3DS first impression - better than I thought.

[javeryh]

Nintendo is launching Zelda on it, so it will make them a profit, always have the Zelda geeks that will pay to play it on anything.

I wouldn't play 300 bucks to play Zelda on a 3 inch screen.  But to each his own

I've found the portable zelda games to be especially terrible.  Aside from the crappy stylus controls on the DS, the games are just too long for a portable.  It's exactly what I was talking about before.  I don't think zelda fans buy those games becasue they are in portable form, rather they are so desperate for a new zelda release that they will put up with it being on a crappy 3 inch screen.

I'll agree with the new DS Zeldas but Link's Awakening is one of the best games ever made on any platform ever.  Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are also excellent.

[Mikezilla]

I liked the first DS Zelda game, the one with the boats.  It was really too easy, though.  The train one was horrible and I quit about halfway through it.

The one on 3DS is just a remake of the N64 game, isn't it?

*yawn*

Damn I thought it was the SNES one. I never played that one. The original NES one, and the N64 ones are my all time favorites. Twilight Princess was pretty rad too. I hated the Wind Waker cell shaded one. 

[shateredsoul]

what you talking about? Wind waker was the first that captured an imaginative word after the snes one, n64 versions, and first game boy one (the one where he's in a dream). Everything was great, except the boat navigation. I'm one of the few that loved the art style.

Twilight princess lost my interest

[GuyDanger]

hey pinballjim, can you stop trolling this thread... We get it, you don't like the 3DS.

Id like to mention the Iphone is not 100 bucks. It is 659 bucks (16 gb) on Apples website! Even if you pay $100 on an AT&T plan you will eventually payoff the entire $659 by the end. So price point is not an issue when comparing the 2.

As for games, both devices have some outstanding titles. IMO replay value would favour the 3DS.

When it comes to game pricing, Iphone would win that argument. Although your still in the hole when you think about how much you invested in the hardware to begin with.

I by the way have both a 3DS and an Iphone 4. Am i just a big kid or maybe a guy who likes gaming technology? Well I do belong to a forum that is all about gaming, so make up your on mind on that one.

Thanks.

And for those interested, I think the 3DS is great, but if you own a prior DS system, hold off for a price drop. I don't think you'll miss much from now till then. If you don't own a DS and want to get one I'd consider the 3DS for sure!

[Vigo]

So I finally tried a 3DS at gamestop the other day.....and I actually really liked the 3D. It was not that pop-at-you headache inducing 3D. It makes it seem less gimmicky, and the off switch for the 3D was nice as well.

I found myself using my current DS more and more, mostly because I have a Acekard that I put games on, and my wife has been monopolizing the TV lately. Once a real price drop hits, and some sort of rom cart comes along, I will probably buy one.

[shateredsoul]

I must admit, the 3d effect is growing on me. I see it's value, but have to turn it off at points when I'm moving around too much.

I still hate that the background characters in SSFIV don't move. The game would have been better without those background characters, the actual player character models look really good and it plays really well.

I do wish there was a good adventure or platformer game, not a remake, but an original title. I never played cave story so I'll pick up that remake. Other than that, I wish I had something to look forward to.

As far as issues, I had my Nintendo 3DS freeze while navigating the home menu, but it hasn't frozen in game. Doubt it will have the hinge cracking issue, it's really well built. It feels really good, it feels metalicy. It doesn't feel like a piece of plastic like the DS.

Other than the price, it was really a great buy. It reminded me of turning on a new nintendo system as a kid, the only thing missing was a packed in mario game.

[shateredsoul]

So I finally tried a 3DS at gamestop the other day.....and I actually really liked the 3D. It was not that pop-at-you headache inducing 3D. It makes it seem less gimmicky, and the off switch for the 3D was nice as well.

I found myself using my current DS more and more, mostly because I have a Acekard that I put games on, and my wife has been monopolizing the TV lately. Once a real price drop hits, and some sort of rom cart comes along, I will probably buy one.

I found a rom cart that works on the 3ds but only for old NDS games and GBA games, so I can at least catch up on old games. Currently playing Contact.

The thing about the 3DS is that it has updates just like the home consoles, meaning that you might not want to update your system all the time.. but then you'll miss out on key features. For example, they still haven't added access to the online store (sorta sad, I wanted to buy some DSiWare)

[Malenko]

I tried it at best buy the other day, it was bolted to a shelf about 2 1/2 feet off the ground so I didnt get a great feel for it (I understand bolting it cause thieves ---smurfing--- ruin everything, but put it on something flexible or a reasonable height) the effect was neat but theres no way I could justify the skrilla for it

[Vigo]

I tried it at best buy the other day, it was bolted to a shelf about 2 1/2 feet off the ground so I didnt get a great feel for it (I understand bolting it cause thieves ---smurfing--- ruin everything, but put it on something flexible or a reasonable height) the effect was neat but theres no way I could justify the skrilla for it

You'd think they would be smart enough to use those retractable security cables like they do with digital cameras.

[shateredsoul]

did you guys hear that Nintendo is going to announce their new home console for next year at E3?

Maybe just save your money and get that if you prefer consoles

[Malenko]

did you guys hear that Nintendo is going to announce their new home console for next year at E3?

Maybe just save your money and get that if you prefer consoles

nahhh the Wii and gamecube both sucked pretty hard for MY gaming needs....nintendo hasnt had a good console for me since SNES (though the N64 had some good titles)

[Donkbaca]

The kinect makes the Wii pretty much worthless now, except for maybe 4 games.

Wonder if Nintendo sticks to their 200 dollar philosophy with the new hardware

[Howard_Casto]

The kinect makes the Wii pretty much worthless now, except for maybe 4 games.

Wonder if Nintendo sticks to their 200 dollar philosophy with the new hardware

Your kidding right?

While Kinect is an impressive piece of tech, micrsoft hasn't done anything with it nor do they know what to do with it nor will they EVER know what to do with it. 

Motion controls are worthless without good titles to go with it.  M$ has that dance game.... and....ummm... yeah...


Can't agree with Malenko either.  I like the xbox and xbox 360 in particular....  on paper.... but when I look at the games library on each it is firmly planted in fps shooter territory, a genre that really hasn't evolved since quake.  Some people still like fps, I get it, but for me it was over around 1999-2000.  I will say that the gamecube was pretty lack-luster, but the n64 and wii are two of the best consoles ever released!  I'm actually not as much of a fan of the snes, as all it was was the nes with the exact same games and slightly better graphics.  Mind you it was still the best console of it's time, but when you are competing against sega that isn't hard. 


As for the new console, I'm not holding my breath.  I know that the new console is pretty much confirmed, but all the features surrounding it are not.  It could very well just be a wii with a hdd with motion plus controllers.  Nintendo does usually release a new console around this time though, so we'll see.

[Donkbaca]

Considering the kinect is the fastest selling consumer appliance EVER I am sure it will see plenty of game support

not as much of a fan of the snes, as all it was was the nes with the exact same games and slightly better graphics

That is pretty much every nintendo console. Come out with game, release Mario game, Zelda game, DK game, repeat

How many Mario karts are there?

I totally disagree with you on your xbox assessment. It has great shmups, awesome RPGs.  Mass effect, oblivion, fallout

The only thing the xbox really lacks is platformers, but there are only like 4 of those on wii worth playing
 not as much of a fan of the snes, as all it was was the nes with the exact same games and slightly better graphics

[Malenko]

nahhh the Wii and gamecube both sucked pretty hard for MY gaming needs

Can't agree with Malenko either.  I like the xbox and xbox 360 in particular....  on paper.

So you know whats better for me? lol

I dont play FPS games much on 360, so I dont understand your point there, but I would like to know what made the N64 so great. Take away Mario 64, the Zeldas, the THQ wrestling games, and Golden Eye and there arent a ton of reasons to have had one (though I'll admit I thought Blast Corps was/is awshum). I could name a ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- ton more games I'd rather play on SNES then Wii, GameCube and N64 combined.

Just for the record I have (2) N64s, and a Wii but then again I have a 3DO too

[Donkbaca]

mario 64 wasn't that fun, it was just neat how they did the 3d, first 3d game to get cameras right.

Mario kart was fun, played that a lot in college.
Golden eye was fun
THQ wrestling games were fun
Ocarina was good

So that is what 6 games?  I can probably name 6 games on the XBox 360 that have come out in the last year that I think are great to play.

Kinect will lay waste to the wii.  Nintendo's new console will be a bomb, it has to give people a reason to ditch their xbox an ps3.  Don't see that happening quite frankly.

[shateredsoul]

Smash Bros, Blast Corps, Extreme G (the first one) was alright, Paper Mario, Mario Tennis, Mario Party, Sin and Punishment, Mischief Makers was pretty fun too, Conker, Banjo Kazooie, perfect dark, jet force gemini,

Not as many great games as ps1, but definitely worth owning.

I remember waiting for the sequel to Earthbound that never came out =(

mario 64 wasn't that fun, it was just neat how they did the 3d, first 3d game to get cameras right.

Mario kart was fun, played that a lot in college.
Golden eye was fun
THQ wrestling games were fun
Ocarina was good

So that is what 6 games?  I can probably name 6 games on the XBox 360 that have come out in the last year that I think are great to play.

Kinect will lay waste to the wii.  Nintendo's new console will be a bomb, it has to give people a reason to ditch their xbox an ps3.  Don't see that happening quite frankly.

[RandyT]

I tried it at best buy the other day, it was bolted to a shelf about 2 1/2 feet off the ground

That's because they're marketing it to children, despite the adult colors and price tag.  Definitely very uncomfortable to play in that setup for the people that can actually afford it.

If it's the standard Nintendo display, the unit comes off of it and is tethered.  It's not immediately apparent that the display works that way.  IIRC, there was a strong magnet keeping it in place.

[Malenko]

If it's the standard Nintendo display, the unit comes off of it and is tethered.  It's not immediately apparent that the display works that way.  IIRC, there was a strong magnet keeping it in place.

I tried to lift it up thinking maybe it'd move, and unless they are marketing it to the incredible hulk , that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- was on lock down.

[RandyT]

I tried to lift it up thinking maybe it'd move, and unless they are marketing it to the incredible hulk , that ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- was on lock down.

Yeah, I thought the same thing.  Then I saw someone else torque it off of the display and that's when I realized it could be removed.  Powerful magnet.

Someone on another forum noticed as well;

Funny because my local Best But has a huge magnet stuck on back of the display 3DS. It was so strong that I had to exert around 3-4 lb of force to remove it from its pedestal.

[Dervacumen]

Well after having it in the family for a while, I'm still happy with my purchase.  The 3D movie that came with the system update shows promise, and the 3D video update will be a lot of fun to play with.  If someone figures out how to get 3D porn on the thing it will find a niche market for the bathroom crowd.  I like the pedometer because I walk a lot.  I've never owned a handheld gaming device prior to this one but I do have a smart phone that I play quick bits on when waiting around for something.  It's not an iPhone, I got rid of that - absolutely hated it.  Having photos of the VR cards on my phone is handy.
I still only have one 3D game - Nintendogs & Cats, but I had $75 credit at OfficeMax so I picked through their DS scrap heap and came away with four other games.  Turns out Cooking Mama gets the most play.
BTW, I don't use this a ton, nor did I expect to.  It's really for my daughter, who isn't spoiled to the point that she convinced her idiot parent to buy her a $250 toy.  $250 a lot?  Depends on what you spend your $$ on I guess.  I don't buy $5.00 cups of coffee and eat lunch out every day.  If I had a handheld would I spend $250 on this because of the 3D?  No.  I was in the market for a portable entertainment device for the family so I bought this one.  It was in budget and I hope it has a few years of support.  If it doesn't, at least I'll have a few hundred 2D titles I can pick up at discount.
It seems like the 3D experience is all over the place for the people I've shown this to.  Those that have no trouble adjusting to it, including myself, really enjoy it.  Others get vertigo.  Some get tired eyes.

[Singapura]

"get 3D porn on the thing it will find a niche market for the bathroom crowd.  I like the pedometer". I wouldn't have put those two sentences so close together

[bobotech]

I am still wanting to know, if you totally remove the 3d from the equation, is it still a desirable buy over the DS or the PSP? 

In other words, take the 3ds and turn off the 3d and play all the new games, do they make it worth it to buy one at 250 dollars?  Seriously.  Don't be giving me rationalizations such as the 3d is necessary or that you are paying the premium for the 3d, I know that. 

I just want to know how well the 3ds stands as a 250 dollar standard 2d handheld. 

[Dervacumen]

I am still wanting to know, if you totally remove the 3d from the equation, is it still a desirable buy over the DS or the PSP? 

In other words, take the 3ds and turn off the 3d and play all the new games, do they make it worth it to buy one at 250 dollars?  Seriously. 

I don't have either the DS or the PSP, however I've had brief encounters with each.  Although I own a 3DS, I could not say that it's worth $250 for those that already own a portable.  For those like myself who are jumping in to the portable market around this time, it's compelling because of the 3D and where it may go.  I suspect the folks at Nintendo have done a fair bit of research about capturing emerging markets, and this is not about capitalizing on existing markets so much as unearthing new ones.  IMO anyway.
I would not buy it at this stage if I already had a portable.  However, for those that don't have one, this is the Sh!+.

[Donkbaca]

I am sold. Can't WAIT to play Nintendogs 3d

[Blanka]

"get 3D porn on the thing it will find a niche market for the bathroom crowd.

Nintendo is as much a holy bean as Steve Jobs. I'm still waiting for decent multitouch porn on the iPad.   To no avail.....

[Dervacumen]

I am sold. Can't WAIT to play Nintendogs 3d

Nintendo did a great job modeling the 3D butt hole, which gets shoved in your face regularly.  Kinda funky.