Nintendo 2DS review - The Verge

At a time when gaming hardware — including Nintendo machines like the 3DS and Wii U — is becoming increasingly refined, Nintendo’s latest $129.99 device is unashamedly a toy. It's made with matte plastic that comes in either a black-and-red or black-and-blue color scheme, and sports a wedge shape that doesn't look all that inviting to hold. And unlike every previous version of the DS, it doesn't fold, leaving those iconic dual screens exposed to the elements. It's essentially a 3DS without the hinges, and it just looks weird. But what might be even stranger is how all that melts away when you're actually using it. It's a solid device that's comfortable to hold, despite its odd dimensions.

It's comfortable to hold, despite its odd dimensions

The 2DS is most notable for what's been stripped away. Nintendo has removed the 3D functionality, which, aside from a few games, was largely a gimmick anyways. Meanwhile, the shift away from a clamshell design means you no longer have to worry about cracked hinges, though scratched screens are more of an issue now. The simpler build and lack of 3D has let Nintendo create a handheld that’s $70 cheaper than the 3DS XL and $40 less than a base 3DS — and just in time for the busy holiday season.

When you first pick it up, the 2DS does seem a bit cheap, with a creaky plastic casing that picked up multiple scratches in only a few days. It also has some odd proportions: it’s extremely top-heavy, and at its thickest point it's slightly bigger than a Macbook Air.

It has all of the same face buttons as a regular 3DS, arranged in a diamond formation on the right side, as well as a simple directional pad and analog nub. There’s also a home button at the base of the lower screen, a power button on the right, and a few helpful lights to let you know the state of the battery and Wi-Fi connection. These all work as you'd expect, though the shoulder buttons on top feel a bit off — in order to use them, you need to push in from the sides instead of the top. There's also a volume slider along the left side and the only new addition is a switch on the bottom that puts the device to sleep, replacing the simple act of closing a clamshell DS.

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