Why the 2DS is a Logical Choice

No, this is not to hate on the 3DS. If you want to get a 3DS, and have the money to get a 3DS or 3DS XL, or are far-sighted and can't read stuff on screens that well, or actually want the 3D, get a 3DS or a 3DS XL.

This is for people who DO NOT ALREADY HAVE A 3DS. I'm making that abundantly clear. If you do not already have a 3DS or 2DS or any part of the 3DS family, this is for you. If you do, disregard this article. It'll probably make you angry.

Now, let's get down to some reasons why the 2DS is a logical choice for handheld gaming if you are on a tight budget and just want to play some of the fun offerings the 3DS library has to offer.

Firstly, the price. Right now at Best Buy, the price of a regular Blue 3DS is $150 before tax. That's not bad. But, compare it to the 2DS. The 2DS is $130. You're probably asking "Oh, that's not that much, the 3DS is more portable, so that's a nice price." Well, here's the deal. The Blue 3DS comes with a 2GB SD card, a 3D functionality, and a hinge. The 2DS comes with a 4GB SD card, no 3D functionality, and no hinge. That means you are paying $20 more for less memory, a function that'll hurt your eyes after 20-30 minutes, and a moving part that can break after extended use, and some portability. To me, that doesn't seem logical, especially when the $20 you save can go towards a game.

Let's continue on to the build quality. Every 3DS I've played with has had a floppy hinge, and been kind of awkward to hold on my adult hands. The build quality of the normal 3DS, and even the 3DS XL is equivalent to the first DS that came out in 2004. That's not to say it's bad, but it's not that good, either. You do get the added portability of cutting the size in half when you aren't using it, and you protect the screen too, but after a while, that hinge will start to become floppy, and eventually break. Trust me.

The 2DS on the other hand cuts moving parts to a minimum. Plus, since it's a complete slab of plastic, it adds much needed rigidity to the handheld. There's no flex at all. It feels more like the original Gameboy Advance, which could take a beating (I threw mine against a wall. It still works). It's build quality is amazing, and not having any moving parts means it'll last a lot longer, which is always a point when you are on a budget.

Lastly, we come to the games. Oh, wait, they play the same games! There's no difference in the ability to play games, other than some puzzles in a few of the pre-2DS games are harder to play without the 3D. They play the exact same games. The normal 3DS and the 2DS have the exact same size screens, so you aren't losing anything from playing on one or the other.

If you just want to play Luigi's Mansion, or the Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, or Pokemon, and don't care about 3D, having a stupidly big screen, or immense portability, I highly, HIGHLY recommend getting a 2DS instead of a 3DS.

And just to pound the fact home, let's do a little math:
3DS = $150. Pokemon X/Y = $40. $150 + $40 = $190.
2DS = $130. Pokemon X/Y = $40. $130 + $40 = $170.

If you have the ability to go to a Best Buy and have $210 in your pocket, get a 3DS. If you are on a budget, are asking for a handheld console for Christmas, or just want to play the exact same games, get a 2DS. If you want a larger screen and have no budget get a 3DS XL.

But I think as budget gamers, we're going to go with what makes us happy and not poor. So I recommend you buy a 2DS, AS LONG AS YOU ALREADY DON'T HAVE A 3DS CONSOLE. Don't be stupid.

Happy gaming.