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| Nintendo DS Lite Handheld Console (Black) | 
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| From: Nintendo
Category: Video Games
Buy New: £128.55
Buy New/Used from £118.99
Avg. Customer Rating:  (72 reviews)
Sales Rank: 237
Platform: Nintendo Ds
Media: Video Game
Batteries Included: No
Age: 3 - 12 years
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0
Dimensions (in): 0.4 x 0.4 x 0.4
MPN: NIN345
UPC: 045496442439
EAN: 0045496442439
ASIN: B000FTQR8K
Release Date: June 23, 2006
Availability: Usually dispatched within 1-2 business days
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| Customer Reviews:
 An original handheld that is great fun for everyone July 3, 2007
67 out of 76 found this review helpful
The DS Lite is the newer of the two DS models that have come out since it's first release in March 2005 (in the UK). This new Lite model is lighter in weight (hence the name), smaller, has better screen quality featuring different light settings and more colour, the buttons are more rounded making it friendlier on the thumbs and the stylus is a lot bigger and easier to hold. Closing the DS's "clam-shell" will also put the game into sleep mode, allowing you to pause the game for long periods of time, which is perfect for short plays. The battery is another big improvement on the DS Lite, giving up to 15 hours of gameplay in one charge, depending on the brightness setting.
The games are the thing that makes the DS a lot better than other handheld systems, mainly due to it's unique touch-screen controls on most games, giving you a much more innovative gaming experience when playing even the most basic games.
The only problem with the DS is it's graphics. When in 3D, the visuals can be quite poor (with the exception of Super Mario 64 DS and Mario Kart DS) especially when compared to it's main rival, the more powerful Sony PSP. In 2D though the graphics are usually top-notch, displaying many colours and sharp animation.
There's also so many varieties of game genres available on the DS, like platformers (Mario 64, Sonic Rush), racing (Mario Kart, Diddy Kong Racing), strategy (Advance Wars Dual Strike, Age of Empires), puzzle (Zoo Keeper, Tetris DS), adventure (Resident Evil Deadly Silence), shooters (Metroid Prime Hunters), mind tests (Brain Training, Big Brain Academy), role-playing (Mario & Luigi: Partners in Time, Final Fantasy III), detective/courtroom adventures (Phoenix Wright, Hotel Dusk Room 215) even pet sims (Nintendogs, Sims 2 Pets) and dance games (Elite Beat Agents). Unfortunately there is a lack of any fighting games on the DS.
Overall the DS (and DS Lite) is great fun to play with a huge variety of games and can also play Gameboy Advance games, which offers hundreds of more titles. There seems to be something for everyone on the DS, with lots of innovative ideas and some of the most original games available on any console.
Get the DS Lite! June 30, 2007
20 out of 25 found this review helpful
I had the original DS, but after a couple of years of wear and tear I opted to upgrade it with a DS Lite. And what a difference it made! I remember seeing one at the Nintendo Store in New York last year, and thinking how better the screen display was compared to the DS, but honestly, I never thought it was that big a difference until I played it myself again, and wow, the extra brightness really makes a difference. Plus the DS Lite looks a lot slicker than the DS. Anyway, if you don't have a handheld console and you're wondering which one to get, I would say DS Lite - the interactivity on this console is amazing, and really draws you into the gameplay. I have some friends who never really liked video games before, but after playing games like Trauma Center, Brain Age and New Super Mario Bros, went out and got their own consoles. The games available for the DS are, for the main part, extremely fun. I suppose it comes down to what you value most in a console. If it's flashy graphics, then perhaps the PSP is better, although the graphics are by no means poor on the DS. However, if it is the gameplay and interactive experience (and the fun that usually brings along) that you are after, then go for the DS Lite.
 DS vs. PSP (non fanboy perspective) June 26, 2007
53 out of 105 found this review helpful
In the field of portable gaming the choice that most newcomers will make will be between the Nintendo DS and Sony's PSP.
Having traded in the DS to get the PSP, I might be slightly biased, but I think the strengths and weaknesses of both platforms can be pretty easily identified.
The PSP has better graphics. End of story. Have a look at Ratchet and Clank running on the PSP and see if you can find anything that looks like that on the DS. You can't. Only the much lauded Metroid Prime: Hunters comes close.
If you want the latest colourful toy to impress your friends with, then consider no further. The PSP is your thing.
But it isn't quite perfection.
The PSP has a bigger screen, with brighter and sharper colours, but it is bought at the expense of some pretty extreme blurring at times. Rotate the camera in Chile Non Carnage to see the landscape simply wash out into a mush of rich Mexican gold. Or witness the fringing effects around strong toned sharp edges in LocoRoco.
Having said that, the screen is easy enough to look at, and the blurring issue doesn't
spoil the experience.
The double screens on the DS are both solid. But then they aren't doing as much.
The controls on the PSP are fairly standard issue. The PSP has an analogue stick, which works pretty well. The DS doesn't need a stick, because it has a touch screen.
Neither system is perfect, with the PSP suffering at times from button overload. It's all too easy to hit the wrong button whilst simply adjusting your sitting position. The thing bristles with buttons! The DS is relatively sparsely populated by comparison.
The DS can feel a little cramped at times, especially when using the stylus on the touch screen at the same time as a full set of buttons. The PSP feels better, but lacks the precision afforded by the touch screen.
The PSP has way better sound, but only through headphones. Neither machine has anything approaching enough volume through the built in speakers, the PSP being particularly bad. But through a half decent set of cans the PSP wins out hands down.
The DS uses a traditional cartridge format, which is much less of an issue in these days of cheap chips and memory. But the PSP UMD CD based format does have the potential to deliver more Including full length movies). But that does mean that the PSP needs a memory card, which might be a bit of a pain if it wasn't for the many other uses you can make of it.
You can (of course) save games to the memory card, but you can also connect it to your PC via USB and share files. You can store and play back both video, pictures and music from your PSP. The DS has no such magic.
Both machines will address the internet, but only the PSP allows you to download demos and software direct to the memory card. Through wi fi you can play multiplayer with both machines, either between individual units in close proximity, or over the web.
So, in technical terms the PSP looks much stronger, with only its somewhat Heath Robinson ergonomics letting it down. The DS has the second screen in the lid, allowing both screens to be protected when the unit is closed. You will need a tough case for the PSP or that lovely screen will be scratched fairly quickly. I never needed a case for the DS.
Incidentally, in practice the double screen of the DS is a gimmick. The touch screen effectively acts as a control surface like a touch pad on a laptop. But it is as much a pain to use as it is a joy, requiring one hand to be suspended unsupported above the console. It would be fine if the graphics of the DS were up to delivering a good first person shooter experience, where a "better than a mouse" control system might come into it's own. But they aren't.
When it comes to games the sheer breadth of variety available for the PSP again pushes it ahead. There is still a good variety of stuff for the Nintendo, but in terms of the number of games available at any one time there is a bewildering paucity. Where is LemmingsDS - the game the platform might have been made for? Where are the good driving games? The PSP has two Burnout titles every bit as good as the "grown up" versions. The DS has Mario Kart. Fine if you're a fan of Mario Kart (which I am!) but hardly cutting edge stuff.
So, if you love games and want to have a good supply of them get the PSP. If you'd like to watch videos, store pictures or listen to music on the same machine, get the PSP. If you want to browse the web from free hotspots, get the PSP.
If you want to play Nintendogs or Mario Kart, get the DS.
Excellent all around June 18, 2007
8 out of 11 found this review helpful
When one browses the internet for the latest hand-held console, one tends to think, "Sony or Nintendo". I always say that its worth going for the less froogle approach, but on this unusual occasion, I would think otherwise.
The first thing that attracted me to the DS was the price. For just under , you get a myriad of features, a plethora of games and not to mention the gargantuan abilities of this small but all so mighty console. At a glance, the touch screen seems like a novelty that Nintendo has feebly sneaked in to woo the gaming public, but when stylus loses its innocence to the screen, an aura of smugness embraces the gamer in a way that could not be imagined. Its elusive design and seductive backlit screen never fails to make one tremble at the knees.
The main feature that singles out Nintendo from the rest is the wide range of games ONLY available on Nintendo consoles. For example, where else can you find the red-capped rotund rogue that we have have become so dearly fond of over the years,the one only known as Super Mario? Nuff said!
Why I Prefer a DS To a PSP May 13, 2007
30 out of 37 found this review helpful
Just thought i'd share my initial thoughts on my DS:
The console is really good and light, much easier to carry and transport around than a PSP. Good range of games, I found at least 15 I would be interested in getting.
Also, the Touch screen works really well. It can be used instead, or in accompliment, to the usual A,B,X,Y buttons. It's certainly a lot better and easier to use than the analog style feature on the PSP, which my hands often slid off and was very uncomfortable to use, not just the surface of it, but the location of it on the PSP. The PSP also had poor battery life, and is far more fragile than a DS.
The range of games for the DS, as I already touched on, is a lot better. JUst by searching through Amazon, I found some games I like, such as Mario Basketball, Goldeneye: Rogue Agent, two Yoshi games, a range of Pokemon games, a range of Mario games, those Brain Trainign gams everyone has been going on about. Theres also the 'Must Buys' Like Pro Evo 6 and Need for Speed. Theres even a Burnout game out there, although from what I've heard it isn't a patch on the console versions.
I also found a Crash Bandicoot game, which always entertain me. There's also a couple of Tony Hawks games, and some good film based games such as Ice Age 2. Two games I decided against purchasing were 'Animal Crossing: Wld World'. Now the last time I heard so many rave reviews and so much hype over a game was GTA3, and that's saying something. The other one was 'Cooking Mama', which is a neat idea in which basically you take on the role of a chef!
As for the games i've bought:
Pokemon Diamond
This reminds me of why I love gaming. This is the best Pokemon game since Blue, when Pokemon was a worldwide phenomenon. The game is challenging, original, addictive and has a very long life, as yo can always train up your pokemon more! Honestly, believe the hype, this game is well worth buying. The best of the DS games that I have, and this comes highly recommended!
Spiderman 3
Now upon first playing this, I got very annoyed with the touch screen dominating the game, and being used for more than one function at the same time. However, I now love this game! Just swinging around as Spiderman is hours of fun, and like Pokemon, you don't just have to do 'Missions' as such (I suppose you could call it Gyms in Pokemon Diamond) you can just run around (or swing around) defeating baddies and feeling good about yourself. I wouldn't call this a must buy, but it's worth a look!
Diddy Kong Racing
Having never played the Nintendo 64 version, but having played Mario Kart, I would go out and call this the best racing game on the DS. It reminds me of Crash Team racing on PSone, although not up to that calibre quite yet. It's a good time filler, although doesn't have the depth of the two games i've already mentioned. However, because it's the best DS racing game (in my humble opinion) I would stick my neck out and say buy it!
Pokemon Mystery Dungeon: Blue Rescue Team
For starters, this game doesn't have the greatest of graphics. It certainly looks like more GBA quality. I nhaven't played this game much, but it's very basic in my opinion. The gameplay is very one dimesnional and a bit limited at times. There isn't really much use for the touch screen either. I wouldn't recommend this at the moment, but that's subject to change when i've played it a bit more. Only for the most Hardcore of Pokemon of fans is my intial judgement.
Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney
A novel idea for a game, and despite only having only completed one cae at this stage, I would say this is a fantastic game. You take on the role of a defence lawyer, and try to defend someone in court. Now for starters this game isn't active, there's a lot of reading to do and it's perhaps only good for the more patient and intellectual gamer. The graphics are top notch, the touch screen works well, and I definitely plan on cracking another case this weekend. A worthwhile purchase.
DR Kawashima's Brain Training
I only got this game yesterday, took the brain age chck and my brain age is 55, apparently. The thing with this game is you hav to sit down for a while with it and get used to it. It also does what it says on the tin is how i'd put it, in the fact I played it while tired and instantly developed a headache. However the ability ofr the DS to recognise what you're writing is very clever, and is this is supposedly the best selling DS game, it must be good. I'd be able to give a better judgement in a little while (And when my Brain age is a lot better).
Tiger Woods: PGA Tour
I've also got Tiger Woods PGA Tour, first off it was a bargain, a mere tenner off of Amazon. I've only played this game for half an hour or so and all I can really say is the graphics ae great, but the controls are going to get a little while to get used to. I'm suprised they haven't followed up this game, as this is the 2005 version, but don't let that put you off, it looks a very well put together game at the moment.
Well, those are my thoughts, thanks for reading ;)
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