Image via Complex Original
The Game Boy begot the Game Boy Pocket and the Game Boy Color. The Game Boy Advance begot the Game Boy Advance SP and the Game Boy Micro. The DS begot the DS Lite, the DSi, and the DSi XL.
So it's no surprise that the 3DS has already birthed a successor in the form of the 3DS XL, though it is ever-so-slightly startling that it's arrived barely a year after the launch of the 3DS.
Maybe that's just a sign of the times. If Nintendo continues on their current trajectory (and game consoles' lifespans continue to increase), the 3DS could have three or four more iterations before it's done.
Nintendo seems vaguely aware of this, as although the new, bigger system brings literally dozens of improvements to the handheld arena, it also comes with at least one fatal flaw.
Aesthetics
Aesthetically, the 3DS XL is almost inarguably an improvement over its predecessor. The 3DS's angular lines have been replaced by smooth bevels on all sides, and its glossy finish has given way to a matte coating that feels supple in the hands.
The 3DS XL does for the 3DS's form what the DS Lite did for the original, "phat" DS. Nintendo's taken the boxy 3DS and turned it into a curvaceous, contoured machine that makes the original look more like a toy than I'd have thought possible upon the 3DS's introduction. Then it looked sleek. Now, not so much.
And all that's despite the garish red and blue colors, though thankfully there's a more elegant grey option available as well.
Ergonomics
Of course, all that new stylistic sophistication would mean nothing if the 3DS XL felt like a brick in hand. Thankfully, despite being slightly heavier, the bigger system is a glorious boon to anyone with normal or (especially) plus-sized hands.
Granted, I've got tiny-handed friends who've held the XL and told me they still prefer the smaller 3DS. But who cares about their tiny-handed opinions?
Trying to play any game that requires ample use of the system's L and R triggers, like Mario Kart 7 or (heavens forbid) Kid Icarus, on the original 3DS necessitated something I like to call "claw hands." No more! The 3DS XL's ample real estate means it can rest easily in your hands as your fingers caress its soft backplate. And even the triggers are easily accessible.
The Screens
So the 3DS is prettier, and it's more comfortable for any gamers with normal-sized hands. But what about the massively embiggened screens? They're 90 percent bigger than the 3DS's, and there's been concern that practically doubling the display size without upping the resolution would cause games to become pixellated and unattractive.
On the contrary, every game I tried looked much better on the XL's inflated screens. There's no more pixelation than exists on the original 3DS, and visually cluttered titles like Cave Story 3D and Resident Evil: Revelations are actually given room to breathe, making their convoluted worlds more immersive and easy to navigate. And somehow, virtual console Game Boy Advance titles like Metroid Fusion even look better.
The system's 3D effect seems marginally improved as well. Playing Mario Kart 7 on the larger display makes the 3D less finicky, though Cave Story's still made my eyes itch on occasion. And Theatrhythm: Final Fantasy's tip-tapping rhythm gameplay is made that much more manageable on the also-enlarged lower touchscreen.
Plus the screens' new matte, anti-glare finish is immediately noticeable and a huge improvement.
Battery Life
Despite the larger amount of power those screens must demand, the 3DS XL somehow manages to have better battery life than the original 3DS. It took me over five hours of system updates, eShop browsing, demo downloading, netflix watching, and offline, online, 2D, 3D, cartridge, and virtual console gaming to run the battery down from a full charge.
The same activities would generally have drained my original 3DS's batteries in three to four hours, and anecdotally speaking, putting the 3DS XL into sleep mode all day (even with the wireless Street Pass capabilities switched on) seemed less taxing on the battery as well.
General Improvements
On top of all the obvious aesthetic, ergonomic and screen-wise improvements, there are a bevy of small additions and changes that differentiate the 3DS XL.
The system's tactile feedback has been improved all around. For example, the 3D slider on the top screen—the one that lets you crank the 3D effect from zero to eyes-bleeding and back again—now clicks at the bottom. The "select," "home" and "start" buttons now have clear edges, eliminating the headache caused by the original buttons' smooth, contiguous surfaces. The top screen even has a new locking position at about 45 degrees, perfect for watching or playing certain games while the system rests on a table.
Best of all perhaps is the stylus's return to where it should be: on the side, easily accessible whenever you need it. That alone improves any 3DS experience markedly.
Fatal Flaw
Like Goliath's long, flowing hair, though, the 3DS XL has a single glaring flaw—a vanity, even—that should give anyone second thoughts about trading in an existing 3DS.
For some unfathomable reason, the system is still equipped with just a single analog nub.
Let's not downplay the significance of this omission. The 3DS needed a second stick badly enough for Nintendo and Gamestop to team up on a peripheral solution in the form of the Circle Pad Pro. Some games, like Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D and Resident Evil: Revelations are, if not exactly unplayable without it, vastly improved by its use. And say what you want about the PS Vita, but at least that has two control sticks.
Maybe Nintendo will add it to another 3DS edition down the road, or maybe they're really that determined to keep the 3DS's layout consistent and "pure." Yes, the Circle Pad Pro will launch for the 3DS XL as well, but Nintendo's apparent hubris in this situation shouldn't be downplayed.
The Verdict
Overall, it's not difficult to recommend the 3DS XL to any number of people. If your hands aren't tiny, you're going to have a better time with its extra gripping room and screen space. If you find the 3DS's screens disagreeable for any reason, whether that be size, 3D wonkiness or glare, the 3DS XL might hold the solution for you. And if you really don't care about the lack of a second control stick without a costly, cumbersome add-on, then there should be nothing holding you back from picking up the new 3DS XL.
Even owners of the existing 3DS could do worse than a trade-in, and it's easy as pie to transfer your profile, save data and games from an old system to a new one.
The 3DS XL beats the 3DS in almost every way. Now that I think about it, maybe that David-Goliath metaphor doesn't work so well after all.