The main reason to buy any console is ofcourse the games – and oh boy, does the 3DS have games! With around 200 exclusives, this little handheld has received alot of love over the years, and arguably a few years of support left in it, you will certainly be spoiled for choice. There are some big exclusives on the way too, such as Pikmin, Fire Emblem Echoes, Donkey Kong Country, (edit: my bad! This came out years ago! Thanks for pointing that out, Lewa358) and even new IP called Ever Oasis by the Majoras Mask 3D team.
Speaking of choices, you certainly have a few when it comes to the console itself. The 3DS has received 2 product revisions, one in the form of the 2DS and one as the N3DS and N3DSXL, giving you a total of 5 different iterations of the product, with loads of cool limited edition models floating around. The 2DS has a RRP of $80, and comes preinstalled with Mario Kart 7, so you can really jump right in with one of Nintendo’s most addictive games on the system. At this price you are only really paying $50 for the system (MK7’s RRP is $30)
“But wait, Nintendo just announced the Switch!” you cry. “Shouldn’t I wait and buy that instead?”
The Switch is really exciting, and it has some great looking games lined up. Like any new console, it’s going to take a while for it to build up a decent library especially since it lacks native backwards compatability – something that will pay off in the long run, they really do have to work pretty quickly to get as many games as they can on the system.
The 3DS however does have native backwards compatability – if you include the DS library, there are nearly 3000 games you can play on the 3DS, so there is indeed many hours of fun to be had.
The 3DS may be in it’s twilight years, and it may be the most unattractive and gimmicky piece of tech ever conceived – it still has alot to offer.
Bonus: My 10 Favourite 3DS Games (in no particular order)
1) Super Smash Bros. 4 for 3DS – easily one of my favourite titles, packed with iconic characters duking it out on the small screen. Running at a buttery 60fps it is also one of the prettiest games on the system, and also serves to prove just how capable it is.
2) Fantasy Life – an open world ARPG with a Final Fantasy-esque Life (job) system, where you explore the world of Revaria fighting all kinds of beasts, crafting everything from clothes to furniture to armour and weapons, using materials you harvested around the world. There truly is nothing else like Fantasy Life, a wonderfully ambitious and delightful exclusive.
3) Pokemon X/Y – This list wouldn’t be complete without Pokemon, and I chose X/Y because this game has an emphasis on beauty, really giving the series a face-lift and also it’s just really fun to skate around. It’s a nice feeling. It’s also now easier than ever to trade and battle with people all over the world. The hype for this game was unbelievable, since it was the first time we were seeing Pokemon as models rather than sprites, and also introduces some neat new mons. Few games have lived up to, or surpassed their hype, like X/Y did.
4) Resident Evil: Revalations – Initially an exclusive, the iconic survival-horror series is all the more terrifying in 3D. Somewhat of a “return to roots” when compared to the last couple main titles of the series, delivers a rather gripping and sinister story full of great twists, challenging boss fights and of course terrifying BOWs for you to blast away.
5) Phoenix Wright Ace Attorney: Dual Destinies – If you love solving mysteries and over the top courtroom drama, this is the game for you. Explore, find clues, question witnesses and persons of interest,then bring your case together in the courtroom while cross examining witnesses and getting to the bottom of a string of seemingly unrelated murders.
6) Bravely Default – Basically Final Fantasy. Airships? Check. Crystals? Check. Job system? Check. Turn Based battles? Yep. This is much more than a knock off, since it was made by Square Enix and is a highly polished and unique title, and is also among the most beautiful games on the system, visually and aurally. The game was scripted by Naotaka Hayashi(notable for his work on Steins;Gate) and character design by Akihiko Yoshida (Tactics Ogre, Final Fantasy Tactics) Initially intended to be a sequel to Final Fantasy: The 4 Heroes Of Light, it became it’s own beast during the course of development, and, well, it really is something!
7) Project X Zone – YMMV but I loved this unapologetically chaotic mash-up of almost every character you can imagine from Capcom and Bandai Namco, essentially a SRPG/fighting game that is basically a love letter to video game fanatics. You’ll have Jill Valentine and Chris Redfield teaming up with Heihachi Mishima, Tron Bonne, and too many others to name travelling through time and space taking on their equally recognizable rivals.
8) Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate – What it says on the box, you are a hunter. Gathering resources is what you do to help the villagers of Moga, as well as crafting weapons, items and armour for yourself to aid in the hunt. There is a wonderful variety of weapons to choose from, and some larger-than-life monsters to take down,
9) Mario Kart 7 – Basically an essential for every 3DS owner, alongside Pokemon, what must I say? It’s Mario Kart! Now you can lose friends anywhere, so long as your friend has a 3DS – luckily your friends can play even if they dont own the game like with many others.
10) The Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D – Possibly one of the greatest games ever made, and feels right at home on the 3DS and looks better than ever having received a considerable facelift. If you haven’t had a chance to play this game, this would really be the ideal way to play it.
End List
It is worth noting that for the sum you would spend on a 3DS and a few games could net you a Switch instead, but then you likely won’t get the most from the Switch for a few years. Rather than getting caught up in the hype, the 3DS promises fun aplenty wherever you are.
If you have ever considered buying a 3DS, now is the time! If you have, feel free to share your best memories!
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