Should I buy the EZFlash Vi? ask some consumers. The EZFlash Vi card is one that has learnt from the past mistakes of regular Nintendo DS cartridges. The design and most of the architecture on the card is not only well thought out, but incorporates improvements from cards that have fallen short of its high standards in the past. For example, the original R4v2 card employed a spring mechanism which would cause mechanical problems for 2-3% of the cards owing to the spring being overused and ceasing to function. The EZFlash Vi incorporates a push-slot mechanism for this reason, and eliminates the potential problem.

The Micro-SD card slot on the EZFlash Vi is also ingeniously placed on the side of the card rather than the top of the card, which is traditional among other DS and DSi cards (except the M3i Zero, which was released after the EZFlash Vi and also used this design). This guarantees that a Micro-SD card cannot be dislodged during gameplay, as the top of the Micro-SD card would actually be inside the DS slot itself rather than resting on top. This also minimises the chances of someone accidentally losing the Micro-SD card.

The EZFlash Vi team has also ensured excellent dimensional control, where variation in size is nearly non-existant and is less than a tenth of a millimetre. This is of great important since variation in size can result in the Nintendo DS or Nintendo DSi console rejecting the card as it is difficult to slot in. This was a problem exhibited by earlier generation DSTT and N5 cards. It can also cause the connecting pins in the back of a Nintendo DS to fail to recognise the card. Thankfully, no such problem exists with the EZFlash Vi.

Firmware updates should not be a problem if bought from a reputable store, as good stores will pre-update the EZFlash Vi to the latest firmware version. If bought from a ‘lazy’ store and firmware is not upgraded, the user can do it themselves following instructions for updating the firmware to v1.4 on the official EZFlash Vi website. Great care is advised, however, as applying the firmware incorrectly can corrupt the DSi card.

The EZFlash Vi has a very old team working on software updates and compatibility issues with the card daily. Updates are released regularly (correct at the time of writing, July 2010) and the development team have been in existence since 200 and have been very responsive. The EZFlash team were also the first to have a workaround for the Nintendo DSi v1.4 update, a testament to their dedication and speed.

To summarise, the EZFlash Vi’s exceptional build quality and software make it an excellent choice for any DS or DSi user, and is also compatible with the newer DSi XL consoles as well. It would be a highly recommended card for any Nintendo enthusiast.

DS / DSi gamers can buy EZFlash Vi cards from DSCardWorld. Every card is tested prior to dispatch and customer service is on a 24 hour basis, which means that it’s impossible to receive a card that doesn’t work. With US based sales and support, this means a decision to buy EZFlash Vi cards from DSCardWorld is a pretty good one, dare we say so ourselves!