The Nintendo DS Lite is a handheld console that has the unique ability of playing games that combine a touchscreen with normal handheld controls similar to a Gameboy. It is a universal gaming device that not only adults will enjoy but also children, as there is a huge variety of games for everyone to play whatever their gaming skill.

I purchased the Nintendo DS Lite for about £100 when it first came out, and this included 2 free games with it. The price has decreased since this however, as there have been several new models that have came out such as the DSi and the 3DS. Many of the games that are released for this console are now coming out on 3DS, so it is probably better to purchase one of these, as it has more features available.

There is hardly any set up, so all you have to do is charge it and put in a game and you are good to go.
Its design is one of the best in handheld consoles, as it fits pretty snug into the palms of your hand making for comfortable gaming for long periods of time. It lives up to the fact that it is called Lite, as it really is not heavy at all. Also, it is quite slim and I keep it in the bottom of my bag at times and it rarely takes up much of the room. The screens are a decent size, and are able to display everything clearly, they also stop themselves from bending too far, so it prevents them from breaking off, which is helpful for those which have younger siblings and are afraid they may break the console.

The Nintendo DS Lite is also available in many different colours, such as red, black and pink - so you can purchase favourable colours. I'd recommend buying a cover for the Nintendo DS as it makes it much stronger and prevents it from breaking in the case of accidents such as spillage of water. Usually these are pretty cheap when brought of the Internet, as mine only cost about £6 for a decent one that locks the Nintendo DS Lite into place and doesn't ever slip off.

For those who loved their old Gameboys and only recently made the change to Nintendo DS and still have their old Gameboy games, Nintendo DS have made the great feature of having two game slots. There is one for the new Nintendo games which are designed to be quite slim and one for the old Gameboy games which are relatively bulky, so you can play whatever mode you feel like. Also, there is a handy place to plug in your headphones for those who want to game in a public place maybe, as it keeps the sound quality just as well as it would be coming out of the console, but now its for your own private listening.

The display of the Nintendo DS has really been designed well, as all the graphics and words on it are as clear as any other console. Everything is laid out well on the home and welcome page, allowing for faster selection and even the technophobe will be able to navigate this easy to use console. Using simple colours like white on a particular colour, it is not confusing like some layouts which just throw colour on colour.

One handy feature is that it also has something similar to a Welcome page that you might see when you log into your computer of laptop. Here, it has the name you have given your DS, which can be handy if you have many members of your family each with their own DS, as it won't get confused as someone elses. I really liked the feature of having a digital clock included, as if I had ever forgotten my watch with my Nintendo in my bag, I could easily check the time.

If you have other members of the family or friends with DS's you can also have the option to use the Pictochat feature which allows you to chat using the touchscreen to write messages to each other through the wifi that has been built into the Nintendo DS. Although, I never really saw the point of this feature as surely if you are close enough to be on the same wifi, you are close enough to just go and talk to the person!

The Nintendo has handy little things for your everyday life, such as the alarm setting which will be set off at an allocated time every day if you want that. For those who like adding a personal element to their console, there is also the option of changing the colour of it. This doesn't make much difference to the DS itself except adding a bit of colour.

The main allure to most when purchasing the Nintendo DS for sure is the touchscreen though. With no other consoles like it that have been as well developed, the touchscreen itself provides for unique gameplay. The stylus to be used to control the touchscreen is handily stored within your DS, as to prevent it from being lost. It is really responsive in whatever motion you use it for, and it is pretty thin in its design that it rarely will select something unless you press it. Although some games may not use it in their games as much, when it is used it really makes the game so much better. Using it is really easy, and anyone can navigate it with the stylus, as everyone in my family has played with it and whatever their age they have loved it.

The games available on the Nintendo DS really vary, so it makes a great gift for any gamer whatever their style or ability. You can play games for the nongamer or the experienced gamer, the one who loves puzzle games or the one who loves adventure games. Each use the features that the Nintendo DS have to their advantage, most with great graphics for a tiny console and different features that put it aside from any other gaming console.

Battery life is great on this console, as it generally lasts about 10 hours. And even when it does run out, it recharges in about an hour and you can play straight away. When recharging, it does the same as with the Gameboy by changing colour when it is fully charged, so you can see with ease whether or not your console has charged yet.

It's a really easy to use and navigate console, and everyone even if they are not really good with technology will be able to use it. The controls on most games are pretty simple, so whatever their age, people will be able to play the games and enjoy them without finding them to challenging and giving up.
Overall, I would say this console has great value for the money you'd pay for it as there is a wide variety of games that you can get on it, and they will last you hours. The addition of little features like Pictochat, DS to DS games and the touchscreen really adds to the overall charm of the console. Although there are newer models that have came out, it still is as great as it was when it first was released.