Circle Pad Pro - Nintendo 3DS LL Accessory (3DS LL Console Not Included) Japan Inport

You can't really expect the circle pad pro for the 3ds xl to be small. And it isn't. It's big. How big? Big enough to make it uncomfortable to put in my bag, impossible to slip in my pocket. But you know that going in.However, for its big size, it gets the job done, and it does it comfortably.Comparing it to the regular 3ds, the 3ds xl is alot bigger, and for my hands, a lot more comfortable to hold. Add a circle pad pro to that equation and it becomes all the easier to hold. Dont know about it being comfortable for kids though. I bought the version that had japanese print on the box, and was a little worried that it wouldnt work with my american bought 3ds. However it worked perfectly.Ive had the circle pad pro for about two months now, and havent gone tru the first battery yet (it only uses one), but i havent done any intensive gaming on it, so far around maybe 20 hours. Ive been using it for kingdom hearts 3d, and it really makes the game camera alot easier to control. I also own Resident Evil Revelations, but havent really given it much of a go with the circle pad pro yet.The only downside is that, on account of its design, it completely blocks off access to your stylus. So i end up doing a lot of finger mashing on the touch screen, but so far it hasnt been inconvenient at all. You cant shut off wireless either, not without removing the 3ds first.I think the circle pad pro communicates with the 3ds thru infrared, so no cables are necessary. It adds an extra circle pad (duh), and what came as a surprise -two new buttons. Overall it has 3 buttons, an R button because it blocks off the 3ds's R button; but it also has two triggers ZL and ZRWith these additions, i have no complaints about the circle pad pro, just a "shame on you" to nintendo for not designing the 3ds xl with all these things already built in.

As stated in previous reviews, there are only a few games that support the use of the CPP. However, the games that do support it are excellent. Resident Evil: Revelations and Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate make great use of the pad and are tons of fun to play. They also have high replay value making the CPP worth the purchase for these two games alone. Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D is a great port of the original, and worth buying as well, but doesn't have much replay value. This Japanese import of the CPP works perfectly on the US 3DS XL, is well built and takes a lot of stress off of your hands while playing. I find myself keeping it connected even while playing non CPP supported games because it's so comfortable. Battery life is outstanding, with only one AAA battery required, mainly because the unit goes into standby mode after five minutes of non use. Highly recommend the CPP especially since the import is only $20. You won't regret it.

When I upgraded to the 3DS XL, the original Circle Pad Pro became a stylish paperweight in my office.Enter the Circle Pad Pro 3DS XL/LL! This updated version of the CPP works fantastically! It has the same function as the orginal CPP: adding a second analog pad, and two shoulder buttons. The LZ button sits just behind the 3DS XLs L button and the RZ sits behind the CPPs R button (it is used instead of the 3DS R button, which would be out of reach with the extra length of the CPP). The point of all this is to make games like Monster Hunter, Resident Evil: Revelations, and Metal Gear Solid 3D play much more like their console brethren. Though this is a Japanese product, it work perfectly with my North American 3DS XL. It does make the console bigger, but I found it comfortable to hold, even during marathon Monster Hunts. If you found that the original 3DS was too small, and the 3DS XL fit in your hands better, you will probably not mind the extra bulk. CPP XL has a curved back which makes it much more comfortable to grip. You can plug in the power cord, adjust the volume, and put in headphones without removing the CPP XL. However you do have to take the 3DS out to change game cards or access the stylus. Taking the system out is a breeze anyway. There are rubber bumpers that keep it secure without bolts or latches of any kind (though I wouldn't suggest holding upside down). You just push the system in and roll!If you are a big Monster Hunter fan and plan on putting some serious time into MH3U...get this now!

I ordered this after picking up Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate and it enhances the controls tenfold. It's also useful for other titles (Kid Icarus to name another). The CPP XL is extremely comfortable for my medium-sized hands, eliminating any cramping from long play sessions. The weight makes the unit feel cheap and light, but you'll notice the fine build quality with the actual buttons and how crisp they feel. It includes 1x AAA battery so you're all set (don't even worry about the instructions if you can't understand Japanese - the illustrations are really clear).My chief complaints with the design would be the inability to remove a cartridge or the stylus with the CPP unit attached. Maybe they couldn't get away with having a cartridge opening available (because of the IR transmitter and the clips that hold the 3DS XL onto the CPP), but incorporating a small hole for the stylus underneath the unit would've been nice. Other than those only two issues, this accessory is a MUST HAVE.