DSi Games Systems, DSi Games

Posts Tagged ‘DSi XL’

In recent months, the online applications offered from the DS store have been producing some interesting features. Especially where the Nintendo DSi is concerned, the system is finally having its extra features realised in some great interactive games. A recent photo manipulation game,  Faceez,  is gathering a large amount of attention.

Faceez takes advantage of the DSi's dual cameras, allowing players to take pictures of themselves and friends. These photos can then be uploaded into the Faceez editing suite, which can store a vast number of photos. Your images can now be played around with in various ways.

By choosing 'mix',  you can create hybrids of your own face with a large stock of other images,  allowing you to try out celebrity noses or hairstyles. 'Disguise' allows Faceez users to add comical disguises to their images, such as Pirate Hats or Bandit Masks. 'Animate' is definitely the most impressive feature, which adds your facial image to a stick-body and allows you to do a whole host of activities, such as dancing, eating sweets and singing. Stock expressions will be fused to your face to make it look like your mouth is moving, and the result is impressively realistic.

Nintendo DSi Matte - Black

Overall Rating:

Retail Price: $169.99

Amazon Price: $169.99

This application is a great little way to get together with friends and have a laugh. The intuitive features are really quite impressive, and you'll have hours of fun testing out all the abilities. Faceez images can also be uploaded to Facebook and other apps, meaning the possibilities go even further. If you're looking for a fun little game to try out the DSi's features, Faceez is the current craze!

Nintendo sure know how to please the fans. Way back on the old Gameboy Colour, the games Pokemon Gold and Silver ruled the roost. Indeed, the games are so popular that they're still being enjoyed today as cult offerings. However, Nintendo are looking to build on the success of these games by crafting remakes on their current DS family. Say hello to Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver.

The first great feature offered in Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver is that players are able to sync their new game to any old Diamond, Pearl or Platinum games they already have on the DS. This means players can keep all the rare and special Pokemon they battled so hard to find on previous games.
And you'll certainly need them all, as this title offers up almost twice as many gym battles as in the previous installments, expanding the game significantly.

This game is perfect fan service for all the loyal Pokemon collectors out there, and retains some of the best elements from previous titles. Retro music is included bringing back nostalgic tunes from the earliest Pokemon games, along with vast areas you'll recognise but which offer new challenges. However, Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver isn't all about bringing back old features. The visuals and audio have obviously been vastly improved since Gameboy colour days, and Pokemon has never looked this great. Running on the same engine as Platinum, the game is pushed even further with some excellent fully animated battle scenes.

If you're even remotely a Pokemon fan, this title is perfect for you. It brings together all the most successful and well-loved aspects of previous installments and sprinkles a little magic dust in the form of improved graphics and additional features to make a perfect experience. Pokemon Heartgold/Soulsilver is an absolute must for fans of the franchise, and is sure to get a new generation hooked too!

Nintendo are poised to release yet another member to the ever expanding DS lineup ; the Nintendo DSi XL. The general agreement has been that this addition is surplus to needs, but Nintendo were quick to assure users that this device is not intended to replace the current DSi, merely to serve as an alternative selection.

As the title suggests, the Nintendo DSi XL is a bigger helping of the DSi. The shell has been substituted for a thick mould and the screens have been lengthened by almost a full inch to 4.2 inches. These larger screens are a great inclusion and push the Nintendo DSi XL closer to the screen mastery of the PSP. Titles look bigger and clearer than before and, slight pixelation aside, look miles better for it.

Along with the screen, the Nintendo DSi XL has built upon the speakers packed into the bigger shell. Amongst the minor complaints with the DSi is the audio was lacking in some titles, so new speakers should sort out this problem. The Nintendo DSi XL also makes a return to the snappy gloss finish of the original.

The Nintendo DSi XL is an alternative choice for those that like their gaming a little larger. Various game-players requested the DSi to be made smaller, sharper and lighter to make the portability easier. In this case, the DSi remains the smarter option. The DSi XL is maybe a better option for those who use the DSi at home or when stationary rather than on the move.

So it really is a question of preference. The Nintendo DSi XL provides a larger, chunkier gaming experience but reduces the ease of travel associated with earlier models. If this sounds like your kind of thing, then try it out. If not - don't worry! The existing DSi will be around for a long time yet!