The 3DS isn't just another Nintendo portable. It's the successor to the Nintendo DS, one of the most successful gaming machines ever. A big act to follow.
Next month the 3DS will go on sale in the West. Until then, there's this guide to tide you over and tell you what to expect when it hits.
The Review
The Nintendo 3DS Is Stylish, Grown-Up And Flawed
"The Nintendo 3DS is a grown-up piece of hardware. And it does the grown-up stuff well. It is stylish and has an array of truly nice touches. There are quibbles, which might fade over time during the 3DS's life span." - Brian Ashcraft. More »
The Video
Close up views of all the hardware | The unboxing | Playing a DS game on the 3DS | Hilarious warnings in the instruction manual | Nintendogs then; Nintendogs + Cats now | The long lines of the 3DS launch.
The 3D Effect
Potentially eye-straining, the 3DS comes with a manufacturer's recommendation that one take a break after 30 minutes of gaming. Bash played it much longer than that. Here's how he feels:
"The 3D effect on the 3DS is really great. ... But I can feel my eyes working twice as hard to produce the effect. ... My first couple of hours with the 3DS were spent with the 3D slider effect at full blast. Any time I slightly moved the 3DS, the sweetspot was gone, and I was left with a blur of images and my brain trying to make sense of what I was looking at. I found that if you turn the 3D slider down, way down, you can still get the 3D effect, or damn near it, but with much less work."More »
Price and Availability
The 3DS has released in Japan, and costs ¥25,000. It will release in Europe on March 25. Prices there are variable; reports have placed it in the £210/€250 range. The 3DS is available in North America on March 27 for $249.95. Australia gets it March 31 for $349.95.
If that sounds like a lot, here's how it compares to past handheld launches.
As for games, GameStop's preorder listings put most at $40, a few at $50 USD.