Why Purchasing a Nintendo 3DS, a Discontinued Handheld Gaming Device Is a Good Idea
For the longest time, a Nintendo generation was defined by a single console and a single handheld. The Game Boy was released alongside the NES. Next to the GameCube is the Game Boy Advance. The Wii and the Nintendo DS. Nintendo combined a console and a handheld in the Switch, ostensibly eliminating the need for a traditional mobile Nintendo system. However, even in 2022, Nintendo's last true handheld, the 3DS, is still a must-have. If you don't already have one, you should get one.
Like the Wii U, the 3DS has a special place in my Nintendo fanboy heart. When the system was first announced in 2010, I was ecstatic. The screen-based 3D sounded cool (if not impossible), but I was most excited about three things: the analog circle pad, the widescreen display, and the improved graphics over the Nintendo DS.
Things didn't look so good when the system debuted the following year. The 3DS itself was fantastic; the apps included in the box were fun tech demos that demonstrated the 3D effects, AR (Face Raiders, anyone? ), and other new features. However, aside from the incredible remake of Ocarina of Time, the library was pitiful. Because Nintendo sold so few units at launch, those of us who paid the hefty $250 entry fee were designated as "Nintendo Ambassadors," gaining access to a small collection of virtual GBA and NES titles.
Of course, that's not the end of the story. The fans flocked in as the games began to be released. Sales increased, and as Nintendo released new models of the 3DS, it was able to right the ship, eventually moving 75 million of the devices. The handheld is no longer available, but the system and its games are still worth playing, even after 5 years of Switch dominance. Here are some of the reasons why you should get one.
The library is wonderful
When you talk about a Nintendo system, you know the games will be good. Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Animal Crossing, and Donkey Kong are all well-known franchises with excellent exclusives on nearly every console. However, the 3DS, in particular, has a massive library that you couldn't possibly finish if you tried.
Because it's Nintendo, you'll find every franchise currently available for purchase new on the Switch, but one generation removed. The game Super Smash Bros. Ultimate? No, it's Super Smash Bros. for the Nintendo 3DS. What is Mario Kart 8 Deluxe? Consider playing Mario Kart 7. What about Super Mario Odyssey? We're off to a good start with Super Mario 3D Land. There can't possibly be an Animal Crossing: New Horizons. There is, however, Animal Crossing: New Leaf! No, there is no Breath of the Wild equivalent (does one exist? ), but the delightful A Link Between Worlds, as well as remakes of two N64 Zelda classics, is available on the 3DS.
There are tons of mainline games to explore here, including Fire Emblem, Kid Icarus, Kirby, and Xenoblade, as well as an influx of indie titles. Consider Shovel Knight, Binding of Isaac, Cave Story, and VVVVVV—the indie scene was thriving on the 3DS.
Simply put, there are far too many titles to list. That is the size of the 3DS's exclusive library.
The Nintendo 3DS is a virtual Game Boy
It's not just the 3DS's exclusives that elevate the handheld. Nintendo has a good selection of classic Game Boy, Game Boy Color, Game Boy Advance, Game Gear, NES, SNES, and other platforms—many of which have yet to be ported to the Switch. Relive your favorite games, from Super Mario Land on the Game Boy to Sonic the Hedgehog on the Game Gear to Donkey Kong Country on the SNES.
Speaking of iconic Nintendo mobile platforms...
It's a Pokémon mascot
The 3DS has more Pokémon games than any other Nintendo console, hands down. You can download Red, Blue, Yellow, Gold, Silver, and Crystal as Virtual Console titles, experience Gen 3 through the Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire remakes, play the entire DS library (Diamond, Pearl, Platinum, Heart Gold, Soul Silver, Black, White, Black 2, and White 2), as well as the entire 3DS library (X, Y, Sun, Moon, Ultra Sun, and Ultra Moon), not to mention any of the non-mainline Pokémon games out there, through the eShop.
If you're a Pokémon fan who has already completed Legends Arceus on the Switch, the 3DS will keep you occupied for a long time.
It's also not a bad Zelda machine
While the Wii U is the GOAT for 3D Zelda games, the 3DS may be the GOAT for 2D and handheld Zelda games. You can use it to play the original two Zeldas on the NES, the SNES' A Link to the Past, the Game Boy's Link's Awakening, the Game Boy Color's Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, the 3DS remakes of Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask, the DS' Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, and the fantastic 3DS exclusive A Link Between Worlds.
You can also play Hyrule Warriors and Triforce Heroes on the 3DS, which are not mainline Zelda games.
Backwards compatibility with the DS results in an even larger library
Okay, I already mentioned the library, but because the 3DS is backwards compatible with the DS, you'll never run out of games to play. The previous Nintendo handheld, which introduced touch controls and dual-screens to the company's games, had an incredible lineup of its own. You can play DS classics like Super Mario 64 DS, Grand Theft Auto: Chinatown Wars, Animal Crossing: Wild World, Mario Kart DS, Metroid Prime: Hunters, and Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney on the 3DS, among many others, including titles I've previously mentioned in this piece. Some have since been ported to Switch, but they are likely to be less expensive to acquire for the ancestor system.
Everyone can use this system
Nintendo produced a large number of 3DS-era devices. The original 3DS is a compact classic, but the 3DS XL is ideal for those who want more screen space. Of course, those models are dwarfed by the New 3DS and New 3DS XL, which feature an upgraded processor, ZR and ZL buttons, and a second analog stick (though, to be fair, it's really a nub, similar to what you'd find on a ThinkPad).
Some 3DS titles, such as Xenoblade and the SNES virtual console titles, require a "New" model to play; while this isn't a large number of games, if you don't want to worry about library limitations, try to find one of those devices.
Of course, we haven't even mentioned the New 2DS XL and 2DS. The 2DS was released by Nintendo as an entry-level system into the 3DS family, as well as an option for young children who were not advised to play with 3D enabled. As long as you didn't mind losing 3D, the system became an affordable way for anyone to try out Nintendo's latest handheld; you could stick with the base 2DS for the cheapest experience, or spend a little more to play every game with extra controls with a New 2DS XL.
Prices for all systems will vary in 2022, and they will vary. You'll find listings for a 3DS XL for less than $100, but an original 3DS will set you back more than $200. New 2DS XLs cost between $170 and $220, depending on the accessories included. Unfortunately, unless you strike gold, purchasing any of these consoles in good working order will not be cheap. However, for those who are interested, it is well worth the time.
The 3D is actually quite impressive
Sorry, 2DS owners, but this one isn't for you. Despite being a contentious feature, I think the 3D effect is excellent. The effect enhances the gameplay in games designed with 3D in mind, such as Super Mario 3D Land and A Link Between Worlds, as seen in the puzzle shown in the cover photo of this slide. The existence of the 2DS, of course, demonstrates that you don't need 3D enabled to play almost any game on the console, and the effect puts a strain on an already limited battery life. So, why do we use it at all?
Even in games where 3D was clearly an afterthought, 3D, in my opinion, makes everything, well, pop. Because the 3DS, particularly the original model, has a poor display, enabling 3D gives the system a much-needed visual boost. It's a great effect when starting up Ocarina of Time, for example, because the iconic opening with the moon in the sky looks fantastic in 3D.
The 3D effect works much better if you choose a New 3DS model. 3D only works with the original 3DS and 3DS XL if you keep the system in the right position in front of you; otherwise, you'll see a blurry mess. Head tracking is available on the "New" systems, allowing you to move with the system while still experiencing 3D.
Look, 3D isn't the future we thought it would be in 2010; pick up a 2DS and you'll be able to enjoy the 3DS' game library without making too many sacrifices. The 3D effect, on the other hand, is completely unique; you won't find it on any other gaming console, or, for that matter, any other tech product. It is impossible to comprehend by watching videos about it. To understand what I'm talking about, you must firsthand experience it.
A 3DS can be hacked
By using your 3DS as Nintendo intended, you can get your money's worth. You can, however, hack your 3DS to go even further if you don't mind breaking the rules. Every model of the 2DS and 3DS can be hacked, allowing you to play emulators, mod your games, and try games that were never intended for the 3DS in the first place, among other things.
If you want to go down this path, be warned: Nintendo is not a fan of hackers. As a result, it can be difficult to successfully jailbreak your device, but it's not difficult to brick it. Use an up-to-date guide, such as Blaine Locklair's guide, which can be found here.
StreetPass
StreetPass is one of the features that contributed to the 3DS's popularity as a fun, passive social experience. With wireless connectivity enabled, your 3DS would look for other 3DSs as you went about your business; if they connected, the systems would exchange Mii information, allowing you to see a collection of Miis you passed on the street from the Mii Plaza. You'd know they were there even if you didn't look because the indicator light on your 3DS would turn green. There were other benefits as well, such as being able to play games with these Miis.
Of course, no one nowadays carries a 3DS around with them. In 2022, you're much more likely to come across someone carrying a Switch. However, there is still a community of people who not only bring their 3DS everywhere they go, but also actively check their Mii Plazas to see if they meet anyone new. While you'd think the results would always be "zero," there have been reports of people finding a new Mii in their plaza every now and then. What a flurry!
(Writing this makes me want to start carrying around my original 3DS more frequently; it's small enough to fit unthinkingly into my pocket or bag, and it'd be a fun experiment to see how many people in my area still have their system with them.)
In terms of multiplayer support, the 3DS is unrivaled
Unlike the Switch, the 3DS was released at a time when Nintendo did not charge for online gaming. Picking up one of these handhelds means you can play Mario Kart, Smash Bros, and other classic multiplayer games without paying for the privilege, as this Reddit post so succinctly summarizes.
Not only that, but the 3DS marked the end of Download Play, one of Nintendo's best local multiplayer features. If one person has a game, such as Mario Kart 7, everyone else can play without having to buy the game. There aren't as many Download Play-enabled titles as there are multiplayer titles on the 3DS, but there's a decent selection.
#Nintendo #3DS #Nintendo3DS #AnimaCrossing #Pokemon
SOURCE: lifehacker
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