The looming release of the PS Vita and thoughts of importing the shiny new handheld precariously swirling around our feeble minds has had us dwelling on our decision to purchase a 3DS at launch.
We briefly touched on the slight pangs of regret we feel every time we look at our 3DS' in an earlier debate but the release of the second batch of Nintendo 3DS Ambassador titles - as well as a few brilliant 3DS games - has us mulling over our feelings again. This time a little more directly.
Naturally, the news didn't go down so well with early adopters, and Nintendo openly expressed concerns over a potential backlash from customers who bought a 3DS before the unexpected price reduction.
"Never in Nintendo's history have we dropped a system's trade price so significantly less than six months after launch," the company admitted in a statement.
"We are aware this may cause you, the loyal fans who supported Nintendo 3DS from the beginning, to lose trust in us, and this is not our intention in any way."
To stop consumers "regretting purchasing" a 3DS at launch Nintendo offered up 20 exclusive free downloadable games from the Nintendo eShop. The first batch of ten NES games included classics like Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., and The Legend of Zelda.
The GBA games made available earlier this week include Legend Of Zelda: The Minish Cap, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, Mario Kart: Super Circuit, Metroid Fusion, and a number of other treasured GBA classics.
We're quite pleased with this selection of free titles, Metroid Fusion and Mario Kart: Super Circuit in particular Nintendo have earned back some good will.
On top of that we've been clocking in a fair few hours on our 3DS', with Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7 even managing to steal some precious gaming time away from Skyrim, Saints Row The Third and Battlefield 3.
Nine months, twenty free games and a few good first-party titles later and we think we've finally come to love the Nintendo 3DS. Its future is still uncertain, but games like Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater 3D, Kid Icarus: Uprising and Resident Evil look like they're shaping up to be must-plays.
We're interested in how you feel about the Nintendo 3DS, if you purchased it and whether you regret it.
Have you returned/traded in/given away your handheld or is there a particular game in the future you're holding on for? Let us know in the comments below.
Comments
45 comments so far...
NGP on 18 Dec '11 said:
I am not completely satisfied with the 3DS. I will keep it, I do like Pokemon and that will come one day. I may not upgrade to the next model. Vita is so much more impressive, I've just been watching extensive videos of its features from new buyers. The multi-tasking is fantastic, you can even access all the features while playing older PSP games, jump into different apps and use party chat / global voice chat while playing. The Vita is big in all the right places.... huge face with a huge screen, but the thickness of the unit is nice and slim. 3DS feels clunky, cheap, bricky. Vita is powerful and 3DS is not.
nickhcafc on 18 Dec '11 said:
I love my 3DS, Nintendo made a big mistake not putting out a whole raft of good launch titles though. I won't be getting a Vita as it will be overpriced in comparison, and whats the point now there are good 3DS games not to mention the Nintendo E-Shop which is brilliant for getting classic games for peanuts. The 3DS is sold out everywhere where I live so I find it hard to imagine the Vita is going to take off next year.
roll3rtoast3r on 18 Dec '11 said:
i just got splinter cell 3d and its amazing (reviews were way off imo) which has led to me playing that more than skyrim today!!! never mind pullblox...
BertTheHappyFish on 18 Dec '11 said:
I've had mine for some months now, Shadow Wars was quite good, even if some levels were more puzzle orientated than tactics based. The ambassador tat is interesting for a while, but that is about it. I was hoping here woud be more games like that, than "random itallan plumber" game #27 and " pet a dog game # 6". Sadly a very dissapointing affair which, with the new pricing has very little 2nd hand value.....still its was a better purchase than my PS3 move kit, now *that* was a waste of money.
The sad thing s I get better game play from my ipad and the chuffin controllers are drawn on screen.
El Mag on 18 Dec '11 said:
Only had it a week but so far, yeah.
I'd like a proper Phoenix Wright game for it though, not the crossover that's due. Trying to get some of the later DS ones and they're rarer than rocking horse s**t, and just as expensive.
billysastard on 18 Dec '11 said:
only 20 free games?
what about excitebike 3d? or zelda 4 swords anniversary edition? those were also free and both are pretty good too.
am i glad i bought one?
hell yes, the great games are coming, its online service is pretty good, its battery life is good enough and with a modern flashcard a wide range of homebrew and emulators can be run, even 3d movies are now a possibility (although they have to be split into 10 min chunks) as an added bonus it uses dirt cheap sd cards
in fact its just about everything the psv isnt, at present its only missing voice / text / video chat and thats coming with firmware 3.0.8x in january
bennyt on 18 Dec '11 said:
Bought my red 3ds on the same day as SM3DL and i don't regret it one bit...well worth the money, especially as SM3DL is one of my fav games, like ever
Along with MK7, Pullblox and Zelda this year and the ar cards, face raiders etc, its a great handheld
With all those huge games coming next year for it like MH4, LM2, Paper Mario, Mario Tennis, Layton/Wright, Animal Crossing, the new pokemon and zelda game etc, i reckon 2012 will be Ninty's year
Roll on 2012!
Balladeer on 18 Dec '11 said:
To be honest, I could have waited for the price cut. I'd have had to wait a bit longer for a game I've already played on the N64, but that's acceptable. And none of the GBA games really excite me.
Now? This **** is off the hook. Getting three games for Christmas (if I can find Tales of the Abyss, no thanks to game), and Pullblox is set to be both an overlooked gem and mud in the eye of those people accusing Nintendo of sticking to the same franchises. And Pokédex 3D has been a bit of a guilty pleasure. Got to love those reaching-out-of-the-screen Cofagrigus arms.
Plus there's a Paper Mario and Luigi's Mansion 2 on the horizon. Things are looking good.
G_R7 on 18 Dec '11 said:
I'm a big fan of it even though I did buy it on the day it come out and it was a bit too much. I do look back and, sure, I didn't get much use from it until Zelda come out. However, now, I have the 10 NES and 10 GBA games (Thanks Nintendo!!!) but I downloaded a few of the old Game Boy games from my childhood. Right now I have all 5 Gold shiny stars on Mario 3D but not much time on Mario Kart 7 because I'm in love with Tales of The Abyss! Now is a great time to pick one up.
adamon on 18 Dec '11 said:
Well, yeah, I'm really happy with my 3DS, just love it! I Wouldn't trade it for nothing, my only problem is the lack of titles at the launch of 3DS. Yet, I do believe in the potential it has, for the future. *sorry for my bad english.*
Mmmmgrolsch on 18 Dec '11 said:
This is not a VITA v 3DS thread
damoxuk on 18 Dec '11 said:
I bought this on release day for £190 with SSF 4 and Ridge Racer. I played both those for 3 hours and 1 hour of zelda when it came out since then nothing.
I don't know what I was expecting but to me it's just a DS with slightly better graphics and 3D. Wish I waited for price cut, no actually with hindsight wish I never bought one at all as i've gotten 4 hours out of it.
Of course i'll buy Vita day 1 also because I just GOTTA have the latest gadget. Although i'm pretty certain i'll play that at least for 10 hours (Uncharted) but will it then get dumped in the gadget drawer of shame?
Solm on 18 Dec '11 said:
I traded in mine and put the money towards an iPad. The 3D aspect wore off quickly for me and there just wasn't a great line up of games that interested me. I will hold off on getting a vita until the price drops.
MD1500 on 18 Dec '11 said:
Haven't regretted it once. It is a brilliant system.
I have a feeling there would have been no need for a price drop if they had released it with decent games like Pullblox and Super Mario 3D Land from the start - games that actually show how 3D benefits gameplay.
mikeleddy83 on 18 Dec '11 said:
Definitely! Hammered it at launch, backed off. Hammered it when Zelda hit, backed off. Haven't stopped playing since shortly before Mario 3d launched, clocked up 2000 VR points in MK7, a few hours into pullblox and TOTA and I'm back in the habit of actively (and kind of creepily) streetpassing again.
Only regrets are that I don't have Nintendo Letter Box (Swapmemo) or Layton yet!
rip_it_up on 19 Dec '11 said:
I'M happy with mine, I've had it since launch. Paid about £160 for it after quidco paid me cash back 3 times on pre orders I cancelled.
i have street fighter, dead or alive,ridge racer,mario kart and mario land.
from the e shop i have pyramids, pull bloxs. lets golf, pinball pryro (dsi). Plus the 20 games and exite bike, zelda, and kid icarus all as freebies.
I,d recommed them all apart from lets golf and pryro.
Just pre-ordered resident evil with the circle pad pro for 30 quid off zavvi. http://www.zavvi.com/10580591.html wasn't going to bother with the circle pad but at that price you cant really complain.
My one concern is that their isnt alot of western developers releasing games for it.
As for the ps vita i might get one instead of getting a new phone, although I'll probably get both lol.
gothchild on 19 Dec '11 said:
Y'know what? I am happy I bought a 3DS.
I've only got pilotwings, ocarina and mario kart, but with super mario 3d and star fox soon too, as well as the bunch of ambassador games, I've been playing it loads. It kinda sucks that for a long journey the first thing I do is turn down the brightness and switch off the 3D, but i've really enjoyed having it for long coach journeys. Plus I actually quite like the 3D, i turn it up to max for Mario Kart.
Viva 3DS.
Sentinator on 19 Dec '11 said:
Not a single regret from me. It has a modernised version of Ocarina of Time and Starfox 64. It has Mario games. And it has pretty much everything Xbox and Playstation is worth buying for. And I LOVE Yoshi's Island. One of the best SNES games ever. Quite frankly I think the 20 free games Nintendo are offering for a price drop is more generous than what Sony offered with PSN hackings. Especially when losing personal details is far more serious. But thats just how I see it.
3DS itself is very quickly turning into the best Nintendo system to grace planet Earth. The only thing I really wish is the circle pad was there from the start. But hey it will be here by the end of next month.
Barry316 on 19 Dec '11 said:
Not even close. In fact that's just a crazy fan drugged induced statement.
As opposed to the best system on planet Mars ?. The SNES will always be not only the best Nintendo system, but possibly the best console and games selection ever. No need to reassure yourself so much.
CatGoneCrazy on 19 Dec '11 said:
Yes, I'm glad I bought one. It's freakin' amazing. Love Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7, Super Street Fighter IV 3D, Pilotwings Resort, Resi Mercenaries and Streetpass Quest (1 & 2). It's superb. Oh, and Starfox and Ocarina of Time too. How could I forget those?!
Sentinator on 19 Dec '11 said:
How do you work that out when its obvious I'm speaking for myself? I already pointed that out. I only bought Xbox and PS2 for games like Metal Gear Solid, Tekken and Dead or Alive. So yes the way I see it (note the quote I put at the end) it does have the majority of games worth buying Playstation and Xbox for. I would like to know what games your thinking of because its quite possible we are on a different page here. As for SNES it was great for platformers but I always thought the N64 was better. I thought the fun factor of those games blew everything else out of the water. But hey thats your opinion
Barry316 on 19 Dec '11 said:
But surely all those games you mention you'd be better off with the 360/PS3 version for the added benefits. Like sitting wherever you want and not needing a sweet spot for the 3D effect, bigger screen, better and easier to use online options. Not needing to recharge every couple of hours and so on.
I think the 3DS is a good machine. I just see it that third party support will dry up and it'll be left with mini game compilations, rush job film cash ins and Ubisoft tat. While Nintendo will be the only ones trying with great games but they'll be a few more, and some unnecessary, remakes of N64 or Gamecube games.
I've just never been a handheld fan really. The way i always see it is if i want to play Pro Evo or whatever, i'd rather play the big full version rather than a cut down.
Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is great though. That's a strength of handhelds, it can accommodate games that home console gamers don't care about anymore.
kakah on 19 Dec '11 said:
Got mine for £185 from Morrisons on release day. Played Ocarina of Time, Mario 3d Land as well as the numerous free nes and gba games of which most I hadn't played before. It's excellent and the 3d works well esp in mario and there is no need to faff around with glasses etc.
Now that it's under £130 people should definitely dive in and buy one.
shuggybarr on 19 Dec '11 said:
Nintendo definitely dropped the ball with the initial pricing and launch titles but I bought one anyway and it blew me away.
Ninty probably should have waited until at least one of the Mario titles was ready before releasing it at the new price as now its flying off the shelves.
All in all 7 out of 10 but would have been 10/10 if it had been marketed properly
Sentinator on 19 Dec '11 said:
I have wanted to get a PS3 or 360 but unfortunately games these days are too expensive for me to be able to juggle two systems. I would get a PS3 but with Wii U coming out I wouldn't be able to get that and just know I'll end up regretting it later. I actually believe fighting games are perfect for handhelds. They are sort of like Mario Kart. You can get some good fights in there while on the train. As for Pro Evo I would think the same for it but I can understand where your coming from.
As for the third party support, while third party games haven't sold on consoles and have on Playstation, its the complete opposite on the handheld market. Third party support for DS went from when companies really started jumping in right until the very end. Third party support on Nintendo's handhelds have been much greater than Sony's. If it will be the same way this time I wouldn't like to say but I don't think third party support will just dry up for it. I can see companies taking interest in remaking some of their more loved classics in 3D (not just Nintendo).
03b2wgm on 19 Dec '11 said:
Bought mine around the time Zelda came out (before the price cut) and it was worth every penny.
No regrets. I shall be purchasing the Circle Pad Pro and Wii U on launch day.
El Mag on 19 Dec '11 said:
Has anybody else had 3D pop o' vision (tm EM industries) after a massive session?
Playing Zelda for a few hours last night, turned it off to watch a bit of tele and it still seemed to be popping out like the 3D effect of the 3DS. I just hope I'm not dying or had a mild stroke.....s**t I should have tried watching Babestation while it was happening!
Queen Skillage on 19 Dec '11 said:
F**king...product...surveys...
JD_Method on 19 Dec '11 said:
TOWELLIE!
alan666 on 19 Dec '11 said:
i am happy with mine, i got it on release (a few days before actually) shame about the lack of games at the start, but they are coming out now, the first party games are the best of the bunch there needs to be more in the way of third party games though, the free DLC games were a nice offering to the early adopters but they are only of value if you were going to buy them anyway, the games that were available as i say were nice but i have already played them before & i think it may have been better to have just given people a choice between these old games or a NEW 3DS game like either Mario Kart 7 3D or Mario World 3D, i would have much rather had a free proper 3DS game than the old ones.
the video is something i'm looking forward to being able to use, i do wish though that the videos you download were able to be kept & not replaced all the time when a new video is available, i have a 32GB card in mine so space isn't a problem, the other thing that worries me is the Circle Pad Pro because if many more games come out that are better with the device like Resi & MGS (which i have now cancelled) then i will be finished with Nintendo i'm afraid
toaplan on 19 Dec '11 said:
I've been relatively happy with it, but wasn't pleased about the price drop or the circle-pad add-on. On the bright side, there's: SF4, the ambassador games, eShop and the new first-party titles.
rbt2 on 19 Dec '11 said:
Highly delighted with mine.
Mind you, I rated it from it's release. They've now made up for the far too high release price with the free games and online is improving.
I think that any system with zoot, star fox, mario 3d and mk7 (couldn't be arsed to use capitals so sue me) is well worth having.
razors edge on 19 Dec '11 said:
Yes.
liveswired on 19 Dec '11 said:
I'm more than glad I bought one - it sits right up there with buying the ps3.
It took some time.....but since the more recent OS updates, game releases (Retail and digital) and GBA pressies it's been amazing. There's now always new content and alerts everytime I switch it on - and Nintendo seem intent on improving it.
Mario Kart 3DS is the business and online is a breeze.
Highly recommended.
humanhand on 20 Dec '11 said:
Yes, very much so.
treesmurf 11 on 20 Dec '11 said:
I'm glad I bought one at launch even without 20 free games, I've enjoyed the games I've played on 3DS, the launch lineup was a lot better than people gave it credit and to be honest, if I didn't get it at launch I reckon I wouldn't have spent nearly 40 hours on Ghost Recon.
MD1500 on 21 Dec '11 said:
Yep. That happened to me in the first couple of days after my 3DS arrived - when I looked at my computer monitor, my eyes were trying to lift the text off the screen...
kirinnokoshin on 21 Dec '11 said:
Yes I love it, in fact I think It's my favourite handheld ever.
And it's got Steel Diver!
03b2wgm on 21 Dec '11 said:
No, the online doesn't work. I ALWAYS get "A communication error has occured." for no apparent reason. That's even before I've found players for a game.
OracleOfPokemon on 21 Dec '11 said:
I love my 3DS, it looks nicer than the PSV. I love the glossy top screen thing.
Also, with the PSV, I can see it having the same problem as the PSP, the fact that it's not really designed to be portable. Give it a hard glance, and it shatters... The PSV's screen is open to scratches and cracks, and, personally, I think the PSV looks cheaper (the materials).
I bought the 3DS on day 1, and I don't regret it one bit. The GBA games are awesome, and we got loads of other free stuff as well. Plus, we got to play it for longer.
rbt2 on 21 Dec '11 said:
Dunno how you can compare the 2 as yet. Unless you've imported the vita, that is!
No doubt the vita will be graphically more powerful and have the Sony library to fall back on. Along with the new, upcoming titles.
What will f**k Vita up, however, is the price of the software!
OracleOfPokemon on 22 Dec '11 said:
"Sony library", what, you mean the small handful of half-decent PSP games, most of which weren't even a new series?
Barry316 on 22 Dec '11 said:
A Nintendo fan with Pokemon in his username listing lack of new series as a bad point.....hmmmm.
Balladeer on 22 Dec '11 said:
Yeah... got to say that nobody, but nobody, is going to take someone criticising another console with that username seriously. It's why I don't unless I have some very good arguments to make.
Be honest, Oracle - how many non-Nintendo consoles do you own?
bouncer0304 on 23 Dec '11 said:
I was one of those who bought on launch day, and as much as i'm a huge Nintendo fan, they got it worng at launch. Pricing was way off, launch games wern't fantastic and it just felh half finished. Now, i won't deny when i first played with the 3d effect and took my first photo, it looked great, but a few weeks on, i felt let down a little. I know when you buy at launch it's never a complete package, but i wanted the experience of buying a console on launch day, something i won't be doing again in a hurry.
If i'm honest, they should have released it in June, when the eshop was up and running and there were more games on offer (like Ocarina). Infact, i haven't seen any eshop cards, and i'm starting to wonder if they exist or not since most online retailers don't sell them!
Overall, i feel Nintendo messed up too much and that has affecte their sales greatly but they are now doing everything to try and correct their mistakes. 20 free gmes may not seem much but at least it's something, plus i would have bought them anyway. Sales are now improving as poeople are starting to see it's the next handheld rather than a slight upgrade and extra features are slowly bringing the console to life. If you asked me three weeks after launch 'was it worth it?' i would have said no sadly. Now, i feel it is. I hope they've learnt lessons!