Return to The BaDlands #10 - I'm Seriously Considering A 3DSXL Purchase

On 02/10/2014 at 04:53 PM by gigantor21

Linked to Article Series: Blog a Day (BaD) 2014

I started this month's BaD entries talking about the value of consoles, and what would convince me to buy the latest ones. In short, I'm not really up on buying any of them right now, either due to lack of games, pricing, or both. The handheld side, however, is another matter.

I love my Vita, as grim as its future prospects is, and play it almsot everyday. Having that and a PC for multiplats has been a key factor in turning me away from buying a new console. But the line-up of games on the 3DSXL, coupled with how many are floating around for $150-170 online and the SD card support, is a tantalizing prospect. It'll be especially hard to avoid buying one once Smash Bros. comes out; I'd love nothing more than to have Smash on the go.

There are other things about it that are bugging me, though. For one, the games are still super expensive; you have key first party titles like Ocarina of Time 3D and Mario Kart still selling at or near full price 2 years later. It's a far cry from the Vita, where prices are lower, digital sales are frequent, and you can try any number of games via PS+.

And speaking of digital, Nintendo's glaring deficiencies in that regard are another serious problem. It's nice that they've finally set up accounts instead of Friend Codes, but there are no cross-platform purchases and you have to re-buy digital games if your device is lost, damaged or stolen. It's pretty absurd to see that in 2014 when Sony and MS had these issues worked out several years ago.

But still, that library is ridiculous. Between Super Mario 3D Land, OoT3D, A Link Between Worlds, Animal Crossing, and Pokemon X/Y--not to mention full BC with Nintendo DS games--the 3DS's library completely stomps out the Vita's easily. And it has a long term future in the States, unlike it's Sony counterpart.

Smash Bros' release is when I'll pull the trigger.

transmet2033

02/10/2014 at 05:01 PM

I would definitely recommend it, there are plenty of amazing games on the 3DS. I know that I shouldn't let the price affect my decision to pick up the first party games, but for some reason it is. I know that Twilight Princess was full price up until Skyward Sword came out 5 years later.

gigantor21

02/10/2014 at 05:06 PM

That...doesn't surprise me in the least. I remember a lot of Wii games being expensive years later when I looked them up a while ago. That's just how Nintendo rolls, I guess.

But at the very least, I can just buy the games used.

02/10/2014 at 07:04 PM

I wouldn't mind going digital with the 3DS, the only problem is that all the games are full price, except for the Atlus games that seem to go on sale monthly. I wish that they would adopt a little more of a Sony attitude and at the very least give us 10% off when buying digital day one.

BrokenH

02/10/2014 at 05:29 PM

Heck,I'm still rather in love with my psp. lol.

mothman

02/10/2014 at 05:35 PM

I love my PSP too. :)

02/10/2014 at 07:40 PM

The PSP was absolutely amazing.

I can't remember the last day when my 3DS wasn't on for at least an hour or two. I'd love an XL and once I can afford one I will buy one.

I have a 32 GB card in it right now with a ton of games on it.

I'd like a Vita too, hell, I've already got enough games for it. I'd be buying P4 that's for sure.

02/10/2014 at 07:47 PM

What are you playing on it right now? Just curious.

02/10/2014 at 08:40 PM

Bravely Default. It's the best Final Fantasy (That isn't called Final Fantasy) game in a long time.

I'm also playing Etrian Odyssey IV and recently finished SMT IV

Vice's Assistant

02/10/2014 at 06:22 PM

I never intended to get a 3DS, I just lucked out and got one from a closing K-Mart. I loved it since. I'm shocked about how robust its indie selection is. I have more indy games on it than any system. Sure, there not always great but there are some really great and odd selections in there, pretty much every genre is represented.

The breadth of the game offerings--particulary Nintendo-published stuff--is what impresses me the most about it. There are so many different kinds of games I want to try.

Cary Woodham

02/10/2014 at 08:36 PM

The 3DS is great, I recommend getting one.

02/10/2014 at 09:48 PM

I'm definitely leaning towards it, LOL.

Still mad I couldn't get it at $130 during Black Friday. :(

Super Step Contributing Writer

02/11/2014 at 01:14 AM

I'm in the same boat, only Smash Bros. won't necessarily be my trigger pull and now that you mention it, I should look into the prices of these games before buying a 3DS. Still, if I get that and a PS4, I'll be a very happy camper.

02/11/2014 at 08:58 AM

The 3DS and PS4 are where I'll be castiing my lot as well, alongside the Vita. Those three should do me well for the next few years.

bullet656

02/11/2014 at 09:20 AM

I'd highly recommend getting one. I got one not too long before Christmas, and I've already bought over 15 physical games for it (I never had a DS, so since it's backwards compatable some of the games are regular DS games). There are still so many that I want, but even if I stopped now I'd have enough to last me well into next year.

There's so many great, and diverse, games to play: Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, Super Mario 3D Land, NSMB2, Professor Layton, Phoenix Wright, Shin Megami Tensei IV (and several other Shin Megami Tensei games), Etrian Odyssey, Fire Eblem, Mario & Luigi, Luigi's Mansion...

In addition to all the current games, last weekend I dropped over $100 on Virtual Console games. It's nice to be able quickly boot up Ninja Gaiden, play for a few minutes while I'm waiting on something, create a restore point, and then close it for later.

02/11/2014 at 11:04 AM

I really need to start putting money away for it. The more posts I read the more I want one, LOL.

Alex-C25

02/11/2014 at 10:35 AM

I think everyone said it best, but just to bring my contribution, the 3DS is a great investement. The library is finally big and you can play past DS games you missed if you didn't have the console.

02/11/2014 at 11:03 AM

Physical BC with DS carts is a HUGE advantage it has over the Vita. Not all PSP games are on PSN, and there are several that don't work even if they are available.

KnightDriver

02/11/2014 at 03:20 PM

I absolutely love my 3DS XL. It's a great device and there are so many cool games to play on it right now. I got mine about this time last year because of Fire Emblem and Etrian Odyssey IV and Luigi's Mansion Dark Moon all came out Feb-Mar. So much more has appeared to keep me interested. I didn't have a reason to get it in 2012 other than Shadow Wars, but in 2013 I had like ten reasons. My favorite handheld at the moment.

jgusw

02/14/2014 at 07:57 PM

I love my 3DS XL. I'm on the thing all the time.

NSonic79

03/17/2014 at 02:25 PM

and that's pretty much the reason why my wife and I finally bought a 3DS XL awhile back. She loved the size of the unit and how it plays her old DS titles so very well. She got upset over Donkey Kong Country Returns though when seh thoguht she had to play the game on the new disc controller.

She also loved how our 64GB SD card was able to work on it though we've found it hard in trying to buy any other games for the system given their pricepoint in both retail and on their store.

looking forward to playing the demos though.

PixlBit