, which I have found easier to follow. If your eyes are quick, then it's fairly easy to read the lyrics as opposed to the small jammed up font in Guitar Hero.

You have the option to play up to 3 songs per set.

First, select the activity type: dance one at a time, dance side-by-side, sing one at a time, or sing a duet (passing the mic back and forth, which I found hard to do).

Second, decide if you want the song to be random (by the Wii) or selectable (by you).

Although you have set this all up, the game stops in between songs if you decided to select your own music (and take a quick water break for your worn out throat). It does not give you the option to select 6 songs upfront like it does in Guitar Hero for continuous fun.

All of the games mentioned here do not take advantage of your personal Mii character, except for Guitar Hero's side activity of creating your own band. The graphics are more cartoon-y, if you will, as opposed to American Idol which is trying to look realistic. There are 2 male and 3-4 female characters (can't recall the exact number right now), from which to choose for the general look. After that, you can change the skin color, hair color, add tattoos and accessories, switch clothes and shoes, but most of it is "locked" until you have earned enough points.

The microphone is the same for Boogie Super Star, American Idol and Guitar Hero World Tour, so if you own those, you don't have to buy the bundle and save yourself 7 bucks or so. Unfortunately, the duet in this game only uses 1 microphone so you have to learn to share and be quick in passing it back and forth. So I prefer to go head-to-head by singing solos (one player sings after the other). For 2 players, both must dance or both must sing. There is no option for one person to sign and the other dance. The game is rated for 4 players, but I have yet to find enough courageous people. The limitation of one microphone for duets is the biggest con in my opinion, which is not necessarily a show stopper. Although the cord length was not an issue, I do wish the that the microphone was cordless (everything else is!). I decided to buy a mic stand, so that I can be hands free, especially when I try to play guitar for Guitar Hero (double the challenge!).

Each player needs a remote for the dance competition, no mic and no nunchuck. Yes, you really only need to dance with one hand, the hand holding the remote. The Wii does not know what you are doing with your lower body. It was funny to watch my brother compete with me, standing there with only one hand moving, while I'm truly trying to boogie with arms, legs, booty, and all. With that said, if you put your energy into it, Boogie Super Star does get you off the couch so you can burn some calories if you do it long enough.

This game is good for people who like to sing in the shower as well as the karaoke super stars. Boogie Super Star offers the extra element of dancing, while American Idol focuses on singing. This game also works for people who want to learn some coordination in the privacy of their own home before taking over the dance floor at a local club. Ok, ok, ok, the dance moves in Boogie Super Star don't quite translate to real life dancing, but it still does teach you how to stay on beat. The Wii can tell if you are doing the "Eagle" dance move on tempo (there's a tempo meter which tells you to speed up or slow down). There are 4 basic dance moves and 4 special moves per genre, which come to a total of 16. There are also "combos", which are self-explanatory. Don't worry, a "dance guide" poster is included with the game, which was more helpful than the instructional manual. For more advanced skills, you'll have to attend professional dance classes. I do think it will be quite hilarious if and when I recognize someone using the Boogie Super Star dance moves in real life at a dance club!

There is a dance "academy" feature. You can record your own routine and save it, then use it later during a competition. I found this quite amusing actually when you see your character (you) replay. You really need to know the dance moves by heart at this point to make up a decent routine. Have no fear for the 2-left footed folk, there is a training section. You can learn one dance move at a time and you keep doing it until you have been on tempo (green light) for a set time.

This game is not for serious singing and dancing as opposed to other games, such as American Idol and Dancing with the Stars. There are also 3 judges like that in American Idol, but their commentary is very short and sweet 1-2 liners and can be skipped by pressing the A button. For real-life examples, there are several homemade videos on YouTube if you want to see some people in action. But I find it much more fun and amusing when YOU are the Boogie Super Star! Bottom line: Yes, I'd buy it again.

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I bought this game for my daughter who wants to sing and dance yet is not a gamer and has not had any interest in the Wii. My daughter is still in elementary school and luckily this game is not too mature for her (I censor two songs using the select vs random song selection function). She loves the characters and the cute graphics. Some of the commentators ('judges') can be a little rude yet during the action the game also encourages her to keep trying. I hope there is another song bundle as I am unsure how long it is going to take her to unlock some of the other songs. My son, who is five, even tries as well just because he sees how much fun the girls are having.

In short, she loves it her friends love it too and it keeps them dancing for hours. I enjoy it too because the laughter fills the house.

Best Deals for Boogie Superstar with Microphone - Nintendo Wii

My daughter got this game for Christmas. She loves Hannah Montana and HSM, but was really dissapointed with those singing/dancing games. Boogie Super Star just rocks!!

Someone else has already written about all the different parts of the game, so I will just tell you what we like etc.

The one downside to it is that you have to go in with the name/symbols they give the character you pick. You can go in and change that, but it would be nice to do it from the beginning. However as far as the clothing being locked etc, we wanted to get into playing the game so much that we left them as they came.

The Superstar mode is a blast. You can customize your contest so you can do as much dancing/singing/duets as you want. You can even choose less than three rounds if you want. You can also choose your songs or let them be picked at random. If you choose the random option the game makes sure it does not pick songs that are too easy for you. Once you score high enough it says some songs are too easy and you can still sing them but it assesses a penalty like -0.5 points, etc.

At first we went with the songs we knew, but it was actually more fun to let the computer choose to spice things up and let you learn more of the songs.

Another fun thing you can do is let "vickie" the evil judge, add some glitches while you sing. She will drop bombs on your songs that do things like distort the music, make the pitch markers invisible, take away the music, scribble on top of the lyrics. It doen't last the whole song, but it adds more fun to the contest especially when you still do good in spite of the glitches.

One person said that sometimes the moves don't register with the Wii remote. I found that at first too, but realized the problem was in the way I was doing them. For example, with the "criss cross" dance move, instead of pumping your arms into and out of the move (like it shows) simply move your arms across and away from your body without ever lifting your hands up. One smooth movement. And, with the tornado, instead of going in a circle like the dancer, just swing your arms from one side to the other over your head. The circle causes the delay. If you think of making a smooth movement instead of a jerky one it helps.

I hope this helps someone. I am 30 years old and I love this game more than my kids do, lol!

ETA: after playing for several hours yesterday I woke up with a severe case of vertigo (which I am just prone to) I found out later after attempting to play this game again that it was the scrolling karaoke that caused it. I will play it again, just not until my vertigo goes away again.

Honest reviews on Boogie Superstar with Microphone - Nintendo Wii

Absolutely love this game. I'm not really a game person, but spent all day singing and dancing. Very east to play, even my 5 year old had a blast. Great game for the family.

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I love this game. I was looking for somethig like American Idol, but with more updated songs, and this was great.

Best PlayStation 3 160GB System with Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in Deals

Customer Ratings:

I can tell you through experience there is no better value out there right now in gaming consoles. I have the 120 gb version of this product and I paid $300.00 just for that and the 6 axis controller. The internet hook up was fast and easy. You're online almost instantaneously which means I often check emails using the ps3 instead of my desktop Vista PC which takes 5 minutes or more to get on line. I'd recommend a Standard USB Keyboard ($10.99 w/super saver shipping) for typing in text while surfing or signing up for the Playstation Network because it's way faster than using the 6 axis controller. The photo section of this product got no press in the promo but it is world class. You just plug your digital camera into one of the usb ports, download some software from the internet for free by prompt and you have 4 different versions of slide shows featuring the music you upload to the ps3 or the music that comes with the software, your choice. I haven't tried uploading videos. The graphics are just stunning on my 720p Plasma. There is no better gaming console for graphics than the PS3. With these two games, 'Ratchet & Clank' & 'SingStar Dance Party Pack', I think you have a super compelling family value. The Wii I don't know, I returned mine because of internet connectivity issues,(no pppoe support for ethernet connections). I can tell you through experience you'll have no such issues with the ps3 and your graphics will be much better because of the HDMI hookup and the NVIDIA graphics engine. The 6 axis controller is a quality controller that should afford years of trouble free service and right now you can buy another one for $40.00 if you want a backup or need to play two people at a time. If you're into the motion control fad you can purchase a move controller/eye camera package with 'Sports Champions' for under $100.00 but in all honesty I don't think you're missing much. I have one and use it occasionally but the 6 axis controller is really where it's at for me. You should get an HDMI cable with this. It's essential for the highest resolution picture. Amazon sells a good 6 footer for $6.99 and no additional shipping. Additional nice things to have though not essential would be the extra controller as mentioned previously, a Nyko 2 controller charge station($17.99),(charges two 6 axis controllers without a usb cable and is the best charger available), and the USB keyboard also previously mentioned. This is a fantastic deal on a quality package. Get it for your kids but know that as an adult you made a decision based on quality that will pay dividends for years to come. According to my watt meter this product only draws about 70 watts when playing disc based 720p video games. I was surprised by that being that the product is rated at 230 watts. I tested it on a 32 inch and a 42 inch television and the watt draw was about the same.

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This is my first Amazon review. I am making this review as somewhat of a "guide" for people who are thinking of purchasing this bundle and need help deciding. I hope whoever reads this finds it informative and helpful!

What you are looking at here is the Playstation 3 160GB Amazon family bundle. It comes with a PS3 160GB, Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time, SingStar + Dance Party Pack, and $25 in credit on Amazon's video game store.

As the title implies this is definitely a good bundle for anyone that wants a more family oriented experience. But we all know that PS3 is considered a hardcore gaming console because of it's raw power, so the bundle is also good for getting started and getting some nice sweet little extras. The two games that come with it along with the $25 in credit total are worth around $91 so you will easily be able to get at least one or two new PS3 games from Amazon and selling or trading in the included games if you wish.

Ratchet & Clank: A Crack In Time is the final third chapter in the Ratchet & Clank Future series, the first two being Tools Of Destruction and Quest For Booty. Before you pass on Ratchet & Clank I highly recommend you give it a try even if you are not a platform gamer. I am not a platform gamer but I have highly enjoyed the Ratchet & Clank series. It may be a family friendly game but it is hilarious (they are constantly whipping joke after joke) and a blast to play with tons of hidden stuff to find. I am living proof that probably just about anyone who bought this bundle could get into the game.

SingStar + Dance Party Pack may be another story. Initially I planned to sell it which you could do and get good money for it on Ebay, but I decided to keep it in case my girlfriend wanted to play it or we had friends over, whatever. Looking on the back of the case once I received the bundle I realized that there were actually some pretty good songs on it and it has the ability to download new songs from PSN. It does include two microphones as well and a USB adapter to connect both mics. The mics are well made and good quality. They fell heavy and as well-made as a professional mic in your hand, honestly. Still I know a lot of hardcore gamers looking at this bundle or a lot of other people are not going to be interested in this game. Like I said it can be sold for a good price if you leave it unopened.

Then there's the PS3 system itself. Unlike bundles we're used to seeing, it's not a bundle that actually comes with Ratchet & Clank and SingStar bundled in the PS3 box. Rather Amazon takes a big box and puts a normal PS3 160GB in it and packages a copy of Ratchet & Clank and SingStar along in the big box with the PS3 box. A fair word of warning (if it matters to anyone) that this PS3 does not come with a Blu-ray disc with previews and videos of movies and PS3 games. Not too big a deal but I rather liked those discs which came with all my previous PS3 units I bought new. The normal stuff comes with the PS3 160GB you'd normally expect in a PS3 package...The unit itself, AV cables (HDMI cable still sold separately), Dual Shock 3 SIX AXIS controller, power adapter, and paperwork.

So all in all if you are looking at starting out on a PS3, switching to one, or upgrading from a fat model, this bundle is perfect. There are other bundles that were available for Black Friday with better games and a movie that are probably harder to find now, but that doesn't mean you can't sell or trade the included games and then use the $25 in credit on Amazon's video game store toward new games...Although the Ratchet & Clank game is a generally very good game that most people who bought this bundle would want to keep I would think.

On another note, surprisingly enough, the $25 in credit can also be used toward accessories. Anything in th video game store that is shipped and sold by Amazon. I used mine on a brand-new copy of Borderlands and a brand-new PSP car charger. The total order ended up being $0.66 Hard to beat. :)

That's it for the PS3 160GB Amazon family bundle. I hope whoever is looking into this bundle now will have a much better idea of what it's all about and whether they wish to get it or not.

For Microsoft fans I recommend the Xbox 360 2010 Holiday bundle. $299.99 for a slim 250GB Xbox 360 and two completely awesome games, Forza Motorsport 3 and Alan Wake. http://www.amazon.com/Xbox-360-250GB-Holiday-Bundle/dp/B0047Y9BGE/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1291865481&sr=8-3

For Nintendo fans I recommend the limited edition red Nintendo Wii bundle. At $199.99 this Wii looks awesome in hot red and comes bundled with Wii Sports and New Super Mario Bros Wii. Both are entertaining and fun right out of the box! http://www.amazon.com/Wii-Hardware-Bundle-Red-Nintendo/dp/B0045FEEAS/ref=sr_1_2?s=videogames&ie=UTF8&qid=1291865704&sr=1-2

~Tiger

Best Deals for PlayStation 3 160GB System with Ratchet & Clank Future: A Crack in

This bundle is really great deal especially if you plan to get a PS3.

At first I wouldn't pay $300 for the PS3 because to be it is very expansive until I saw this bundle. I bought one mainly because of this bundle!

It comes with a LOT of stuff: SingStar the game, 2 microphones, Ratchet and Clank,a $25 gift certificate and of course the PS3.

The SingStar game is really fun and it comes with 2 microphones and its great for parties and those who love to sing. The songs are also really nice.

The Ratchet and Clank game is also a really great adventure game.

The $25 online gift is really nice because you can get a game of your choice.

Of all the deals this is the best deal for the holidays on a PS3 as you are getting a $40(SingStar) + $30(RatClank) + $25 Bonus = $95 worth of stuff and a PS3 for the price of $300 (the price most people paid for the console itself).

In Addition if you pay with a master card you get 2 day shipping for Free!

The PS3:

Pros:

1. Awesome graphics for games and can watch Blu ray and DVD movies.

2. Free Internet.

3. Lots of games to choose from.

4. You can download demos and try them out before you buy the game.

5. The controller is wireless.

6. Can play with many people and have a party.

Cons:

1. It is a little big compared to other consoles of the past but still a good size (PS2, Gamecube, etc).

2. Internet can be confusing to set up for some people depending on what internet modem you have.

I'm happy with this PS3 bundle and I recommend it to all those who are looking to buy a PS3 for themselves or to give as a gift. It is an Excellent Deal!!

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I was impressed by the quickness and accuracy of my order. Good job Amazon.com!!! The Playstation 3 is a great system. Graphics are great and so is the sound. Not really into the Dance and sing from Singstar, but the Ratchet and Crank games was ok. Being able to go online and check my emails, youtube and Facebook comes in handy on the PS 3 system. Worth the money to invest.

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I must say during the holiday season it was quite difficult choosing a PS3 bundle. Reason being there were so many options available, but I must say the AMAZON family bundle is really the best choice. Sing Star is really a fantastic family activity game that both adults and kids can enjoy alike also Ratchet and Clank is a great action adventure game to get started with this consol. I would advise anyone looking for a PS3 to purchase this bundle, its still available at AMAZON right now, but for how long is the question. In addition to the great games and USB microphones which are included this bundle offers savings of $70.00 which is a total of 23% of the cost of the system. Again I would like to say I'm totally satisfied thus far with this package and would recommend it to anyone.

Best Star Wars Republic Commando - Xbox Deals

Customer Ratings:

I bought this yesterday (3-1-05) the day it came out and have the honor it looks...to write the first real review of the game.

First, I have not yet finished the game, but after an evening of play I have enough impressions to provide some pretty solid feedback.

Republic commando takes a fresh look at the Star Wars universe and tones down the lighting and (finally!) adds some wit. Rather than describe the game again I'll give you my impressions on gameplay environment, and features I found good and bad.

Gameplay:

The controls take a little getting used to, but after about an hour or so they feel pretty natural. weapons are changed through use of the D-pad. Orders are issued to your commandos through the D-pad as well, but with the addition of the 'A' button being held. I found issuing orders to be fairly intuitive and easy to do. I found the commandos to occaisionally disregard my "undo" commands in order to get them to leave their sniping perch or the turret they were manning. This was rare though and although slightly annoying, easy to overlook.

Shooting is pretty standard. THe default look sensitivity is just about right for my style...true FPS players will probably ramp the sensitivity up a bit, but find that it's a steeper scale than say Halo 2. My only gripe with game play during the "campaign" mode is that they dump you immediately into the "geonosis" encounter (think of the end of Episode II) and with little to no time to get used to these controls you must shoot down flying (and rather agile) geonoshans. THis was a fairly steep learning curve, but not insurmountable.

Environment:

Gorgeous visuals. I can't say enough about that. The only "environmental" inconsistency that bugs me occaisionally is that the commandos are all clones...but they all have very different voices. In some respect I get WHY this is...the commandos all have very distinct personalities (except the one named FIXER...I have trouble figuring out what makes him unique) and the variety of voices helps in that distinction.

The AI responds intelligently and isn't over the top. And so far the environment has seemed dynamic enough to provide intense moments where you wonder where the next "baddie" may pop out, and then shifts into the natural FPS Chaos quite nicely. The fragility of your own health and those of the commandos requires you to keep them involved throughout the game, and that makes the game more cohesive for the feel they were going to. The "On-air" chatter that the commandos keep up is entertaining as well.

Features, Pros and Cons:

Pros: I like the use of the bacta healing stations that are interspersed through the environments. THis makes a nice departure from the "instant use" med kit. But better than this I like the ability to issue orders while on your death bed. If the bad guys kill you, the action doesn't stop. A menu pops up on your reddish blurry screen allowing you to tell the commandos 1. Keep going with current orders, 2. Stop what you're doing and revive me or 3. Load a previously saved game. In one instance I was able to allow the commandos to complete a level objective before they came to revive me...and then continue where I left off. This was cool. If your other commandos drop...you have the option of reviving them as well.

Another Pro is the dramatic difference in 'bad guy' units. Standard droids are as flimsy and weak as they are portrayed in the movie. The Droidica (rolly droids) are just as scary when they pop open and unleash a hail of gunfire. THe Super battle droids are as tough and imposing as they seemed in the movie and more than once I foundmyself wondering if perhaps a Jedi Lightsaber intervention might not be a bit more helpful in taking these guys down.

Then the genoshans who fly enter the picture...drawing a bead and successfully shooting a fast moving flying ..."stick bug" is HARD! but not harder than it has to be.

Cons:

Occaisionally I find myself managing the behavior of my commandos more than I'm actually working with them as a unit leader. My own shooting can contribute but when the commandos are not on the "same page" this can be a little frustrating. Over the course of the evening I developed an idea of when to apply a "move to waypoint and defend it" option vs. the "search the room and destroy the bad guys" option...one is more tightly controlled than the other....the search and destroy option will result in (once a room is clear of enemies) the commandos moving on when perhaps they shouldn't...instead perhaps they should heal up any health they're missing and THEN move on.

Also, one bug that I've had occur is the a commando getting "stuck". He could not move to join the unit and was simply stuck in one place. After experimenting by trying to kill and revive him and also by issuing other orders to him (or the squad) I moved on without him and fortunately made it through the level. It's only happened once, but I'm certainly leary for a second occurance.

One last 'Con': is that I didn't detect the possibility of a cooperative mode in the multiplayer options. I haven't checked in detail, but I find that playing the squad based games in co-op mode to be fairly entertaining with friends...and takes the pressure off of those who want to play but not necessarily competitively all the time.

Hope this was helpful

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First of all, I am a huge Star Wars fan, so it was inevitable that I would play this game. As everyone else has said, the gameplay is great, the AI is superb, and the action is intense.

I love having the ability to command a squad to perform the different jobs required to beat certain big enemies. You can command one guy to toss grenades from behind some boxes, another guy to man a turret and lay down heavy fire, and the third to snipe from far away, while you run around and keep the enemy distracted. The ability to make decisions while you're incapacitated is brilliant. I was confident enough with the AI that for several missions I would let them clean up the area before ordering them to revive me.

Anyways, onto the complaints. As others have mentioned, I ran into several situations in which one of my squadmates would get stuck. He would not respond to orders, killing him and reviving him didn't help, in fact physically pushing him where I wanted him to go didn't work. This happened on a couple of levels that I really could have used his help, but luckily when I completed that level, he would magically reappear with the squad.

The only other complaint I have is that it's too short. I was just getting into it when it abruptly starts rolling the end credits. I'm glad I just rented it. It's a good weekend worth of play.

One last thing: some of the banter between your squadmates throughout the game is hilarious. Whoever was writing this stuff needs to help Lucas with the script for Ep 3.

Best Deals for Star Wars Republic Commando - Xbox

Star Wars Republic Commando picks up the ball KOTOR2 dropped. It's clear a great amount of production value was put into the game. As a Republic Commando you take lead of Delta squad, an elite ARC unit. With you are three fellow clones each with their own skills which you can employ to simplify objectives.

First of all the graphics are just amazing. RC presents the Star Wars universe through the eyes of a Jenga Fett commando tasked with tough missions that normal clones can't handle. The scale of ships, transporters, landscapes etc... are all believable. Team and enemy animations are very well done and always fluid regardless how many NPC's are on screen -the Obsidian team behind KOTOR2 should take notes. Visual effects are also interesting and keep you in the game whether its the blurring of being caught in the blast radius of a static grenade or water or oil being wipe off your visor by a laser.

The sound is amazing. The score could possible have been mastered by John Williams himself. Even music from the movies was used. Sound effects are also borrowed from the movies keeping the player in tune with the theatrical releases.

The gameplay is very fun. Although some people may complain squad commands were too simplified and dumbed down, its actually novel telling your squad where to go and not having to worry that they won't full obey the commands due to poor AI. Controls are intuitive and easy to learn.

At the end of the day, Republic Commando offers a new stunning and believable universe in the overcrowded FPS genre. The inclusion of an intuitive squad command system makes the game more enjoyable and always offers something new instead of run, gun, lather, rinse and repeat. The battlefields easily sell the idea of how large scale a Republic Capital ship is, how dense the forests of Kashyyk are and so on. Great replay value and a definite purchase worthy title.

Honest reviews on Star Wars Republic Commando - Xbox

Republic Commando is a very fun FPS.This game takes advantage of the powerful Xbox graphics capabilities.The design of the game is simular to an amped up HALO2, even the HUD is simular.With well designed aliens and star wars based enemies.The graphics are clean,but keep in mind I do have an "S" cable. .Anybody who is a veteran or semi-veteran FPS player will jump right in the control scheme almost imediately.The difficulty is just about right on ,without it being to easy or to hard.You can adjust the difficulty settings from easy,normal,to hard.I like this game Your 3 squadmates seem to take orders quickly ,and you basicly point your crosshairs on the target to give commands,such as "take sniper position" .."man that turret".."cover area with grenades"..."breach wall and clear room"etc.etc.Also you have general commands that dont require you to use the crosshairs like "form up" .."secure area".."search and destroy".."cancel manuever".. etc.etc...you can also put your crosshairs on an enemy and order a "eliminate target" and all your squadmates will concentrate more fire onto that target.Commando's 'one button command system' makes it easy to give effective commands in a hostile firefight.And your squad A.I. is pretty good,they are effective snipers and manning turrets,although my squadmates did get stuck one time I had to use melee attack to push them out of a area they got stuck in.The levels can get a little bland while doing the same objectives and seeing the same thing over and over.Also I beat this game in 2 days on medium setting ,its not a very long game but ,the movie cutscenes are nice .. detailed and cinematic.If you like FPS, definately don't miss playing this one.At the very least rent it...HINT: Order a "Cancel Maneuver" command to keep your guys from advancing prematurly.Then you can take point.I noticed some reviewers complaining about squad advancing without healing up first,but if you order a "cancel maneuver " command your squad will follow you and they wont advance without you,you become the point man.If you just order a "Form Up" command your squad members that have been asigned a turret or a snipe position or a anti-armor or a grenade position wont Form Up,you have to order a "Cancel Maneuver " command first before they will Form Up.After you have ordered a "Search and Destroy" command ,make sure you order a "Cancel Manuever" command or a " Form Up" command once they have cleared a room otherwise they will advance before healing up.I had better success being the point man and did not use the "Search & Destroy" command very often.Once you get to an area its best if you are the Point (up front) man,then when you get there first you imediatly assign your squad to all available sniper ,grenade,anti-armor,and turret positions before the firefight starts.Good Luck.

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I picked this game up in May of 2005 and got exactly what I wanted. A straight-forward first person shooter with awhole lot of action. The plot keeps you sucked in, but not enough to totally detract from school or work. The controls are built to probably be some of the most user friendly ever in my opinion. The graphics are also really good especially when you're going hand-to-face with a few Trandoshans. :D Give it a try.

Best Nintendo 3DS XL - Blue/Black Deals

Customer Ratings:

If one looks at the 3DS with an unbiased, objective point of view, there is a lot to love. It is basically a next-gen successor of Nintendo's vastly successful DS console, with the horse-power of a console somewhere between the Gamecube and the Wii. It utilizes a very cool 3-D effect that, when done right, really adds to the overall immersion of the gaming experiences available on it. Everything about it is an improvement on the original DS. Granted, it also has some caveats and issues as well. The 3DS XL does a very good job delivering the goodness of the original 3DS, while making vast improvements over its smaller brother original. In this review, I will focus on the differences and improvements this model makes on the 3DS line. I'll warn you right now, this is a long review. If you don't like long reviews, then you may want to skip this. :P

Screen Size: With a title that includes "XL," obviously the increase in size is the biggest difference between this and the original 3DS. It may be easy to hear that the screens are 90% bigger than the original, but it really is a stark difference when you take the system out of the package and see it for yourself. The XL's screens are HUGE compared to the original. It's comparable to the jump between the DSi and the DSXL, for those savvy to what that means, but in this case its even bigger because the top screen is in a widescreen format. Despite the size increase, the picture is still crisp and pops with nice detail. I thought that because the screen would be bigger, but with the same resolution as the original, the XL's picture would be distorted and fuzzy, but that's not the case here. I've put the screen detail and quality through rigorous testing since buying the system, playing many different games, and the bigger picture really makes the scenery more detailed than I ever noticed before. It's no exaggeration to say that the games actually feel new due to this greater detail. It's great!

Screen quality: Instead of the top half of the XL having a shiny, glossy finish of the screen and the area around it that the original featured, the 3DSXL features an almost "smoothed over" finish that was meant to lessen glare from the sun or other lights from bothering your eyes. It actually makes quite a difference. The trade-off is that the back-lighting seems just a smidgen less bright, but not much at all. One of the biggest problems I had with the original 3DS was the problem of "ghosting." It was especially frequent in games with areas of high contrast. This was a common issue people had with the original 3DS, but I haven't noticed it much at all yet with the XL. This is a big plus for me, because that ghosting was one of my biggest gripes with the original. I made my peace with it though, because ghosting naturally occurs from time to time with the tech being utilized in the 3DS, but to have it mostly gone here is a real treat. The colors in the XL seem brighter and a bit more vibrant as well. The touch screen is really nicely made, and seems to be a slight improvement on the original, but the difference is negligible. The saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," comes to mind.

DS backwards compatibility: Honestly, this is one of the best things about the 3DXL. If you look up comparison videos of the first 3DS playing original DS games and a DSi playing DS games, the 3DS is surprisingly inferior. The colors are more bland, the resolution is fairly fuzzy, and if you choose to play it in its native resolution to fix that blurry smudginess, the screen becomes so small it's hardly worth doing that. The XL makes drastic improvements in all of these areas. The colors are just as bright and beautiful as playing on a normal DSiXL. Due to the larger screen size, playing in a native resolution still leaves ample room for playtime and is no longer the cramp experience the first 3DS offered. If you choose that route, the screen will be close to a normal DSi. Even if you don't, the picture is still decent at full-size, shockingly. This fantastic backwards compatibility is a real plus in the 3DSXL's favor and should not be understated. Massive improvement here.

Build quality: Much like the new DSi and DSiXL made notable improvements in build quality to their predecessors, so does the XL refine the design of its predecessor. Instead of an outer glossy finish, there is a sleek matte exterior that makes the XL feel more heavy duty and refined. It definitely has a better build quality than the original. My original 3DS' top screen hinge became fairly loose and the lock-in positions a little weak after just one instance where I accidentally jostled it. The hinges on the XL click and lock into one or two set angular positions before locking into the flat position and I know there's no way this thing is going to break easily at all. That's a really nice improvement. The system is surprisingly slick in its form too. It's about the same thickness as the original (which is kind of clunky in comparison, let's be honest), and even weighs less than expected, despite the larger screen and button size, and this size and shape really comes across as a mature, sleek gadget from Nintendo. I felt the same way about their classy DSiXL system too. The buttons are also vastly improved. The home, select, and start buttons are actual separated buttons that have a bit of click to them, which is a vast improvement. The other buttons have more "squish" to them, but still click in a satisfying way. All-in-all, the buttons feel very balanced, if that make sense. They're very similar to the DSiXL's button quality, which is to say, very nice. The 3-D and Volume slider are also different. When all the way off, the 3-D slider clicks into position, and when you want to turn the 3-D effect on, you must click it out of position and then slide it to your desired position. Both the volume and 3-D sliders seem more heavy duty. They stick and stay in position very, very well. A lot of small details add up in this system, to be sure.

Battery life: In my personal experience, the original 3DS had battery life that lasted about 4-5 hours with the 3-D slid up, 5-7 without 3-D, and roughly 6-8 hours with DS games. The 3DS XL is supposed to last 3.5-6.5 hours with 3D, 6-8 without, and 8-10 with DS games. It's not a HUGE improvement, but every bit counts. If you're like me and play a lot of the time with the system plugged into the wall, it won't really matter all that much anyway, but for those who want to play on the go, this is a really nice improvement over the original.

Sound: Supposedly, the sound tech in the 3DSXL is pretty close to the original, but I (and others, I've checked) have noticed some differences. The speakers on the XL seem a bit quieter than the original. Not a ton, mind you, but it's noticeable. The speaker volume level seems to depend on which game you're playing too. 3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure seems just as loud as before, but better now. I tend to play my 3DS with these amazing headphones on, and the difference becomes really noticeable then. The sound from the XL with headphones seems a lot more detailed and ambient than before, and the volume level is fine. The highs, mids, and lows are distinctive with no aspect overpowering or distorting the others. Much like the visuals, I'm hearing things in games I never heard before, and it has enhanced my experience even further. Great stuff here, and a very pleasant surprise!

Memory: The 3DSXL comes with a 4 GB SD card, making for a much bigger space for storage than the 2 GB SD card included with the first models. This is nice. I almost filled my first one up and still had a lot more games to get. Granted, you can buy any sized SD to use with the 3DS after some formatting, but having more space right off the bat is nice.

Any issues?: In many ways, the 3DSXL is what the 3DS should have been from the beginning, and it's a fantastic little handheld. It's not quite perfect though. For one, where's the second analog slider? There's ample room under the right-hand face buttons for it, but alas, no slider. It's not a problem that bothers me much, but I must note it because there are many who will view it as an issue. Imagining the boat-peripheral they're making for this system makes me giggle a bit. It conjures up visions of Nintendo releasing a laptop-sized 3DS with trigger buttons, lol. I understand they kept it out due to tech/power/space optimization, which makes sense. Personally, I never cared much for a second slider, and not having one has pushed developers to come up with some really creative things in the past on the DS and 3DS alike. I also find the design of the XL to be, like the original, cramped and painful to hold after a while, especially in high-action games. It's definitely better, don't get me wrong, but the cramping is still there a bit. To fix this issue, I highly recommend purhasing this comfort grip, as it is worth its weight in gold in this area. :D Perhaps the most annoying thing about this handheld is the d-pad. It works just as well as the one before, but now it's extremely "clicky." I don't mean the button clicks when you use it; that has always been the case with the 3DS. What I mean is, now the d-pad seems to be looser in its area, and so makes this "clickety" sound against the bracket if you lift your thumb off of it even if only for a split-second. It can be really annoying. One more personal gripe: the color choices. Really Nintendo? Bright blue and red? The DSiXL had really mature, fetching color options that made the system feel like an adult's gadget. These slick red and blue colors are a lot less subtle and elegant. Don't get me wrong, I own a teal 3DS (not exactly the most "mature" color choice) and love it, but I wish there had been a more subdued teal, gold, or forest/jade green finish to choose from. Just you wait, as soon as I post this review, that option will become available, knowing my luck. lol

(Update: Nintendo has since released two more models with different color schemes. My wife has a lovely Pink/White model and it is very pleasing to the eye, and I can say that and not feel like a wussy. There's also an all-black XL which seems like more of an "adult" choice. Nintendo also releases limited edition models from time to time that gives more variety if your timing is good. I am particularly excited for the beautiful gold Zelda 3DS XL that's coming out soon. So there are better color options now, thankfully, even though I do love my blue XL now. Just thought I'd throw this update in there.)

I realize this review is very long, but when considering tech purchases that are this pricey, these kind of reviews always helped me make informed decisions better. I have both the original and now the XL, and I must say the 3DSXL feels like the "true" 3DS. The system should have been like this from the start, honestly, and when it was originally announced, I, along with many others, hoped for an XL edition. Now we get it and it has been well worth the wait. For those who don't own a 3DS yet, this is the perfect time to get it. This system finally delivers on the promise of the original 3DS, and now there's an excellent library of titles for newcomers to joyously embrace. At a mere 30$ more than the original for practically double the space and a big jump in hardware quality, it's more than worth it. This is a great value. I'm glad I got the original a year ago, but I am absolutely thrilled to get this version, and heartily recommend it to all gamers with a heart container for Nintendo. It's not a choice you'll regret. I hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful. Have a good day. Toodles.

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I don't feel like writing a long review as the other reviews seem to cover the finer points of the item just fine.

I just want to say, if you have an original 3DS, upgrade to this one if you can. If you don't have a 3DS at all, buy this one. Your eyes will love you for it. I rarely played my original 3DS (with 3D on or off) because the screens were so small and my eyes would get tired after 30 minutes or so (this never happened with my DS Lite, seems to just be more happening on the screen with 3DS games). I wasn't going to pick up the XL until I was reading reviews on other sites and almost every one of them were bragging about how much easier this one is on the eyes. They couldn't have been more correct. I went to gamestop and traded my old 3DS and a few games and got the XL, did my system transfer in the store (took about 30 minutes or so) and walked out with my new XL all ready to go with my ambassador games and all of the other games I downloaded from the eshop.

Here are some other changes I have noticed so far. One huge change I love about this system is that they moved the stylus back to the right side, so you don't have to fumble with the system trying to get it out of the back anymore (I know it seems like a small change, but it makes a huge difference in my opinion). Another thing I haven't seen pointed out yet is they took away the green 3D indicator light that was right next to the top screen, not sure how important that is to everyone else, but it was quite distracting to me at times and I am glad it is gone. Also, the 3D slider now has a slight ridge in it so you can tell when you have turned it completely off as well, not a very important change, but useful nonetheless.

Best Deals for Nintendo 3DS XL - Blue/Black

Well, I just came back from Target about 30 minutes ago and I picked up my 3DS XL. I picked up the red and black one. As soon as I took it out of the box I could see that this was well worth the money. IMO, the overall design is much better than the original 3DS. When you open the lid, you a hear a click that assures you that the hinge is tightly fastened. The screens are beautiful and the size of them are great. The original 3DS's screen is dwarfed compared to the 3DS XL's as it's 90% bigger. The stylus is now on the side rather than on the top which I think is a better place for it, as it's easier to get to in the middle of a game. The outer shape seems to have a more rounded design than the original 3DS. There is no docking station for recharging this time but rather it went back to the original cord in the back. Also, if you have an old DS XL case, then the 3DS XL will fit in it. I have one that I bought from BB last week for $1.99. Also, the 3DS XL comes with a 4GB card rather than the 2GB that comes with the original 3DS.

I popped in Mario 3D just to see how the picture was and I was amazed on how vivid the colors are and how the game fits perfectly as on the DS XL, people complained that the games seemed a little blurry because of the size enhancement. I've registered it on clubnintendo.com and now I'm in the process of tranferring my data from original 3DS to my XL. It's taking awhile but it was a snap making the transfer. Here's the video I used for it.

How to Transfer Files From a 3DS to a 3DS XL on youtube

Update: My system has now been fully transferred and everything from my original 3DS is now on my 3DS XL including the Ambassador Program info. Took about 20 minutes give or take. Also, you have to first do a system update on your 3DS XL before you start the transfer so you'll have to connect your 3DS XL to your WiFi connection before anything. The 3DS XL comes charged about 50% straight out of the box, so you can make the full transfer without having to charge it first. Also, for everyone who doesn't actually own a 3DS but plans on getting one, spend the extra $30-$40 and get the XL. You definitely won't be disappointed.

Update #2: Well, I've played a few games so far such as MK 7, Mario 3D, SSF IV, and Heroes of Ruin, and I must say, it's great. With my original 3DS, I really didn't use the 3D aspect of it on games because I tend to move around a lot while playing and the "sweet" spot was very small to really maintain the 3D effect but it's much bigger on the XL. Super Street Fighter IV is beautiful in 3D on such a nice sized screen. The bigger screen also added a lot of depth in MK 7 as it looks like you are really driving down a road. This bigger screen really makes me appreciate the 3D aspect of the 3DS and it's games. The 3D XL really makes me glad to be a Nintendo fan and I can't wait to see what they have their sleeves in the next coming months and years as far as games. I think the 3DS's library might be able to top the DS's in a couple of years and we all know that won't be an easy job but I think now we have a near perfect handheld gaming device.

Honest reviews on Nintendo 3DS XL - Blue/Black

If one looks at the 3DS with an unbiased, objective point of view, there is a lot to love. It was basically a next-gen successor of Nintendo's vastly successful DS console, with the horse-power of a console somewhere between the Gamecube and the Wii. It utilized a very cool 3-D effect that, when done right, really adds to the overall immersion of the gaming experiences available on it. Everything was an improvement on the original DS. Granted, it also had some caveats and issues as well. The 3DS XL does a very good job delivering the goodness of the original 3DS, while making vast improvements over its smaller brother original. In this review, I will focus on the differences and improvements this model makes on the 3DS line. I'll warn you right now, this is a long review. If you don't like long reviews, then you may want to skip this. :P

Screen Size: With a title that includes "XL," obviously the increase in size is the biggest difference between this and the original 3DS. It may be easy to hear that the screens are 90% bigger than the original, but it really is a stark difference when you take the system out of the package and see it for yourself. The XL's screens are HUGE compared to the original. It's comparable to the jump between the DSi and the DSXL, for those savvy to what that means, but in this case its even bigger because the top screen is in a widescreen format. Despite the size increase, the picture is still crisp and pops with nice detail. I thought that because the screen would be bigger, but with the same resolution as the original, the XL's picture would be distorted and fuzzy, but that's not the case here. I've put the screen detail and quality through rigorous testing since buying the system, playing many different games, and the bigger picture really makes the scenery more detailed than I ever noticed before. It's no exaggeration to say that the games actually feel new due to this greater detail. It's great!

Screen quality: Instead of the top half of the XL having a shiny, glossy finish of the screen and the area around it that the original featured, the 3DSXL features an almost "smoothed over" finish that was meant to lessen glare from the sun or other lights from bothering your eyes. It actually makes quite a difference. The trade-off is that the back-lighting seems just a smidgen less bright, but not much at all. One of the biggest problems I had with the original 3DS was the problem of "ghosting." It was especially frequent in games with areas of high contrast. This was a common issue people had with the original 3DS, but I haven't noticed it much at all yet with the XL. This is a big plus for me, because that ghosting was one of my biggest gripes with the original. I made my peace with it though, because ghosting naturally occurs from time to time with the tech being utilized in the 3DS, but to have it mostly gone here is a real treat. The colors in the XL seem brighter and a bit more vibrant as well. The touch screen is really nicely made, and seems to be a slight improvement on the original, but the difference is negligible. The saying, "If it ain't broke, don't fix it," comes to mind.

DS backwards compatibility: Honestly, this is one of the best things about the 3DXL. If you look up comparison videos of the first 3DS playing original DS games and a DSi playing DS games, the 3DS is surprisingly inferior. The colors are more bland, the resolution is fairly fuzzy, and if you choose to play it in its native resolution to fix that blurry smudginess, the screen becomes so small it's hardly worth doing that. The XL makes drastic improvements in all of these areas. The colors are just as bright and beautiful as playing on a normal DSiXL. Due to the larger screen size, playing in a native resolution still leaves ample room for playtime and is no longer the cramp experience the first 3DS offered. If you choose that route, the screen will be close to a normal DSi. Even if you don't, the picture is still decent at full-size, shockingly. This fantastic backwards compatibility is a real plus in the 3DSXL's favor and should not be understated. Massive improvement here.

Build quality: Much like the new DSi and DSiXL made notable improvements in build quality to their predecessors, so does the XL refine the design of its predecessor. Instead of an outer glossy finish, there is a sleek matte exterior that makes the XL feel more heavy duty and refined. It definitely has a better build quality than the original. My original 3DS' top screen hinge became fairly loose and the lock-in positions a little weak after just one instance where I accidentally jostled it. The hinges on the XL click and lock into one or two set angular positions before locking into the flat position and I know there's no way this thing is going to break easily at all. That's a really nice improvement. The system is surprisingly slick in its form too. It's about the same thickness as the original (which is kind of clunky in comparison, let's be honest), and even weighs less than expected, despite the larger screen and button size, and this size and shape really comes across as a mature, sleek gadget from Nintendo. I felt the same way about their classy DSiXL system too. The buttons are also vastly improved. The home, select, and start buttons are actual separated buttons that have a bit of click to them, which is a vast improvement. The other buttons have more "squish" to them, but still click in a satisfying way. All-in-all, the buttons feel very balanced, if that make sense. They're very similar to the DSiXL's button quality, which is to say, very nice. The 3-D and Volume slider are also different. When all the way off, the 3-D slider clicks into position, and when you want to turn the 3-D effect on, you must click it out of position and then slide it to your desired position. Both the volume and 3-D sliders seem more heavy duty. They stick and stay in position very, very well. A lot of small details add up in this system, to be sure.

Battery life: In my personal experience, the original 3DS had battery life that lasted about 4-5 hours with the 3-D slid up, 5-7 without 3-D, and roughly 6-8 hours with DS games. The 3DS XL is supposed to last 3.5-6.5 hours with 3D, 6-8 without, and 8-10 with DS games. It's not a HUGE improvement, but every bit counts. If you're like me and play a lot of the time with the system plugged into the wall, it won't really matter all that much anyway, but for those who want to play on the go, this is a really nice improvement over the original.

Sound: Supposedly, the sound tech in the 3DSXL is pretty close to the original, but I (and others, I've checked) have noticed some differences. The speakers on the XL seem a bit quieter than the original. Not a ton, mind you, but it's noticeable. The speaker volume level seems to depend on which game you're playing too. 3D Classics: Kirby's Adventure seems just as loud as before, but better now. I tend to play my 3DS with these amazing headphones on, and the difference becomes really noticeable then. The sound from the XL with headphones seems a lot more detailed and ambient than before, and the volume level is fine. The highs, mids, and lows are distinctive with no aspect overpowering or distorting the others. Much like the visuals, I'm hearing things in games I never heard before, and it has enhanced my experience even further. Great stuff here, and a very pleasant surprise!

Memory: The 3DSXL comes with a 4 GB SD card, making for a much bigger space for storage than the 2 GB SD card included with the first models. This is nice. I almost filled my first one up and still had a lot more games to get. Granted, you can buy any sized SD to use with the 3DS after some formatting, but having more space right off the bat is nice.

Any issues?: In many ways, the 3DSXL is what the 3DS should have been from the beginning, and it's a fantastic little handheld. It's not quite perfect though. For one, where's the second analog slider? There's ample room under the right-hand face buttons for it, but alas, no slider. It's not a problem that bothers me much, but I must note it because there are many who will view it as an issue. Imagining the boat-peripheral they're making for this system makes me giggle a bit. It conjures up visions of Nintendo releasing a laptop-sized 3DS with trigger buttons, lol. I understand they kept it out due to tech/power/space optimization, which makes sense. Personally, I never cared much for a second slider, and not having one has pushed developers to come up with some really creative things in the past on the DS and 3DS alike. I also find the design of the XL to be, like the original, cramped and painful to hold after a while, especially in high-action games. It's definitely better, don't get me wrong, but the cramping is still there a bit. I am waiting for CTA-Digital to release a Sega Saturn-esque hand grip for the system. :D Perhaps the most annoying thing about this handheld is the d-pad. It works just as well as the one before, but now it's extremely "clicky." I don't mean the button clicks when you use it; that has always been the case with the 3DS. What I mean is, now the d-pad seems to be looser in its area, and so makes this "clickety" sound against the bracket if you lift your thumb off of it even if only for a split-second. It can be really annoying. One more personal gripe: the color choices. Really Nintendo? Bright blue and red? The DSiXL had really mature, fetching color options that made the system feel like an adult's gadget. These slick red and blue colors are a lot less subtle and elegant. Don't get me wrong, I own a teal 3DS (not exactly the most "mature" color choice) and love it, but I wish there had been a more subdued teal, gold, or forest/jade green finish to choose from. Just you wait, as soon as I post this review, that option will become available, knowing my luck. lol

I realize this review is very long, but when considering tech purchases that are this pricey, these kind of reviews always helped me make informed decisions better. I have both the original and now the XL, and I must say the 3DSXL feels like the "true" 3DS. The system should have been like this from the start, honestly, and when it was originally announced, I, along with many others, hoped for an XL edition. Now we get it and it has been well worth the wait. For those who don't own a 3DS yet, this is the perfect time to get it. This system finally delivers on the promise of the original 3DS, and now there's an excellent library of titles for newcomers to joyously embrace. At a mere 30$ more than the original for practically double the space and a big jump in hardware quality, it's more than worth it. This is a great value. I'm glad I got the original a year ago, but I am absolutely thrilled to get this version, and heartily recommend it to all gamers with a heart container for Nintendo. It's not a choice you'll regret. I hope you enjoyed this review and found it helpful. Have a good day. Toodles.

Find helpful customer reviews and review ratings for Nintendo 3DS XL - Blue/Black

Having purchased one of these fine pieces of hardware in Japan I have the benefit of having taken it for a test drive long before it hits American shores, so I thought I'd offer my thoughts on Nintendo's latest installment in its handheld line.

HARDWARE:

Aesthetically speaking, the 3DS XL is gorgeous. Gone is the awkward size and shape of the original hardware, and in are beautiful curves and a tasteful tasteful matte finish, a sight to sore eyes in this day and age of glossy gadgets. Being matte, the device isn't prone to picking up fingerprints, and generally looks cleaner and neater even after extended use. The nicely rounded edges of the system also now fit well in the hand, offering a much more pleasant experience while gaming for long periods of time. Some have complained about the quality of the plastic used to make the device, but in my experience the 3DS XL feels exceptionally sturdy. While the plastic casing may not exhibit the class of the brushed aluminum and glass seen in Apple products, it serves its purpose of keeping the price of the system low while still looking quite dapper to boot.

Atheistical value aside, the 3DS XL is a much more thoughtfully constructed system than its predecessor, and does well in learning from past mistakes. The stylus has been moved back around to the right hand side of the system for ease of access, and is once again a solid piece of plastic instead of the telescopic stylus featured on the original 3DS. This new stylus is nearly identical to that of the older DSi XL. The SD card slot has been moved from the left side of the system to its right, and the included SD card doubled from 2GB to 4GB. This is a nice inclusion now that Nintendo is beginning to push full 3DS games for download starting with the launch of the system, and will ensure that buyers have room enough for at least a couple of games. One of the main draws of this system, however, is of course the dramatically increased screen size. This boost in screen real-estate is far more than an affectation or marketing gimmick though, as it makes 3D content much more dramatic and immersive. Soaring through the skies in titles such as Kid Icarus: Uprising, or drifting around corners in close races in games like Mario Kart 7 comes to life in an exciting and engaging way that will keep you from putting down the system until you absolutely have to. The amount of time you'll be able to go on these gaming binges is extended now too with the added battery life. Recently, on a plane ride I had the system on the lowest brightness setting with the 3D off, and was able to play an impressive seven and a half hours of New Super Mario Bros 2. The 3D slider has also seen a thoughtful revision in that it now clicks into the off position, and no longer has the grating green glowing 3D emblem next to it. Besides looking better, games feel better as the controls are now more adequately spaced. On the original 3DS, the circle pad and the d-pad were a bit cramped, and switching between the two was rather awkward. The same cannot be said, however, of the 3DS XL. I've found myself switching with ease between the two pads during intense bouts of Monster Hunter, and have been consciously aware of this great improvement in ergonomics.

Truly the only negative thing I have to say about the system from a hardware perspective is its lack of a second circle pad. There were obvious space constraints with the original 3DS, and the circle pad pro add on improved the system's ergonomics, but with the 3DS XL there's very little reason that a second circle pad wouldn't be included out of the box. Though the omission of a second circle pad hasn't effected me yet, as none of the games that I currently play require one, inevitably there will be many games that do, and when that day comes I can only hope that the 3DS XL's circle pad pro extension doesn't destroy the impecable aesthetics and ergonomics I have described above.

SOFTWARE:

There truly isn't much to be said about the 3DS XL's software as it's the same software that's been on every 3DS system shipped since launch day. The added screen size does benefit the home screen, however, as smaller tiles become easier to see and to tap upon. The same can be said about menus both in and out of games, and I have even found myself using my thumb occasionally to tap on touchscreen items that required a more precise tap on the original 3DS.

SYSTEM TRANSFER:

If you're like myself, and coming off the original 3DS system, chances are you're probably going to want to transfer your data from your old 3DS to the XL. The good news with regards to this is that it's easy and well implemented, the bad news is that you will need both systems to complete the transfer. This, of course, means no selling or trading in of your old system to drum up cash for the XL. That aside, however, the system transfer options are available under settings, and are largely automated. Nintendo has even provided a lovely Pikmin themed loading screen to keep you entertained while you watch your data transferred between your systems. This transfer is fairly comprehensive, though does not include some virtual console content from my experience. This is not much of an issue though, as all virtual console content can easily be re-downloaded from the Nintendo store after the system transfer is complete.

VERDICT:

In the 3DS XL Nintendo has a true winner. This system has addressed all of the gripes I had with the original 3DS hardware, and even goes above and beyond the call in many respects. Though the omission of a second circle pad is unfortunate, it isn't a big enough misstep to negate all of the things the system does right, and at only $30 more expensive than original 3DS, new buyers would be foolish not to take the step up to this system. Is the system worthy enough to justify an upgrade for all of us who have the original 3DS though? Simply put, yes. The duty of a game console is to create the best, most immersive environment possible for the software that is written for it, and the 3DS XL offers a far more immersive experience than its predecessor.

Aesthetics: 9.5/10

Comfort: 9.8/10

Durability: 9.5/10

Screen: 9.5/10

Controls: 9.0/10

Overall: 9.5/10