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Games Guru previews Nintendo 3DS and games

It’s like science fiction, but it’s real. The Nintendo 3DS arrives March 27!

Forget those goofy glasses. The 3DS lets you play games in 3D without them. It lets you watch movies in 3D, too.

Why is the 3DS so cool? Let’s take a peek under the hood.

First, the system has a computer processor that’s more powerful than what’s in the Wii. You can see this in the games’ graphics, everything from Super Monkey Ball 3D to Steel Diver. People have said that what you see is as good as what you see with an Xbox 360 or PlayStation 3. It’s not that good, but it’s close!

With this system, more than games come to life. You can take photos in 3D. Word is, they’re even working on letting you take video in 3D. It’s really a brand-new world.

BUT WAIT – THERE’S MORE

You can use the round stick on the left to control many games. Or use the gyroscope inside and tilt it back and forth the way you control an iPhone or iPod Touch game. You can try out augmented reality, too. With six included cards, you can see 3D creatures and manipulate them. I fought against a dragon that sat on my table. It was so detailed, I almost forgot it wasn’t real.

Take time to create your own Mii, too. It just might pop up in the games you choose to play. (Unfortunately, the Mii it creates based on a photo you take doesn’t really look like you.)

The 3DS is also a pedometer. It tracks how far you’ve walked and gives you virtual gold coins that let you unlock rewards in games. There’s even a graph that tells you how many steps you’ve walked and how much time you’ve spent playing.

HOW IS THE 3D?

When the effect of depth works well, the 3DS shows itself to be the best handheld machine ever made.

There’s a downside, though, when you get too excited during play. There’s only one viewing angle for the 3DS – straight on. When you use the tilt controls, you have to move your head exactly at the perfect angle or you lose the 3D effect. With super-fast games, this happens a lot. The solution? Turn off the 3D via the slider on the right side. And, like the instructions say, don’t play too long at one sitting. You might get a headache or nauseous.

The best use of 3D will probably be with role-playing games like the reimagining of The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time, which drops later this year. That’s because in a role-playing game, you’re moving more slowly. The slower you move with the 3DS, the more you experience the joys of three dimensions.

Let’s get to the launch game reviews!

STEEL DIVER (Nintendo)
Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older

Steel Diver looks like a simple submarine shooting game, but it’s more complex than that. The console uses its gyroscope as the sub’s periscope. You have to move the 3DS all around you in a circle to find the enemies targeting your vessel. At first, it’s easy. But when the water gets murky and you’re being targeted from behind, things get frantic. The sub springs leaks when hit, and you have to tap the touchscreen to fix it. Plus, there’s Mission Mode, in which you have to get from point A to point B. Sound easy? Just try it.

How’s the 3D? Cool! Realistic-looking water flows dramatically like something out of the movies.


SUPER MONKEY BALL 3D (Sega)

First, there’s the trademark banana collecting as you move through maze-like chutes that always increase in difficulty. Plus, there’s a racing game. And there’s a platform-type fighting game that’s really addictive. Get punched by another monkey and you’ll lose your bananas. The key to winning? Use defense to avoid getting hit.

How’s the 3D? Pretty impressive. But you sometimes lose the 3D effect when you get excited and move the console out of your viewing angle.


PILOTWINGS RESORT (Nintendo)

Wow. This arcade flier has elements of a flight simulation game. With a plane, rocket pack or hang glider, soar around the island in timed missions. You’re scored on accuracy of flying through rings and your soft, careful landing in specific spots. Later, you get bigger planes like souped-up jets. And there’s a cool surprise: a suit that lets you soar without a rocket pack, like a flying squirrel.

How’s the 3D? Great. Volcanoes, waterfalls and clouds all make for a visually thrilling experience. You might need to turn down the 3D with a speedier jet, though, to prevent dizziness.


MADDEN NFL FOOTBALL (EA)

You know what they say when a team loses the Super Bowl? “Wait til next year.” That’s what you should do with Madden for the 3DS. This football game just isn’t ready for full 3D experience. There’s no online play, no multiplayer and no Franchise Mode. You don’t really seem to control it as much as watch it. It will be better next year, though.

How’s the 3D? Not great. There’s depth. But a lot of it is played from overhead, like a bird looking down at the field. It needs better camera angles to make the 3D pop out at you.


LEGO STAR WARS III: THE CLONE WARS (LucasArts)
Rated E10+ for Everyone 10 and Older

Near perfection! It’s a lot more than building vehicles and collecting studs. Immersed in the Clone Wars universe, you get to play three characters at first, including Yoda. Later, you can unlock a half dozen or so characters, including R2-D2 and Darth Vader. Unfortunately, it has one of the worst instruction booklets I’ve ever seen for a game. But that’s a small thing compared to the highly detailed weapons, characters and weird space worlds you’ll encounter during play.

How’s the 3D? Amazing. As far as 3D goes, this is the best game out there among the launch titles for kids. You can tell the 3D is carefully created, and the science fiction worlds are strangely beautiful. You want to stop and look around every few minutes to check out the environments.


RAYMAN 3D (Ubisoft)

This humorous adventure tale takes Rayman through lands full of awe and wonder. Try to capture the glowing lums, all 1,000 of them!

How’s the 3D? Superb, although turn it down when animals like butterflies get in your face. Check out the awesome waterfalls and swim in the underwater locales for a real 3D fantasy.


RIDGE RACER 3D (Namco)

The latest edition of the arcade racing sim puts you behind the wheel in 3D, and when you use nitrous to speed up – whoa!

How’s the 3D? More subtle than in the other games. See it best by changing the camera angle to behind your racecar.

67 Comments on Games Guru previews Nintendo 3DS and games

  1. it already came out and i tried the demo. its acultly 3D but things dont pop out the background pops in so the main object like the charicter just stays normal. its confusing… 🙁 i recomend trying the demo before you buy it.

  2. MOONMAN200 // March 29, 2011 at 6:39 pm // Reply

    WHAT I’LL DO IS THAT I WILL GIVE AWAY MY DS LITE AND GET IT FOR MY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!

  3. Infernape500 // March 29, 2011 at 5:47 pm // Reply

    The 3DS is a revolutionary marvel in video gaming. I hope me or my little brother win, the most I’ve ever truly won is an ice cream sandwich. That does not bring up my rep at school. The games are awesome, pilotwings resort will be second best next to Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time #D

  4. possible~ 3ds~ winner // March 29, 2011 at 4:48 pm // Reply

    I really hope I win the 3ds it looks amazing. It will rock my socks off if I win I’ve subcribed to Boy’s Life for a long time.:)

  5. starmaster // March 29, 2011 at 4:14 pm // Reply

    as much is i wan one and even though im entering alot im still a bit skeptical about this since lots of eye problems with this have been reported and i dont really see any use in the telescoping stylus and most of its best features havent been fully updated and launched yet so i am a bit skeptical still yet i still want one

  6. THIS LOOKS COOL. DEFINETLY WORTH SAVING FOR.

  7. I really really win it so bad. but if I do not win it I might get it at cristmas

  8. i have seen a steep by steep walk through of the 3DS and it is sort of like the DSI and the Wii and you can change the 3D level and it has a telescopeing stylus i want to win so bad that if i don’t i will realy never have won ANY THING 🙁 but if i win i will be so happy:D 😀 😀

  9. Zachattack // March 29, 2011 at 8:09 am // Reply

    I hope somebody gets it

  10. Heh. Already saving for it. Can’t wait for Ocarina of Time 3D!

  11. Awesomelad // March 28, 2011 at 8:25 pm // Reply

    waht are the chances of you winning the 3ds?

  12. i going too win // March 28, 2011 at 8:05 pm // Reply

    3ds looks so cool i hope i win it i love dses i only have a normal ds

  13. tt3dsrocks // March 28, 2011 at 5:03 pm // Reply

    I really like all of the graphics for it. my friend got it yesterday and showed me everything to it.

  14. the 3ds is cool

  15. The 3DS certainly is a fine piece of work. If I don’t win the contest, I probably won’t buy it until next year or late this year. By that time there should be a bigger (and better) library of games to choose from.

    P.S. Who thinks Star Wars Battlefront on the 3DS would be awesome?

  16. BOO YEAH ON MEH WISH LIST!

  17. I think the 3ds i awsome a i hope i win it so badly

  18. I think the 3ds is awsome

  19. I love it

  20. That looks so awesome.

  21. the real 3D winner!!! // March 27, 2011 at 4:04 pm // Reply

    If I win I will make a mii

  22. Troop173Boy // March 27, 2011 at 3:11 pm // Reply

    Can’t wait for their prices to go down :3

  23. luckyman555 // March 27, 2011 at 3:07 pm // Reply

    if i win the 3ds, i will go crazy!

  24. I NEED A 3DS.

  25. MUST GET MUST GET

  26. i really hope i win, but i know i won’t. i never win anything.

  27. if i win the 3ds i will be soooooo hapy ive been wanting a ds for over 5 years now and this is my only chance to get one!

  28. starfall1234567890 // March 27, 2011 at 10:00 am // Reply

    if i win the 3DS i will worship it (not litteraly)

  29. I want the the 3ds so bad. That’s all i need and i’ll be happy.

  30. I would love to have a nintendo3ds.

  31. this is so awesome ………… i have evrey other ds handheld system and i definetely have to get this one

  32. it is cooool

  33. luckyman555 // March 26, 2011 at 8:04 pm // Reply

    i hear it has a video camera

  34. it come out in 1 day

  35. The Nintendo 3ds is $250.00 dollers I thought it was going to be $300.00 so it was 50 dollers chepper

  36. i want one

  37. MarioLuigiLEGOScout // March 26, 2011 at 2:22 pm // Reply

    Hey! Games Guru! Can you review Asphault 3D or maybe Mario Kart 3D?

  38. MarioLuigiLEGOScout // March 26, 2011 at 2:22 pm // Reply

    I want it so bad, but my family doesn’t have enough money… 🙁 So, I have looked at reviews, info, and such for hours every day! I have entered the contest everyday too, so I really hope I win cause it would be the only way I can get it…

  39. KINGDOM HEARTS SUPER FAN IT IS NOT A PIESE OF JUNK!!!!!

  40. killerofsonic // March 26, 2011 at 2:06 pm // Reply

    i preordered it

  41. butterballs // March 26, 2011 at 1:37 pm // Reply

    i haf to say though the battery life is pretty bad 3-5 hours with 3ds games(depending on brightness) and 5-7 hours (depending on brightness)

  42. I want it!!

  43. I preordered a black 3DS and I also preordered Lego Star Wars the Clone Wars. I have been waiting for this day for 6 years.

  44. THAT IS SO AWESOME!!!!!!!

  45. its really asome if i had it i would be all 🙂 yay!!!!!

  46. I WANT IT!

  47. Mr. Pepper887 // March 25, 2011 at 6:14 pm // Reply

    I wish the 3DS was cheaper… a LOT cheaper…

  48. what colors dose it come in

  49. snowman453 // March 25, 2011 at 4:25 pm // Reply

    hey! 3-27 is my birthday!

  50. the3dswinner // March 25, 2011 at 3:27 pm // Reply

    if i win that 3ds i dont know what i’ll do (i seriously dont)

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