NINTENDO 3DS

the game library has been lacking in the west though, localizations are taking a long time to trickle through - so many games out in Japan that i want to play that have no western release yet. region locking was such a poor decision ugh.

re: VVVVVV, i've played the PC version already.. is it a pretty straight port?

VVVVVV is a straight port (minus the level editor, but does come with a bunch of bonus levels). I also have it on PC, but for me it was easier on 3DS (I disliked using the arrow keys and spacebar controls, which always felt a little laggy on my PC for some reason). A normal person doesn't need both versions though.

super mario 3d land is excellent. new super mario brothers 2 is way better than internet people would have you believe.

kid icarus would be flat out astonishing except for the cruelly twisted control system.

Yeah I got the XL. If you're thinking of getting a 3DS, XL is the only way - seriously. System size really isn't an issue since we're not dorks who put these things in our actual pockets, but the size of the screen is. The original screen was just too small too appreciate the vast 3D games ala Ocarina, and 3DLand looks AMAZING on the screen. Seriously such a visually pleasing game and maybe the best Mario ever made..? NSMB2 is lacking in challenge and challenging creativity, though. Hoping for another 'Land'.

Also if Monster Hunter ever gets localized a smaller screen would be blasphemous.

ooooooh
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynm0dZ5mcTY

tried for first time both 3DS and 3DSxl. For me XL seems miles better, in fact the normal 3DS seemed almost too tiny.

Very impressed with the 3D effect, although I was trying this in store and so the thing was nailed down which meant a very steady view. I don't know how well it would look if it was mobile and moving around a lot.

Do all normal 3DS titles work for the XL then?

XL has exactly the same guts, its just a hardware revision.
Playing Picross e at the moment, ah how i love picross.

Monster Hunter 3G fiiiiiiiiiinally confirmed for western release for March next year! (Also WiiU version with online that can be played together, saves shared etc)

Better than my dreams. Sync saves is amazing because I mostly want to play this series portable but now I can pop in the HD version from time to time for big screen & online. Honestly don't think I've ever been this happy for a game announcement but then Monster Hunter basically rejuvinated my gaming life.

fuck yes
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CGKq4uK7N90

Fuck yes indeed. No confirmation of release outside of Japan yet though right?

not yet, probably not going to be announced until after Layton 5 is released next month
there are also trailers for Ace Attorney 5 & Layton 6 out there

So anyone playing Fire Emblem? I'm on a European 3DS so not yet.

yup, dig it. fire emblem is second only to disgaea in delivering that "i love it when a plan comes together" feeling. the localization (american version at least) seems really good too, i actually kinda chuckled at a few of the joeks.

yeah i'm really digging this too. love the cutscene animation style

I think I'm going to pick it up at some point - too much of a backlog right now to buy new games (currently finally playing Dragon Quest IV!).

nice

Playing the Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate demo on my 3DS XL this weekend. Get it there or on the Wii U.

Controls really well with the new "monster targeting" camera (not a lock on). 2nd joystick add-on which I bought is not supported by demo and an unfriendly "the circle pad pro is not supported by this software" message greets you without letting customers know the final game does. That's typical - the weapons aren't explained unless you go into the digital menu, you're given a shorter time limit than in the real game and one of the two missions is the notorious asshole Plesioth, dubbed the most annoying monster in the series for his 'hip checks'. No noob will have a good time with him for a while.

http://www.extagia.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/11/Monster-Hunter-3-Ultimate-Plesioth.jpg

Anyway it looks gorgeous on the handheld. A good step up from the Wii version.

I'm curious how well this new release does here. I think some markets in Europe are prepped for it like the particular German market. I hope the localization of MH4 is already decided on regardless of sales because it looks crazy.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xv3U2p-hxL0

tried the demo last night, considering getting a frankenstick for it. Castlevania demo is not v good
really happy Etrian Odyssey 4 is coming to EU though, hopefully other Atlus games will follow
being a Euro Atlus fan is a tough gig :(

Quite a few people seem head over heels about the EO series. What's its big draw?

its just a really really hard old school dungeon crawler, you draw the layout of each floor of the dungeon on the lower screen as you progress. super niche but if you are a fan of the genre its one of the best. EO2 & EO3 never made it to EU so expectations were low - there is the possibility that it will be digital only, but i can live with that.

Shin Megami Tensei 4 announced for US release in summer 2013
seriously thinking about buying a US 3DS at the moment, being an EU Atlus fan is torture, the EU Devil Survivor Overclocked fiasco this weekend acting as a tipping point (game takes 2 years to get localized, is released with gamebreaking bugs that should have been caught in the first 30 minutes of QA)
ugh FU Nintendo & yr region locking

really excited for this! also fingers crossed for a localization of monster hunter 4

i love my 3ds

XL or og?

XL

MH remains a portable series for me, love sleep-moding my way through long MH3U sessions.

Need to pick up Luigi's Mansion.

yeh i bought MH3U digitally, the ridiculous high price being offset by the fact that i'll be playing it off & on for years to come (well, until MH4 gets localized)
strong rumours from Siliconera that Bravely Default is coming West finally
also NIS America are oddly handling the Etrian Odyssey 4 release in EU & Aus, hopefully they will take over publishing Atlus games from Ghostlight

I tried the MH3 demo and either I totally didn't get it, or the gameplay in that series can't have changed since, like, PS1 days. It felt massively simplistic and clunky and I had HUGE 3D CAMERA ISSUES for the first time in years etc.

ah yeh, the demo doesn't really give the best impression. The controls are little clunky and take a little getting used to, but once you get the hang of them it becomes second nature. i get round the 3D camera issues by the power of Frankenstick.

i know MH3U on 3ds was massively popular in japan, were they all using circle pad pros or just making due with the bottom screen camera controls?

they're used to obtuse MH camera controls, hence the infamous PSP "claw" - i'm too much of a western wimp for that

http://n00bshow.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/PSP_Claw.jpg

wow lmao

analog nub is a legendary design failure

just saw this posted on r*ddit: http://i.imgur.com/bkYAxT2.jpg

christ

haha! the 3DS version has a button for centering on the monster you are fighting which is an improvement over PSP, but yeh Frankenstick is the (ugly) answer

whaaaaaaat?

wait the 3ds is region locked?

<i>i know MH3U on 3ds was massively popular in japan, were they all using circle pad pros or just making due with the bottom screen camera controls?

― diamonddave85</i>

I bought a cpp for this game and I've only used it once and discarded it so far, 30 hours in. The new target camera makes it almost obsolete for land battle. Underwater there are still times where you'd like a second stick. So no, you don't really use the touch camera except when navigating the map, where it works pretty decently.

Monster Hunter is definitely a portable series for me. The series is 80% of my game life but I'v been so busy i haven't really gotten deep into Ultimate yet. Enjoy most of the changes, though.

Need to get that Luigi, previews made it look like a thoroughly well-crafted world.

Yeah, it's region locked.

I've really been enjoying Luigi's Mansion so far. I wasn't sure about buying it but this review convinced me: http://www.1up.com/features/review-bending-genres-luigi-mansion ("Dark Moon could easily have been the latest Telltale or Double Fine project" YES PLEASE). It's good.

seems weird after they left x generations of handhelds okay to region lock one! seems a shame that you can't just buy a game wherever

It is a shame, as I really want to play the new Umihara Kawase game...

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-mqqi4l2cPM

Some DSi games were region locked too, so it was pretty obvious they'd be moving in that direction :(

Nintendo you used to be cool, what happened man

prettiest boxart i've seen in quite a while - game is Etrian Odyssey: Millennium Maiden, a remake/reimagining of EO1
http://i.imgur.com/AkgfgCA.jpg

Umihara Kawase is getting a western release?!? probably digital only but i'll take it
http://www.siliconera.com/2013/04/08/farewell-umihara-kawase-is-planned-for-overseas-release/

EO with a "new, story-focused direction"? err

EO:MM looks interesting, but i'll see how the reviews end up (if it gets a localization)

also, new MH4 gameplay video:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mTqAZO5vitU

pretty crazy that umihara kawase is getting localized! is that actually a new game or yet another remake?