NINTENDO 3DS

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?

tbh i hardly use the 3D
2 new Laytons out already & the Layton/Phoenix Wright crossover sometime in 2014
Mario 3Dland v good, i thought NSMB2 was boring tho.
new Zelda best one since Wind Waker imo, no tutorials or annoying helper, can explore & tackle dungeons in pretty much any order.
i mainly play RPGs, Atlus games have been excellent & Squares Bravely Default is basically a modern FFV/FFVI so far (about 5 hours in)
Fire Emblem probably my GOTY, great strategy RPG with v funny dialog
Pushmo/Pullblox a really interesting puzzle game by Nintendo
oh and Streetpass games are secret best feature!

ah, so the 3d thing is mostly just a gimmick? sounds so ace though, damnit. will read up on those games you mentioned, thanks man

eh ymmv, i think the 3D is kinda pointless and no game really needs it as such
for me 3DS is an upgraded DS with less overall software, like Vita is a fancy PSP with (a lot) less software

Personally I love the 3d but I know I'm very much in the minority. And I've been a sucker for any artificial 3d ever since my first viewmaster.

ooh jimd saying what i want to hear, what do you reckon are the killer 3d games?

Mario 3D Land, Zelda OoT, Pilotwings, Luigi's mansion. And the built in video player which auto-downloads a new 3d video clip every few days is often great too, though the fact you can't choose to permanently keep any of them is frustrating sometimes.

Oh and Mariokart.

Bravely Default is sooooo good, every part of it is so well thought out e.g. tapping on the right of dpad during a battle speeds it up, tap again it goes even faster with a >> sign like you are fastforwarding through a video. tap left to slow down or pause ||. little conveniences like this really add to the experience.
one of those Directs in 30 mins btw, hoping for an EU SMT4 date to be finally announced :/

I caved. I return to the DS fold.

Question: so should I go out and get a 32GB SDHC card right now? I think my system comes with M&L pre-installed, but I don't know if it's on the system memory or the included card yet. Am I going to have to go through any weird transfer hassles?

if you intend to buy full games digitally then yes buy a 32GB card. transferring from one SD card to the other on the same machine is just copy & paste via yr PC. make sure you create a NNID & link to Club Nintendo before buying any games though.

thanks, will do. i was afraid that would be some kind of DRM-restriction in transferring stuff to a new card, assuming I pick one up in a few weeks. I'll definitely be picking up some of the DSiWare and download-exclusive stuff like Phoenix Wright

the only restriction is the NNID being tied to the hardware, so you can't sign in on someone else's 3DS. you can transfer the lot between machines, but if your 3DS gets lost/stolen you have to call them up to unbind your NNID so you can bind it to a new machine & get your digital games back - at least that's the theory, hope i never have to find out :/

so i can't transfer the games between 3DS systems, but I can backup my card and just recopy the files over as long as I dont lose my original system?

you can transfer everything in one lot to another system, which wipes the original system.
but yes keep a backup of your cards contents on your PC, also best to take a note of the 3DS serial number!

ohhhhh weird. thanks dude!

dammit face hunters thing, i am not an infant!

Know it's mostly me, but Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate in the west early 2015 - seems to only be on 3DS and not WiiU this time. Full online of course.

yeh its a long wait but i'm just glad they announced it, put 150+ hours into MH3U so will be looking forward to MH4U immensely
just finished Bravely Default, much better than any recent Final Fantasy but without going into spoilers i have some serious reservations how they handled the second half of the game. still, a lot of positives (battle & job systems, all the customization while still keeping a sense of balance, a real sense of challenge!), hopefully they structure the next game a bit better.

very tempted. really should play that demo before it comes out here in a week.

all the Level 5 Guild games are currently on sale for $2.99/£2.69/€2.99
would recommend Attack Of The Friday Monsters, its a short (2-3 hrs) game set in a small 70s Japanese town where you run around talking to people and occasionally playing a card game, sort of like a visual novel but with more agency. its super charming and atmospheric, makes you nostalgic for a childhood you never even had (unless you are Japanese and grew up in the 70s i guess!)

gonna grab that + Liberation Maiden, maybe some more

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Wm8-DsVqHE