Image via Complex Original
Mario was on hand to answer questions at Nintendo's Gaming Lounge in the Marriott next to San Diego Comic-Con. He appeared on a shoulder-height screen, laughing, jumping and making fun of Luigi, not to mention answering questions from doe-eyed fans.
Charles Martinet, long-time Mario voice actor (literally the entire time, to be precise), was the wizard behind the curtain, watching and listening and responding from some hi-tech back room. It must have taken some Disney-calibre magic to match Mario's movements up to Martinet's voice so accurately.
That may have been the main attraction, but there was plenty else in the Gaming Lounge to attract Con-goers, including the new 3DS XL. The handheld upgrade was announced last month, and I was on hand to assess it side-by-side with my original 3DS. Read on for the verdict.
The screen is 90 percent bigger
The most glaring difference, and the one that's sure to attract the most praise, is the screen size, of course. Both screens are 90 percent bigger than those of their predecessor, almost doubling the 3DS's screens, which now seem minuscule in comparison.
Worries that the embiggened screens will drop the resolution too much to bear should be laid to rest now, as the added real estate was appreciated and didn't detract from the system's graphical fidelity at all. The 3D seemed easier to bear, as well, though we'll have to spend more time playing it before we totally pass judgment in that department.
Leave a comment with your thoughts below or on Twitter—and let me know if I missed anything.
Double SD card capacity
Another big improvement for fans who rely on their 3DS for downloadable games, movies and music is the added SD card capacity—the 3DS XL comes bundled with a 4GB SD card rather than the originl 3DS's 2GB card. A Nintendo spokesperson on hand told me that they've been getting a lot of positive feedback based on that change alone.
To have and to hold
Picking up the 3DS XL and playing it reveals another new improvement: it feels better in your hands. The 3DS can feel cramped at times—just ask anyone who prefers playing with the Circle Pad Pro attached even when they're not using it, simply for the extra space to grip.
The edges are curved rather than squared, and the whole system feels less chunky than you'd expect, considering its larger size. Though larger, it's really a streamlined version of the 3DS.
Better tactile feedback
There are a few new physical elements that lend the 3DS XL a greater amount of tactile feedback and make using it a physically superior experience.
For one thing, the 3D slider now clicks when it reaches the bottom. Even better are the new Start, Select and Home buttons. They're raised, they click, and there's a physical gap between them that will eliminate a lot of the frustration surrounding the existing 3DS's minimum-feedback buttons.
Once you go matte
Much like the matte screen of a laptop or a matte screen cover for a smartphone, the matte finish of the 3DS XL is simply better. It's easier to grip, more attractive and will likely prove less prone to scratches.
The stylus is back
One of the most important changes—especially for anyone who still plays a lot of older DS games—is the location of the stylus. The added room inside the system has allowed Nintendo to shift things around a bit and stick the little pen back on the side, where it belongs, rather than on the top, where it's impossible to access when you need it.
The lack of 3D on the 3DS's bottom screen was already a death sentence to touch-centric games, as the action in any 3DS game will have to take place on the upper (non-touch) screen. But with the stylus back in an easy-to-access location, you'll at least be able to reach it for menu navigation and so on.
Plus, the new 3DS stylus no longer telescopes, eliminating the need for the extra step of gripping it in your teeth to pull it to its full length while you're in the middle of playing. I can't be the only one who does that, right?
