DSi XL: 10 games that are better on the big screen

60 Comments

Your first reaction when you hold a DSi XL may be one of surprise when you realise how big it actually is but you'll soon be smiling when you lift the lid, turn on your new console, slip in Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks and watch that opening cut-scene.

You see, these supersize screens can actually make your playing experience better and, in some cases, easier. We've listed the ten games we think will be improved by playing them on the DSi XL. These aren't necessarily the best games for the console - although they are all great - but the ones that are perhaps more even enjoyable to play on DSi XL than on DS Lite. They include games that will look beautiful on the big screens, others that require lots of fiddly stylus prodding and some that require you to design things on the Touch screen.

Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks

1. Legend Of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
We've already mentioned it in the intro but if you wanted to show a sceptical friend how good the DSi XL's big screens are, this is the game to do it. As soon as you turn it on for them and they see Link at the controls of the train with Princess Zelda in tow, they'll realise that they want one of these new handhelds. It's easier to see what you're doing when you're moving Link around with the stylus too.

Mario Kart DS

2. Mario Kart DS
This is the flagship game that Nintendo has chosen to show off the DSi XL. Placed side-by side, Mario Kart DS looks so much better on the big screen. Now it looks like an N64 game, the screens are clearer and you'll be able to spot the annoying banana skins much more easily as you bomb around the track. Mario Kart is one of those games that's good to watch and friends will be able to check out how you're doing in a multiplayer game.

Animal Crossing: Wild World

3. Animal Crossing: Wild World
Your town looks lovely on the big screens. Although little happens on the top screen, this is one of those games which will be a little bit easier to play on DSi XL, especially when you're writing notes with the new pen-like stylus, arranging your furniture or designing outfits for your character.

Flipnote Studio

4. Flipnote Studio
Most artists would surely prefer to draw on a larger canvas than a small one (although the Mona Lisa is quite small in real life) and you'll find drawing your animations on Flipnote Studio a lot easier on the DSi XL's screen. You don't have to be so precise and you might not have to suffer that annoying moment when you start writing something only to run out of space.

Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars

5. Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars
You only have to take a glance at the screenshots of Chinatown Wars to see that there's a lot going on in the streets of Liberty City. With vehicles clogging up the streets, gangsters shooting at you and pedestrians wandering around, it is a bustling metropolis. And it's a city that really comes alive on the DSi XL as you can see more clearly what's going on.

Art Style Picopict

6. Art Style Picopict
We love this PicoPict. In fact, we suggest that you download this sweet DSIWare puzzler as soon as you open your DSi XL. However, this challenging, lightning fast game can be fiddly, especially when you're moving the blocks from the bottom of the screen to make a cube or a line of four. This could be one to play with the new pen-style stylus.

Super Mario 64 DS

7. Super Mario Bros. 64 DS
Play this on your DSi XL and it will be like you've gone back 14 years in time. Back to a time before 6000 inch flatscreen tellies and 7.1 surround sound. Back when you were playing your games on your small portable in your bedroom. As with New Super Mario Bros., the Mushroom Kingdom looks sweet on DSi XL but Mario 64 should be easier to control on DSi XL.

Final Fantasy IV

8. Final Fantasy IV
As with the opening cinematic in Spirit Tracks, there are some cut-scenes to behold in Final Fantasy IV. This is one of those games that really pushes the DS to its limits and the result is one of the most beautiful games on the system. Why wouldn't you want to watch the drama play out on a bigger screen? Final Fantasy III isn't bad either!

Metroid Prime Hunters

9. Metroid Prime Hunters
There's a reason why people like to play PC shooters on big monitors. It brings the action alive and it's no different with a Hunters deathmatch on DSi XL. Also, scanning plays a big part in the single-player adventure as if you get stuck, it's usually because of something you've missed. You might find it easier to spot that structural weakness in a tall rock that holds the key to your progression.

Trauma Center: Under The Knife

10. Trauma Center: Under The Knife
This could have been the game Nintendo had in mind when talking about making longer gaming sessions more comfortable with the pen-like stylus. Playing Trauma Center for hours can give you stylus claw as you furiously swap between implements and healing gel in a bid to save the life of a patient. Drawing that Healing Touch figure of eight will be easier too.



So that's it. Is there anything we've missed? What games would you like to play on the DSi XL?

Advertisement: