Now, as much as I wish I could, I just can’t go up to New York and play some 3DS in person. This is more of a breakdown of everything we’ve learned, and my perspective, as an outsider looking in. Well with that, time to get started!
To preface this, I have a though to share: I hate the idea of smartphone gaming replacing handheld gaming. Maybe because I am so ignorant to smartphone gaming, or maybe because I am simply a traditionalist, but the idea that handhelds will soon be obsolete because stupid touch-screen games will be taking over fantastic handheld experiences such as Kingdom Hearts Birth By Sleep or Medal Gear Solid Peace Walker. Just the tough disgusts me. But hey, that’s just the preface, lets get on to the good stuff.
First up, and most importantly, the long-awaited release date and price. So its coming out on March 27th (in the U.S.) at the wonderful price of $250 USD. I don’t know about what everyone else thinks, but this is totally a fair price for the package you’re getting. Its the same price as the PSP, and it comes bundled with some AR games and everything the 3DS has to offer.
But what does the 3DS hardware include? Well, it has those shiny AR games I mentioned before, the charging cradle, the 3DS Store, with some free applications right off the bat such as an improved web browser, and the whole online/SpotPass mechanic. SpotPass or StreetPass for those of you who don’t know is the functionality that automatically receives updates via random wifi hotspots and other 3DS’ you pass on the street. Like I said, overall, its a good package.
Also, as I’m sure all of you were worried, take a sigh of relief: you can transfer your DSi games over to your 3DS, as well as being able to transfer 3DS downloads from 3DS to 3DS. That’s a lot of 3DS-3DS action going on. Those of you who have Shantae, Cave Story, or Photo Dojo, take a sigh of relief.
But that’s all the stuff we were all relatively familiar with, so lets get on to the newer, more opinionated information. Guess what guys! The 3DS uses friend codes! Yes, they have learned nothing! Well, not completely. There is a noticeable difference, but only in the fact that there is now just one universal friend code for each system. Its still (most likely) a too-long series of numbers that will be impossible to memorize. Although, now you can just exchange codes automatically with the push of a button, assuming you’re standing right next to one another that is. I just don’t see why implementing a user-name system would be so hard? What happens when I buy the 3DSlite and get a completely new code? Or is that even how it will work. I guess we’ll have to use the “wait-and-see” approach.
The other grievance is the games. Here is a list of the ‘launch-window’ games that are coming out between March 27th and E3 2011:
- Pilotwings Resort
- nintendogs + cats
- Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor Overclocked
- Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition
- Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D
- Madden NFL Football
- The Sims 3
- Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
- LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars
- Ridge Racer 3D
- Dual Pen Sports
- Super Monkey Ball 3D
- Thor: God of Thunder
- CRUSH 3D
- BUST-A-MOVE UNIVERSE
- Samurai Warriors Chronicles
- Dead or Alive Dimensions
- Asphalt 3D
- Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Shadow Wars
- Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
- Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D
- Rayman 3D
- Rabbids Travel in Time
I mean, out of these games, which are gonna be legitmate, hardcore games? Also, notice something missing? Yeah, its Nintendo games. Paper Mario, Zelda: Ocarina 3D, Kid Icarus, Star Fox, Animal Crossing and Mario Kart are “in the works”, so assume you wont be seeing them anytime soon, let alone before June.
Apart from the complete bullshit that is zero Nintendo launch titles, the only two titles out of these that sound at all interesting to me are Shin Megami Tensei and Super Street Fighter IV 3D, neither of which are really system sellers. Another game not on this list that is set for Japan is Tales of the Abyss, a game I was really looking forward to playing seeing as how I missed out on the PS2 version. At this point, I am kind of discouraged to buy the system at launch. (I’m still going to buy it at launch seeing as how I am hardcore NintendoFanBoy)
Overall, I’m just so disappointed with this launch lineup. I mean sure, there are plenty of games, but how many of them actually sound good?
At any rate, the package of the 3DS itself is looking pretty slick, and the ability to hit home at any time and technically multi-task is just tantelizing. Lets hope at least one of these Nintendo games lands itself in the launch window before this system starts out at as an utter disapointment.
Another thing to think about that plenty of Sony FanBoys and skeptics alike have been bringing up is the PSP2 information we are supposedly getting within a week. If it has features that will blow Nintendo’s handheld out of the water, Nintendo will be looking pretty damn grim this March.
We want to hear what you have to say as well, so don’t forget to leave a comment down below and email this week’s show at mailbag@ippodcast.net!
Xbl/psn- dylantalon
The 3ds is a glorified gamecube in my eyes with a lot of ported games. I’m sure it’ll be fun but the lineup of games and hardware power is an indication of a lot of troubles the 3ds is in for. The 3ds is already outdated before release so its my opinion that the psp2 will outset the 3ds and win the next handheld wars. Psp2 will be amazing if its as powerful as a ps3 because it’ll be able to do everything the 3ds does and better except for a 1% viewing angle 3d screen. Sony learned from the original psp and it will cater to all sorts of people like casuals, hardcore and others.
Nice article. Just wanted to give a little suggestion – take it or leave it: Try not using the words ‘I’ and ‘I’m’ so much. It makes the article seem more like a forum post instead of games article. Anyways, keep up the good work!