Slowly but surely things are starting to look up for the Nintendo 3DS. Since the fruitful price cut and the release of a few top notch first party titles the 3DS has seen a big surge in popularity.
Despite the recent release of Sony's PlayStation Vita, Nintendo's handheld has dominated the Japanese hardware sales chart for the last few months.
Along with Super Mario 3D Land and Mario Kart 7, Capcom's Monster Hunter 3G was also released in Japan, accompanied by the Circle Pad Pro, an add-on device that grafts a second analogue stick to the handheld.
In Europe the Circle Pad Pro is piggybacking onto the release of Resident Evil: Revelations, which will be on store shelves this Friday. We've managed to get our hands on the attachment, and here's what we think...
iSORE PAD PRO
Let's get the glaringly obvious out of the way first: the Circle Pad Pro isn't pretty. Nintendo's taken a respectable crack at making it a little easier on the eyes by giving it a smooth finish and soft curves but - despite our best efforts - we can't help but see a Fisher Price toy-like hunk of plastic that represents a baffling lack of foresight.
On its own the Nintendo 3DS is a slick little device with a low profile and a sturdy design, it's aesthetically pleasing and is a cinch to carry around on a day-to-day basis. It's almost Apple-esque in its design and construction.
Attaching the Circle Pad Pro is relatively painless, once you've fiddled around with the screw and got the supplied battery in (which reportedly lasts 400+ hours) it's just a case of snapping it on. The shell grips the handheld very tightly so it does require a little initial force, but you can bet it won't ever fall out.
The Immediate design issues become noticeable when you take a look at the top edge of the 3DS, where a plastic lip now completely covers both the stylus and the game cart slots. This means you'll have to pull the handheld out should you wish to switch games and - unless you're comfortable with using your fingers - you'll have to keep your stylus separate from the device.
The headphone jack on the front gets the good end of the deal and is completely unobscured, as is the charging port. Lastly, the volume slider is easily accessible provided you angle your finger a little - it's a little finicky but not a major hindrance.
THUMB WARS
Along with the additional Slide Pad the shell also introduces three extra shoulder buttons. A duplicate 'R' button compensates for the original on the device, which is inaccessible due to the offset placement of the 3DS in the shell. Two additional shoulder buttons - 'ZL' and 'ZR' - use the trigger design found on the Wii's Classic Controller Pro.
Most people won't have any issues accessing the new buttons but those with long fingers might have sacrifice comfort for stability and arch their fingers at a less than ideal angle.
With the Circle Pad Pro attached it can be difficult to find a natural resting point for your fingers on the back initially. However, once you've got your fingers around it the device is surprisingly comfortable to hold - especially over long gaming sessions.
It also takes a little time to get used to the slightly off centre placement of the screen; the extra plastic on the right-hand side pushes the screen over to the left a bit, so you'll have to adjust your view. Again, more of a quirk than a serious issue.
The extra Slide Pad itself doesn't demand much explanation; it's there, it works. We did feel that it was slightly looser and provided more of a range of motion than the one on the 3DS itself, but that might just be us.
We spent our time with the Circle Pad Pro playing Resident Evil: Revelations, which detected the add-on straight away and offered to switch to the supporting control scheme.
Overall we feel that while the add-on isn't essential to play the game, but it affords a more natural Resident Evil gameplay experience to those who do.
Does that alone justify the cost of the £15 peripheral? No - the slow pace of Resident Evil gameplay means it's still very playable with a single stick, but in the near future Monster Hunter, Kid Icarus and Metal Gear are likely to benefit greatly from the add-on and reward your investment.
Circle Pad Pro is an inexpensive, optional extra that - while undoubtedly affecting the portability of your 3DS - does exactly what it sets out to do by offering a quick fix solution and the best possible gameplay experience for games that support it.
If you're a Resi, Metal Gear or Monster Hunter fan not bothered by the added bulk, consider picking one up.
For a second opinion read Official Nintendo Magazine's Circle Pad Pro review.
Comments
34 comments so far...
zinaptik on 25 Jan '12 said:
Anyone else get a early 90's SEGA failure feel (game gear/32x/mega CD) from this, its probably the black and bulky look.
moogiesboy on 25 Jan '12 said:
What an ugly piece of crap. Honestly nintendo are off there heads if they think people are gonna go for this. Why the hell wasn't it (2nd stick) included in the origanal design. And I hear the new stick is a bitch to get use to because it feels differant to the origanal - WTF? Couldn't take to much effort to make an exact copy of the origanal surely??? And do they give u a free battery? They better give a free f'ing battery! This 2nd stick thing should be recognised officially as a blatent design gaff and every 3ds owner should get one these free! And Nintendo - dudes wheres the colour range. Just black, are u effing kidding me Ninty??? Colours are you bloody bag aren't they??? And what about access to my stylus - I want some easy stylus access Nintendo!!!!! But you've blocked ma hole haven't u ya bas*!rds !!!!!
Having said that mines coming on friday with a copy of revelations - seriously stoked for it I am too!
razors edge on 25 Jan '12 said:
Well, thanks to Zavvi, this is costing me exactly nowt and is being delivered tomorrow.
Happy days.
Balladeer on 25 Jan '12 said:
And cue everybody moaning about how it looks rather than how it plays. Who said society today is shallow and image-obsessed?
That said, blocking off the game slot and stylus slot is bloody stupid. I'll probably pick this up eventually, because two sliders are better than one, but that's still an awfully big design flaw.
eddiehitler on 25 Jan '12 said:
Same here with the zavvi love, I told people that I wouldnt pay for the circle pad pro and because of them I got it at no extra cost.
As for including the Game Gear in that little list of SEGA failures you have to consider that until the PSP came along it was the best selling non nintendo handheld an had some great games for it.
MD1500 on 25 Jan '12 said:
I think what happened was this:
Nintendo: Our console isn't selling as well as expected. We need a big name.
Capcom: Monster Hunter?
N: Yes!
C: Well, we could make Monster Hunter for your system, but you have to do something for us in return.
N: Anything! Name it!
C: Make a second stick add-on.
N: What?! The 3DS doesn't need it! It will ruin the design.
C: Well, I guess we'll release MH on the Vita instead....
N: Sigh..... OK. Just make sure the game's playable without it!
C: Deal.
You may criticise the decision, but just look at the sales in Japan since.
zinaptik on 25 Jan '12 said:
Didn't mean in terms of sales more in terms of design, mega CD was a big black bulky add on that sat beside the mega drive, the 32x was a big black bulky add on that sat on top of the mega drive. As for the game gear it was a big brick that doesn't look to far way from this big black bulky add on.
alan666 on 25 Jan '12 said:
i have a free one coming to from Zavvi, looking forward to Resi but i won't be using the pad though.
Spudfella on 25 Jan '12 said:
Wouldn't have bought this but like most others here I bought Resi off Zavvi so it's free.
richard99 on 25 Jan '12 said:
They really should have had a 2nd slider on the 3ds in the first place. If they had I'd probably have bought one by now rather than holding out and thinking about Vita.
Anyway, really big oversight by Nintendo but no changing it, it's done.
Now I'm wondering if they can use this as a starting to point to release a 3ds lite with a 2nd slider built in some time soon.
Nathan91 on 26 Jan '12 said:
So who else is waiting for the inevitable "3DS lite" that has a second circle pad inbuilt?
Fr33Kye on 26 Jan '12 said:
Dude aesthetics are important. Realizing that and embracing it does not make someone "shallow" nor does it make someone deep to downplay their importance.
I doubt any game will require you to use a circle pad and a stylus for obvious reasons but that does mean you'll be taking it on and off.
Balladeer on 26 Jan '12 said:
I'm not saying I'm deep, but I am saying others are shallow for caring. On a games console, where you're presumably going to be looking at the screens all the time, why does it matter? The only time I remember the 3DS console exists when playing MK7 on the tube is when my drift finger starts to ache.
Fr33Kye on 26 Jan '12 said:
Because the looks of everything matters! Especially with OCD! I play better with a 360 controller but the ps3 controller is symmetrical. So ps3 controller > 360 controller. Personal feelings aside the appearance of every device matters especially one that's intended for use outside your home. This is simply how it works in this world. Even if it wasn't just about status symbols and fear of judgement, aesthetics are and should be valued.
I didnt mean to say you were calling yourself deep btw.
Squall5005 on 26 Jan '12 said:
I find the 3DS is a bit uncomfortable, especially when I'm trying to hit the L and R buttons because I have big hands.
I'll probably buy this ugly piece of crap just to make the console easier to hold.
verynaughtyboy on 26 Jan '12 said:
He-he! You said Nintendo have blocked your hole!
WHERESMYMONKEY on 26 Jan '12 said:
I played the resi demo on a friends 3ds the other day and honestly don't think the pad pro will add much to it. Had loads of fun using the gyro to aim although it wasn't that accurate made things a bit more frantic.
Still umming and arring over whether to wait for the 3ds lite or not.
disgustingtramp on 26 Jan '12 said:
Ah the circle pad pro, making the portable, completely un-portable.
Ugly? I'd say it looks stupid.
vladimirimp on 26 Jan '12 said:
Another point is that Nintendo will surely incorporate this into a future redesign so it might be worth waiting?
Balladeer on 26 Jan '12 said:
Are, yes. Should be - well, there we'll have to disagree. I'll agree that OCD might make a difference, but... No, I still can't agree with any of your other points. Especially that playing it outside your home has any effect. Screw what anyone else thinks: you'll never see them again once you get off the train, so why care?
LordVonPS3 on 26 Jan '12 said:
What a lump of s**t.
I'll wait and see if Ninty release a 3DS with the extra stick built in, but if they don't... Well, I couldn't care less anyway.
rbt2 on 26 Jan '12 said:
f**k me! statement, not request.
That's problee the second time I've agreed with you in about 3 years, balla.
Who gives a monkeys what it looks like?
Every system, be it home console or portable, gets accessories.
Fr33Kye on 26 Jan '12 said:
Ahh well i respect your opinion. While i can't see the look of that addon really bothering me too much in public, others will.
Balladeer on 26 Jan '12 said:
You're not a proper hardcore gamer until you can let things like looking ridiculous (and your tube stop) pass you by because you're so engrossed in your game.
Fr33Kye on 26 Jan '12 said:
Lol. If you dont miss your stop multiple times a day you aren't hardcore enough.
Welsh Jester on 27 Jan '12 said:
Seems decent, though i'll probably pick up a psvita at some point for some games that may need the extra stick. that is if it's hacked to play dreamcast games at full speed
billysastard on 27 Jan '12 said:
doesnt this make the 3ds about the size of a ps vita? in which case we've been told over and over by sony fanboys that its just fine for putting in your pocket or do 3ds owners have smaller pockets?
alan666 on 27 Jan '12 said:
got mine today &
i had thought from the photos that it was poorly made & that it was flimsy as the 3DS didn't seem to fit straight or level, but it's actually top the surface, it's not level or straight, it's curved ! this makes it look very odd & also it's hard to grip as the curved edge wants to slip away from you, the second issue is the underneath of it, it's a weird shape & also offers no real level of grip, there needs to be a bigger recess or something underneath, when i went to connect to the internet with the CPP on it wouldn't connect, NEVER had it not connect before, i took the 3DS out of the CPP then put it back in & it then connected when i tried again
it also feels odd & off set,
i have not yet tried using it with Resi, i think i will have to try it to see what it's like, but i wont be using it even if it IS better, because i have a leather case for my 3DS as i take it out & about with me & with the CPP attached the case won't fit & i will not be using the wrist strap supplied with it that Nintendo say you SHOULD attach.
i did recommend the 3DS when i first got it, but then i heard about the CPP & i told people that it may still be ok, but now after getting one, no chance, i'll simply tell people not to buy a 3DS & that if they do want one they should wait for the second version of it, how the hell Nintendo screwed this up so badly i'll never know, they have been the kings of hand-helds forever, but today IF i had to choose between either a 3DS or a Vita i would go for the Vita.
some photos here,
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll216/mypicsalbum777/DSC02898.jpghttp://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll216/mypicsalbum777/DSC02895.jpghttp://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll216/mypicsalbum777/DSC02894.jpghttp://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll216/mypicsalbum777/DSC02893.jpg
rbt2 on 27 Jan '12 said:
Take no notice of Al. It's a great bit of kit.
Doesn't feel awkward at all!
Just a. Natural extension.
alan666 on 27 Jan '12 said:
erm, there are no positives about the CPP at all.
i was hoping it was going to be ok, but i cannot see it & i can see more games using it to, the main drawback is when the CPP is used it makes the 3DS twice the size, its supposed to be portable & this makes it less so, there is no reason why it couldn't have been thinner underneath.
stop trying to view your 3DS through rose tinted glasses, as for it being a "natural extension"
razors edge on 28 Jan '12 said:
I like it and agree it does feel like a natural extension. Makes Revelations so much better to play, and it cost me nowt.
Portability is no longer a factor anyway, not when you are talking about 3 hours or so tops of battery life (although the Circle Pad Pro can keep going for 400+ hours
).
liveswired on 28 Jan '12 said:
Spot the Vita fanboy fretting over low Vita sales. Take a chill pill man.
IF i had to choose between either a 3DS or a Vita i would go for the Vita
I have to disagree - the 3DS is the best console I've had in years and I'm a PS3 owner and previous PC fanboy.
alan666 on 28 Jan '12 said:
me a Sony fanboi
you most certainly have me mistaken for somebody else HAHAHAA
Balladeer on 29 Jan '12 said:
To be fair, people used to call Alan an XBot and Wiitard.
Congratulations, 666 - you've got the full set!