Nintendo DS (Nintendo DS Lite)

Member Name: astros89

Product:	Nintendo DS Lite
Date:	27/12/08 (42 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Fun console, Lots of games available, Easy to use, Suitable for people of all ages.

Disadvantages: None.

Nintendo DS is the latest handheld game console from Nintendo. It costs around £100 for the console on its own or you can get good bundles for a bit more than include a few games. I bought it from HMV for £125 with a game and accessory pack. I would say that the console was aimed at younger people but it is suitable for people of all ages.

The console is available in seven colours. These are: White, Black, Pink, Silver, Turquoise, Red and Green.

When using the console for the first time I had to charge it for three hours. It states that I will then be able to use the console for 15 hours.

The console opens up and has two screens. The lower display is a touchscreen and it is designed that you use the stylus to touch it. The stylus is stored in the bottom of the DS itself. The touchscreen allows you to choose options in the game and draw and write on PictoChat which comes already on the DS.

The upper screen is not touchscreen but that is the main screen you see the game on. Each of the screens are 3inch TFT LCD with a resolution of 256x192 pixels.

Next to the upper screen are the speakers and the volume control is on the front of the console. There is also a headphone socket on the front.

There is a built in microphone on the hinge part of the top screen which can be used for chatting to people and it is also used in certain games.

The controls next to the lower touchscreen are the arrow keys and the X,Y,A and B buttons. There is a start and a select button. The L and R buttons are on the top corners of the console.

The console has WiFi so players can compete with others players playing the same WiFi compatible game.

There is a wide range of games available for the DS most cost between £15 and £30 new. As well as being able to play DS games it is backwards compatible with Gameboy Advance cartridges. The DS games fit in to slot one at the top of the console and GBA games fit in to the slot two at the bottom.

Summary: A console that is well worth the money.