After months of anticipation, the New Nintendo 3DS XL’s improved 3-D and faster processor exceeded my expectations.

This system, which was released Friday, also has an extended battery life, Amiibo compatibility and a new joystick.

Look

The system does not look much different than the original XL. There are some noticeable changes, like its thinner, sleeker design with squared edges, which give the console a more futuristic look.

Rather than a matte black, the color of my system matches the overall theme of sleekness with a shiny plastic that is almost a dark gray. The power button is on the outside, which has led to some unintended powerups, but that was more due to the fact I was used to it being on the inside of the system.

The XABY buttons have been assigned fun colors (red, yellow, green and blue) that go well against the black background of the system. The start and select buttons have been moved below the XABY buttons from their old spot below the bottom screen, giving the system a lovely retro feeling.

There are also new Z-buttons situated comfortably near the shoulder buttons. These don’t have much function yet, but they represent potential use in future games. The stylus is shorter and a bit chunkier, which took some getting used to, and there’s that weird second joystick, the C-Stick, but more on that later.

Power

This New 3DS XL touts a much faster processor and much better battery life (by about two hours) than the original XL.

The processor means the startup time for the system is lightning fast while the older system feels almost like a dinosaur in comparison. The load times on games are impressive. When I started a game of “Super Smash Bros.” I was ready to play in about second, with the game sounding and looking better than before.

The New 3Ds supports Nintendo’s interactive figures, Amiibos, which are scanned on the bottom screen and provide extra features in games.

3-D

Perhaps the greatest selling point and most exciting addition to the New 3DS is the vastly improved 3-D.

When I played with 3-D on my older system, I often found myself suffering from headaches and nausea. Now I can’t help but play all my games with it on. It’s been exciting exploring games I wasn’t able to play in this new dimension.

This is what the 3-D should have been when the original 3DS was first released. It has face tracking software that makes playing with 3-D easier and, thankfully, free of headaches.

What’s up with that C-Stick?

When you release your system from its cardboard prison and open it, you’ll see a peculiar little nub above and to the left of the XABY buttons. This is the new C-stick, a second joystick used alongside the circle pad.

Compared to the smooth circle pad to its left, this C-stick feels a bit unwieldy and stiff. It’s used to control the camera in third-person games, input powerful smash attacks in “Super Smash Bros.,” as well as a few other features that have yet to be used.

The C-stick is certainly unique, but I’m a bit cautious as to how it will be used for future games exclusive to the New 3DS.

Where’s my charger?

This was an annoyance rather than a massive deal-breaker, but the New 3DS XL does not come with an AC adapter for the system. This was mediated with a simple $10 purchase at my local GameStop.

The system is also backwards compatible with all chargers as far back as the Nintendo DSi. Not inluding a charger is an odd marketing move by Nintendo and might scare away potentials buyers.

Verdict

As you come to the end of this lengthy read, you probably have the same question in your head I had so many months ago: Should I buy this system? The answer is, “It depends.”

There will be games exclusive to the New 3DS that utilize its beefed-up processor as well as the new bells and whistles, such as the C-Stick. But, if you have an old 3DS XL you might want to wait until it the New has more exclusive games to choose from before buying it.

Overall, it’s an enjoyable system that shines with its improved 3-D and processor but fizzles a bit with its lack of charger.