NINTENDO 3DS

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?

supposedly a new game although some parts of levels in the trailer looked familiar
would not be surprised if the original games levels were included as a bonus

yeah, I watched the trailer as well but it's hard to tell. pretty rad either way.

only a couple of hours in but Fire Emblem as good as expected, really nice production values - but wtf with everyone's feet?!?
lots of game announcements yesterday, Bravely Default finally getting a western localization etc etc. really intrigued however by two of the newer games in the downloadable Guild series from Level 5
The Starship Damrey is an adventure game where "your character wakes up in total darkness and must figure out where, and who, they are." - apparently there is no tutorial, no manual, no instructions etc. http://youtu.be/Yo8eo9rDtIc?t=4s
Attack of the Friday Monsters! A Tokyo Tale "stars a 10-year-old boy who lives in a town where monsters from Japanese TV shows appear every Friday" - http://youtu.be/Yo8eo9rDtIc?t=1m5s

Donkey Kong Country Returns is a masterpiece. Truly exceptional level design both from a gameplay perspective and a visual one. Puts the NSMB series to such shame I'm not sure I can even hold on to the positive things I've said about certain entries. Ironically, as a 2D platformer it captures many of the strenghts of the Galaxy-games that NSMB never were close to: Mainly making each level a world of its own, with new mechanics, skills to master, visual treats and delicious details.

I will say this is (was, 3 years ago) a return to Retro making GOAT contenders. Don't know why I didn't buy it back on the Wii but sure makes playing the 3DS version now even sweeter.

For sure one of the best 2d platformers of all time.

that good huh? was never a big fan of the original Rare games so haven't been paying it that much attention.
Starship Damrey was a big letdown, v barebones & linear, so much wasted potential :(
Fire Emblem Awakening on the other hand is the best in the series & an amazing piece of work, fully deserves all the plaudits its been getting

Not a big fan of the SNES Donkey Kong eithers apart from the music.

i have a free MH3U download code for 3DS if anyone wants it.
you have to be in EU and registered your 3DS between 3rd June and 31st July 2013 on the Club Nintendo site.
so either just bought/about to buy or never bothered registering but still have the code.
details here http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Misc-/Campaigns/Monster-Hunter-Gift-Hunt-Together-Promotion/Monster-Hunter-Gift-Hunt-Together-Promotion-760515.html
interestingly it will also count towards this promo http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Misc-/Nintendo-3DS-So-Many-Games-Promotion/Overview/Overview-750393.html

I'd be interested if you still have it, I'll be buying one in a couple of days (for Animal Crossing).

sent you a message via webmail, let me know if you got it!

Got it, thanks!

Didn't know so many designs had come out. The system's only two years old!
http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/44317/3ds-colours-and-special-editions/

Tempted to get an XL for $150 this weekend.. or the new Zelda and M&L editions at regular price. Is it still a bad idea?

Personally 3DS has been killing it software-wise this year, bought a lot of games and almost all have been brilliant (fuck NSMB2 though). Most of the special editions come with a download code or the game preloaded rather than a physical game, which is a bit of a problem as Nintendo refuse to set up an account system. I'd wait for Black Friday deals on an XL and buy the physical games that you want rather than deal with their crazy digital strategy.

i made the mistake of early adopting and buying a fresh off the line 1st edition and that fucking thing has never felt right in my hands. Way too sharp edges and bad ergonomics; can't hold it for more than twenty minutes. Will getting an xl or 2ds solve this problem?

or maybe i should get a new hobby

XL feels much much better ergonomically, ymmv so try one out in a shop I guess? Haven't tried a 2DS yet.

yeah the display unit in every Target/Best Buy is an XL now so just stand there cuppin' it for a few hours. seriously though I vastly prefer the size and shape of the XL and I'm significantly more comfortable with it and I've heard people mostly say the same; the demo unit should give you a decent idea of where you stand

k thx

Zelda is so snappy.

abcfsk you were right about DKCR, that was some damn fine platforming

want an xl

gimmie one sale pls

thinking of getting a 2nd hand 3DS off amazon, is this a wise purchase right now? mostly into games like prof layton, mario and that henry hatsworth one on the orig DS, does the 3DS have much good new stuff like this? hard to get an unbiased opinion on this, and can't even go to gamespot to check out the best 3ds games because they ruined it :(

3DS has much less software than DS, but the quality is just as good if not better. Most of the shovelware manufacturers have moved over to iOS, but big Japanese publishers (Square, Capcom) are beginning to invest heavily in mobile as well. Well-known brands (Mario, Zelda etc) get physical & digital releases, whereas more niche games (e.g. Phoenix Wright) are starting to get a digital only release in the West. Newer IPs and indie games also get a cheaper digital only release, even Nintendo have wised up to this (e.g. Pushmo/Pullblox, Harmoknight, Dillon). Virtual Console has been pretty lackluster so far, although Sega have been putting out a lot of arcade/genesis ports in the past few weeks including the amazing Galaxy Force II.
lots of deals on 3DS hardware around atm, don't know how much cheaper 2nd hand would be tbh. if you can, try a 3DS and an XL out for ergonomics first, some people like one and hate the other (for me XL is a vast improvement).

i like the sound of 3d, just for the weirdness (imagine it being like those 90s magic eye posters?). had a quick go on my 6 yr old nephews today but only on this crappy teenage mutant ninja turtles game - for some reason he thought i'd rather play that than mario or anything actually good. also didn't get to see 3d capabilities because it needs a pin number to access and he doesn't know it, just "press all the buttons til it works."

what are the standout games for it? paper mario sounds decent. are there any new laytons/hatworthses?