New 2DS XL - Pikachu Edition

I have owned a number of 3DSs and 3DS XLs. This is my first 2DS, but it is by far my favorite now. From the moment I took it out of the box, I was very pleased with the feel and matte finish. It is lighter than my older 3DS XLs. I've added a couple of photos for comparison to the old Pikachu 3DS that came out a few years ago. To clarify, this 2DS XL is the one on the right in the photos.Just take note that on this 2DS, Pikachu's nose protrudes a little from the system to make a little bump. If you only have a small/form fitting case for other 2DS/3DSs, you'll have to get something that will have some space for the small bump. However that's really not hard to find at all and not really a con considering the plethora of cases out there.My only actual complaint:1. The stylus that comes with it is very small. I always use a longer Nintendo stylus myself. But in case you were wondering, yes the stylus for this is small, perhaps ok for a child but not so much for an adult.

Our 2012 3DS XL version is still working perfectly fine, but we couldn't pass up this collector's item! Both of us are Pokemon fans, having played every single Pokemon game so it's a no-brainer that we need the Pikachu edition. This one is even cuter than the previous version because the faceplate is 3D! His cheeks and nose 'boops' outward! The con is that you can't put it in a protective shell, but it was not a deal-breaker for us.Still, as cute as it is, I do feel like the construction of the 2DS is not as well as our older 3DS XL model. For one, while it is lighter, the material seems worse. The lid doesn't completely close - there's this sliver of a gap because the buttons are a little taller than the lid's width. The stylus is also super tiny - I constantly lose it. If you have big hands, it might be better to use your finger. The menu seems a little more user-friendly, but the overall look of the home page is roughly the same. Instead of pushing a button upward or downward to turn the WiFi on/off (which I hated), you now turn it on/off via the menu button. Really easy to tell if your WiFi is on or not.I feel like the battery got worse. If your WiFi is on, and the game is on but with the lid closed, the battery seems to die faster than my 3DS XL model. Otherwise, it's been a really nice system. Obviously, the Amiibo capability is the real treat. We both play Animal Crossing, so being able to scan Amiibo and the cards directly on the touchscreen is so convenient.I definitely recommend this product. Even if you don't need one, you honestly cannot pass up on this collector's item!

I wasn't expecting to get a 2DS XL with a fancy design, but I'm actually quite happy with the Pikachu face. The ease of use and weight of the device is perfect because I can carry it with me and whip it out when I'm just sitting around (like in a waiting room or in the car while someone else is driving). The battery lasts a while when it's not on the charger, with minimum play time, of course. There's a plethora of game options, but I choose to stick with games I played in the past or games with a link to something I'm familiar with, but the 2DS XL makes it fun to play all around. I don't have a problem with the size of the stylus, because really how big does it need to be? I hardly use it and when it's not in use, but I think I might need it later, it fits perfectly in my hand as I play. The pedometer function is cool, but I haven't explored much else of what comes built into the device. So if I'm in a game rut there's still something I can do with it. The highlight of this device that adds to its convenience is the ability to use Netflix and Hulu. I haven't watched anything yet, but it's nice to have another on-the-go device with the capability.

I have collected both of the pokemon edition N2dsXLs (the Pokeball one and this one) as well as an N3dsXL and I must say this has to be my favorite of the three. I prefer the N2dsXL line because of the easy access to the microSD card and it's a bit cheaper without the 3D feature that few games take advantage of and few people really use. The N2dsXL series is known for having a loose top screen and It might be because I haven't had it as long as my Pokeball one but it is a lot stiffer and isn't as loose as the other. The one thing that kind of bothers me would be how far the nose sticks out making packing it into a small carrying case with a few other things a little more difficult. This 2ds is also easily homebrewable for those who want to.This 2ds is more for the collectors and not really for kids. The normal N2dsXL is probably better for young kids who tend to drop and scuff up devices, while this is something you'll want to keep pristine and have as a collector because of how different it is.