Let Off Some Steam is a new section where we let you guys get something off your chest – it can be a vitriol laced rant, a sappy love letter to whatever, or anything inbetween. Send your ranty words in this direction, and try and keep it under 600 words. This time Corey Lee discusses the lack of quality launch titles for the 3DS.
You know, I really empathise with this rant, as I sit here waiting for Pilotwings Resort, so I had to post it.
Take it away Corey.
Let Off Some Steam: Better Launch Titles PLEASE!
It was about 3am in the morning last Saturday at my girlfriend’s house that I found myself awake and it was only because her little dog had flared up my sinus. So, with a cup of tea, and my new 3DS for company, I’d gone outside her bedroom and decided to play a few rounds of Super Street Fighter IV 3D edition. The game is great but it’s wasn’t long before I put it down.
So what else is there to play?
Rayman 3D? Sure, the platformer looks alright but it’s something I got more for my girlfriend than myself. And the only reason I don’t have any other games at the moment is because nothing else seems that appealing. Personal story aside, the point I’m trying to make here is why there never seems to be that many great launch titles for any new console, the 3DS in this case. Out of the new titles, only SSFIV 3D seemed like a must-have. I’ve heard good things about Tom Clancy’s Shadow Wars but I suspect that people will be buying it more out of desperation as their alternatives to a serious 3DS action title seem limited. On the other hand, the Super Monkey Ball game, Dinosaurs 3D and that Dynasty Warriors port are coming across as mindless shovelware. It won’t be long until their overinflated prices fall and their fates find themselves resigned to the bottom of a bargain bin thanks to overproduction. Still, it seems annoying when we spend about $300 on the 3DS at launch and are forced to wait a few months for the good games to come out. That actually leads me to my next point.
The ‘good games’ I’m talking about are simply tried-and-true franchises being ported once more to a handheld. Resident Evil: Mercenaries, Metal Gear Solid 3D, Super Mario 3DS and Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D to name a few. I’d be lying though if I said this was a huge cause for concern or that I expected otherwise. I never played Ocarina of Time as I lacked a N64 back in my childhood and would love to experience the infamous Water Temple firsthand.
Yet, where are the original titles that I’m longing for?
Something new to try out, hopefully be impressed with and expect to see it continue on as yet another fabled franchise. Out of the current launch titles, nothing is stepping forward as a real contender in terms of innovation. I’ve honestly been more impressed with the Augmented Reality features and that came included with every unit.
Maybe I’m just being too impatient?
But I do have to conclude that there should’ve been more choice of 3DS launch titles available. I felt the same when the PS3 was first released in 2007 and no one in Australia really lined up to get one. Maybe it was the price of the console at launch but I know inside that it was because the accompanying release titles were mostly crap. Possibly excluding Resistance: Fall of Man which I still found to be a very average by-the-books FPS.
It’s not often when a new console comes out. And from previous experience, I know that any consoles’ game libraries needs a good year or two to properly develop with some must-have titles. As for Nintendo though, they should’ve known better. I think the 3DS is a great step in handheld gaming and that its entertainment potential will be fully realised later. But I’m obviously not too impressed with the games released alongside it.
As for now, I think it’s simply time to play the waiting game.
That, and kick my girlfriend’s Shih-tzu off her bed…
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