Should I get a 2DS or a 3DS tomorrow?

[DudeistBelieve]

Hey folks, so I came into some money today and I want to use it to get a 2DS or a 3DS.

Are they really the same, the only difference is being able to fold it up and the lack of 3D?

Is the 2DS at all uncomfortable to use? I go about 150 dollars in gift money and I don't want to dip too deep into my paycheck this week.

Hows this online store work that it has? Does it have like old NES games to buy? Do I need a memory card or something?

Also, obviously I'm buying the pokemon game. I haven't played in ages, and I really only care deeply about seeing the first 150 again. Which version has more of them? And what would I have to do to get the ones it doesn't have, like Mewtwo? Can I trade up from Firered/Leafgreen?

Also the general other good games for it... I'd really like some old school 2D platformers, maybe some turn based RPGs (like Final Fantasy IX?)

 

[Scarim Coral]

Honestly it depend if you're going to carry it with you or not and if you are going to carry, how will you carry it? While I kept my in my bag on the way to work but since I also store my work shoes in my bag aswell, the compact 3DS is more beneficial to me than the 2DS (well ok I bought it before the 2DS was announce but either way I still prefered the 3DS).

As for the memory thing, it already got an SD card (4gb) within it and that should suffice unless you going to install alot of games on it.

As far the eshop thing work, you make an account/ register the Nintendo club/id thing, add fund (buy a card or buy credits) and pick a game to download.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Honestly it depend if you're going to carry it with you or not and if you are going to carry, how will you carry it? While I kept my in my bag on the way to work but since I also store my work shoes in my bag aswell, the compact 3DS is more beneficial to me than the 2DS (well ok I bought it before the 2DS was announce but either way I still prefered the 3DS).

As for the memory thing, it already got an SD card (4gb) within it and that should suffice unless you going to install alot of games on it.

As far the eshop thing work, you make an account/ register the Nintendo club/id thing, add fund (buy a card or buy credits) and pick a game to download.

I wear coats with big pockets.

I mean people got around with the old school Gameboys back in the day, so I'm not too concerned.

 

[JoJo]

I don't know enough about the 2DS to answer that part of your thread, but I can illuminate on the Pokemon side:

Generation I Pokemon exclusive to X:

Mega Charizard X
Staryu
Starmie
Pinsir
Mega Mewtwo X

Generation I Pokemon exclusive to Y:

Mega Charizard Y
Shellder
Cloyster
Omanyte
Omastar
Kabuto
Kabutops
Mega Mewtwo Y

So, Y has marginally more of the originals, but given the low numbers involved and how easy most pokemon are to pick up over online trading anyway, I'd recommend picking the game which has your preferred selection in. X & Y do contain Mewtwo, so you needn't worry about trading that up, which is lucky as the only way to trade from Gen III to Gen VI is by trading through Gen's IV and V, meaning that option isn't open if you don't have those games. All but eight Gen I pokemon are available somewhere in X or Y and with the exception of Mew, the rest are easily obtainable by online trading, so that hopefully shouldn't present much of a problem.

 

[Dragonbums]

It depends. My friend has a 2DS and she said for the price point it was worth it. She gives zero fucks about aesthetics and it's surprisingly very comfy to hold.
Also don't listen to the naysayers about the whole less protection thing.

It's like people never had a Gameboy Color before. And last time I checked those things had an exposed screen and were durable like tanks.

However if you really like the clamshell design negating the higher price point, the regular 3DS is a match for you.

 

[Roxas1359]

Really the 2DS is good for the price, but there are a few games that will more than likely have compatibility issues, and they are original DS games. Mainly they are the Legend of Zelda ones, but if you don't care for those then you'll be fine.

As for the eShop, it's okay but surprisingly enough it's lacking in many things, such as GameBoy Advanced games beside them playing well on the system since if you had one for the Ambassador program and you more than likely have some of the GBA games. The 3DS eShop though has gotten better so you should find some things you'd like there.

Now the Wii U eShop is just pathetic by comparison. XD

 

[DudeistBelieve]

Really the 2DS is good for the price, but there are a few games that will more than likely have compatibility issues, and they are original DS games. Mainly they are the Legend of Zelda ones, but if you don't care for those then you'll be fine.

As for the eShop, it's okay but surprisingly enough it's lacking in many things, such as GameBoy Advanced games beside them playing well on the system since if you had one for the Ambassador program and you more than likely have some of the GBA games. The 3DS eShop though has gotten better so you should find some things you'd like there.

Now the Wii U eShop is just pathetic by comparison. XD

Almost got sad. I wanted to pick up Ocarina Of Time at some point.

But google tells me in lieu of putting the two screens together you can just hit sleep mode, so I hardly think this is an issue.

 

[Roxas1359]

Almost got sad. I wanted to pick up Ocarina Of Time at some point.

But google tells me in lieu of putting the two screens together you can just hit sleep mode, so I hardly think this is an issue.

I'm talking about the DS Zelda games, which were Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. There were many puzzles that used the clampshell design, but sleep mode might fix it. Ocarina of Time 3D will be just fine on the 2DS.

 

[Dragonbums]

Almost got sad. I wanted to pick up Ocarina Of Time at some point.

But google tells me in lieu of putting the two screens together you can just hit sleep mode, so I hardly think this is an issue.

I'm talking about the DS Zelda games, which were Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. There were many puzzles that used the clampshell design, but sleep mode might fix it. Ocarina of Time 3D will be just fine on the 2DS.

I mean, closing the DS together was basically sleep mode anyway, so that's basically all you have to do for the 2DS.

 

[Roxas1359]

I mean, closing the DS together was basically sleep mode anyway, so that's basically all you have to do for the 2DS.

Some games don't trigger it to go into sleep mode actually, and usually it's because it's being used in puzzles or gameplay. I know some of my Japanese DS games (mainly Jump Ultimate Stars) don't because the music still plays, and it's the same with all GBA games. That's why I chimed in with the warning, as I don't remember if that happened all the time in PH and ST because I honestly don't go outta my way to replay them. *does not like having to use touch screen to move in general and wishes it used D-pad*

 

[DudeistBelieve]

I suggest the 3DS XL if you get one. I just prefer the design of the xl over the other two. Yes you can download NES games on thee shop.

I mean it's 200 dollars... I can't justify that. I could've done the regular 3DS, but I hear it comes with a smaller memory card so the hell with that noise.

I mean what? an extra 50 dollars just for it to fold up and a 3D feature I'm never going to use?

 

[Roxas1359]

but I hear it comes with a smaller memory card so the hell with that noise.

The 3DS line of systems (3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS) use regular SD cards for their memory, so you can use any size SD card you want on the 3DS and only have to format it to use on the 3DS, and Nintendo has instructions for that on their store.
One other thing though is that the 2DS only has a mono speaker, and the 3DS has stereo speakers. You can get stereo sound from the 2DS though if you have headphones.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

but I hear it comes with a smaller memory card so the hell with that noise.

The 3DS line of systems (3DS, 3DS XL, 2DS) use regular SD cards for their memory, so you can use any size SD card you want on the 3DS and only have to format it to use on the 3DS, and Nintendo has instructions for that on their store.
One other thing though is that the 2DS only has a mono speaker, and the 3DS has stereo speakers. You can get stereo sound from the 2DS though if you have headphones.

I've always wondered, have there always been so many audiophiles for handheld video games? I remember when the GBA SP came out and everyone was triping over it's lack of a Headphone jack.

 

[Roxas1359]

I've always wondered, have there always been so many audiophiles for handheld video games? I remember when the GBA SP came out and everyone was triping over it's lack of a Headphone jack.

Well for some people they might need an audio jack because their hearing isn't the best, and the difference between stereo and mono is very apparent. Especially since the 3DS line is the first line of Nintendo handhelds that can actually stream music and doesn't need to rely on .MIDI files for it.

Not to mention that handhelds are for on the go play, and if you have bad hearing or want to hear things inside your games and you're in public what are you gonna do? Blast the volume all the way up on your handheld at the attempt to try and hear what's going on, while also drawing attention to those around you?

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I'm a pretty happy owner of a 2ds, though I can say I'm not sure what I'm missing with the 3dses.

The 2ds is pretty comfortable to use IMO. It can slip into average pants pockets with some bulge, but no real discomfort. I carry mine on it's own in a pocket fairly often and it's come out just fine, though if it's not in sleep mode, the camera will likely activate as both shoulder buttons are likely to get pressed, and you'll get pictures of the insides of your pockets. The camera can capture in 3d, but you can't see in 3d.
It's pretty durable, but I wouldn't want to push it. I accidentally dropped it on tile floor more than once. The screens are fairly durable, and the bottom one comes with a screen protector. It has a sleep mode switch. Mine came with a 4 gig memory card and it seems sizable enough to handle most stuff.

The shop, usually down on tuesdays, IIRC since it's down for me now, has GB, GBA, Game Gear, and indie games among full games. Not sure I remember seeing actual NES games, honestly, and I can't check right now. Wii U has some NES games, though.

 

[DudeistBelieve]

I've always wondered, have there always been so many audiophiles for handheld video games? I remember when the GBA SP came out and everyone was triping over it's lack of a Headphone jack.

Well for some people they might need an audio jack because their hearing isn't the best, and the difference between stereo and mono is very apparent. Especially since the 3DS line is the first line of Nintendo handhelds that can actually stream music and doesn't need to rely on .MIDI files for it.

Not to mention that handhelds are for on the go play, and if you have bad hearing or want to hear things inside your games and you're in public what are you gonna do? Blast the volume all the way up on your handheld at the attempt to try and hear what's going on, while also drawing attention to those around you?

I've just never known handheld games to really require audio as part of the gameplay... but then again I haven't really played any since the GBA.

I'm a pretty happy owner of a 2ds, though I can say I'm not sure what I'm missing with the 3dses.

The 2ds is pretty comfortable to use IMO. It can slip into average pants pockets with some bulge, but no real discomfort. I carry mine on it's own in a pocket fairly often and it's come out just fine, though if it's not in sleep mode, the camera will likely activate as both shoulder buttons are likely to get pressed. It's pretty durable, but I wouldn't want to push it. I accidentally dropped it on tile floor more than once. The screens are fairly durable, and the bottom one comes with a screen protector. It has a sleep mode switch. Mine came with a 4 gig memory card and it seems sizable enough to handle most stuff.

Yeah, looks like the 2DS is the direction I'm heading.

 

[Roxas1359]

I've just never known handheld games to really require audio as part of the gameplay... but then again I haven't really played any since the GBA.

There are some that do, and there are some that don't. Audio puzzles in handhelds have been around for a while and I'm pretty sure there are some in some of Zelda handheld games that are escaping my mind. Not to mention that sound can help you track enemies and know what's around you before you see it.

 

[Rebel_Raven]

I've always wondered, have there always been so many audiophiles for handheld video games? I remember when the GBA SP came out and everyone was triping over it's lack of a Headphone jack.

Well for some people they might need an audio jack because their hearing isn't the best, and the difference between stereo and mono is very apparent. Especially since the 3DS line is the first line of Nintendo handhelds that can actually stream music and doesn't need to rely on .MIDI files for it.

Not to mention that handhelds are for on the go play, and if you have bad hearing or want to hear things inside your games and you're in public what are you gonna do? Blast the volume all the way up on your handheld at the attempt to try and hear what's going on, while also drawing attention to those around you?

I've just never known handheld games to really require audio as part of the gameplay... but then again I haven't really played any since the GBA.

I'm a pretty happy owner of a 2ds, though I can say I'm not sure what I'm missing with the 3dses.

The 2ds is pretty comfortable to use IMO. It can slip into average pants pockets with some bulge, but no real discomfort. I carry mine on it's own in a pocket fairly often and it's come out just fine, though if it's not in sleep mode, the camera will likely activate as both shoulder buttons are likely to get pressed. It's pretty durable, but I wouldn't want to push it. I accidentally dropped it on tile floor more than once. The screens are fairly durable, and the bottom one comes with a screen protector. It has a sleep mode switch. Mine came with a 4 gig memory card and it seems sizable enough to handle most stuff.

Yeah, looks like the 2DS is the direction I'm heading.

I really appreciate a headphone jack on my devices. Probably more than most as a headphone jack on a TV is a huge selling point for me. Listening to most anything with stereo earphones can add to the experience as sounds seem crisper, and richer. The added privacy is nice, too. I can't imagine being able to play Senran Kagura in public and have the sound up w/o headphones. It's a great game, though.

If there's a floor model of a 2ds, I suggest giving it a looking over. Researching further is always nice.

I definitely got a 2ds based on the lower price, and used some excess money to get a videogame on top of it.
Via download 40 dollars will net you many full games (and via nintendo club cards I don't get sales tax, so it's a bit cheaper), but there's a ton of games at a lot of prices from 4 dollars and up.
If not a game, then SD cards can be pretty cheap.

 

[kilenem]

I would just wait for a sell because they were at 150 for a ZELDA 3DSXL at target and the after Christmas sells should be coming.