Well, I took some time to jot down some thoughts on the one handheld that everyone seems to agree was the bee’s knees: the Nintendo 3DS (and all its various iterations thereafter!)
It’s one I’ve gone through a few ‘phases’ with - collecting, modding, selling, then buying a ‘perfect’ one, then…the pattern just repeats and repeats. I love how truly customizable it is now that it is…essentially an abandoned generation. The community took things to great new heights (those themes!!!), 3D printed docks and displays, vinyl stickers…it makes me so happy to see how very few 3DS consoles look like anyone else’s.
The market is getting crazy though. Prices are only going up (and special editions are going waaaay up), but it’s nice to see options like the Thor, Pocket DS and Anbernic’s RG DS coming up to give modern users some solutions to playing.
Anyway
Don’t expect anything wonderful here, I wasn’t even sure what to write for this article. I guess while I call it a retrospective, it just touches on some key points in the lifetime of the 3DS system.
P.S. 100% ready for any 3DS games recommendations to be shared!!!
I have a feeling that a Switch 2 Lite is on the horizon, Nintendo loves a console variant. Not that the S1 lite is pocketable, but maybe they will shrink it more this time. I went down a somewhat similar path, only for me it was GBA and emulation on my Steam Deck that really made me realize I missed having pocket games that are real games and not mobile bullshit. I modded my old GBA with a modern screen and battery and it’s been my goto device for portable games. The OG DS dropped as I was graduating highschool and going into college, and the 3DS completely passed me by. I keep thinking about getting a used one but their prices are still a little high for me.
@jodanlime @PerfectDark I’m wondering about even this. It really feels like Nintendo almost entirely stopped caring about the Switch Lite not even that long after it came out. It should definitely have been a bigger focus IMO, but everyone seems to want everything bigger and bigger and bigger these days…
I too absolutely miss just sticking my N3DS in my pocket. (Also StreetPass. Why did that go away with the Switch??)
I think not being dockable killed it for most people, that and it not being a pocket system. I think if either of those changes the for the better it would sell well. If it doesn’t fit in my pocket I might as well get the big one that docks so I can play on the TV when I’m in the mood.
@jodanlime I always wondered why Nintendo never just did the whole thing that SONY did where the PSP could connect up to a PS3 and that sort of thing. I felt sure they would do that with the Switch when it came out, but they didn’t.
I can’t entirely agree that that was a defining factor that would make or break it though. The GB, GBC, GBA, NDS, and 3DS all were not dockable and they were all insanely successful for a really long time. The thing is, truly portable gaming is different. Each has its own purpose and use-case and allows for different gaming experiences. The Switch gave us full-scale games with full-scale graphics (within limits) and the full console experience in handheld, but the 3DS was small, light, and easily played hours and hours on end even lying down.
The Gameboy Advance could connect to a GameCube and Wii (both as a controller and to link games), GBC and N64 had the transfer pak
IMHO that was the best era of games, besides the NDS. I absolutely want the return of mobile + stationary modes in games, especially local multiplayer games. The GBA could for example show private game state to its player when used as a controller for a GameCube game! And you could bring your characters to your friend’s games without needing an Amiibo, you just linked your consoles together.
Look how far this dude went to recreate it;
https://www.ign.com/articles/how-four-friends-built-a-hypercube-to-play-final-fantasy-crystal-chronicles-together-in-2023
If it was actually pocketable I would have bought a second switch for on the go. But it’s not small enough for that, and it drops functionality from the slightly larger model. If either changed I think it would have sold better.
Recently got an r36s to scratch this itch. I love the little thing.
I just realized my Z-fold with controller case could make a truly excellent DS emulator.
Anyone know if there’s an emulator out there that supports folding phones in landscape mode as a DS, similar to the way YouTube will split the video and the controls when partway folded in landscape more?
https://www.androidcentral.com/how-turn-your-galaxy-z-fold-3-nintendo-ds
If you have a split game controller, I recommend using that over touchscreen controls. And using a controller like this plays better with a vertically aligned foldable phone (clamshell) rather than the pseudo-tablet sideways foldables, as you fully recreate the original physical controller layout
I actually also have a Razr+. My employer pays me a stipend to have a second phone so thay when I eventually leave I don’t have a bunch of contractors calling my personal number.
So the term you want to look for is telescoping controller, when you’ll use it with a foldable.
Something like this one would be perfect with a Razr for DS emulation (but beware you have to check minimum supported width too for a clamshell foldable);
https://www.8bitdo.com/ultimate-mobile-gaming-controller/
https://www.androidauthority.com/gamesir-g8-plus-review-3463391/
https://www.hlplanet.com/telescopic-controllers-list/
I’d recommend keeping an eye on something like Buyee (or one of several others that do the same thing!). Keep an eye on Mercari on there, sort by ‘newly listed’ and you’ll get a deal. I’ve bought a lot of Nintendo consoles using that method, and have got some amazing deals!
My magic 8 ball says they’ll release an oled refresh to up the price $50-100 and not much else before switch 3, which is still many years away for either to happen.
As-is the thing has sold a ton despite no new games existing really.
Their numbers were announced, it’s sold 10.36m units so far, but these stats were from before the new Pokemon game was released. So…I’d hazard far more than this!
https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/en/finance/hard_soft/index.html