Written by: Alex

 

 

Developer: Nintendo

Price: 249.99 Euro

Category: Handheld console

Extra: 3D without glasses

 

 

 

Nintendo’s new handheld is finally here, and more importantly I have one. Offering glasses-less 3D the 3DS truly brings something new to the table offering everyone (kind of) affordable 3D gaming.

 

But the question of if it will deliver on all Nintendo’s promises still hangs over it.

 

 

Knowing that the key feature of the 3DS was going to be hard to demo Nintendo have been proactive in its promotion from the start. Since its announcement in March 2010 there has been no complacency from the Kyoto based gaming giant who made it clear riding on the success of the DS and its broad appeal was not an option.

 

Even with the DS’s vast market Nintendo seemed very aware it was the long time gamers who would make up the bulk of the systems initial adopters and clearly marketed to them. Without the ability to show the wonders of 3D they instead impressed with prettier graphics, an analogue nub and a line up of games that included ‘hardcore’ franchises such as Kid Icarus, Final Fantasy, Metal Gear Solid, Street Fighter and Resident Evil.

 

If that weren’t enough Nintendo hit press outlets early, allowing word to get out that actually, yes, the 3D (courtesy of Sharp’s stereoscopic screen) did work and while it may not change the game it does make them look good (one promise from Nintendo was that all games would also be playable in 2D courtesy of a 3D slider that lets you pick just how much depth you want).

 

But 3DS’s price point does weight in high for a handheld, so even with all of the hype and promise it remains to be seen how many will be convinced to put down their old systems simply to add a new dimension.

 

 

Opening the 3DS it would be easy to mistake it for a DS Lite or DSi. Similar in size to these previous models the only clear signifiers that it’s any different come from a slightly larger lid and the two cameras mounted on it. Closer inspection sees a number of other minor changes to the outer shell, including the 3D slider, but it was on opening that the real differences became clear.

 

The most sticking change is of course the larger top screen. Now out of scale with the lower screen it looked strange by comparison to the old system and suggested a dramatic shift in thinking, with the lower screen clearly now intended more as a control area. The analogue nub, which sat where the d-pad used to (the d-pad now sits below this) also suggests something more centred on serious games, but this is a fact that will only be borne out by software.

 

Turning on the system it certainly played the part of the future. A loading screen claims it is ‘calibrating the 3D’, a fallacy designed make you watch (with the 3D slider cranked all the way up) a series of crosses disappear far back into the screen, showing just what can be done with the new tech. It’s an impressive display and, thanks to the onscreen instructions of where to hold it, the effect works perfectly. Indeed the ‘calibration’ could well be more for the user than the system as newcomers get used to the best viewing angle for the machine. After this (and some basic set up taks) it is on to the fun stuff.

 

 

After the system boots up the software on offer is the first thing to catch the eye. Having stopped my DS purchasing at the Lite I am unfamiliar with Nintendo’s software interface. How much of a refinement it is from the DSi I don't know but it is instantly understandable. The interface is all on the smaller bottom screen and offers two layouts to display the available programs. One is similar to the Wii’s interface with a variable number of row and columns while the other presents a simple line of icons with the explanation of the software occupying the upper area of the screen.

 

Above this software interface sits a row of icons to access core functions that can be used while other software is suspended. These included brightness controls, the previously mentioned layout controls, a notepad function, notification mails, friend lists and an Internet browser. The last two on the list are of particular note, but for very different reasons.

 

Friend codes borrow from the Wii’s friend code system, but are considerably friendlier. If two people are physically together then the 3DS will allow them to friend automatically save them with out exchanging numbers. Friending online is less convenient; requiring both parties their friend’s respective twelve-digit code but at least this code is universal across all software and does not require new codes for different titles.

 

The Internet browser is of note for a very different reason, it isn’t really there. Like many other functions of the 3DS (such as the store) it is not currently on the system. Instead users must wait until an update promised in late May. Knowing this my heart jumped when starting the system a software update was pushed on the system, surly Nintendo hadn’t managed to get it out early? Well no they hadn’t, but I guess 2 months isn’t too long to wait?

 

Finally for the more function based software comes Nintendo Sounds (a fairly poor voice recorder) and the more impressive 3D camera. Using the two cameras on the 3DS’s lid the camera allows 3D photos to be taken (cue taking photos of friends pointing at the camera), impressive but as they only work on 3DSs limited uses.