Hardware People, just get a DS Lite!

[Apache Thunder]

Saying that you should use a DS Lite instead of the 3DS to play DS games is like having a Gameboy Advance but buying an original Gameboy just to play the older Gameboy games. Completely redundant.

The DS lite is useful if you have DS games that require a slot 2 device. So if you don't have a significant collection of games that need slot 2, there really isn't any reason to buy an older system to play games that will run just as well on your newer system.

In this instance the analog stick and the larger screen provided by the XL version means that the DS Lite is obsolete. So DS games look better even if the actual resolution isn't different.

Having a larger screen makes it easier to see what's going on in the game. Some folks are just being too OCD about the pixels.

 

[Bitbyte]

Saying that you should use a DS Lite instead of the 3DS to play DS games is like having a Gameboy Advance but buying an original Gameboy just to play the older Gameboy games. Completely redundant.

The DS lite is useful if you have DS games that require a slot 2 device. So if you don't have a significant collection of games that need slot 2, there really isn't any reason to buy an older system to play games that will run just as well on your newer system.

In this instance the analog stick and the larger screen provided by the XL version means that the DS Lite is obsolete. So DS games look better even if the actual resolution isn't different.

Having a larger screen makes it easier to see what's going on in the game. Some folks are just being too OCD about the pixels.

Redundant if you have bad eyesight, sure!

 

[Rydian]

Considering how many people see that keep updating their 3DS units or get somebody else that hits A once and updates it, I tell people to not get a 3DS for using a DS flash cart too. You lose features and gain nothing, emulation is still as bad as if you were using a Lite anyways.

 

[Apache Thunder]

Redundant if you have bad eyesight, sure!

Wait what? Logically a larger screen would help with bad eyesight issues. The "blurry" effect is just the result of the internal game resolution being stretched to fill the screen and and the effect is negligible at best.

Yeah so if you have bad eye sight, how does playing games on a small DS Lite screen help you more then playing it on a 3DS with the larger screen or the 3DS XL with an even larger screen?

It's not something I care too much about and I'm one with decent eye sight to begin with.

 

[2ndApex]

I own a DS Phat, Lite, DSiXL, and 3DS.

DSi XL is definitely the best way to go, not just screen-wise but grip and button quality wise but the 3DS is fine too just because I'm too lazy to carry two handhelds around. If you have a DSTWO you don't really need to worry about 3DS updates.

 

[Apache Thunder]

Yeah. I found Mario DS to be a lot easier to play with the analog stick. Even if it's not true analog like with 3DS games, it still makes it much easier to play since using diagonal positions on the d-pad are more tedious to do then with a analog stick and honestly didn't even notice the blurring effect from the screen being enlarged.

If you are too put off by the subtle blur effect, you are not paying enough attention to the game you are playing.

 

[Bitbyte]

Wait what? Logically a larger screen would help with bad eyesight issues. The "blurry" effect is just the result of the internal game resolution being stretched to fill the screen and and the effect is negligible at best.

Yeah so if you have bad eye sight, how does playing games on a small DS Lite screen help you more then playing it on a 3DS with the larger screen or the 3DS XL with an even larger screen?

It's not something I care too much about and I'm one with decent eye sight to begin with.

Also true, but I meant that the games look worse on the DSi XL. I've never been disappointed with a handheld purchase but I was with the DSi XL. I love how crisp the graphics look on the DS Lite and the DSi XL stretching the games makes them look pretty bad to me, personally. I know there's a lot of people out there who prefer gaming on the DSi XL's bigger screens though, but to me the games look perfect on the DS Lite (at the screen size they were made for).

 

[Apache Thunder]

Yeah the DSi is the b****d child of the DS series. At this point you might as well toss it and get the 3DS.

The DSi lacks an analog stick and all it has over the DS is slightly larger screen and slightly better hardware with the added camera and more refined internal OS UI. It's not a big enough leap to really justify buying it over a DS or waiting for a proper upgrade to the series.

I honestly don't know why Nintendo didn't just skip making the DSi and instead invested that time into the 3DS...

 

[RodrigoDavy]

Why spend $65 on a refurbished DS lite (which may come with dead pixels, awkward buttons and crappy battery) when you only need $15 for a flashcart? And let's not forget that using a 3DS for playing DS games have the advantage of being able to play all your games in one system and sound quality of DS games on 3DS is way better than in a DS lite. (and the lower graphic quality is barely noticeable imho)

 

[superspudz2000]

Yeah. I found Mario DS to be a lot easier to play with the analog stick. Even if it's not true analog like with 3DS games, it still makes it much easier to play since using diagonal positions on the d-pad are more tedious to do then with a analog stick and honestly didn't even notice the blurring effect from the screen being enlarged.

If you are too put off by the subtle blur effect, you are not paying enough attention to the game you are playing.

i found Mario Kart DS harder to play with analog stick, because you cant power slide as easily. you have to slide the nub left, then let it come to rest in the center, then slide it to the left again. rather than just tapping left, left on the D-Pad.

i did however find MK-super circuit on GBA and F-Zero GBA a lot easier on 3DS analog stick than a real GBA D-pad.

 

[Foxi4]

Firmware update evasion is a pain in the behind - I used to have ARK firmware on my PSVita via the Uno exploit and I just updated because the benefits of having an up-to-date system outweigh the benefits of having backwards compatibility backups launching on the system, I'd say the same rule applies to the 3DS. The DS line of handhelds is cheap as dirt and it's plug and play - any and all flashcarts will work plus you get the added benefit of two slots if you feel like using homebrew that requires the additional RAM cartridge.

The 3DS on the other hand, even in DS Mode is slightly less compatible with certain homebrew and that's fact. The internal clock works ever so slightly differently and does not return values in the same way a normal DS does, which is something I experienced myself during my coding career - this makes functions using rand() buggy at best (when you use the RTC clock as a reference point for rand(), you're in for a surprise on the 3DS - the generated value, for some reason, is always the same each run).

All in all, buying a DS Lite or even a DS is a very, very small expense and you get the benefit of higher compatibility and the convenience of not having to worry about updates ever.

 

[Xarsah16]

Firmware update evasion is a pain in the behind - I used to have ARK firmware on my PSVita via the Uno exploit and I just updated because the benefits of having an up-to-date system outweigh the benefits of having backwards compatibility backups launching on the system, I'd say the same rule applies to the 3DS. The DS line of handhelds is cheap as dirt and it's plug and play - any and all flashcarts will work plus you get the added benefit of two slots if you feel like using homebrew that requires the additional RAM cartridge.

The 3DS on the other hand, even in DS Mode is slightly less compatible with certain homebrew and that's fact. The internal clock works ever so slightly differently and does not return values in the same way a normal DS does, which is something I experienced myself during my coding career - this makes functions using rand() buggy at best (when you use the RTC clock as a reference point for rand(), you're in for a surprise on the 3DS - the generated value, for some reason, is always the same each run).

All in all, buying a DS Lite or even a DS is a very, very small expense and you get the benefit of higher compatibility and the convenience of not having to worry about updates ever.

So I haven't tried it yet, but the internal clock on Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald won't work on my DSTwo?

and yes, firmware evasion can be a bit annoying, but it's the price we have to pay for using flash carts or other exploits.
At least Sony has stopped releasing PSP firmware and the DSTwo has kept up with compatibility. I made a good choice forking out the extra $20 for it - because if I had gone with the R4, I would have recently bought a DSTwo instead of a new cart or a new pre-flashed one considering I would f up the cart's motherboard while cutting the signal line.

I think what I wanted to say earlier though is that after awhile, it will really make no difference whether the graphics are slightly blurred if you just stick to your 3DS.

I got used to playing Chrono Trigger almost from day one on my Supercard in my 3DS (not XL) and then one time I stuck the cart into my DSi, loaded it up, and the clarity of the sprites just looked so wrong and too sharp to me. It's all a matter of what we get used to. Of course there's a horrible noticeable difference. It's like me playing FFVII on my small PSX screen, or plugging in my display cord to watch it on my television. Looks great on the PSP system, looks absolutely terrible on the TV. I'm sure i could learn to tolerate the TV's lack of clarity, but it will certainly take awhile.

 

[Nathan Drake]

I dunno why people are complaining about the price of the DSlite so much. Sure, if you go with Amazon, people are going to charge you about what you would expect from a used electronics retailer. They're out there to make money, not to make you a deal. If you hunt on sites that deal locally though, you're likely to find one quite easily in the $30 to $40 range (or your country's equivalent depending on location) that will more than satisfy you in terms of overall quality. Considering how cheaply you can get a reliable flash cart for the DS Lite, that will cost you next to nothing if you don't have one to use already.

So essentially, for the price of the one flash cart that can still seem to easily bypass Nintendo's firmware updates, you can get a system that will make it so you never have to deal with firmware updates and your DS flash cart ever again. Or is there a problem with future proofing against Nintendo updates if you still want to be a dirty pirate with your DS games (or for the rare person that legitimately loves homebrew)? I mean, hell, you can pick up a DSi XL of any firmware at this point and still get a cart that can bypass what was likely the final update for the system fairly easily and then never worry about it again. No matter how you slice it, it makes sense to have an older Nintendo DS handheld until the time if/when the 3DS is hacked to a degree where DS flash carts are obsolete in playing DS games on the 3DS.

If you're happy playing the game of dodging updates, sure, stick with what you've got. Just know that there is absolutely no guarantee that the next update or the update after that won't lock out DS flash carts for good, and you'll have to decide between updating your 3DS and using it for what it was made for and illegally playing DS games.

 

[Jayro]

Yeah the DSi is the b****d child of the DS series. At this point you might as well toss it and get the 3DS.

The DSi lacks an analog stick and all it has over the DS is slightly larger screen and slightly better hardware with the added camera and more refined internal OS UI. It's not a big enough leap to really justify buying it over a DS or waiting for a proper upgrade to the series.

I honestly don't know why Nintendo didn't just skip making the DSi and instead invested that time into the 3DS...

You forgot one huge feature though... INTERNET, which is what the "i" in "DSi" stands for!

 

[JulietStMoon]

i know this has been stated in the sticky

Then why did you make a whole new post about it?

 

[Sakitoshi]

3DS is a horrible way to play DS Games. for one thing the display is stretched out to fit the higher resolution of the 3DS, so DS games look blurry and washed out. and if you set it to the proper resolution by holding SELECT, then it displays the same size as a DS Lite / DSi anyway.

nop, when you use the select+start combo for native resolution the screen is very small, and the DSi has bigger screens than the regular 3DS on stretched DS mode.

thinking about the Analog Stick? think again. it still only registers 4-directions, DS is Digital control only. so there is really NO advantage to using it over the D-pad. and actually its even WORSE, Super Mario 64 is impossible with the slider pad, (i could not get the chain chomp off the leash after hours of trying), and even if you wanted to use the D-Pad they moved it down so far its now uncomfortable to access.

agreed with the horrible way of control digital buttons with analog controls, is just...... no..... they shouldn't even give you the option of use the circlepad, but the 3ds dpad can appear hard to access but isn't, in fact I'm playing DK return 3d with the dpad controls.

not trying to advertise, but dealextreme has DS Lites for $66. yes they are probably refurbished but they are 1:1 exactly the same as a brand new model from Nintendo.
And if you are electronically inclined you can just buy the parts from DX and refurbish an old DS Lite yourself for next to nothing!

yep, DS's are very cheap now, but some people like to kill 2 birds with one shot and/or want to play DS and 3DS but can't afford buying bout.

personally i like both DS Lite and DS Phat, theres really not much difference between them, anybody that says one DS's screen is better is just a DS Snob or being picky. DS Phat works fine on brightly colored games like mario kart or clubhouse games.

DS screens are less saturated and early games used these colors as reference, thus looking oversaturated on the DS Lite screens, but overall I find the DS Lite screens oversaturated when compared to the DSi screens too.

What about the DSi XL?
1. theres really nothing interesting on DSi ware.
2. even the larger DSi XL screen is still the same resolution just stretched out, DS Lite looks way better because of this, and you dont have to worry about updates blocking the flashcard, and it loads without the DSi menu, and you have in-game brightness adjustment, AND it plays GBA games, AND it supports Slot-2 peripheral like Guitar Hero controller, arkanoid paddle, Rumble Pak, etc. AND you can use a DS lite to update flashcart firmware, or switch your Cyclo DSi into DSi mode.

1. what about Shantae, Mighty Milky Way, Mighty Flip Champs, Cave Story and Dark Void Zero??
2. yes, indeed is the same resolution OF THE DS, DON'T JUST ASSUME THAT BIGGER SCREENS EQUALS GREATER RESOLUTION, the screens looks as crisp as ever.
3. the blocked flashcards is a problem of the past on DSi, I don't think they would be releasing anymore updates.
4. you are right with the slot-1 peripherals, nothing to do there, I admit I liked the idea of guitar hero on the go even when I'm not a fan of guitar hero and the rumble pak is a neat idea, but the support is very limited that makes it useless.

DS Lite is like a swiss army knife of DS's, it does everything!

does a lot of things but I still don't like the fell of the buttons and the look of the screens, the GBA SP + DSi combo is better I think.

and after all what I said, I need to add that is all a matter of taste.

 

[Xarsah16]

So I haven't tried it yet, but the internal clock on Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald won't work on my DSTwo?

Does someone know? I'm knee deep in other game stuffs. XD It would be really nice if my question could be answered

Also -

not trying to advertise, but dealextreme has DS Lites for $66. yes they are probably refurbished but they are 1:1 exactly the same as a brand new model from Nintendo.

And if you are electronically inclined you can just buy the parts from DX and refurbish an old DS Lite yourself for next to nothing!

I can confirm they are refurbished units, and occasionally the housing is produced slightly off. I saw one girl post a review where she couldn't get a DS game to fit in a DX Refurb lite because the Slot-1 was too small. These units are from Hong Kong, not Nintendo, so it's not guaranteed they will work. They are also shipped with aftermarket stylus and chargers.

The other thing is the screens are prone to flickering... it's a cheap idea, but may not be worth the risk.

 

[reprep]

i got my ds lite for 30$s including a R4 card, 2 gb micro sd and 2 original cartridge with one of them the new super mario bros. do not buy from ebay or amazon, have a look at trade sections of forums etc.

also compared with ds phat, it is screen is much much better.

 

[tbgtbg]

Some games actually look nicer stretched out. I've been playing Resident Evil Deadly Silence on my 3DSXL and the slight blurring of the stretch actually helps things a bit.

And if you have a game that doesn't look good stretched, 1:1 mode on the XL is pretty much exactly the same size as on an original DS.

These days I pretty much only use my DS for GBA games (or maybe if I play a DS game that supports the rumble pak) and only use my SP for GB/GBC games.

 

[Sakitoshi]

Xarsah16 said: ↑

So I haven't tried it yet, but the internal clock on Pokemon Ruby/Sapphire/Emerald won't work on my DSTwo?​

Does someone know? I'm knee deep in other game stuffs. XD It would be really nice if my question could be answered

they do work on the ndsgba 1.21 if you copy this inside your NDSGBA folder on the sd card, and should work on TempGBA too!! , to say truth I have not tested TempGBA enough.

I can confirm they are refurbished units, and occasionally the housing is produced slightly off. I saw one girl post a review where she couldn't get a DS game to fit in a DX Refurb lite because the Slot-1 was too small. These units are from Hong Kong, not Nintendo, so it's not guaranteed they will work. They are also shipped with aftermarket stylus and chargers.

The other thing is the screens are prone to flickering... it's a cheap idea, but may not be worth the risk.

yeah, I remember seeing a video on youtube about a girl that bought on ebay a "fake" DS Lite(I don't think was really fake, was just a really low quality case) and the slot-1 was not big enough to let a ds cart in, but the ds firmware and slot-2 was fully functional.