With the launch of any handheld comes the need for accessorizing and Nyko has been one of the leaders in intuitive, quality products over the course of the last few handheld and console systems’ lifetimes. Earlier in the year, Nyko lived up to their reputation of quality accessories by releasing the Power Pak + for the Nintendo 3DS that effectively increased the battery life by twice as much. This E3, Nyko unveiled a few new products to add to their 3DS lineup and we had a chance to look at them first hand.
The first product in their lineup was an emergency battery for those who don’t feel like taking their back off and replacing the overall bulk of the system. The Game Boost adds 1-2 hours of extra battery life and only takes up about one third of the back side of your 3DS. This product will retail for $12.99.
Secondly, a more practical battery extender was shown, called the Power Grip and I fell in love with it (I’ll probably end up buying one as soon as it comes out). This battery extender not only plugs into the 3DS without requiring you to take off the back battery (it uses the contacts that connect it to the charge base) but it also extends the battery life by 3X as much. The biggest drawback is the bulk of the battery because it extends the 3DS by about an inch but the convenience of not having to take the battery pack out means that you can play your 3DS and then attach the external battery once it gets low. Also, the battery pack is matte so it feels great in your hands and it also has indentations for your middle fingers to rest to give you better grip that actually felt quite ergonomic. The Power Grip will retail for $29.99.
The third battery extender shown to us was called the Shock ‘N’ Rock and this was the most extreme case in terms of extra size and weight. This product serves both as a battery extender up to 3X the battery life as well as a protective case. Also built in are four additional stereo speakers and force feedback. Again, this peripheral does not require you to take the back off of your 3DS. Finally, the last of the 3DS products shown was called the Play Clock. This product acts similar to iPod charging clocks on the market and allows you to connect and charge your 3DS as well as play music saved on your 3DS’s SD card. Both the Shock ‘N’ Rock and the Play Clock will retail for $39.99.
