When it comes to the Nintendo DS, all screen protectors are not created equal. In fact, some are created evil--worse than no protector at all. A quick survey of the DS screen protection options at your local game store finds that nearly all use a glue-like adhesive to secure them to the touchscreen. The problem with that method is that you get one chance to apply these models perfectly... End up affixing it off-center or get a piece of dust stuck behind it, and the gummy residue it leaves upon removal will make scratches seem minor in comparision.
In light of this, the prevailing wisdom from many DS enthusiasts is that a protector really isn't necessary as long as you only use the official Nintendo stylus. But a glance at the average well-loved DS tells you otherwise--scratches are unavoidable when playing touchscreen-intensive games like Kirby Canvas Curse or Meteos, and can even impair your view of the action or mar the slick texture of the screen in extreme cases. Still, when the alternative is a sticky Pelican or Mad Catz protector, it's easy to see why DS screen protectors get a bad rap. The adhesives they use can also make the protector less than crystal clear... You might as well slap on some Scotch tape.
Enter NuShield, a longtime manufacturer of screen protectors for touchscreen devices like Palm Pilots and Pocket PC's. Their solution to the DS problem is a unique plastic guard design that uses absolutely no adhesive. Having heard good things about them around the web, I decided to order a 3-pack from the
NuShield website for $11.99. In a few days, the protectors arrived in a padded cardboard mailer. Inside the wrap-around instruction card were three clear screen guards in a small plastic bag, all intended for use on the bottom touchscreen. That's right, NuShield doesn't provide a protector for the top screen of the DS--but I don't know why'd you need one for the non-touchscreen anyway.
One side of each screen protector's surface has a thin piece of cellophane-like mask film covering it, to keep it dust and smudge-free.
The installment procedure is simple: just remove the film from the side that will be against the screen, holding the protector's edges between a thumb and forefinger as not to leave fingerprints. Carefully insert one side underneath the plastic border that surrounds the DS' bottom screen.
Bow the plastic slightly and insert the other side into the opposing edge.
Then smooth the top beneath the upper lip of the screen's frame and finally slide it down underneath the bottom ridge. The screen protector should now be sitting flush on top of the screen, held in place on all sides by the plastic border of the DS screen casing. It's as if the protector is the glass in a picture frame. For a more detailed explanation, you can check out NuShield's complete installation instructions here.
After wiping off any fingerprints on the outer surface of the protector, I found that the NuShield had excellent clarity, and its texture felt nearly
identical to that of the naked touchscreen. Importantly, it also didn't
seem to deaden the screen's sensitivity. I noticed no gameplay issues when using the stylus for touchscreen-intensive games like Kirby Canvas
Curse, Meteos, or Zoo Keeper. The protector stays
fixed and doesn't move around on the screen at all, even during frantic sessions of Meteos. It's the perfect size to stay wedged in there and sits flush atop the screen.
Removing the NuShield is also easy in the case you need to replace it or get rid of some dust that makes its way between the protector and the screen. Just drag a couple fingers firmly across the surface at one side and it should begin to fold at the middle and can then be lifted out. One protector is supposed to have a life of four months, but I've had mine installed since June and it still seems to be nearly brand-new. The surface doesn't scratch easily, that's for sure.
Overall, I'd say the NuShield protector is worth every penny. I love being able to hack away at the touchscreen with reckless abandon. I've heard Hori also makes an official Nintendo DS screen protector that doesn't use adhesive, but that it only stays affixed by static cling and is prone to trapping air bubbles. The NuShield's picture-frame style implementation avoid this issue and sounds like a better solution. I guess you could say that this is one DS touchscreen protector that's "up to scratch."
