my 3Ds is here..initial impressions

[Spud1]

I got in to work today to see a nice brown box on my desk..I knew what it was, but I wasn't expecting it until tomorrow. Tesco had delivered my 3DS, complete with Pilotwings, 1 day early. Yey

Couldn't open it until lunchtime though, so I just have, and i've spent about 20 minutes setting it up/playing with Pilotwings. I got the black (cosmos) one, and it looks great..like a posh DS (which it is I guess).

This obviously isn't a detailed review etc, but it is my first impressions on my own console. I have played before at the Nintendo events (and posted about it) but it's different when it's in your hands, and you are not distracted by hordes of beautiful women.

First off - the 3D effect is simply amazing. It was before and even more so now. The menus are 3D, the Miis are 3D, everything that can be..is in 3D. It has a great WOW factor, and makes you wonder how you played games without it. In my mind it is that much of a game changer.

I setup a mii etc (pretty much the same as on Wii) but then jumped into Pilotwings. This is a game that really shows off the 3D effect, but also the impressive graphics. The 3D gives amazing depth when you are flying around the mountains, and really draws you into the game. The graphics help out here too - simple things like the wings showing their stress as you fly upwards, tensing up as you start to move forward and then relaxing when you land and stop..they are all easily noticeable and do have a big impact on the immersion.

Sadly lunch time is over now so i've not had much more time to play..i'll have to save that for tonight.

If you have not pre ordered..go do so quick - these things will sell out like munchies in california - and you really don't want to miss out..trust me.

Can't wait for starfox/zelda/mario etc..and for the 3D content from Sky/Eurosport etc; I don't yet have a 3D TV so this is currently my only 3D source. Should be great

[mcmiller]

I'm jealous lol

Totally agree with your comments - I managed to play one in the local gamestation and pilot wings and streetfighter 4 looked amazing once you got used to the 3D mostly, as you said most definitely a game changer, I'm even contemplating buying one...

[Spud1]

You should buy one I've had a bit more time to play now..the AR games are surprisingly fun, although in reality they won't be played after a few weeks. There was a system update which gave me a 3D video too, which looks really great.

Just waiting for more games..Pilotwings is fun but its not going to keep me interested for long. Very pretty still

[Terbinator]

Is the improvement not enough to justify upgrading your PC/ home theatre into 3D ?

[kopite]

I`m going to pick mine up at midnight tonight with Pilotwings

[Spud1]

Is the improvement not enough to justify upgrading your PC/ home theatre into 3D ?

It would be if they were also glasses free..sadly Parallax screens don't work well at larger sizes, and the viewing angles would be pretty terrible. That's one of the big plus points to this in my opinion - no glasses to wear and as a direct result, no brightness or colour issues like you get with all other current 3D solutions.

The moment you can pick up a 50" 3D screen that remains bright + colourful, and doesn't require glasses..i'll buy one. Can't say i'm not tempted though as COD in 3D would be pretty darn cool.

[HSK]

What would be the most likely place which will have it out to try?

[kopite]

Game and Gamestation both have units you can test out.

Just got home with mine now. WOW just WOW. Even before you put a game in it you know nintendo have sold their souls to satan as the 3d works with no glasses!!

I`ve had a quick go of rayman and pilotwings so far. Pilotwings seems to be a lot more polished than Rayman but then it is a first party title and one of the cherished Ip`s so its to be expected.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Anyone tried Pro evo on it?

[danroyle]

it maybe a silly question but i take it this is completely useless if you can't watch 3dTV's.

I have no idea why i have perfect vision but if i watch anything in 3d i Get a headache within about 5 minutes and if i continue to watch 5 minutes later i'll have a migraine, I've tried the anomorphic glasses (red/green) and had a little go with active shutter too. Does this mean i can never play a 3ds.

[kalniel]

it maybe a silly question but i take it this is completely useless if you can't watch 3dTV's.

I have no idea why i have perfect vision but if i watch anything in 3d i Get a headache within about 5 minutes and if i continue to watch 5 minutes later i'll have a migraine, I've tried the anomorphic glasses (red/green) and had a little go with active shutter too. Does this mean i can never play a 3ds.

Try it. It's a completely different method than the above so might be fine. (just make sure you're in a position to cope with a migrane if it doesn't work)

[Spud1]

Try it. It's a completely different method than the above so might be fine. (just make sure you're in a position to cope with a migrane if it doesn't work)

Actually no - it's exactly the same method, it's just where the filter is placed that is different. This tech uses the same tricks as 3DTVs, just that they make you wear the filter (aka glasses) for 3DTVs, whereas the 3DS has the filter built in (the Parallax barrier).

So I suspect that it will still give you a headache sadly, as it's still a stereoscopic display This is perhaps the reason for the ability to disable 3D mode, as it just won't get on well with some people.

On another note - I went out this lunchtime and picked up Lego Starwars 3D also, as I don't want to be stuck with just Pilotwings for the next month until some decent games come out for it. Even tried to pick up Mario Kart or Mario 64DS just for something to play on it, but the game shops are on smack if they think i'm paying £25 for a USED copy of either of them! Especially when I have owned and completed both of them on a DSLite 4 years ago (and mario 64 13 years ago on the N64!). (edit: Ebay, £5 each. Consider them bought!)

LSW3 is actually good though, better than I remember from the demo day I went to.

josh - yes I have played pro evo and whilst it makes good use of 3D in the fancy camera mode, that makes it very difficult to play, since you get a very restricted view. Not really for me as it's just another average football game and is very repetitive..however it still remains one of the better launch games out there

on yet another note (this is turning into a song..) I heard that the web browser will be enabled next month, so that's something to look forward to. I'm really hoping for a video player too but maybe i'll be out of luck there. You can already do that with a flash cart (not 3D though I don't think) but there is no way i'm messing about with an R4 etc..need an official way to do it.

[j.o.s.h.1408]

Whats street fighter like? also, maybe a bit too early to ask but what about battery life? better then the psp? O and sound quality from the speakers. any good?

cant understand why the shops down here in scotland dont have a demo unit available because that would persuade potential buyers(like me) to cough up the money(even though im in debt )

[Spud1]

Street fighter I don't know as it doesn't appeal to me in the slightest (so boring and repetetive), so I never bothered. Reviews for it are good though if you like that kind of thing..only negative I heard was that it was a bit dumbed down (aka: more accesible). So no tekken beater.

Battery life is poor at 3-5 hours, no idea what the PSP one is like though as I don't own one. Speakers sound quality is good imo, but much better with headphones..obviously

[j.o.s.h.1408]

seeing as it is a nice day in most parts of the uk, has anyone tried it outdoors? is it terrible to see like the psp when playing outdoors with its glossy screen?


can you transfer files across this device via usb connection? how much memory is there for storage? can it be used as a mp3 player? if yes, what is the sound quality like?

[Ultima2876]

Faceraiders is epic. Mind. Blown - Technology these days, this is absolutely incredible.

Some answers; it comes with a 2gb SD card. Going outside for some garden faceraiders now - in direct sunlight the screen becomes 'shiny' - it loses come of its colour just like any LCD, but the 3d effect still works fine. Faceraiders is NOT recommended though - rather sadistically it forced me to look directly at the sun a few times... it seems to be better than the PSP, but still not perfect for outside viewing.