EPISODE III: THIS ISN'T THE BLOG YOUR LOOKING FOR

Episode III: THIS ISN'T THE BLOG YOUR LOOKING FOR

3DS is out, should you care?

I got the chance to pick up Nintendo's latest creation. Their latest device called the Nintendo 3DS. Ok so who cares? Its just alternate version of the Nintendo DS. Nintendo has done this before, making alternate version of the DS such as DS Lite, DSi, DS XL, and now 3DS. There's a catch though, the latest DS could be the best handheld instalment yet, and arguably their best creation up to date.

Feast your eyes on glasses free 3D.

Forget wearing 3D glasses, those were the dark days.

However, I do have mixed feelings with this device. So I'll start with the Pros first. At first I was definitely wowed, I couldn't believe the 3D effect, it was very breathtaking, viewing the 3D effect for the first time is very exciting. 3DS is definitely the greatest piece of tech I've tried since the Playstation 3. You really have to see the effect in person to believe it. There's also a sweet spot, if you want to see the 3D, it must be right in front of you, a slight tilt will ruin it. So friends watching you play right beside you won't be able to see the effect. Fortunately, Nintendo added a sensitivity switch for the 3D effect, switch the effect to on or off, how convient. (See picture below, sensitivity slider is located at the right side of the top screen.)

Enough of the pros, now the cons. Unfortunately after a couple of hours of play, the 3D effect is really irritating to the eyes. Not only does it make you dizzy, but I could feel my eyes getting blind. Nintendo even advises that you take 10 – 15 minutes breaks after every hour before you start a game. And speaking of games….

Thats you.

It only gets better. Nintendo fans rejoice. Fans familiar with Nintendo games will be pleased to know that a lot of Nintendo's first party games will be joining 3DS' library. Super Mario in 3D? Zelda in 3D? Star Fox in 3D? Heck yeah. Those are just a couple to mention, but how about all the third party developers? Imagine Sonic the Hedgehog in 3D? or Resident Evil, Metal Gear Solid or Assassins Creed? Yeah I'm sold. (See pictures below for screenshot comparisons of The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time 3DS Remake.)

Its ****ing beautiful! :D

However, my only concern with the games are the launch titles. The 3DS launched March 27, 2011. The launch games are awful. So awful that I didn’t even bother purchasing a game day one. Games go from Nintendogs to some random pilot game. I don’t care. Petting a dog in 3D? No thanks.

So how about the hardware? The 3DS has probably the best visuals up to date when it comes to handhelds. Its upgraded, and believe it or not, the 3DS' visuals are more stronger than Nintendo's previous console, the Wii. Even today, I'm still wowed by this, just the fact that it’s a handheld. The face buttons like A B X Y and shoulder buttons like L and R return, the D-Pad also returns but what's new this time around is the analog stick. It controls nicely. Also, camera's return, front and back, allowing you to take photos and save them on your device.

The 3DS also comes packed with 3 built in games and a Mii Maker (Just like the Wii's Mii maker, but better) The three games are Augmented Reality Games, or AR Games, Face Raiders and Mii Plaza. Out of the 3 I'd have to say Face Raider's is my favourite, its just hilarious. On top of the built in games, are Nintendo's new wireless feature called Street Pass. When your 3DS is on sleep mode, and you walk by someone who is also on sleep mode, you will trade Mii's and they will go to your Mii Plaza. What I really like about this is that you can see what other's have created. You can also create your own greeting for when you trade Mii's. I thought it was neat. At the moment, I've walked by 12 different people and collected 12 Mii's. Speaking of Mii's, the 3DS' version of Mii creator is very innovative. Allowing to take pictures of your face and generating it to make a Mii that looks like you. Its hilarious, me in Mii form is very scary, the resemblance is too much.

Unfortunately, the online friend messaging component sucks. Like a lot. Pictochat is gone and is replaced with a scaled down messaging systems that don't really work well. Also, the very awkward Friend Code system is back. What I also don't like is that fact that the Internet Browser isn't up and running, the option is there, but its not live yet. But thee BIGEST disappoint is the battery life. The battery is even worse than an iPod. Depending on your settings, 3DS can last up to 3 – 5 hours. Complete garbage. I personally think Nintendo did this on purpose to let kids rest and have breaks. 

My verdict? Its mixed, I have mixed feelings about the 3DS. Its without a doubt really impressive. Its possibilities with upcoming games, and an impressive hardware, its hard for hardcore Nintendo fans like myself to pass this offer. But there's a catch, there's always a catch. Disappointing online functionality and battery life. On top of that, having the 3D effect on constantly will strain your eyes. Personally, I think the pros outweigh the cons. On the bright side, the 3DS will have a great future. Things are looking really great so far, a promising line-up of games, and a lot more online services like DSi Ware. But I'm sorry, I can't pass down The Legend of Zelda in 3D, I'm sold.

So thats my review. Enjoy this Youtube video. The video showcases all the upcoming games for 3DS.

Nintendo 3DS Software Lineup