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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.

74 Comments on Games Guru previews Nintendo 3DS and games

  1. Shadow The Hedgehog // April 20, 2011 at 3:34 pm // Reply

    I’ve seen one, and the 3d isn’t that good, but I still want it.

  2. THIS LOOKS AWESOME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  3. I want one so bad!!!

  4. sad person // April 16, 2011 at 9:45 am // Reply

    i want 1 sooooooo bad the only thing big i have ever won is a easter basket when i was 3 from McDonald’s

  5. If I don’t win it, I’ll wait for the price to drop to $200.00 (Similar systems started out at this price) and get it used. Most $200.00 game systems are $120.00 used.

  6. This looks amazing! Great system!

  7. i really think i can win this!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  8. I WANT A 3DS BUT ITS $250.00

  9. I heard a rumor that Animal crossing remake would be on the 3DS.

    • MetaDude27 // April 7, 2011 at 4:41 pm // Reply

      I don’t think it’s a remake, but there is definitely an Animal Crossing 3DS game on the way!

  10. I suggest to all of you to enter the Game Stop “Review and Win” contest too! 😀

  11. How do I win a nintendo3DS exactly?

    • MetaDude27 // April 7, 2011 at 4:47 pm // Reply

      On Boyslife.org, a picture of Pedro holding a 3DS is hidden on one of the web pages. A number is popping out of his 3DS. Once you know what the number is, click on the picture and enter the required information (including the number popping out of the 3DS) to enter. Go to Boy’s Life’s contest section for more information.

  12. I love the nintendo3DS. I will win one.

  13. OMG! i want a DS3 but I get it either way considering i have a DSi i could turn in and by the time the drawing is done i will have enough money to buy one! Yay!

  14. I WAS going to trade in my DSi to lower the price at Gamestop, but i might as well try to win the contest.

  15. IF I WIN THIS GIVEAWAY I WILL BE THE HAPPIEST YOUNG BOY ON THE ENTIRE EARTH!

  16. I want one so bad I hard that it`s so cool

  17. I realy want that 3DS so bad that I can cry

  18. AWESOME!!!! I love it !

  19. sonic says // April 3, 2011 at 9:42 pm // Reply

    THE 3DS is Amazing!!!!!!! and mix with a wii,xbox360,PS3,dsixl,and lots more!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  20. sonic says // April 3, 2011 at 9:37 pm // Reply

    now my xl broke now I have NO nintendo anymore.

  21. sonic says // April 3, 2011 at 9:30 pm // Reply

    And all I won is comic and wish that I will get it,PLEASE!!!

  22. I played a 3ds, its got so much depth!

  23. STORM PEGASUS // April 3, 2011 at 7:37 pm // Reply

    oh its because im following the original to stop entering because for some weird reason when i join raffles once i win!!!

  24. Torterra41 // April 3, 2011 at 1:16 pm // Reply

    My friend says if you use a Nintendo DS game in the Nintendo 3DS the data is erased. Is this true?

  25. 1 cool man // April 3, 2011 at 11:38 am // Reply

    i need one for me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  26. I whis my dad could see the 3DS.

  27. BOY im awesome! // April 2, 2011 at 4:57 pm // Reply

    I WANT A 3DS SO BAD ITS NOT EVEN FUNNY!!!!!!

  28. The video was awesome and the charger is much cooler then the other
    D’s. Can I have one for free?

  29. its awesomly cool ya!!!!!!!

  30. i want a 3ds so bad that i will explode if i dont win the drawing

  31. yo_Trudeezy // April 2, 2011 at 12:08 pm // Reply

    wicked awsome!!!!!1
    my friend has it and i will get one very soon

  32. I loved that you guys/girls did the previews for the nintendo 3DS!!!

  33. guy who thinks the 3ds is awesome // April 2, 2011 at 8:40 am // Reply

    this page is going to help me so much. I’m going to write about the 3ds in my school newspaper

  34. I want one so bad

  35. sonic says // April 1, 2011 at 7:16 pm // Reply

    That the 3ds is amazing and the best nintendo ever had because of 3d but I never had a nintendo ever and wish I have it.

  36. The 3d Takes you out of this world.

  37. incredible ryan // March 31, 2011 at 12:33 pm // Reply

    i’m going to win.

  38. incredible ryan // March 31, 2011 at 12:31 pm // Reply

    it so sweet

  39. I hope i will win the 3ds

  40. themegaconer // March 31, 2011 at 5:46 am // Reply

    you can probably guess what kind of ds is coming out next, the 3ds xl!

    • not very likely the guy at gamestop said that nintendo couldn’t figure out how to make the 3d work with a big screen

  41. sanppydraco // March 30, 2011 at 7:05 pm // Reply

    if i win i will give my limited edtion zelda ds to my sister not that it matters if i win or lose.

  42. wilderARBITER // March 30, 2011 at 6:43 pm // Reply

    I want the 3ds along with my ds lite and my dsi.

  43. i so want one but it is alot of money

  44. By the way, the only thing I have won in a raffle is a comic book

  45. I bet i wont win though. the most I have won was an angel figure and I gsve it to my mom. atleast I have one. but it would be awesome to have 2

  46. I have had since 10 on n7 of march. no games though 🙁

  47. 100% awsome! nintendo will be rich!!!

  48. The 3ds is so aawsome!

  49. maxis thecha // March 30, 2011 at 9:54 am // Reply

    i really want a 3ds! all i have is a lite; i missed out on the dsi, but im determined to get the 3ds!

    • Wolf O'Donnell // March 31, 2011 at 9:28 pm // Reply

      I did, too. I only want the 3DS for the N64 remakes.

      Also, super sonic, I watched previews on youtube and I could cry.

      Also, Nintendo is getting permission from Sega to remake
      Sega Dreamcast games.
      Luckily, I’m getting one for my birthday.:)

  50. super sonic // March 30, 2011 at 9:06 am // Reply

    I watched the previews on youtube and i’m ready to win so bad I could cry!

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