Best & only portable 3D game console
We said "in the home" before, but what about on the road? Glasses-free, pocket-size 3D gaming sounds like something from the future, but the 3DS is actually getting pretty long in the tooth. The upside? It's now $70 cheaper than when it launched in March 2011.
The device also now comes in an XL version for $199.
The good: The Nintendo 3DS provides an impressive 3D gaming experience without the need for special glasses. There's a 3D effect slider, it shoots and displays 3D photographs with its dual back-facing cameras, and it has a single front-facing camera. The 3DS comes preinstalled with a bevy of software and StreetPass and SpotPass services, and it comes with a drop-and-charge dock. Internet connectivity includes the eShop, Virtual Console, video marketplace, Internet browsing functionality, DSiWare transferring, and Netflix support.
The bad: The launch lineup is and remains lackluster, and the disappointing low-resolution lenses provide grainy photos. The 3D effect can cause headaches for some, and it can "snap out" because of sensitive viewing angles and games that encourage movement. The 3DS has a very short battery life, and most Internet functionality wasn't activated at launch.
The bottom line: The Nintendo 3DS successfully offers a glasses-free 3D experience that needs to be seen to be believed. A weaker-than-usual launch lineup and some previously inactivated online features dampened its launch, but a recent price drop and a promising holiday lineup shine a light at the end of tunnel.
October 31, 2012 10:28 PM PDT
