Im 20 years old and am an avid reader. I also like writing which is what inspired me to come on her...
Im 20 years old and am an avid reader. I also like writing which is what inspired me to come on here and write reviews for things. I like the thought of people reading what i've written and actually rating and commenting on it.
Member since:05.04.2008
Reviews:32
Members who trust:5
How I Discovered It
I knew about the DS like most other people, through word of mouth. I never had the desire to buy one until the beginning of 2008 when for some strange reason I set my heart on getting one. I think it was because I had seen the adverts for brain training on the tv a lot at this point, they were on almost every day.
Then I played on my friends step-mums DS and that was it, my mind was made up, I had to have a DS, all I had to do was figure out how I was ever going to afford one.
Price and Availability
The DS Lite on it's own is generally £99.95 on it's own in most shops, obviously on some online shops/auction sites you can find it cheaper, but generally the cheapest I've seen it sell for is around £50. It usually works out cheaper to buy the DS as part of a bundle that includes one or more games. Mine for instance was a fathers day offer, I got the black DS Lite with the Brain Training game for free, plus I could pick another game off the list for free, I chose CSI Dark Motives. The whole bundle was £120, and I was pleased with it at the time. You need to be sure though as a few weeks later the same shop had a better deal, it just goes to show that sometimes it pays to hang on for a week or two. Saying that though if you
have a good deal and wait for the next one it might not be as good and you'll end up kicking yourself either way.
As for availability I had no problems getting hold of one, I would imagine that around Christmas and major sale times they will sell out pretty quick, but in between these times shops that sell them should be pretty well stocked, and if they are out of stock you can order them in. Unless it's Christmas or sale season I can't imagine anywhere that all the shops would sell out at the same time so you shouldn't have a problem buying one if you want one.
First Time Setup
Ok, so you've bought your DS and got it home, now what. Well, considering it's meant to be suitable for young children it shouldn't be hard to setup, and it's not. You take everything out of the box, plug the charger in on the top (by the hinge) stick the game cartridge in the slot, put the stylus in it's place and your away. It really is that simple, there is one slot for everything, so it's a case of putting the right piece in the right slot. A three year old could do it, infact I'm sure there are three year olds that have done it.
Cost and Choice Of Games
The games are around £20-£30 each, the newer the game the more they cost, this I find a bit of a pain because it means if you're on a limited budget you have to save up for each game and in the meantime make do with one or two games. You can get the games a lot cheaper online, if you look on auction sites or other second hand type places you can find them for a fraction of the price. This would be the best thing to do as sometimes you can get a bundle of games which saves you a lot of money.
There is quite a big choice of games now, I'd recommend that you make a list of the games you would be interested in before buying the console so you know if it's worth buying, if there's only two or three games you would like then it is not worth buying it really is it. There's such a wide choice of games though that there is generally a whole heap of games to suit everyone, be they shooting games, racing games or any other kind. You may also find new types of games you never thought you would like. Take me for instance, I like the brain training games and The Sims, and the virtual pet type games, I never thought I'd like any others. Then I played MarioKart and realised that, not only do I like it but I'm really good at it, came first every time. There's a few other games I discovered I liked as well, things like Sonic and X - Men. So don't stick to what you know, try some others, either rent them or borrow them from people you know. == Battery Life ==
The battery life, in my opinion is quite good, it lasts an hour or two without being plugged in. I mainly play it when it's plugged in though as I like to keep it fully charged, but if you want to play it somewhere that you can't charge it, like the bus or the train it will last most if not all of the journey.
When the battery is beginning to run out the light changes from green to red, it doesn't do this thirty seconds before cutting out like some gadgets, I've found you can still get at least another half an hour of game play out of the battery after it turns red before it cuts out, maybe even longer. So this is good as it gives you time to save your game or get to a charger before cutting out.
Day To Day Use
It is suitable for day to day use, I've had mine a month now, and not had any wear and tear problems. You have to be careful with the touch screen though, it wouldn't be hard to damage it if you pressed to hard (very hard though) or dropped it. It doesn't require any "special care" though, which is good as you can use it as and when you want to without worrying about it breaking. It's a good idea to have a warrantee of some sort on it though just in case. When I bought mine I was told the main problem with them is people breaking the touch screens.
My Recommendations
Overall the DS Lite is good value for money and will give you hours of entertainment. It is so addictive that the day after I bought mine home my brother went out and bought one. Then, within weeks my mother had got one and my step-dad also wants one. Even my best friend who had one and sold it because it bored him keeps wanting to go on mine because now they are popular again everyone wants them. People see one person on it and that makes them want it.
I would recommend to anyone that asks to buy one as they are fun and generally really good. I give this 10/10 I love it.
How helpful would this review be to a person making a buying decision? Rating guidelines
(+) Plenty of storage space, for media. Good Games, Great for partys, with singstar. Very Reliable. (-) Sometimes the optical drive, breaks; but not very likely, my 60gb still working after 2 1/2 years.
Nintendo DS Lite offers all of the unique features of the Nintendo DS but also includes a ... more
variety of distinctive changes which truly sets it apart from other handheld consoles. Nintendo DS Lite retains the advanced touch screen technology, allowing pla...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
This pink Nintendo DS Lite has 2 backlit screens for bright gaming even in the dark, and ... more
touch screen technology for interactivity. The console is supplied with a stylus, rechargeable battery and AC power adaptor. The Nintendo DS Lite is Wi-Fi enable...
Postage & Packaging: from £4.85 Availability: refer to website
In a nutshell:It may have taken the world by storm with its huge range of genuinely ... more
innovative new games but theres no denying that the Nintendo DS is not exactly the most portable of portable consoles. Thats all changed now with this sleek and sexy up...
Postage & Packaging: Free! Availability: Usually dispatched within 24 hours...
Advantages: Brighter screen, smaller, lighter in weight, clearer colours, bigger stylus Disadvantages: GBA Cartridges sticks out slightly when inserted.
EmPorter 03.01.2007 (03.01.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nintendo DS Lite
Advantages: Sleek and stylish, vast amount of games, great fun to play, wi-fi enabled Disadvantages: Not the best graphics and audio of the hand helds, still expensive
yackers1 16.08.2009 (16.08.2009)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nintendo DS Lite
Advantages: Long battery life, great choice of games available, multiplayer capabilities are endless Disadvantages: Big handed people might suffer from their hands cramping, Wi-Fi access can be tricky
dudeglove 21.06.2007 (21.06.2007)
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: very helpful
Review of Nintendo DS Lite
Advantages: Cheap and fits in your pocket. Disadvantages: Low-end hardware. Easly scratched. Not as revolutionary as Nintendo would like you to believe.
Michiel2047 15.07.2009 ·
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Ciao members have rated this review on average: somewhat helpful
Review of Nintendo DS Lite