Nintendo Spills DS Lite Beans

If you, like most people in Japan, are frothing at the idea of the revamped DS, you'll want to check out this new information right now.

So you've heard about Nintendogs and the other popular DS games and you're thinking about taking the plunge. Perhaps what you need is a sleek new version of the console to push you over the edge. Enter the DS Lite, Nintendo's second incarnation of the dual-screen hardware.

Your first decision, before you even think of which games to buy, is what colour you want. The DS Lite will come in three colours: Crystal White, Ice Blue and Enamel Navy. Nintendo has not confirmed whether these other colours will be available outside of Japan, but there's a strong chance at least two of them will be.

The DS Lite brings new features too, in addition to its slimmer size. The screens have been boosted and now scream out at five times the brightness of the original DS at their maximum setting - there are three lower ones too. There's a new battery that charges faster and lasts longer and the D-pad and buttons are less clicky - similar to those on the Game Boy Micro.

Of course, you'll still be able to play Game Boy Advance games but these will stick out about a centimetre, thanks to the petite dimensions of the unit.

One caveat to importers is that the DS Lite uses a new power adaptor, so you won't be able to use the chargers from past Game Boy Advances or the current DS.

There's still no release date for the DS Lite in North America or Europe; it will hit DS-mad Japan on 2 March.

Alex Wollenschlaeger
Editor, Kikizo Games