My 3DS Rant
Nintendo, I really want to be able to play Ocarina of Time 3D, but you are making it increasingly difficult for me to justify investing in the current model of the 3DS.And as die-hard of a Nintendo fan as I have been all these years, that is not a good sign.
REALLY BAD launch lineup?Okay, most launch lineups aren’t that great.The price drop however was pretty much the worst things have ever gotten – so soon and now the first money-losing hardware for Nintendo in years.And now pretty much a complete backpedal on the 3DS hardware design?To put it quite simply, I have not seen this much apparent loss of confidence in a Nintendo platform in such a short time, much less a handheld.
Maybe I’m looking back on the N64 and Gamecube with rose-tinted glasses, but that’s part of the point.This is coming from a guy who stood by the N64 during that console generation, did the same for the Gamecube, and still owns a launch Wii.Why?Because Nintendo still makes some of my favorite games.
That should really be the point of it all.The main reason I initially defended the 3DS against the Vita all this time is because it always had more games that I wanted than the Vita.Bravely Default: Flying Fairy looks simply gorgeous.Monster Hunter Tri G releasing in Japan means Nintendo’s pretty much got Japan on lock.Super Mario 3D Land is supposedly one of the best games of the year.I even want the Star Fox port and am interested in some other games like Ace Combat 3D and Shinobi.I have never outright refused to buy a platform that has a great selection of games on it, but this is a new precedent.
I cannot in all good conscience purchase a platform knowing that within probably 12 months there will be a newer version that has much-needed extra inputs.Yes Nintendo frequently revises their handhelds, but only cosmetically.I didn’t even really have a problem with the 3DS only having one analog stick.Developers (especially Japanese developers) typically design great games around things like that.I stuck by Nintendo in the previous generations partly because they themselves had confidence in what they were doing.I don’t see that anymore.
When I first heard the rumors of the second analog stick attachment, they sounded like Nintendo-hater trolling.Now that they’ve been confirmed I’m starting to doubt less and less the additional rumors that next year Nintendo will relaunch the 3DS entirely with new hardware and a new name.I’m almost ready to say that’s exactly what the platform needs.
It goes without saying that Nintendo has some explaining to do.Other than Square Enix announcing that they will release Kingdom Hearts 3D tomorrow, I honestly don’t think there’s much anyone can do to convince me to buy a 3DS anytime soon.
The next few months or so will be very telling of where the next generation of handhelds is going.
Read more about Japanese gaming and games at http://themolloyboy.blogspot.com/