I am Sold on the 2DS

The 3DS had a rocky start, to say the least. The initial $250 price point was outright silly and it kept most people from diving into a purchase. However, after the “3DS is dead” rantings, and a price drop, it quickly became a huge seller. Now, with its boastful library of beloved games, it has been the best selling console for months. So what does Nintendo do to complement this success? They release the 2DS.

It is OK, you can laugh; I did. The more I thought about it though, the more I started falling in love with the idea of this system. Stripping the 3D, lowering the price, giving it an… interesting design, making it powerful enough to run all 3DS games. Short of adding a second analog stick they could not have sold this console to me any harder.

The 3DS is $170, while the 3DS XL currently sits at $200. So the first major point for the 2DS is the price of $130, which includes a 4 Gig SD card. While it may seem more sensible to give the 3DS a price drop, I am happier with this decision. My eyes are already damaged from sitting too close to the TV (I know, mom) and I do not fancy the idea of staring at that 3D screen for hours on end. I know I could just turn the 3D slider down but now I have the option to turn other the $70 slider down instead. I will gladly take extra money over the ability to turn off a switch I will always keep down anyway.

Nintendo has said they are going after a younger audience with the 2DS and the reduced price is a huge boon to that plan. At $200 I cherish a system; it stays out of my pocket and certainly far away from my son. But at just over $100 I do not mind letting the system have a little abuse from travel or my less than gentle toddler. If it breaks from misuse I can justify the purchase of another without much flack.

Part of the thing that will help me justify that purchase is the excellent library that I do not mind my son playing. Animal Crossing, Super Mario World 3D, Pokemon, Kingdom Hearts 3D: all games that I want to play and my kid can jump into as well. For the low price point I might even be able to swing getting two systems and trade Pokemon with him. Playing games with my own father was always a joy and I very much want to have more of those moments with my own son.

So sappy family moments and price out of the way, what else is appealing to me about the 2DS? That ludicrous design. I know it looks silly, I know it will be unwieldy, I know it will probably not fit in my pocket, but I just like it. The system looks sleek and not unlike a tablet, which is certainly what they were going for. It may be goofy but its awkwardness appeals to some deep seated love of the absurd within me. My only worry is that it may cramp my hands like the original DS did, but I am willing to hope against hope for this one.

All said the 2DS is a great idea. It may look like a doorstop, because it does. It may seem like a stripped down 3DS, which it is. It may have a terrible name that will confuse the market branding, and most certainly will. But the price point and install library are enough to make me want to rush to the store and buy it immediately. Unfortunately it does not release until October 12^th in the U.S. Until then I have my son on a strict Pokemon memorization regiment, he has made it to Arbok.