It's now a little over eight years since the release of what looks set to be Nintendo's last ever dedicated handheld system, the Nintendo 3DS. Falling in the wake of James Cameron's creation of a 3D craze whereby everyone attempted to implement the experience, usually to mask subpar efforts, Nintendo wasn't to be left behind and marrying it's hugely popular dual screen design with more power and the popular visual craze seemed like a slam dunk despite the handheld markets struggle against mobile gaming.
Now, we're at the dying days of the handheld as it finds itself replaced by Nintendo's hybrid design Switch console and so it's time for a special edition daily updated Retro|Spective look back at the joys of the Nintendo 3DS.

The key hurdles the system faced were:
-The growth of mobile gaming
-The launch of the Playstation Vita
-The lack of a second analogue
-The mixed reactions to the 3D feature
The handheld is destined to be the sole example of that display choice being implemented into the system and though the 3DS models were discontinued a while back it still remains one of the biggest sources of fascination with the system I have. To see a commercial product at a not quadruple figure price point utilise glasses free 3D is still rare and unique in gaming. As a user for whom the effect usually worked without issue it has always been one of the most appealing and impressive aspects of the system and a source of wonder as to how little respect that feature attracted, especially as the 2D option is so popular but has never been that well implemented on the handhelds.

You next have the XL editions of the system, aiming to improve visibility concerns and increase comfort. We're already at a point in the systems development that I think I was on my fourth 3DS. Everything was bigger though that included the jaggies as well. The 3DS XL was well timed to meet the peak output of the system however.

And then the ultimate in Nintendo's era of mixed marketing messages. To produce a cheaper 3DS that dropped the 3D aspects... and the clam shell... and the brand name even though software would continue to be boxed in the 3DS name. It was a bit of a mixed arrival but looking back it was a masterstroke move that was well timed as it allowed aggressive pricing for an easy access point and it's been a stubborn little system that still persists in today's 2DS only new market. I've only recently spent longer periods of time with this one and it's an effective little system even if the screen is a little bit 'does the job' and it causes a tad bit of cramping on the thumb.

If there's one thing more hardcore Nintendo handheld enthusiasts love it's disappointing themselves by pinning their hopes on a more powerful iteration of a system that in reality never delivers what they want, instead just offering a few quality of life changes to refine what was already there. Welcome to the fourth models, the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL.
A change to the camera system allowed for more stable 3D and a slight bump in power sped loading and stability a drop. The new version was well received but ultimately wasn't the path the system would send itself out on. Eventually Nintendo shut down releasing 3D enabled models onto the market leaving only the 2D iteration surviving.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL will take the 3DS out to live amongst the handheld Gods in Ninthalla alongside the persistent original 2DS model, offering the QOL improvements of the New 3DS XL for a little more than the 2DS. New game releases have now come to an end and the system will only be produced and supported by Nintendo now for as long as they're able to shift them as a cheap knock around system for those who feel the Switch remains too pricey to let their 7 year old play with on a bus.
So Nintendo walks away, the undisputed and undefeated handheld system champion of the world.
Each day we'll take a victory lap of key 3DS games that came out over the systems lifespan but for today, in typical Retro|Spective manner, we salute the ailing Nintendo 3DS and ask you too...
Share your thoughts and memories of the Nintendo 3DS
Now, we're at the dying days of the handheld as it finds itself replaced by Nintendo's hybrid design Switch console and so it's time for a special edition daily updated Retro|Spective look back at the joys of the Nintendo 3DS.
The key hurdles the system faced were:
-The growth of mobile gaming
-The launch of the Playstation Vita
-The lack of a second analogue
-The mixed reactions to the 3D feature
The handheld is destined to be the sole example of that display choice being implemented into the system and though the 3DS models were discontinued a while back it still remains one of the biggest sources of fascination with the system I have. To see a commercial product at a not quadruple figure price point utilise glasses free 3D is still rare and unique in gaming. As a user for whom the effect usually worked without issue it has always been one of the most appealing and impressive aspects of the system and a source of wonder as to how little respect that feature attracted, especially as the 2D option is so popular but has never been that well implemented on the handhelds.
You next have the XL editions of the system, aiming to improve visibility concerns and increase comfort. We're already at a point in the systems development that I think I was on my fourth 3DS. Everything was bigger though that included the jaggies as well. The 3DS XL was well timed to meet the peak output of the system however.
And then the ultimate in Nintendo's era of mixed marketing messages. To produce a cheaper 3DS that dropped the 3D aspects... and the clam shell... and the brand name even though software would continue to be boxed in the 3DS name. It was a bit of a mixed arrival but looking back it was a masterstroke move that was well timed as it allowed aggressive pricing for an easy access point and it's been a stubborn little system that still persists in today's 2DS only new market. I've only recently spent longer periods of time with this one and it's an effective little system even if the screen is a little bit 'does the job' and it causes a tad bit of cramping on the thumb.

If there's one thing more hardcore Nintendo handheld enthusiasts love it's disappointing themselves by pinning their hopes on a more powerful iteration of a system that in reality never delivers what they want, instead just offering a few quality of life changes to refine what was already there. Welcome to the fourth models, the New Nintendo 3DS and New Nintendo 3DS XL.
A change to the camera system allowed for more stable 3D and a slight bump in power sped loading and stability a drop. The new version was well received but ultimately wasn't the path the system would send itself out on. Eventually Nintendo shut down releasing 3D enabled models onto the market leaving only the 2D iteration surviving.

The New Nintendo 2DS XL will take the 3DS out to live amongst the handheld Gods in Ninthalla alongside the persistent original 2DS model, offering the QOL improvements of the New 3DS XL for a little more than the 2DS. New game releases have now come to an end and the system will only be produced and supported by Nintendo now for as long as they're able to shift them as a cheap knock around system for those who feel the Switch remains too pricey to let their 7 year old play with on a bus.
So Nintendo walks away, the undisputed and undefeated handheld system champion of the world.
Each day we'll take a victory lap of key 3DS games that came out over the systems lifespan but for today, in typical Retro|Spective manner, we salute the ailing Nintendo 3DS and ask you too...
Share your thoughts and memories of the Nintendo 3DS
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