Bought a 3DS 3 months ago. A little buyer's remorse.

[godforgivesthelostdont]

THIS IS NOT AN ANTI-NINTENDO THREAD. I LOVE NINTENDO; PLEASE NO BASHING THEM

 

The original Nintendo DS was one of my favorite consoles of all time. It totally revolutionized portable gaming in my eyes. I held off on the 3DS initially but with the new Zelda (Link Between Worlds) bundle, as well as all the praise and first-party titles it was getting, I bought it. It was literally a golden moment opening up that 3DS.

 

3 months later, I'm not entirely dissatisfied. I had a good amount of enjoyment, but I feel like I'm growing up from handheld gaming and Nintendo hasn't done a good enough job in recreating the magic I had with the original DS. Not excusing PS Vita either. I didn't even buy that one. But onto my disappointments.

 

In terms of hardware, it feels outdated:

- Low pixel resolution

- Specs are lower than many smartphones

- Online store is stingy; rarely has big discounts

- You can't private message or befriend miiverse users

- No real big changes from the Nintendo DS, feature-wise

 

The games. Sizable library of good ones, but few amazing groundbreaking ones (bar Zelda ALBW which was a true gem). Lack of wi-fi play in most games. Most of the quality games are ports from older systems or sequels.

 

There's a dire lack of new first-party IP's. Where would PS3 be without Uncharted? Xbox without Halo? Gamecube without Pikmin? DS without touch generation? Sequels are nice, but they aren't generation-defining.

 

The problem with portable gaming is that well established series don't innovate or change the core formula. They just deliver the same experience I had. Portable versions of console games. Better looking versions of GBA/DS games. Games like Pokemon X/Y, Mario Kart 7 and such show this.

 

Is there anything wrong with derivative but still great sequels? No. They're nice to have, but on the side. Beside brand new thrilling impactful experiences, which I did not get from the 3DS.

 

On top of this, 3DS is another mouth to feed. Having more than 2 consoles a gen can get expensive. And the 3DS used games haven't been going down in price either. 3DS has lots of games, but it does open up a new lane? No. Does it offer something totally different than my other Nintendo consoles? No.

 

I got the system in goodfaith that Advance Wars 5 would come out. If it's not announced this E3, I'll probably sell my 3DS. I also came to the 3DS to be astounded by lots of different games. I waited 2 years since 2011 figuring it would improve. It did improve, but on a fundamental level, it's really lacking. Portable gaming is in a slump. Smartphones are more versatile and consoles are more focused. 3DS is an an awkward middle ground and little is done by Nintendo to change that.

 

The original DS was really innovative for 2004 standards, but cloned again in 2014 doesn't bring the same results.

 

Don't avoid the 3DS, but see both sides and exercise caution. It's a great system for core traditional fans; not for those looking for something new or cutting-edge.

Edited April 3, 2014 by godforgivesthelostdont

[ll rdny ll]

I can sympathize with your feelings, but I can not agree with them.

The 3DS, for me, has refueled my desire for mobile gaming. I hated the required Touch Controls on the DS, and the 3DS does away with that for the most part. There are so many first party Nintendo games that I refused to play last Gen thanks to the need to use your stylus.

 

This time around I don't have to worry about buying a screen protector, and extra stylus' because so few games actually require you to touch the screen. The graphics may not be perfect all the time, but it's all about the gameplay when it comes to mobile gaming. I can't think of one Nintendo IP game that didn't play well on the 3DS.

 

About the prices of the games, that's not a new thing at all. Nintendo games in general, rarely drop in price. MKDS is still $35, and damn near every Nintendo game on every Nintendo console/handheld has kept within $5-$10 of the original price. Nintendo is a pricey gaming endeavor to get into, but if you can afford it, it's worth it.

 

Not trying to start an argument or anything, but Smartphone gaming sucks compared to the traditional handheld gaming platforms. If you want proof, play some of the emulators for the older nintendo/sega consoles. Phones/Tablets can keep the run-n-jump and tilt to win games. But the more complicated games to control will need dumbed down to be able to play them on those devices. I can play SNES games on my phone, and on my cfw psp, I will always prefer to play them on the psp over the phone due to the limitations of the solely touch interface. But the battle isn't over how the games handle, it's over how pretty they look. Until we get over this obsession with perfect graphics, we're going to be stuck with phenomenally gorgeous games, that play like crap.

Edited April 3, 2014 by ll rdny ll

[pokemon123]

Heh I guess that describes me. The 3ds had a very nice lineup last year to me. While yes you present a good point of the fact that there have not been many new games as of late I feel there were some unique games out there. Some IPs were milked to death but some games had not been made in years. Some examples include games like new leaf,shin megami tensei 4,(10 years!) awakening(5 years for americans,3 years for Japanese). These may be better versions of franchises but I am certain they felt like a breath of fresh air. I also hope for an advance wars 5 but I doubt it will happen. IS did say they were working on a secret project so hopefully.

[godforgivesthelostdont]

 

Not trying to start an argument or anything, but Smartphone gaming sucks compared to the traditional handheld gaming platforms.

 

I agree, but polarization has created a big problem for portable game devices.

 

As a portable device, I'd much rather carry a smartphone than a 3DS to occupy little chunks of free time I have in public.

 

As a gaming device, consoles offer superior performance and quality.

 

Caught in a crossroads, compromises both aspects.

[Mista J]

Mobile gaming only sucks when you're playing sh*t like flappy bird, and angry birds. There's tons of great games. Like Oceanhorn which is a Legend of Zelda clone, pretty good. There's Monsters Ate My Condo, Infinity Blade series, The Drowning, Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, GTA Trilogy, Max Payne, Injustice Gods Among Us, Minecraft, Terraria. And more. There's tons that can give you console like experiences. Now I don't believe mobile gaming is the future, but it's only sh*t when you're making it sh*t.

[esmittystud101]

Dude, get you an Emulator for your smartphone and you will have just as much fun as any hand held these days. I mean common, Twisted Metal 2 on my Android is sweet. The funny part about it is I think it looks better now than it did on PS1. I don't have many details on how to get them really though. I pretty much handed my phone to one of my IT guys that works in my office and they did the rest. Maybe cost me between $5-$10 for everything. I know you need an actual Emulator App and then I know you need an app to search for games. They are the bomb.

[SolidSnails]

If i saw a man playing a 3DS in public i dont know if i would salute him or die of laughter

[FranklinDeRoosevelt]

I'd say the PSP and the PSP Slim were the best handheld devices, and still might be.

[Tchuck]

I bought a 3DS after moving to Canada in December 2011, because I wouldn't have the time/money for a TV console. And it has served me more than well enough.

 

I don't care that it's specs are "lesser" if compared to some smartphone. It does what it is supposed to do, and does it well. A touch screen will never 100% replace buttons + d-pad for certain types of games, and the 3DS excels at that. Graphics are fine enough for the generation, and I was surprised by how some games looked really good. It was also something my wife could play and have fun.

 

As for a library of titles, just the fact that it can also play DS games make it's library of great titles better than a couple of consoles out there.

 

As the first replier stated, I can sympathize with your feelings, but cannot agree with them. Mobile may be more "versatile", and I own and iPhone, iPad et al. But the games available on the 3/DS are of far better quality/value and level of fun.

[Adler]

Well at least you didn't buy a Vita.

[FranklinDeRoosevelt]

There's nothing wrong with the Vita apart from the lack of games, that needs to be sorted out. You sound like as if the handheld console it self is bad.

[godforgivesthelostdont]

There's nothing wrong with the Vita apart from the lack of games, that needs to be sorted out. You sound like as if the handheld console it self is bad.

 

Really inspiring coming from you FDR. Vita is a great SYSTEM. But with a weak library of exclusives. In time it can be good though.

 

I'd say the PSP and the PSP Slim were the best handheld devices, and still might be.

 

For their respective time. 3D PS2-graphics gaming that's portable was revolutionary for it's time. I do think smartphones have taken something away from PSP's all-in-one portable entertainment device goal.

 

Dude, get you an Emulator for your smartphone and you will have just as much fun as any hand held these days.

 

i have one. the control layout for smartphones is not very intuitive. the man or woman who figures out how to make smartphones into actual gaming devices might become a billionaire lol

 

If i saw a man playing a 3DS in public i dont know if i would salute him or die of laughter

 

in america, of course. in japan, where its much denser and more culturally acceptable, it's commonplace.

[Mista J]

There's nothing wrong with the Vita apart from the lack of games, that needs to be sorted out. You sound like as if the handheld console it self is bad.

So there's nothing wrong with a console, other than almost no games? That's a huge thing wrong with it.

Edited April 3, 2014 by DarthShinobi

[AceRay]

Honestly, you get a 3ds or 2ds because you want to play JRPGs, considering that good JRPGs on consoles recently are far and inbetween. Get Bravely Default and Fire Emblem Awakening, those two games are both a) long, so you'll get your moneys worth and b) really really good. Bravely Default is the first real Final Fantasy game is like 10 years or so. They are the killer apps you were talking about in the OP, the must have games for system. Same for Dangan Ronpa for PSVita

i have one. the control layout for smartphones is not very intuitive. the man or woman who figures out how to make smartphones into actual gaming devices might become a billionaire lol

 

Exactly. The lack of buttons means that you can't play any timing based games on your phone, it pretty much has to be menu based RPG or strategy games. Controllers rely solely on the touch, the feel, if I can't feel what I'm pressing I'm going to mess up. It made playing Castlevania: Aria of Sorrow much harder than it needed to be.

[FranklinDeRoosevelt]

 

There's nothing wrong with the Vita apart from the lack of games, that needs to be sorted out. You sound like as if the handheld console it self is bad.

So there's nothing wrong with a console, other than almost no games? That's a huge thing wrong with it.

 

Lol you got me there. But like I said, it will be sorted out. You can't just forget that the PS3 absolutely killed it with the exclusives after the first year or so of its release. PS4 has a great lineup, The Order 1886, Uncharted, inFamous, Deep Down, etc etc.

[Mista J]

 

 

There's nothing wrong with the Vita apart from the lack of games, that needs to be sorted out. You sound like as if the handheld console it self is bad.

 

So there's nothing wrong with a console, other than almost no games? That's a huge thing wrong with it.

 

Lol you got me there. But like I said, it will be sorted out. You can't just forget that the PS3 absolutely killed it with the exclusives after the first year or so of its release. PS4 has a great lineup, The Order 1886, Uncharted, inFamous, Deep Down, etc etc.

If we go by the Japan release date, this thing is almost 3 years old. They need to do spin offs like Uncharted for this thing. To be honest they should just bundle it with the PS4. I wouldn't mind paying $550 for two consoles.

[FranklinDeRoosevelt]

Yeah, that's definitely a good idea. I kind of was expecting that happen too, and so many other people did as well. But I think they are trying to milk it as much as they can first, so they can get whatever they can out of it individually until people are tired of buying it.

[Doublepulse]

If there is a PsVita vs 3ds topic, happily link it to me. Since my post might fit more in there. (Maybe not though,considering people have similar posts

 

I have had both 3ds and Ps Vita, and have experienced with both. I don't have my 3ds anymore, but still my Vita. I sometimes feel your pain, mostly for me it is the software over the hardware though. I will admit, I am a spoiled gamer a little.. both handhelds really don't satisfy my hunger for the games I want to see.

 

3DS: Too many JRPGS..Expensive Nintendo games..Other games that would never see the light of day if on bigger consoles..Strange ports that suck.

 

PS Vita: Too many indie platformer games..not enough action 3rd person games.. the games do not feel AAA at all to me.I mostly play Ps one games on it.

 

At this point, you either agree with me or will tell me to shut up. lol.. It is not that these games are bad, just not fitting my expectations..I don't mind ports, since it is better than nothing. I think PS Now will crave that a little.

 

It is not just the games, but the thinking process. PS Plus gives quite a few games away to play for free as long as you keep PS+,however because of this, I have too many games to try and beat, and there is not much worth to them to complete them. The system right now is just good in short bursts. Too many games, not enough time .

 

As for the concerns with Hardware, I try not to think about it too much. The more I think about pixels, graphics, resolution, and processing power, I lose my mind sometimes. It is something I wonder why fanboys fight about..

 

I owned both the PSP and Original DS as well. This ofcourse was when I was much younger, so my thinking was different back then. But I enjoyed many of the games back then. I felt they not only fit the experience I wanted, but they did not try too over the top. PSP at that time gave me more of the "Hardcore" gaming experience, than the Vita right now. Time will tell, hopefully more awesome titles come to the Vita. (GTA or Elder Scrolls please?)

 

Both systems are great, and you can definitely tell their target audience is different. I really don't know what else to add.. Gonna end it here.

[M210F]

I had the original DS when I was younger and enjoyed it a lot, but I always was sort of of mixed emotions. I mostly played Pokemon and the LEGO games on it. My problem now with portable gaming is that I either play it on the go (and carry around my phone, wallet, keys AND DS wherever I go), or at home (where I have a semi-powerful laptop and PS4). I guess it could fill a niche for if you're at a hotel or something, but even then, if I'm on a vacation I don't want to be playing games. It's not really for me, but it's not really intended for me as much as it is for kids too young to have a phone (so 7 year olds in modern America?)

 

I absolutely loved the GBA as a kid, though. I remember my first ever handheld game was Pokemon Red on a Gameboy color, but the first game I *really* played was Pokemon Silver. I absolutely adored that game. If only Nintendo would port those old GB/GBC/GBA games onto the app store. You know, the ones that they're making 0 dollars off of at the moment...