I just spent some time with the New Nintendo 3DS at the Tokyo Game Show, and based on first impressions, the upcoming handheld looks like it could be great.
Announced last month, the revamped 3DS features more powerful hardware, a better 3D effect and a new analogue controller called the C-Stick. It’s less a stick and more a nub — much like the ThinkPad keyboard nub. So, how is it?
In the Monster Hunter 4G demo, the C-Stick was used exclusively for the camera. Since it’s a small nub, that seemed ideal for camera movement in that you can easily push it. I tried pushing on it as hard as I could to actually see if I could break it, but the nub appeared very sturdy. I am curious to see how it will hold up over extended play.
However, this C-Stick isn’t really something you can flick, which makes me wonder how it will feel to use in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS.
But, like I said above, the C-Stick is an extremely welcome addition for camera controls.
The Slide Pad appears to be the same Slide Pad on current 3DS models, and I personally didn’t notice a difference. The Dpad and the face buttons all felt nice (the buttons were slightly clicky), and everything else appeared to be in good working order. The back of the handheld, however, was glossy plastic, and I kind of wish Nintendo would have gone with a nice matte finish.
The biggest surprise was not the controls. The improved 3D effect is truly improved. It actually surprised me at how good the effect looks now. This is something I’ve long hated on the original 3DS and have rarely used because it made my eyes tired. Instead of making you feel like you are crossing your eyes, the new 3DS effect has more of a shadow-box effect than you get with the current 3DS. Instead of feeling like the game is popping out, it’s as though the New 3DS is a drawing you into the game.
The New Nintendo 3DS XL I played had a larger screen than the current model, and while the handheld is big, it didn’t feel heavy or bulky. The bigger screen really helps the 3D effect sparkle. Pictures cannot do it justice, but Monster Hunter 4G looked utterly fantastic on the portable.
To help pull off the 3D effect, Nintendo installed new face tracking software. You can move your head around and don’t have to constantly fiddle with your positioning or the slider to keep the 3D effect. The tracking wasn’t completely smooth, however, as there is some herky-jerky panning to calculate the effect.
As I was playing the New Nintendo 3DS, I couldn’t help but wish this had been the handheld Nintendo launched the platform with. It really seemed to deliver in ways that the original 3DS, a fantastic portable in its own right, does not. And that, no doubt, is the point.
The New Nintendo 3DS will go on sale in Japan on October 11.
Comments
14 responses to “First Hands-On With The New Nintendo 3DS”
Yeah they should have launched with this and had all 3DS games compatible to a single version throughout the platform’s lifespan.
But then you’d only buy one instead of 4 or 5. Would you really want to live in that world?
There will always be limited edition 3dses to make you buy 4 or 5 of time even though you will only ever play with one.
Now you can just buy them for the face plates,tthen sell the console on.
Who would buy a 3ds without a faceplate?
And who would want a faceplate without a 3DS?
Ugh, so much this.
When I played Smash on my friend’s 3DS on the weekend, he had one of the Pokemon XLs, which have a glossy cover unlike the regular XL I’ve got. It felt completely gross and awful. Gloss needs to go die in a fire.
Wait what. Ninty is going back to gloss after the glorious matte XL? WHYYYYYYYY? :(:(:(
So you can then buy the new faceplates.
Faceplates aren’t available for the new XL model.
Mmmm dat Ds. MMMM dat monster hunter 4!
So the N3DSXL does have a larger screen than the old 3ds xl. I thought that was only the case for the 3ds/n3ds.
Makes it that little bit more tempting.
Going by here and here, both screen sizes are identical. 106.2×63.72mm, and with the same resolution too.
The new non-XL one has a larger screen than the original though. 84.6×50.76mm vs 76.8×46.08mm.
Bah, reply fail. That was supposed to be @farpun.
I got confused as he says how the new 3dsxl has a ‘larger screen than the standard model’ which I thought he meant the old xl he must mean the normal 3ds.
Cheers for heads up.