A web browser for the Nintendo DS was one of the most requested features when the DS was first released, and when Nintendo gave us one, we were, well, disappointed. Not only did the browser require an additional add on in the GBA slot, but it was slow, clunky, lacked both multimedia and RSS features and cost a whole $70. Nowadays with mobile web browsers being quite popular, it’s a good question, how does the DSi version of the web browser hold up?

The Nintendo DSi Browser keeps most of the design and interface from the older version, and Opera has done well to try and make the browser compatible with most webpages, and as such they’ve done a very good job. Most websites today are built for a desktop browser, and it shows, as even with the expanded RAM and CPU, the DSi cannot load the main pages of many sites we tested. The sites it can load (and there are more that can, rather than can’t) are definitely faster than the original DS browser. Sites like Twitter, Gmail and Hotmail work fine, whereas more graphically intensive sites such as Facebook, News.Com.au and the AFL website chug along. We’re not too sure if it’s the actual site that’s having trouble loading or just the added AJAX and Javascript though. And what about everyone’s favourite animation medium, Flash? Forget about it, while inluding it would of probably caused more problems, it does mean that sites like YouTube are out, as are the many sites that use it. Unfortunately there is no other video or audio support at all.

The interface has taken more cues from the Nintendo Wii browser, with a more organised homepage and buttons along the bottom. The usual features are there like on all browsers, such as favourites, a search engine of your choice, back, forward and refresh buttons too.

What is special to the Nintendo DSi Browser (but not Opera itself) is a couple of different modes for viewing sites, including overview mode, which shows the full page on screen and then a magnified part on the other screen. Column Mode shrinks the page all into the width of the DSi screen and makes the page one long column, as the name suggest. Luckily, for parents concerned about their children accessing the naughty stuff, there are parental controls included too.

Although most of our review sounds largely negative, there are of course some good things about the browser. The biggest one of these is, of course, that it’s free. Instead of shelling out $70 you can simply download it for free from the DSi Store. Also, having the internet anywhere is also convenient, but while you can’t zip across from a game to GameFAQs to check out a guide, it can be useful not only as a web browser but as an extension to your gamer arsenal. Also, with added WPA in the Nintendo DSi, the browser actually is one of the few things on the DSi that can use the WPA.

So, how do you review something that is free? Does it really matter how good or bad it is, when it’s free? Well, it does use up space on your DSi, and you do have other options out there for mobile web browsing. Also, this browser uses no extra accessories, doesn’t take up a sot on your DSi and can connect to a bunch of different networks through the added WPA, and backwards compatible WEP. The browser has some issues with big pages, but is sufficient enough for casual browsing. Oh yeah, and it’s free, I’m sure I mentioned that at some point.

No Score