Amazon gets an exclusive lime green 3DS

If you're an Amazon shopper, now you can buy an exclusive lime green New 3DS XL. It might be Yoshi themed because this model comes pre-loaded with a digital copy of Super Mario World, the game where the plucky green dino made his debut. Like other models of the New 3DS XL, this one will set you back $199.99.

I picked up a New 3DS XL when it released in February 2015, and as I said in my review it feels like the 3DS we should have gotten in the first place when the handheld launched in 2011. I've gotten plenty of enjoyment out of it and my girlfriend enjoys classic Mario on the Virtual Console taking the Nintendogs for walks, but with its rather grainy screen resolution and disappointing battery life, it's clear that the portable is behind the times.

I wouldn't be surprised if we see several of these exclusive and special-themed 3DS models in the coming months--mainly to sell off accumulated stock of the hardware. Nintendo always does this toward the end of a hardware cycle to drum up residual sales--remember the Funtastic N64 colors? I would even expect Nintendo to put out NES, SNES or otherwise retro-detailed versions to attract nostalgic gamers. The New 3DS is a versatile handheld, but it's clear that once the Nintendo Switch arrives, the 3DS family will be obsolete. I'm glad I have one, but I'm not springing for any new models just because they're a shiny color.