A Nintendo DSi Review: Is The Handheld Gaming System Worth The Purchase?

The Nintendo DSi is the 7^th generation of handheld gaming system published by Nintendo. It is not a new console, rather, it is an upgrade of the existing Nintendo DS and the Nintendo DS Lite. In this Nintendo DSi review, we will attempt to answer the following question: is the Nintendo DSi worth the purchase?

Released in Japan in 2008, the Nintendo DSi reached American soil in April of 2009. Already a big hit in the Far East, having sold more than 2 million units as of this writing, the Nintendo DSi is expected to be a big hit in the Western market as well.

Most Nintendo DSi reviews criticize the handheld for being a mere supplemental device to the original Nintendo DS and Nintendo DS Lite. Such criticisms are not unfounded. The Nintendo DSi is, in essence, the same machine as the DS and the DS Lite, albeit, with the following improvements:

- A sleeker, more portable design;

- A smoother, more resistant exterior;

- Dual cameras integrated in the system;

- An SD slot added as an external memory option;

- Improved audio functions, making the DSi comparable to the best MP3 players in the market today;

- An extra level of brightness;

- Faster processing power at 16 MB RAM compared to the 4 MB RAM of previous models;

- A DSi Shop for online transactions and purchase of classic games; and

- Improved WiFI connectivity.

So, since the system is a mere upgrade to consoles which you may already own, should this Nintendo DSi review brand with a failing mark?

If only it was that simple.

The fact is, the Nintendo DSi is necessary step towards the future. Masato Kuwahara, the head of Nintendo’s engineering department, believed that the DS and DS Lite were being left behind by the changing times. Much has changed since 2004, when the original Nintendo DS was released. The functionalities demanded by the modern gamer cannot be fulfilled by the old models of the gaming system.

If the new features could’ve been added via peripherals for the old models, then this Nintendo DSi review would have an easier time in assessing the same. But the new features can only be implemented through the creation of a new system, engineered from scratch. This is the Nintendo DSi.

So, here is the verdict of this Nintendo DSi review: yes, it is worth the purchase. It is the first step towards the evolution of the portable gaming market. The Nintendo DSi carries a lot of new and exciting features that will change the way that software will be designed in the months to come. The Nintendo DSi makes a lot of new gaming mechanics possible that, to fully enjoy the games that are soon to be released, the gamer must have a unit of his own.