The first question people ask about Nintendo’s new 3-D handheld is if it requires special glasses. Thankfully, it does not.
The second question usually concerns the 3-D effect itself, and if it’s believable. Again, the 3DS delivers. But sitting at a $249.99 retail price, the portable console needs a greater lure to distinguish itself from its competitors.
Nintendo 3DS’s defining feature is its ability to produce 3-D effects via a process called autostereoscopy. By using clear backgrounds against bright foreground images, the effect produces depth similar to 3-D films such as Avatar.
After repeated plays, I couldn’t find any flaws, and the 3-D effect augments games rather than detracts from them, which was my initial concern. The 3DS’s depth perception stays versatile without being distracting, so the console’s main draw tests well.
While the option to play in 3-D is enticing, users might prefer 2-D mode. It’s not that the 3-D causes discomfort or headaches, but it may feel obtrusive. In certain instances, it de-emphasizes other aspects of gameplay by adding another layer that simply isn’t necessary.
In short, it feels a bit gimmicky, and I surmise other gamers will feel the same way. Luckily, Nintendo designed a dial to adjust the intensity of the 3-D, which can project identically to the DS.
Surprisingly, new software and a redesigned analog pad are the breakouts of the 3DS. The addition of a large, gray analog stick above the directional pad makes navigating even the older DS games much more intuitive.
Whether I was hang gliding in Pilotwings Resort or navigating the various menus, the motions were smooth and instinctive. While a new controller design may not be exciting as a visual upgrade, gamers clamoring for less bulky controls will be extremely satisfied.
The Nintendo 3DS includes a handful of mini-games that come within the system. They take a short time to learn, and within seconds I found myself joyously spinning my 3DS around the room while my roommate looked on in horror.
Using the 3DS’s three cameras to identify your normal surroundings, AR Games can transform your coffee table into an archery tournament or billowing dragon. I continued to return to AR Games and Face Raiders, which are two of the included games, even after playing several of the more robust launch games.
And speaking of the launch titles, they’re lackluster. With three Nintendo titles and uninspiring third-party support, there’s no significant reason yet to buy the 3DS over the simpler and much cheaper DS or DSi. However, it has been confirmed that 3DS will release first-party titles such as Zelda, Star Fox and Mario Kart title by the end of the year.
Like all consoles, the 3DS ultimately will be judged by its library.
While the 3DS showcases clever innovations and convincing depth perception, the first-rate games cannot arrive soon enough. Nintendo is boasting record-breaking sales in both Japan and North America, but if the games trickle rather than surge it may mean trouble for the 3DS.
In short, it may not pay to tamper with a visual standard that’s performed so dependably for 30 years.
—Ryan Carpe is a graduate student studying journalism. His fiancee is terrified that he now has a 3DS. Send him emails at rc336801@ohiou.edu.
