Nintendo has been at the forefront of portable gaming for years now, with the Game Boy recently celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Fast forward several years, and the 3DS – the world’s first 3D handheld console – is now one of the top offerings for gamers on the go. The 3DS received solid scores from the likes of Engadget and TechRadar when it was released at the beginning of 2011, while the 3DS XL improved where its smaller brother left off when it was released in the middle of 2012.
We recently profiled the PS Vita to find out if was worth picking one up, and we pose the same question now. At R1,900 for the 3DS and R2,970 for the XL, is it worth buying one?
The Good
Powerful hardware
The 3DS XL allows for up to 6 hours of gameplay on its magnificent 4.18-inch 3D screen, and the visuals really are something special. The 3D effects on the XL are a big improvement from the standard 3DS, and the bigger screen makes for a better gaming experience.
Both 3DS’s second screens allow you to use a stylus (which I find very handy). The handheld’s memory can be upgraded by purchasing a standard SD card, and there is backwards compatibility for DS games.
The games
Like all Nintendo platforms, you will have access to all the first-party Mario titles on the 3DS. The handheld also boasts a great third-party software library, which includes the likes of Kingdom Hearts 3D (75 on Metacritic), Fire Emblem: Awakening (92 on Metacritic) and Bravely Default (85 on Metacritic). Pokemon fans will be more than satisfied, too, with Pokemon X (87 on Metacritic) and Pokemon Y (88 on Metacritic) available.
The future
Nintendo is unlikely to abandon its handheld division any time soon, and will continue to improve its offering to gamers. A recent example of this is the new Mii Verse and Spotpass games software released for the 3DS. The handheld console does not try to punch above its weight and what it does, it does well. Let’s hope it continues to do this until its successor arrives.
The Bad
Price
The 3Ds has a good library of games in SA, but it is not often you find a popular title less than 3 years old for less than R400. If you are a 2 or 3 handheld game kind of guy then this is fine, but stocking up on titles does become pricey. The 3DS XL is also quite expensive at just under R3,000 – in fact it costs more than the PS Vita.
The Verdict
At R1,900, the standard 3DS is an attractive option for those of you who want a solid mobile gaming option. The already expansive game library is growing constantly and we should see some good titles coming out in the next year or two. A successor to the 3DS may be on the horizon, but for now, it is good buy.
3DS owners – give us some feedback on your experience with the handheld system in the comments and forum.
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