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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.

80 Comments on Games Guru previews Nintendo 3DS and games

  1. idk if I should buy one is it good? p.s. does the ds lite protection case fit on it?

  2. the strange person // June 8, 2011 at 12:42 pm // Reply

    mine! mine mine mine miiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiineeeeeeeeeee!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. zelda fan // June 7, 2011 at 3:29 pm // Reply

    zelda 3ds is epic

  4. i want it too

  5. I have seen it be4, it is not as cool as it may seen. I think its 50-50

  6. Short Round // May 31, 2011 at 10:00 pm // Reply

    Which is better, a 3DS or an NGP (a PSP2). I don’t know which one to get

  7. Nintendo 3DS rocks!

  8. flash9802 // May 28, 2011 at 5:17 pm // Reply

    played it at a store and the 3d effect hurt my eyes

  9. the big flame // May 27, 2011 at 10:40 am // Reply

    How do you enter?

  10. Anonymous // May 26, 2011 at 5:41 pm // Reply

    get one on eaby!:|]

  11. I WANT THE 3DS!

  12. robloxrules>:} // May 25, 2011 at 10:31 am // Reply

    will there ever be another chance¿¡¿¡ i really want one!!!.oh yea and how many do they give away????

  13. I love Japan // May 24, 2011 at 3:47 pm // Reply

    i have herd of the 3DS, is it cool???

  14. PixelHydra // May 11, 2011 at 7:35 pm // Reply

    I have a 3DS, with Steel Diver and Dream Trigger 3D. It’s awesome!!!

  15. mhiogfgjgiji // May 11, 2011 at 6:08 am // Reply

    Lego starwars is awesome.

  16. Boyslife fan // May 9, 2011 at 6:19 pm // Reply

    At the top of the atticle it says Steel Rider is that a game or is it Steel Diver?

  17. i got a 3ds (cosmo black) 2 weeks ago try the 3ds at a demo station its realy cool 🙂

  18. wertys761 // May 8, 2011 at 6:38 pm // Reply

    WHO WON THER 3DS?!?!?! THE CONTEST RESULTS WERE ANNOUNCED TWO DAYS AGO!!!!! 🙁

  19. luckyman555 // May 7, 2011 at 3:59 pm // Reply

    on ebay the aqua blue 3ds is not a lot of money people 🙂

  20. luckyman555 // May 7, 2011 at 3:57 pm // Reply

    NOTE:
    I did not win the 3ds 🙁

    • spongebob // May 23, 2011 at 3:13 pm // Reply

      i feel you i didn’t too. BUT you can test on out at most Game Stops. And Rayman that tops the 3ds.

  21. Garswhin // May 5, 2011 at 6:44 pm // Reply

    tomorrow is the results the wait is KILLING ME!!!!!!!!!!! my heart is pounding!

  22. i need a 3ds

  23. I only entered 2 times then forgot. It would be the most surprising thing ever if I won

  24. wertys761 // May 2, 2011 at 10:13 pm // Reply

    ATTENTION:

    THE CONTEST ENDED APRIL 30TH. RESULTS WILL BE AT/NEAR MAY 6TH ACCORDING TO THE RULES.

  25. i really wanta nintendo 3ds

  26. i have entered more than 20 times i have not won 😐

  27. guy who found perdo // April 30, 2011 at 5:29 pm // Reply

    i found him but i m not telling u guys the number

  28. who won the 3ds 😐

  29. i want one so bad my friends have 3 DSis and i only have half-broken DS i hope i win I WANT ONE and Pilot Wings Resort

  30. If I don’t win it I will be sad

  31. Who all here has entered the contest more than 20 times! If you have, reply to this!

  32. i have one and it’s really awesome! i have the racing game Asphalt 3D. its totally amazing graphics and 3D effects will leave you speechless!

  33. I really want one so bad so that i can play my games on the Nintendo 3DS IT WOULD BE SO MUCH FUN!!!

  34. pokemon iz awesome // April 28, 2011 at 10:15 am // Reply

    were is pedro!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  35. man,I really need that nintendo3ds because i dont have anything like a nintendo ds.So i really need to win it.

  36. Gamemaster // April 27, 2011 at 4:21 pm // Reply

    I have one, BEST GAMING SYSTEM EVER! I hope they can come up with interesting ways to use the 3d.

  37. I WANT A 3DS // April 27, 2011 at 7:48 am // Reply

    I WANT A 3DS

  38. YEAH ME 2 I WANT TO WIN IT SO I CAN BUY THE NEW LEGO STAR WARS 111

  39. keivon1234 // April 26, 2011 at 3:28 pm // Reply

    i wish ican win one i want one so bad and when igit my 3d-ds i will play it all night long

  40. Nintendo addict // April 26, 2011 at 2:51 pm // Reply

    I wish I win!

  41. wow i really do hope i can win the 3ds its an awesome device.time to start searching

  42. i got one! I have so much fun with the AR cards!

  43. I Have one, THE BEST NINTENDO SYSTEM. EVER

  44. The 3ds is awesome! The 3d is pretty good, and the graphics are great ! One downside is the battery life it’s okay, less than the dsi. It is still awesome though!

  45. it will be really cool if I win.I would get ridge racer then zelda.

  46. I want the nintendo 3DS so badly

  47. gamemaster // April 22, 2011 at 6:16 pm // Reply

    If I Don”t win the 3ds I”ll Just Sit in bed waiting for my mother or father to get 249.99 Dolars

  48. I realy would like to win this system but the chances are against me… But it is still realy fun to hope!:D

    People say that the camera is not very good though…

  49. I am really looking forward to this.I have played ridge racer.I want the zelda oot 3ds and ridge racer.I wish more than one person can win this contest.

  50. I WANT A 3DS!

    • then try to win one

      • my brother has one its pretty cool he got it for crismas me and and my younger brother got dsi’s.the 3d on the 3ds if you have it on for a while like 15 or20 or10 mins it will start to hurt your eyes.when i play it i leave it off.and you can put the 3d on diffrent levels the bigger the level you have to put the 3ds back more.

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