The new Nintendo 3DS lets you play games in three dimensions without wearing silly-looking glasses. Each game appears to tolerate its own level of 3D ,and the effect only comes into focus when the screen is held at exactly the right angle and distance from your face. Without noticing, rapidly shifts from a lot of wobbling and a slight sense of double-vision to second nature.
As a device, it's both heavier and shinier than past Nintendo efforts, and not as sleekly sexy as a Next-Generation Portable – Sony's factually accurate but dull name for its forthcoming handheld – or iPhone. But it does have a 3D camera, useful for augmented-reality tricks and taking stereoscopic photographs of friends, pets and household items.
The 3DS is also backwards compatible, so you'll be able to play all your old DS games on the system as well, though not in 3D.
It comes as no surprise that Nintendo would spend the bulk of its marketing energy promoting the 3D aspect of the 3DS -- but as it turns out, other upgrades that will likely wind up giving the system its real depth. From its improved control scheme and online functionality to its quirky set of built-in features, the 3DS has a lot going for it.
The 3D? When it clicks, it's a showstopper, turning the system into the sort of eye-catching, water-cooler gadget that helped make the Wii such a big hit back in the day. Similar things about the Wii remote during the launch of that eventual game-changer.
And as any gamer knows, it's rarely wise to bet against Nintendo. The company has a knack for bucking trends while setting new ones, and fully expect that to happen again courtesy this quite capable, occasionally captivating device. Worth a buy.
No comments:
Post a Comment