Your Pocket Gamer guide to the Nintendo DSi XL

It was a little less than a year ago that our very own Rob Hearn wrote a similarly titled piece to this. The only difference was the lack of that ‘XL’ on the end.

It’s a fitting parallel to the situation Nintendo’s DSi XL finds itself in as it’s released in Europe today. The debate over the virtues of the new device has centred on one vital question:

"Is it different enough to the DSi?"

Of course, there’s also, "How in Mario’s name am I going to fit that in my pocket?" We can’t help you with that last one (other than to suggest combat trousers – very 1999, but perfect for rotund handhelds). Thanks to our coverage over the past four or five months, though, we can certainly offer an answer to the first question.

What’s more, you don’t even have to go searching for the info – we’ve compiled it all for you here, below this faintly rambling introduction. Whether you’re eagerly awaiting your DSi pre-order, sitting on the fence or completely ignorant of its charms, there’s something here for you.

So what do we think of the device? We got our hands on a Japanese model at the start of the year and duly brought you our impressions.

You can click here to read Damien’s opinion of the device. As we’re in a generous mood today, though, we’ll provide a succinct summary from Mr McFerran to save your mouse-clicky finger a job:

“Internally little has changed with the DSi XL but the larger screens and more comfortable size mean it's certainly worth considering if you're in the market for an upgrade; however, it's worth remembering that the DSi remains a cheaper – not to mention more pocket-sized – alternative.”

So that’s what we thought of the unit itself. But what are you likely to be playing on it in 2010? Well, as it’s still essentially a DS under all that plastic, the answer is, "Much the same as every other DS/DSi owner."

Still, there’s plenty to be excited about this year, and many games that will look and play even better on the DSi XL’s giant screens. Take a look at our most anticipated DS games of 2010.

So we’ve told you what we think of the new DSi, and we’ve told what you can look forward to playing on it over the coming months. So why are some of you still undecided?

Well, laying down £160 for anything is a pretty big decision nowadays. Doubly so when said outlay is for a device that even Nintendo probably wouldn’t term an essential upgrade.

Mindful of the unusually high level of fence sitting and confusion that the DSi XL has caused amongst gamers, we swung into action to help you decide. Damien returned to break down the device’s pros and cons in Do you need to buy a DSi XL?

Suffice to say it’s essential reading for those pondering a purchase. (And if that's you, we've since thrown in a look at the cheapest DSi XL deal in the UK – at the time of writing.)

We’ve been following the DSi XL since it was first rumoured and then denied by Nintendo mere days before the official announcement. It’s been a swift and discretely handled process alright. If history is your thing, you can follow the machine's journey here:

• 27th October: New larger-screen Nintendo DSi rumoured, denied
• 29th October: Nintendo reveals new DSi: DSi LL
• 29th October 2009: DSi LL becomes DSi XL for Europe, due early 2010
• 23rd November 2009: DSi XL goes on sale in Japan
• 24th November 2009: 100,000 DSi LL units sold in Japanese launch weekend
• 14th January 2010: DSi XL gets European launch on 5 March
• 15th January 2010: Pre-orders open for DSi XL in the UK, £159.99 RRP
• 24th February 2010: DSi XL out in the US on 28 March, priced $190

In fact it’s been so discretely handled and hype-free, that we’ve only got the one DSi XL video to shout about. It’s a good one, though, showing the device doing some fancy pants photo manipulation.

• Titillating video of the new DSi XL's photo manipulation technology

That's pretty much it. Only you can decide now whether you need an XL in your life or not.