Into the Lite

At last, I finally lay my hands on the elusive DS Lite! Thanks to an insider tip-off on shipping and one-console-per-person rationing at the Kobe branch of Toys 'R' Us, Nintendo DS Lite goodness is finally mine. When I opened the package and was able to play Mario Kart DS, I was surprised at how much difference the new screens make. The DS Lite is truly much more than an aesthetic improvement - games actually look fresh and new on the improved screens. We all knew that the screens would be brighter (there are several levels of brightness available), but I was certainly not expecting such an overall improvement of visual quality. The colours in each game just appear more vibrant and the visuals are sharper. The new stylus is also a great improvement - being slightly wider it offers more comfort to the player.

So it would seem the DS Lite is an overall improvement in many areas. There only appears to be one drawback though: It would seem that the speakers are slightly smaller and don't sound quite as nice as the original DS versions. However, if you play with headphones or even external speakers, the problem is soon solved.

I've posted a picture here taken against tatami flooring for added Japanese authenticity...