Okay, I have a dumb question that no body can answer. Why did Nintendo put out the 3DS with out many games. This happen to the Saturn and Dreamcast, they rushed to get the hardware out there. :/ Those are the two I remember that where lunched with out many games to play on them. It's not like Nintendo had any competition with another hand-held device with 3D. :/ =Hugh
There's probably a reason for that. How many times were you thrilled to find that a game, oh I don't know, lets say one of the Zelda games or Metroid Prime Hunters, were going to have extensive touch controls? Or that Star Fox game? Or that Ninja Gaiden game? Early on there were some instances of neat touch screen use, but after awhile the entire gimmick got played out. Now the touch screen is mostly just good for quick menu navigation, and is mostly an annoyance when it is implemented. The only time it was welcome (to me) was in very simple games like Feel the Magic or Kirby's Canvas Curse or Yoshi's Touch&Go. I do think the gyro tech in the 3DS has some potential though. It works well in Steel Diver and Face Raiders, and its going to be interesting to aim the bow in Ocarina of Time using it. At first I thought it sounded ridiculous and impratical, but I've actually found myself enjoying it (yes, while still enjoying the 3D). I hope you're from Japan, because if you're referring to the US DC launch there would be an issue with your post.
The problem is that it runs diametrically opposed to the 3d aspect of the device. You simply cannot move the 3DS and stay focused on the 3d screen (hell, I can barely focus on it without moving at all).
While the hectic nature of Face Raiders does make it more difficult, I found it fairly easy to keep the sweet spot while playing the periscope portions of Steel Diver.
I actually found the touch screen controls in Phantom Hourglass & Spirit Tracks to work really well. I'm able to move Link in a stealth fashion or to run fast. I did have an issue with PH in trying to get Link to roll (couldn't do it consistently) which they fixed in ST.
Well, to each their own I suppose. I personally couldn't even play the games due to lack of traditional controls.
I <3 the Zelda DS games, I thought they were the best Zelda titles I'd played since OoT. I'd be perfectly content if the franchise stayed on DS and never had a full-fledged console incarnation again, honestly. I liked both of those more than Twilight Princess.
Though maybe someone would find some interest in these. Some short impression/review I posted on another forum. Few late tidbits to say 1) After later playthroughs, the 3D in Puzzle bobble isn't instant headache inducing but still is so bad I turn it off instantly. =| 2) Shanghai 3D Puzzle is growing on me because I sort of like these games (They are in a sense my solitaire). Still I would not recommend it for more then $25. $20-$25 I think it's worth a pickup (Atlus will bring it here in a few months) 3) BUY CUBIC NINJA OR YOU SUCK ASS!! Base on my playthrough of Gundam 3D battle, I'm starting to get a bit more excited over picking up One Piece Unlimited Cruise. Should be a fun little brawler with tons of content (since it's a repackaging of the 2 wii games with some additions).---------------------------------------------------------------------------------- So quick score rundown of my collection (A-great, F-epic failure), An overall A does not mean it's perfect, just great fun and worth every penny. Gundam 3D Battle Visuals: B - Small upgrade over PSP iterations with nice particle effects but not really pushing the 3DS. Audio: B - Yummy Gundam music/sfx! Gameplay: A - A really fun third person action game that presents a pretty good challenge the further in you play. 3D Effect: - OMG the 3D!! It really feels like there is a perfect 3D world in front of me at full blast with out it tiring out my eyes in any way. Overall: -A - Great game, not much of a step up over the PSP series but doesn't have what made GAS so bad and the 3D effects are a real treat to longtime fans of the artdink series. Cubic Ninja Visuals: C - Simplistic style that gets the job done. Audio: B - Great ambient music with world 2 having the best track (IMO). Gameplay: A - Great fun puzzle game that has tons of charm when you play via the motion controls, but after getting a little angered at a level you might find your self swapping to the analog pad (but it really doesn't make it all that much easier). 3D Effect: C - Nothing to write home about but not horrible either. It does help in some levels that play with the depth but it doesn't give a very good volumetric feel to the game. Overall: +B - For being a budget title (in japan it is, USA it won't be, blame ubisoft), the game is really good and tons of fun to play with. It also has a unique charm to it when playing via motion controls. While the game is a bit short, the inclusion of a level editor and level trading by street-pass, you might find your self coming back to this one every once in a while to play someone's twisted creation. People should not sit this one out when it comes out!! Puzzle Bobble 3D / Bust-A-Move Universe Visuals: D - Nothing amazing but they get the job done. Audio: B - The saving grace of this entire game. The game has some really good takes on the game's classic music. Now if only I could find the option to turn off SFX and up the music volume! Gameplay: D - It's puzzle bobble. While not the series worse it's also not the series best either. The game seems to also leave the guide on in the normal mode which made the 22 levels I played so far a total breeze. As well the new boss fights didn't make any sense, I just keep spamming the button to throw as many bombs at him till I win. There wasn't any fun to this. It's also worth mentioning that I don't find the controls to be as tight as they should be. The analog stick moves too much and the d-pad doesn't let you get precise shots off very well. It's shocking since the old games where perfect in the controls department. 3D Effect: F - Oh god, they where really bad. The game try to keep the 2D flat with no 3D effect but adds 3D effect to everything behind it. It just doesn't work and you eyes fight trying to adjust to see the 3D in the background or focus hard to just see the 2D gameplay portion. It was straining my eyes after 2 mins and I had no choice and turned 3D off. Overall: F - Not worth buying, Maybe if you see it for $10 in a clearance bin but even still probably not. I might seem like a hater but i'm a fan of puzzle bobble and always enjoy a go at Puzzle Bobble 1-4. As well it's disappointing to see it was developed by Arika who knows how to make great games. Shanghai 3D Puzzle Visuals: C - Nothing amazing but they get the job done. Audio: D - Pretty bland and something you'll eventually turn off. Gameplay: C - Simple Shanghai block puzzle game but in 3D. The 3D gameplay works well enough and if you're into this type of game you'll probably find some enjoyment in it. Small knock on the controls though. The game should let you select with d-pad and not the analog. It makes selecting blocks in classic mode more frustrating then it should be. The game has a decent collection of levels to play through and even has classic mode that works well enough (but also gets a little annoying over the camera placement and use of the analog pad), so there is enough to keep you going for a while. 3D Effect: C - Neither good nor bad really. It works but you won't feel like there is this crazy magical 3d object in front of you Overall: C - If you like Shanghai puzzle games then you'll find some fun in this one. The game is actually getting a USA release as it was recently announced that atlus will be picking it up. If it comes out for $30/$40, I would recommend holding out till you find it for $20.
I also thought Phantom Hourglass controlled pretty well. There were other problems with the game, but controls were not one of them IMO. That said, I hope the circle pad is used a lot more than the touch screen. The circle pad has a really fluid, almost console-like feel to it. It's almost as big a deal to me as the 3D screen.
Thanks for the impression subbie. After one month of owning it, I'm at 50+ hours in SSF43DE and still rocking it.
I have the same issue with pilotwings, I thought it was my eyes reacting to the 3d effect but on street fighter I see 3d fine at full blast. Only solution for me with pilotwings was to hold the system at a certain distance away from me.
Pilotwings Resort is pretty painful with the 3D up to full, and fairly difficult to see (this isn't apparent until you get to the Gold courses though). However, with the 3D turned down to about 25%, it looks rather nice. SSFIV looks great with the 3D at full, its just a decision on whether or not you want 3D or 60fps (I tend to go with 3D myself...).
So I finally paid for my 3DS, and my friend leaves for L.A. in a few hours, which means she'll bring me my machine on monday. I chose the black one, and either Street Fighter or Ghost Recon to go with it. I'm getting a red cover for the machine from Play-Asia (or a local store if I find one) so it still looks like a Virtual Boy. Awesome. I still have my open question, if it's not offensive to you guys. Has anyone here tried an R4 cartridge on it to play old DS games? I really don't want to worry about lugging around a bunch of carts with me. I wish that Gundam game had been released Stateside. I'd have definitely chosen that one instead of the two I had as options.
The 3ds is evolutionary... And trust me, in two years time when the 3dsxl hits we will have a good 50 or so great games that show it off and it'll look better than a ps2 game programmed with some 3d raytraced graphics.
Maybe I'm mistaken but raytraced graphics are just sprites stretched over 3d models. Since the tech of the 3ds is as it is I imagine that this will be a trend, more street figher type stuff.
I finally got mine. It's quite an okay little machine. The 3D is impressive. My mother was especially impressed with it. I hated the fact that Street Fighter IV has only the american voices. Had I known this fact, I would have gotten a different game. But it's very fun. Though, if I move it a lot, sometimes I lose the 3D effect. I have yet to try many of the machine's features, but I'm certain I will be unlocking many soon enough. What does piss me off is the fact that I bought some protective stickers for the bottom screen and both were wasted because the white label would not come off. And they were the official ones, with the "write and protect" pack. The pens that come in that pack are quite good, though. Another fun thing I'm experiencing is that I play the 3DS and then look at my laptop screen, and the 3D effect continues a few seconds... as if different boxes or hues or edges sort of had... volume. My eyes are slow at adapting, I guess. The audio on the machine is quite solid. The buttons, not so much. Still, so far, I'm satisfied with it.
btw how is it selling around the world? here in italy it's quite a massive flop. no-one gets around with one in his hands. might be due to our economics i guess... half the country is on the verge of collapsing.
Relatively good ( or average dependign on expectation ) but lower than Nintendo expectation. It's fair statement to say that the system hasn't yet garnered enough traction. Going by memory should be: - shipped WW 3,6 M as of 1 April 2011. - sold 950K as of last week in Japan. - sold about 400K in US in the first week. - sold about 310K across Europe in the first week.
