I really, really wish Nintendo was as big as they used to be when I was growing up. I had high hopes for the 3DS and bought it on opening night. Before that, the last handheld device I ever got to own was a gameboy color. But now I have my own job. That's right. I make the money. I buy whatever I want. So you can imagine how excited I was to get this. Sadly, the 3DS was a complete waste of money and attention. Even the most hardcore nintendo fans I know barely touch theres. I still carry mine around to listen to my music, since a phone is out of my monthly price range, and I'll be lucky if I get a streetpass once a month.

The reason why you shouldn't buy a 3DS XL is the same reason the 3DS should never have been bought. It's not going to give anyone satisfaction because no changes were made save for one. The selling point for the XL is very simple; A bigger screen. However, they didn't change the resolution. That's right. Everything is bumped up like in photoshop, so blurriness may exist. If you want a larger screen why don't you just buy a TV or a computer monitor? At this point you can't carry the XL in your pocket anyway. You have to carry it around in a bag. Shouldn't I just carry a laptop around instead? They didn't even change the controls for the damn thing. My 3Ds's "A" Button, the button used for everything, was pressed in so much, I have to press down on it with a LOT more pressure than usual. It sounds trivial in words, but it makes playing games a LOT harder. The buttons are so small and tiny you can't play games the way you normally would. You have to be so very precise with everything that it takes away the retro feeling. After all of this, they didn't change the control for the new 3DS? Must I live with such savagery? Bigger, later; It's supposed to mean better - not the same thing.

One thing everyone will probably agree with me on, is that you really have to take what everything Nintendo says with a grain of salt. When the previews for the 3DS were out, the selling points were the resurrection of our beloved Nintendo classics, 3D, and internet. But the internet is so bad that no ones uses it. The 3D is incompatible with (my ballpark estimate) 98% of the the eshop games, not to mention that most generally choose to play without the 3D on anyway. It either drains what little battery life you do have, or it hurts people's eyes and causes pain. In your head.

I chose to overlook all of this. Why? Because I still had faith for the long-delayed E-shop. I wanted all my Nintendo classics back that were shown in the preview, which was supposed to have a small amount of 3D compatibility. Well, the Eshop came out and what are the games we get. A handful of nes games, and a bag full of old gameboy games. What. The. FUK They promised the best way to release classics, and give us the worst way.So why buy the XL? With every Nintendo platform they change all the ports, you'll be able to send your 3ds games over to the new version. Yippy.

The last, remaining answer I hear from anyone who's planning to buy it. "Well I want the bigger screen for when ----insert future game release here---- comes out." This, I can understand. Really. After a while when the gamecube was released, I bought the system for one game. The Legend of Zelda: The Windwaker. This is because I missed out on Majora's Mask at the time, and I was posessed with Ocarina of Time. Eventually, I did get every Gamecube game Link was featured in. However, I didn't do the same for the WII, and I never got to play Skyward Sword and see for myself how it was.

Weigh the pros and the many cons of the 3DS. One thing Nintendo never does is change their gameplan even if it means an obvious demise. If they're not changing anything from the 3DS, what makes anyone think the XL will be its phoenix is a complete mystery to me. Maybe it's desperation, hoping, needing Nintendo to reach a new golden age. But I always try to be as practical and realistic as possible. The XL isn't going to give anyone what the 3DS couldn't.