A few of you may have heard that Nintendo launched the 3DS this weekend to much excitement and glee in North America. And I am proud to be at the head of the line of anxious early adopters. I feel very in sync with Nintendo, how they always manage to know what I want before I truly know it myself. I find this business model to be the key to what’s carried them successfully through this tumultuous industry.
On to the details before getting to the really fun stuff. First off, the package is simple, but elegant. Everything is laid out neatly for easy and immediate use. May I suggest that before tossing the cardboard, new 3DS owners are careful to remove the AR Cards first; should the cards become damaged or lost. However, they are replaceable via Nintendo’s website or if you have a camera phone can be photographed and used. Out of the box, the battery has a few hours on it, so I did what any hyper gamer would do with a new device, after cuddling it of course – play with the settings.
Cosmetically the machine is shiny – the gloss finish makes it feel more metal and less plastic; ie: more sophisticated and less childish. At $249.99 price point, I can’t see handing one over to a child under the age of say 12 years old, but that’s a matter of parental debate. I personally prefer the smaller size to the DSi XL, but I also happen to own a set of smaller hands. For any of our larger gentlemanly folk, or even perhaps a long fingered female, this may be a bit of an inconvenience. Cameras internal and external, just like the DSi, with a pretty decent quality – assuming you’re not planning to print these images on billboards. The power button being internal, again something pulled from the DSi is clever and it avoids the accidental power flip when you’re 3 hours into a good Pokemon session…without saving. The telescoping stylus doesn’t feel cheap despite its size, and nestles tightly to the top of the machine, much like the older DS models. The squared hinge feels slightly sturdier than its rounded counterparts, but this is a test of time. The included 2GB Sandisk memory card is generous, making this machine entirely all -inclusive out of the box. No assembly required.
Wifi can be turned off to improve battery life, as can the 3D effect, which is something that does require a bit of scrutiny. The machine comes with a charging dock, so you can just easily rest it there for a quick charge, but most people are taking a portable system on the go, for the long haul, so I would suggest running it as bare bones as possible if you’re hoping to survive longer than 5 hours. For any of you with any nefarious intentions (which of course are none of you), bear in mind that Nintendo will update your 3DS at will without any warning. Whether you’re at home on your own Wifi or happen to catch a signal at McDonald’s, it’s out of your hands. Nintendo reserves the right to add and subtract things from your device at will.
Internet Browser is down, which is a bummer, but I imagine it will come to life with the DSWare shop in May – that’s only 2 months away. Face Raiders and AR Games offer some quick and immediate fun while demonstrating the camera and gyroscope functionalities. I make a goofy image of myself and set to Face Raiding, despite the machine informing me that I’m a Young Boy. Silly, but effective, Face Raiders is a nice way to blow off steam for a few minutes when you just want to bonk people in the face – doubly effective with faces of people you’re not especially fond of. AR Games are simplistic but dazzling to the mind, and I suggest the experience from a purely technical point of view. The gameplay is fun, but I spent more time feeling blown away by the experience of it than actual participating – and I suggest the same to all new owners.
Street Pass is something I’ve been unable to gain experience with, as there is a bit of a limit to 3DS owners on the street after Midnight (when I picked up my machine). However, given experiences in Japan, I can see this becoming a very interesting social tool for gamers to meet each other and cooperate in simple gameplay. At gaming events like E3 or PAX Prime, I can envision passing dozens of new Miis hourly racking up coins like no tomorrow to unlock more content.
All this and I’ve not even cracked open any non-installed software. Out of the 17 game strong launch line up, I picked up four titles that I consider to be invaluable to the 3DS library.
Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition. Graphically, it’s a masterpiece – entirely on point with its console competitor. But with new modes, a bright fresh gameplay feel thanks to the gorgeous 3D, oh, and did I mention online? That’s right, you can bring the fight wherever you please all over the country. Got a rival on the West Coast you only see a few times a year? Take him on with your choice of 35 playable characters daily. There’s even Street Pass functionality where your figurines will “fight” those of passing gamers, reporting the results next time you play. Online or off, fighting or spectating, there’s tons here for the new and old Street Fighter fan alike.
Pilotwings Resort. If you grew up with Nintendo, you already have this paid off and are picking it up, no question. The same solid gameplay with tons of variety and challenges, also in perfect 3D, it’s a win all around. Remember those soothing tunes when you were gliding to your next thermal for a bit of altitude? Everything’s as you remember from the N64 days, but better. For new players, it’s like having wings but without all that pesky extra insurance. I cannot suggest enough, though it leaves a bit to be desired for those wishing for a multiplayer experience.
Steel Diver. Nintendo caught me off guard here – a submarine game, really? But it’s amazing. You’ve got the basic left to right side scrolling feel as you work your sub through underwater mazes for a best time. But that doesn’t come close to the highly addictive Periscope Strike. Taking the gyroscope out for a highly impressive spin, players are placed in the literal hands of the periscope, challenging with twisting their position a full 360 degrees to eliminate enemies. Simple, but enjoyable, despite being unable to play it lying down. In addition the game includes Steel Commander, a sort of play on class Battleship, where you search a blank grid for your opponent’s warships. An idea that sounds boring on paper, but offers a great deal of variety in the long run, and I do suggest it as a breath of fresh gameplay.
Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow Wars. Trust me on this one; a little bit of turn based, a little bit of squad based, a lot bit of strategy. But some cheap cash in on the Ghost Recon franchise quickly rushed out the door, this is a very challenging and enjoyable game to grab. Honestly, storyline in games like this don’t really nab me – something about terrorists and stopping them I’m sure, that tends to be Mr. Clancy’s style. But the gameplay is really the heart and soul of this little baby. A dark horse against the bigger names, but do not count it out in the slightest. Missions are variable, enemies are intelligent, and squad-mates all have individual talents to keep things exciting. Maps are complete with cover, obstacles and altitude, giving players a healthy mix of elements to keep them playing. With a two player “pass the 3DS” option, it also allows for a buddy to jump in on the action.
There are a few other honorable mentions in the game library to be considered: Ridge Racer and Rayman, but the real highlight of the 3DS library is yet to come. Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, including Master Quest, is still somewhere on the horizon, and that’s really the crown jewel that we’re all waiting for. But when it arrives, it’s going to bring a few friends with it: Kid Icarus: Uprising, Mario Kart, Animal Crossing, Star Fox 64, and Super Mario 3D to name a few. Nintendo’s playing it safe this time around, holding their punches so they can stagger their main titles without flooding their own market – frustrating for the impatient, but understandable as a retailer.
In short, I believe the 3DS is entirely worth the cash – the 3D effects are gorgeous, the built in software is fun, the launch tiles as well as those in the pipeline are promising. Not to mention the eventual Web Browser, DSWare and GB Shop, and Netflix functionality. The price could be better, but could also be worse – and the device is still backwards compatible with all games not requiring a GBA slot. For those of you on the fence, there are a number of demo machines in the wild at local retailers (you can search online for exact locations). As Nintendo claims, and which could not be any truer – Seeing is Believing.
This story was writen by Kristen Maloney
