Those in the market for a cheap way to play 3DS games will soon have a new option in the United States. Nintendo has announced the revival of a years-old 2DS bundle that launches later this month. But why though? The humongous company just launched the superior New Nintendo 2DS XL last week, and yet here comes its smaller brother heading to retail.
It’s all sorts of confusing and already, a lot are questioning Nintendo’s move. However, the red-and-white scheme has generated some excitement, and it’s bundled with the “New Super Mario Bros. 2” too, all for $80.
What’s Nintendo up to?
Nintendo has been nothing but aggressive in its handheld console bundles. While the company hasn’t sent out an explanation as to why its re-releasing the 2DS, not that it needs to anyway; the only plausible reason is possibly that it recognized that an advanced non-3D handheld might not be as cost-effective as a regular Nintendo 2DS.
We have the New 2DS XL now, a console with an unwieldy name, which when revealed earlier this year seemed redundant. It has the same screens and power under the hood as the New Nintendo 3DS XL, and like the Nintendo 2DS, it lacks the handheld’s 3D feature that Nintendo has quietly de-prioritized over the years. That said, it raises the question: where does this leave the 3DS?
The 3DS family has a slew of fantastic games: “Super Mario,” both old and new “Zeldas,” sprawling RPGS such as “Monster Hunter” and “Dragon Quest,” and a lot more. Nintendo previously said it will support the console well into 2018, but we’re not entirely sure why six years into the 3DS’ existence Nintendo decided to inject life into an aging platform that features outdated hardware from the start.
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The 2DS are the cheapest of the bunch and can be bought for as little as $80. It’s clunky and quite huge, and lacks features (automatic screen brightness, for one) that its other posh brothers have. Its best feature? It’ll cost less to replace should a toddler decides to smash it on a rock.
Up next is the New 2DS XL, which looks sleeker at $150. It’s definitely a revamp of the 2DS, and has a couple of enhancements in tow, such as smaller bezels and a more accessible microSD card slot.
The New 3DS and 3DS XL, meanwhile, should be your choice if you’re keen on stereoscopic 3D effects without the use of 3D glasses or additional accessories. Both models have undergone major makeovers by the way, and the old ones have long been replaced. However, you can still get the old 3DS family online on Ebay or Amazon, where they’re treated like collectors’ items.
Finally, there's the mighty Nintendo Switch, which technically isn’t a handheld device to the bone because of its removable Joy-Con controllers.
It’s a major hit, mostly because of “Breath of the Wild,” but it delivers a portable and home console in one that works well wherever you want to play on the go or at home.
The new red and white 2DS with “New Super Mario Bros. 2,” if you want to get one, will be up for sale starting on Aug. 25.
