Will The 3DS Deliver On Its Promises?

The 3DS in all its glory.
(Note the two cameras for 3D photo taking)

The 3DS was made available to the public at Nintendo World 2011, and "Rambo the Bear" a Destructioid reader was there to deliver first-hand observations. Reactions are positive, despite some of the concerns that gamers have been having.

The initial game line up appears to be made up of remakes of games that are already in existence. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, and Super Street Fighter 4 are all launch titles. While this is balanced out with a new Kingdom Hearts game and a new Kid Icarus title, it's a little unfortunate that the hype is about making games already in existence into 3D.

The 3D function itself has also been a concern, as Nintendo has mentioned that a sweet spot is needed to view the game properly, with developers going so far as to say that the 3DS is best played on a table, kind of nerfing the whole portability aspect. Don't expect the images to pop out of the screen, the 3DS is providing 3D without glasses, not miracles. The 3D effect is more like looking into a diorama or through a window. As the slider is adjusted, the depth increases. The sweet spot is real, however, 3D is not the only thing the 3DS has to offer, although it's the name of the fucking system. Nintendo is releasing a more powerful handheld, I don't really care about whether or not I can always see something in 3D. I'm looking forward to more content, longer games, more music. I'm looking forward to the hardware providing more opportunities. 3D is cool and all, but it's just a gimmick.

3D functionality aside, the 3DS is having a few stumbling blocks that don't seem to be acceptable. Xenophobia Region locking will be used on the 3DS, ending the era of being able to play any game made for a handheld no matter what country it was made for. The battery life has also become a concern, as the 3DS has the lowest battery life out of all the rechargeable handhelds Nintendo has made. So not only will I have to recharge my 3DS every five minutes (exaggeration), but I also won't be able to play games that weren't released in the state I bought my 3DS in (also an exaggeration).

Overall, the 3DS looks like it will do what Nintendo always does, mess up the status quo in a way that irritates everyone else. It's good to have a maverick, as things stay interesting. While it seems that the 3DS will be a proper successor to Nintendo's handheld market, I can't really say for sure until I hold one in my hands, hopefully in March.