Nintendo‘s third-dimensionless 2DS is getting a price drop a few months ahead of the typical holiday shopping sweeps. The company circulated a press release this morning announcing that the suggested retail pricing change will take effect August 30th. With the inclusion of a digital game download, that puts the system in an attractive price range for gamers who have yet to play any 3DS titles. (I’d wager some retailers will cut another $10-15 off for one-off sales closer to Christmas.)
“On Aug. 30, the suggested retail price of the portable Nintendo 2DS system drops to $99.99 and will still come packaged with the digital version of the acclaimed Mario Kart 7 game”
Mario Kart 7 stands out as a one of the top-rated games on the 2DS and 3DS systems, and quite frankly, nothing is lost when playing the game on a system without 3D capabilities. If you’re anything like me, playing a racing game on a handheld does not evoke calm behavior; my hands and head are anything but stationary, and the three-dimensional functionality of the older 3DS models rely on stationary gameplay. As is the case with all current Nintendo systems, the 2DS features parental controls to limit gaming exposure for younger players. The lack of the clamshell design is also a boon for parents wishing to introduce their kids to a gaming system that has less of a chance of snapping in the wrong direction.
“Other games for all ages and skill levels launching for Nintendo 3DS before the end of the year include Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer, Chibi-Robo! Zip Lash, Pokémon Super Mystery Dungeon, The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes and YO-KAI WATCH. All games are compatible with all Nintendo 3DS family systems, including Nintendo 2DS.”
The money saved thanks to the price drop can be put towards the NFC Amiibo reader peripheral, launching in late September. With Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer launching with a full set of collectible amiibo cards, the standalone reader adds full amiibo compatibility to the Nintendo 3DS and 2DS. The savings could also be put toward a larger-capacity SDHC card for game storage. The default card comes with a memory capacity of 4GB, and once you’ve downloaded the included Mario Kart 7, you’ll be itching for more storage. The system has full online capabilities, so online multiplayer is supported for games that utilize the feature.
Any plans to pick one of these sturdy handhelds up for yourself when the price drops? Already have one and would like to share your thoughts on it? Sound off below!
