Nintendo 2DS review - Telegraph Combine this with the removal of the 3D feature and you have a device tailor made for the younger end of the gaming spectrum - Nintendo had previously advised parents to switch off the 3D feature for children under 7 years old. These changes have also had half an eye on the bottom line. The 2DS is priced at around £110, which, while not exactly cheap, does offer a lower price-point than the 3DS or 3DS XL, particularly when you consider that the 2DS comes with a larger 4GB SD Card for storing games. Lowering each of these barriers to entry may well open the flood gates for a wider demographic. Mums, dads and grandparents have grumbled at not being able to play the latest Professor Layton games on their old DS hardware, so perhaps the 2DS provides a less painful route to upgrading. We saw a similar cycle with the original DS. Although no sales slouch originally, it wasn't until the DS Lite revision that the unit really started shifting in big numbers. Again this was a significant design departure and as much as a surprise as the 2DS when it was announced. The 2DS's battery life is about the same as the original 3DS. All this isn't to say the 2DS is perfect. Only having one speaker seems a little stingy and only offers mono sound. Also, like the 3DS XL the sound quality and volume doesn't match the launch 3DS model. Players may well be reaching for headphones to improve this. The 2DS's battery life and screen size pretty much match the original 3DS, and offered around 4 hours playing time in my tests. The screens themselves, although not as big as the 3DS XL, seem to benefit from a brighter display and wider viewing angle. Not being able to fold the unit does also make it more vulnerable to scratches when dropped into a school bag, meaning you will likely have to buy the official (or similar) case that offers protection to the 2DS in transit. This is otherwise an intelligent new iteration of the 3DS from Nintendo, a handheld that has built a fantastic collection of games. Assuming they are able to communicate clearly the advantages of the unit, and clear up any confusion over the name, it is likely to sell very well as Christmas approaches. The Nintendo 2DS is released on 12 October for £109.99 Andy Robertson is a freelance family gaming expert for the BBC and runs the Family Gaming YouTube channel.