European Market Product, American Reviewer:
The majority of the accessories in this product are ’all region’ and can be used on any 3DS. However, the AC adapter is a two-pin rounded European type and the reviewer is thus unable to test that part of the Starter Pack. It stands to reason that non-European users could use that part with an adapter/converter, and all the other items in this product will work with any region’s 3DS. While this review thus primarily focuses on the product’s value to European users, the Starter Pack may also have some merit to people in other markets.
The Snakebyte Starter Pack is a fairly ambitious product that tries to cover all your 3DS accessory needs in one purchase. The half-dozen or so items you get for your twenty Euros (approx. $30 USD at current conversion rates) cover all sorts of worries, ranging from protecting your screen to replacing a lost stylus, or even cleaning your system’s exterior and keeping both some game cards and the 3DS itself in storage. Even the most well made accessory packs are hit-or-miss for some buyers, and it’s fair to say not everyone will need what Snakebyte is offering no matter its quality. Yet if the idea of a relatively affordable, nearly complete solution for 3DS accessories sounds interesting to you then read on, as you might like what you see. The following summaries describe each item in the Starter Pack.
Carrying Case: A slim, black synthetic-leather case that is open on the sides and either the card slot or headphone jack side depending on how you put the 3DS in. The system is held in by a strap, with small pouches holding one extra stylus and up to three game cards; you can then close the case by running another strap through a loop on the outside. When all the straps are properly in place, the case does a very good job of holding onto everything; even vigorous shaking failed to dislodge the stylus, system, or any game cards. It isn’t very thick, so in most cases if the 3DS fit in wherever you were storing it beforehand then adding this case shouldn’t change that. With that in mind, I can call it a decent carrying case though I would not describe it as a protective case; there are three sides of the system not covered by any padding, so you’ll still have to handle your 3DS with the same amount of care as before.
Headphones: Your typical pair of thin, black earbud style headphones, these use a 3.5mm stereo plug and will work with both your 3DS and many other devices. Just like any other headphones, you place the buds in each ear and connect them to the system; the only noteworthy feature is that each bud has a little bit of black rubber padding to them. They fit comfortably enough, and the sound quality is decent for the cost. The only minor problem with them is they tend to slip loose from the 3DS’ headphone port very easily, but this isn’t an issue so long as you aren’t waving your head around violently or batting your hands at the plug. This seems to be more of a theoretical issue than a practical one, as I’ve never had the headphones come unplugged by accident.
Screen Protectors: These are a pair of thin, clear plastic strips to be placed over both screens. Applying them is very easy, and the adhesive used doesn’t leave a residue if you later decide to remove them. This proved to be a very good thing: I ended up needing to take the screen protectors off because they quickly developed smudges that remained visible no matter how much cleaning I tried. If you can keep them free of smudges they are indeed clear protectors that wouldn’t interfere with seeing the game... but in my case this turned out to be too big an ’if’ and I stopped using them. They’re unfortunately the least impressive item in the Starter Pack, though so long as you treat your 3DS well you probably won’t need protectors in any case.
AC Adapter and USB Cable: This would be the item that I can’t directly test, due to not having the proper converter/adapter on hand for American style electrical outlets. It is nonetheless interesting, and perhaps the most appealing one in the Starter Pack. The AC adapter is actually a two-piece assembly, with the first piece consisting of a cordless plug (two-pin round European style) and a USB port resting where the cord would normally be. The USB cable plugs into it, and the Mini-USB end then plugs into the 3DS. Reports from other owners suggest they have had some success using it as a ’universal charger’, plugging it into other devices that accept a Mini-USB cord. If you live in Europe, plan to travel there, or have the proper adapter part then this could be a very useful item! That said, I fully admit my assessment of this item is a mix of ’it looks useful’ and ’other owners say they have had good results’; I can’t directly test it at this time.
Microfiber Cleaning Cloth: A small piece of dark-blue fabric, meant for use with cleaning your screen and screen protectors. I found it didn’t work very well on the latter, but it quickly deals with most other 3DS cleaning; the screens, camera lenses, and case all benefit from a quick pass of this cloth and it’s small enough to easily fit in most 3DS carrying cases; just tuck it in alongside a game card and it will be handy to have around.
