Nintendo has long been king of the handhelds, but that the Nintendo 3DS continues to perform so strongly in a market saturated by smartphones is rather admirable.
The 3DS's affordability and its extensive library of good games have kept Nintendo's handheld buoyant despite other limitations. Now it's rolling out two new revisions, which introduce new features, more horsepower and 3D viewing that's more stable and enjoyable to use, making it an even more appealing device for gaming on the go.
We've already seen a few iterations of the 3DS: the original 3DS, the XL, and more recently the 2DS. But the "New" 3DS (yes, that's its actual name) and "New" 3DS XL (which will curiously snub the US) are by far the definitive models. With a second analogue nub, two more shoulder buttons and 3D that's less likely to induce headaches, Nintendo's revised handhelds are the consoles they should have always been.
Design and Power
Take a step back and there's not a lot that Nintendo has changed here, but on closer observation you'll note some minor cosmetic edits: the screen is slightly bigger, the diamond face buttons pay tribute to the old SNES controller and Nintendo's swappable faceplates make for some interesting new customisations.
That last one is pretty obvious from afar when you've got Luigi's face stuck to the front of your 3DS.
The new analogue nub works well for altering camera angles in the Majora's Mask remaster, but I'll need to test on a more action-intense game like Super Smash Bros. before I know just how functional it can be.
Not visible to the eye is the beefier processor underneath. This new power is welcome, but does risk fragmenting the market. Owners of the old 3DS can get their twin-stick fix with the addition of the Circle Pad Pro, but when the New 3DS-exclusive games roll around (and they've already started with Xenoblade Chronicles) those old 3DS owners are going to be feeling pretty left out.
They won't be able to play these games without upgrading and there's no add-on that will change that.
But obsolescence is the driver of technology so it's difficult to criticise Nintendo's decision to up the processor on a device that's nearly four years old.
How much more power the new processor will lend to the 3DS remains to be seen, but the additional controls mean that the only thing that stands between the 3DS and a bunch of lovely Gamecube ports is engine might. The prospect of more console titles being ported to the handheld is very exciting indeed.
New 3D and other features
Perhaps the biggest talking point of the New 3DS is the more stable 3D, the result of the handheld's face tracking feature that ensures the 3D continues to be aligned with your vision, even if you're viewing from an awkward angle.
This means the "sweet spot" is much more forgiving. Majora's Mask 3D, a game in which environments are often dark, was a good testing ground for this.
Yes, you'll still get a bit of ghosting if the console is too close to your face or at an angle beyond 45 degrees, but for the normal gaming it's stable and much more enjoyable to use.
The new 3DS and XL also support Nintendo's battalion of Amiibo figurines, although just how integrated this will be remains to be seen. Super Smash Bros 4. on the Wii U has proven that Amiibo can be more than a gimmick, so hopefully there'll be implementations in a similar vein for the New 3DS.
So far battery life appears to be about the same as the previous 3DS - around three to four hours - which isn't bad at all. More would be nicer, but if it's the cost of keeping the price down to £149.99 amid all the other changes, I'll pay it.
Early verdict
I'm still getting to grips with Nintendo's New 3DS but first impressions are very positive. The 3D improvements might not be enough to convert the naysayers, but for gamers who preferred to play with the stereoscopic slider pushed up the maximum it makes a big difference.
Meanwhile the new analogue nub and shoulder buttons make the New 3DS finally feel complete. The added engine power might scold anyone who's recently bought one of the older models, but the upside is that Nintendo's library of games can only get better. Super Mario Sunshine on the 3DS might not be a pipe dream after all.
from TechRadar: Technology reviews http://ift.tt/1CUsXz6
No comments:
Post a Comment