Finally, a 2DS!

  • August 13, 2026

Several years into the lifetime of the Nintendo 3DS, they released a new version called the Nintendo 2DS. Apparently marketed at children (for whom the size of the 3DS was a liability) it was a lower cost and more robust version of the console that would play all games but lack the stereoscopic 3D feature. It also dropped the clamshell form-factor and became flat:

It launched (in the USA, Europe and Australia) in 2013 at $130, then the price was cut in 2015 to $100, then again the next year to only $80. I had multiple different 3DS versions during these years, and when the 2DS reached its lowest price the (exceptionally good) New 2DS XL was imminent. So I never purchased a 2DS, something I’d regretted for a decade.

About five years ago I wanted to remedy this situation, so kept my eyes peeled in retro game stores and during trips to Japan. I didn’t just want one, I wanted one in good condition. Even more so, I wanted one boxed, which proved to be a mighty challenge. And then during my trip this past summer, I purchased this:

The system wasn’t actually launched in Japan until 2016 – three years after the USA. The above is a boxed example of the final colour released in Japan – translucent black – which came out in 2018 at a price of ¥9980. I bought it at a Suruga-ya in Osaka for ¥39000 ($245), or 391% of the launch price!

I was apprehensive about this purchase not because of the price – it was the only boxed version I’d seen in five years – but because they wouldn’t let me inspect before buying. I had to do my very best to charm the manager into letting me check the quality of the screen before buying, and he only relented because I was ‘polite’ (he said so!) and the store wasn’t too busy!

I had nothing to worry about. Not only is the system pristine, but it may have also been brand new since the bag containing the system was still sealed when he opened it.

I had never held a 2DS, so I was surprised how comfortable and lightweight it is. I never used the 3D feature of the 3DS, so I don’t miss it at all, and looking back I think the only reason I never bought one of these was because I feared the screen would more easily be damaged. That was me being a fool!

The 3DS is infamously region-locked, and buying this now gives me the opportunity to purchase and play Japanese 3DS games. I didn’t find anything I wanted in the few remaining days after I purchased the system, but I’ll surely pick up a few on my next visit. The above is me using the system to play a Japanese DS game, which of course work on this system.

It has all the normal features of other 3DS systems, including two cameras, a microphone, internet support, backup memory etc. In short, it’s a fully functional 3DS albeit with a new form factor and no stereo screens.

I’m extremely happy I finally completed my DS collection (this is my sixth DS), and that I now have a way to play Japanese 3DS games. Another grail checked off the list 🙂

DlroSkeleton

  • August 9, 2026

When I was in Japan I was unable to buy a new model kit since it was sold out everywhere. Luckily I found it on Amazon and here it is:

This ’30 Minute Fantasy’ kit is part of Bandai’s ever-expanding line of fantasy plastic models, and the first in what I expect to be a series of ‘monster’ kits. Here’s the blurb explaining these creatures:

I made the kit today, which was a bit challenging since one of my thumbs is still not fully operational. But even under these circumstances it only took a few hours, and likely would have been faster if I wasn’t getting distracted often.

The box contains two skeletons, and a variety of weapons. As part of the ’30 minute fantasy’ line they are slightly robotic and contain ‘hardpoints’ on which to attach armor pieces from other kits. I wasn’t interested in this; I just wanted the skeletons 🙂

They look great and are very poseable. I equipped one of them with a couple of blades and the other will lurk dramatically on a bookshelf:

An obvious thought that pops into your mind when you look at these is the T-800 endoskeletons of the Terminator series. A quick look online shows many skillful customizations, with this being one of the better ones I found:

This is an easy-to-make, inexpensive (about $12 in Japan) and impressive model kit. I look forward to whatever monster they produce next!

Barad-Dûr

  • July 30, 2026

In Lord Of The Rings, Barad-dûr is the tower fortress of Sauron. Taller than any structure built by man, it stands in Mordor near Mount Doom and at its peak The Eye Of Sauron endlessly scans Middle Earth looking for The One Ring. It’s the domain of ultimate evil, and it was time for me to build my own:

This is another monstrous set, and since Rivendell is my favourite LEGO build of all time I wanted this one as soon as it released. And bought it I did, although that was two years ago and it has sat on a shelf all this time waiting!

The 5400+ pieces came in exactly 40 bags which I’ve needed to pile two deep to fit them all in the above photo.

The tower is built in three parts with separate instruction books. In total; there are 1003 steps across the collective 620 pages of instructions!

Disappointingly, the set also came with a sticker sheet. No one likes LEGO stickers, and for a $460 set their inclusion is ridiculous. Most of these were placed on curved pieces, and apparently LEGO doesn’t yet have the technology to directly print onto curves.

The first instruction book is the base of the tower and uses about half of the bags of pieces. There’s a lot of detail here both inside and out, with doors that open via a hidden switch, a secret compartment where Gollum hides, and various items to furnish the interior for its wicked inhabitants. The angled walls are achieved using clever building techniques and are strongly reinforced, which is a good thing considering the size of the finished tower.

Most of the included minifigures are in the first few bags, and they’re all great. Frodo has a couple of faces, but I’ll always display the one where he’s almost seduced by The Ring.

A group of orcs with a range of armour and weapons inhabit the lower level of the tower. According to the instructions much of these figures – and their gear – is unique to this set. Yes that one in the middle is grilling a sausage!

Sauron and The Mouth Of Sauron are both suitably creepy. While I’m not showing them here, believe me both are even more disturbing without their helmets on! Until rereleased in a recent set, Sauron was one of the more expensive minifigures available, selling for up to $100 on the secondary market. He has a thrown room in the middle of the tower which has a Palantir hidden being a moving throne:

Here’s the finished set:

It took me over thirty hours to build, which I did in sessions of two or three bags at a time. The last book went very slowly since I could only use one hand (I’ve recently had hand surgery) and needed to be extremely careful since I was dealing with the spire.

The Eye lights up via a light brick, and can also be moved to look in any direction:

Here’s the view from behind showing the interior detail:

I enjoyed building this so much I hardly wanted it to end. Now I need to work out where to put it, a non-trivial problem since it’s 83 cm tall! I’ve got an idea or two, but for now it remains on our dining table since it’s remarkably heavy and I’m certainly not going to move it with only one hand!