Nintendo has released its new budget alternative to the Nintendo 3DS, the Nintendo 2DS, in major territories including the UK.
The Nintendo 2DS was officially revealed on August 28, when its quirky style took gamers and tech fans alike by surprise.
Here was a highly unusual-looking (even by Nintendo's standards) handheld with a large, square, almost tablet-like form factor. Gone was the signature hinge of the clamshell-design Nintendo 3DS and the Nintendo DS before it.
Of course, most tablets just have the one screen. This being a Nintendo handheld there are two, the top being a standard 3.5-inch LCD display (with a mere 400 x 240 resolution) and the bottom being a narrower 3-inch resistive touch screen.
It's much like the Nintendo 3DS, in other words, but for one vital feature. Whereas the top display on the Nintendo 3DS has a glasses-free 3D feature, the Nintendo 2DS has nothing of the kind.
Indeed, this simplified design is essentially a budget Nintendo 3DS, with a suitably low price tag. Out now in the UK, US, Europe and Australia, the Nintendo 2DS costs just £109.99. That's £40 cheaper than the Nintendo 3DS.
While some have questioned the unorthodox design of the Nintendo 2DS since its unveiling, the console's release has been cleverly timed to coincide with the launch of Pokemon X and Y.
The latest and biggest entry in the massively popular "gotta catch 'em all" adventure game series should prove a huge pull for kids, making the availability of a compatible handheld for just over £100 a tempting prospect for budget-conscious parents.
Next read why the Wii U is Nintendo’s Dreamcast.
