Review: New 3DS XL - Finally, My Hands Are At Peace

Oh how the times change.  After a rocky start in the west, the 3DS went from being a joke of a device with a barren wasteland of games to one of the best selling consoles of all time and a trophy display of some of Nintendo's finest titles.

I remember when I got my special edition Ocarina of Time 3DS during the holidays of 2011.  I didn't really even want the 3DS to be honest, but dammit if I was going to miss out on a chance to replay a portable version of one of my favorite games ever made with updated visuals.  And you can't deny how absolutely gorgeous that limited edition 3DS actually was.  Just look at it!

But, for over a year, the only game I actually owned on that system was Ocarina of Time, as Nintendo apparently didn't feel like releasing anything noteworthy.  Mario Kart 7 popped up and made a stir for a few days, but it quickly recessed as more pressing gaming news unfolded and the 3DS fell silently into the background.  However, 2013 (the Year of the 3DS) showered us with a downpour of exciting titles and caused me to dust the old girl off as my wallet and time quickly grew thin.  One game after another, I was picking up Fire Emblem Awakening, DK Country Returns 3D, Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon, Animal Crossing New Leaf, and Zelda: A Link Between Worlds.

Now, the 3DS is in its golden years, boasting a tremendous library of games.  So in classic Nintendo fashion, a new iteration of the system was announced with some vague upgrades and a name just confusing enough to make parents scratch their heads and force the employees of electronics departments everywhere to clear the craziness by answering the same questions daily.

So, is it too soon for a "new" 3DS?  Too late?  Has the 3DS outstayed its welcome?  Are the minor upgrades worth dropping another $200 on a system you already own?  Well, to most of those, you'll need to use your own judgement.  But, after picking up a Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate edition of the New 3DS XL, I can definitely say that I'll never be able to go back.

   

Quality of Life Changes

Let's get one thing out of the way; if you're not too fussy about your system having all the bells and whistles and just want to play 3DS games, you will probably be just as satisfied with an older system.  Hell, the 2DS (the 3DS's doorstop-shaped little brother) is at a cheap enough price to be worth it for anyone simply wanting to experience all the titles in the 3DS library.  Most of the changes implemented into the New 3DS are Quality of Life changes, and if you already own a 3DS XL, those upgrades are going to be quite minimal for you.  Let's go over the big changes.

Faster Processor

Is it noticeable?  Yes, it definitely is.  Everything is much more snappy and responsive on the N3DS.  The system boots up faster, opening up apps and jumping into games has minimal delay, and downloading (as well as simple browsing) on the e-Shop is at an all time high.  I can't speak to the actual specs, and many comparison videos have varied in their findings, but it's a nice change that makes the overall experience nicer.  This has also made in-game load times faster (very appreciative during MH4U's hunts) and a few games can load in nicer textures as well, MH4U being one of them.  I can't speak to how obvious it is, but screen-shot comparisons floating around have proven that there definitely is a difference.

Coming soon, we also have N3DS exclusive games that actually take advantage of the beefier power, the first of which is Xenoblade Chronicles 3D, a port of one of the better JRPG's from last generation.  There haven't been any other exclusives announced at this stage, so there's still a lot of uncertainty as to how much of a divide this will cause between 3DS iterations.  As a N3DS owner, however, it is nice to know that my investment could have a greater payoff in the future in the form of a few exclusives.

Super Mega Ultra Enhanced 3D

The N3DS also features an infrared camera that tracks your head movement, slightly adjusting the 3D effect based on your viewing angle.  This is quite the nice upgrade and was apparent from the get-go.  I can now play my games comfortably in 3D without worrying about keeping my arms and head frozen like a statue.  Now, I've found myself playing in 3D a little more than usual, but I'm still not that attached to it.  While it is magnitudes more impressive, I'd rather save that extra battery life for a few more hours of playtime.  If I'm home with my system plugged into the wall, sure, I'll flip on the 3D for a few minutes here and there.

Overall it's a great addition, and a much needed one at that.  The 3D is now quite stunning, but if you're someone who didn't care for it to begin with, it probably won't change your mind.  For those of you, however, that enjoy the 3D effect, you'll be glad to know that the head tracking technology works as advertised!

The Nub

I never owned a Circle Pad Pro, so even while playing MH3U I got very used to spamming the L Trigger to center the camera.  The New 3DS introduces the C-stick, a tiny nub similar to a laptop mouse button that responds to pressure.  The C-stick is a little more stiff than I would have liked; I was hoping for a miniature joystick, or at least something that had a little give to it.  But, it does work passably for things like minor camera adjustments in Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate.  I still find myself using the L Trigger out of habit, but having the nub there as an option is quite nice and I can see myself getting quite comfortable with it after a few more hours of play.

Now, anything grander than camera movements (first person shooters, aiming a reticle, etc.) I can see it being less than perfect.  Could you get used to it?  Most definitely.  But I'd much rather have a second slider pad if there was the option.  But it is nice not needing that giant CPP and having an alternate joystick in a slick portable fashion.  There are also ZR and ZL triggers.  They are placed in an odd spot and in most older games, they simply replicate the R/L triggers.  Perhaps once we get some N3DS exclusives, we'll see them get full usage.

Smaller Changes

The N3DS also has some other minor changes that don't change a whole lot about the system, but offer a little more incentive to pick one up if they suit your fancy.  The face buttons have colored font, which is a callback to the SNES controller.  Unfortunately, the entire buttons are not colored like they are in the non-US non-XL version.  The battery life is also a bit nicer than the older XL.  For me, this is quite a massive upgrade.  My original 3DS had a pathetic battery life to begin with, on top of the fact that it's over 4 years old.  The other day, I played Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate online for over 5 hours and my battery was still half full!  This definitely helps me get over the fear of bringing my portable console outside of my home; before I was always worried the thing would die after a few hours, leaving me stranded and bored.

Oh and last, the Monster Hunter 4 Ultimate edition has a sexy silvery, pseudo metallic paintjob with a snazzy MH4U logo on it.  And if that isn't sexy, I don't know what is!

Verdict

If you don't own a 3DS and want to save money, or simply want to experience the great 3DS game library, you might be better picking up a 2DS or a used 3DS for cheap.

If you don't own a 3DS and don't mind spending the money, definitely look into this version.  All of the changes make the overall 3DS experience a better one than you'll get on an original system.

If you already own a 3DS (non-XL) and are considering upgrading, I will tell you it's worth the purchase.  All of the changes, especially in terms of battery life, screen size, speed, and a second control stick option are all quite noticeable.  I couldn't be happier with it.

If you already own a 3DS XL, I'd think long and hard before taking out your wallet.  You won't get much improvement in terms of screen size or battery life and if you don't play in 3D, you can basically ignore the head tracking feature.  The C-stick is nice, but definitely not needed (or even used) for many games.  And that tiny bit of extra processing speed might not be worth the $200.

But, one thing that will definitely change is any announcements of N3DS exclusive games.  In the end, it all comes down to the games, and if Nintendo announces some mega exclusives, it'll be a hard iteration to ignore.  Until then though, I'll be happily Hunting Monsters.