BBEANLPHIE

I saw it in IMAX 3D. To me the 3DS did have some popping out effect, but depth was more obvious than the popping out effect.

Supermallet

I don't remember anything popping out of the screen in Avatar, and I had to run the thing in IMAX 3D for months.

UncleGramps

I'm wondering how easy it will be to walk into a Best Buy on day one and pick one of these up. I have one pre-ordered on Amazon, but the delivery estimate is now Wednesday, March 30th. I'd rather have it on Sunday if possible.

slop101

That's the problem with Nintendo's Sunday release-dates - no release-day delivery.

Decker

IGN's 3DS Hardware Review


Closing Comments

The 3DS is truly a remarkable device and a compelling expansion to Nintendo's handheld gaming platform, but it is far from perfect. Though the 3D experience has its moments of absolute brilliance, it can be short-lived due to the imprecise nature of glasses-free 3D technology, with distortion, ghosting, and user discomfort. The 3D also takes its toll on the device's battery life, which limits total gameplay time to anywhere between two to five hours. But despite its technical shortcomings, Nintendo's innovative software is what truly makes the 3DS a compelling device. Though the launch lineup is devoid of any landmark titles and many larger games like Kid Icarus and Zelda won't release until later this year, there is plenty of fun to be had between the pre-installed AR applications and games like Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition and PilotWings Resort. There is also the issue of price. The Nintendo 3DS has an MSRP of $249.99 – no small sum – and many may find it hard to justify given the currently limited 3DS software lineup, poor battery performance, and the certainty of future hardware revisions, but for purists, it's a small price to pay for getting into Nintendo's glasses-free 3D gaming revolution at the ground level.

IGN Ratings for Nintendo 3DS.
Rating Description
out of 10
8.0 Performance
Rich, detailed graphics performance for the most part, but AR games can get choppy. Glasses-free 3D looks amazing but is tempremental, requiring users to stay within a very narrow viewing area.
7.5 Build Quality
Sports a nice glossy metallic finish and a build comparable to previous models. The buttons and thumb slider are responsive and feel great, but the bulky build limits portability.
8.0 Features
With improved graphics, a new thumbstick slider, widescreen glasses-free 3D display, better shoulder buttons, a new OS, and a promising fall lineup of games, the 3DS has a lot going for it.
7.0 Value
A bit pricey for a handheld, but hardcore fans won't be swayed. Newcomers may want to wait for price reductions.
4.0 Longevity
At two to five hours, battery life is abysmal, and future iterations are guaranteed to improve upon it.
7.5
OVERALL Good

Michael Corvin

What's funny about those scores is if you apply them to any new release game and it's basically bargain bin fodder, yet I'm sure this will sell like hotcakes.

Supermallet

You mean like Epic Mickey?

Chris_D

Review scores somehow seem silly for a piece of hardware like this.

Brent L

I was at Best Buy earlier trying it out again. Like others, I gt to the home screen by turning it off, then pressing the home button a few times as I turn it back on.

I also discovered that you take out your iPhone, search for scans of the AR cards online, then just use those scans to play the AR games. Awesome stuff!

I also love that you can remove the 3DS and move it around while still tethered.

After leaving after playing for a while and looking at reality, I can't help but ask myself "is this real life"?

I can't wait until I get mine from Amazon!

fujishig

What's funny is that "longevity" (which is what they're calling battery life) is what is bringing the score down. But how do you judge hardware just coming out anyway? 90% of the battle is software. If you just take launch software and judge a system based on how that launch software runs, how many systems would get a passing score? Dreamcast and...

Matt

Ars Technica: Cradled by inadequacy: the 3DS battery put to the test

CreatureX

Giant AR Mii.

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Michael Corvin

Pretty awesome, but why the hell did they waste all that ink printing that design? Have they not heard of construction paper?

Goofus593

Tried it out at the Nintendo World store in nyc a couple days ago. They had quite a few of the games available as demos

Pilot Wings
Street Fighter
Lego Star Wars III
Asphalt
Steel Driver
Madden

Never owned any of the DS consoles, and only played one maybe 10 or so times for a couple minutes, but I was extremely impressed with the 3DS. The 3D effect on the games works superbly for some of them and ok for others. Didnt care too much for madden or steel driver, but Street Fighter especially and lego star wars were fantastic (the studs you collect come flying at you in 3d, yes I am a sucker for the lego games....)

AR cards were kind of difficult to start up and switch between but once you get them recognized it's pretty amazing, as is the camera game where you shoot missiles at floating heads of people youve taken pictures of.

I'll probably pick one up eventually, having not owned a nintendo system since the gamecube, definitely looking forward to OoT 3d!

Brent L

It looks like TRU is having a "buy one get one 1/2 off" sale starting Sunday, so that will help us to get some 3DS games at better prices.

Gizmo

Let's see if it applies to 3DS games though.

Brent L

It looks like it's confirmed. The week after they are also doing a promotion where you get a $10 gift card for each 3DS game you buy.

Liver&Onions

there's an android app that has the AR cards. look for 3DS AR Cards on the marketplace.

Supermallet

Just grabbed it, thanks.

Liver&Onions

No prob. Now I can bring it to work and look like less of a dork, because i can use my phone instead of cards. Or have Samus v Samus.

fujishig

Amazon just PM'd Kmart's deal: buy the 3DS system and get $25 credit good towards select 3DS games.

Also, while not as good as the TRU deal, they have a buy a 3DS game, get $10 credit towards select 3DS games. And pretty much all the launch titles (at least the ones I was looking at) are included.

Supermallet

I've played that scenario in my head so many times...

Liver&Onions

^

So Monkey Ball arrived yesterday at the house, taunting me until Sunday. Bastard little monkeys.

Quack

Anyone still on the fence about this and thinking about just going and getting one tonight?

Supermallet

I have to wait for Amazon to actually deliver it to me.