Nintendo 3DS Cosmos Black Product Details

Released on 23/03/2011

• Metroid 3DS on the way?

  Metroid 3DS on the way?

  If you've already finished Metroid: Other M, the brilliant Wii-exclusive sci-fi action game, and you're itching for further adventures of intergalactic bounty hunted Samus Aran, help is potentially on the way. A very unlikely source has suggested that there's a new Metroid game planned for Nintendo's forthcoming 3DS handheld.

  Eurogamer's reporting that the story started with TV legend Jonathan Ross, who was replying to a Twitter follower who said that he was hoping for a Metroid game to be announced at Nintendo's 3DS press conference that's scheduled for this Wednesday.

  Ross, who's expected to host the event, said, "I think you're going to be pleased then..." Hmm. If there is a new game in the works, the smart money's on Metroid Dread, which is a project that's apparently been in development for a long time, with Advance Wars creators Intelligent Systems, and Metroid daddy Yoshio Sakamoto behind it.

  You can count on us to bring you any news of Metroid - and all other 3DS reveals - following this Wednesday's big news splurge. In the meantime, though, it's worth remembering that Jonathan Ross has been right before. He is, after all, the man who accidentally announced the existence of Fable III on Twitter a while ago.

• Nintendo 3DS news blowout

  Yesterday, all we really knew about the 3DS was that it's Nintendo's new handheld, that it's capable of 3D visuals without the need for funny glasses, and that we really want one. Now, after a press event in Amsterdam, we know so much more.

  We know when we'll be getting one, for starters. Nintendo's dream machine hits the UK on 25th March, and it will be priced somewhere around the 30 mark. We also know that it will be available in two swanky colours, Aqua Blue and Cosmo Black. Which will you be getting?

  And we know that there are a ton of games on the way for it, too, with Nintendo promising over 25 titles before June of this year. Games include instalments for Street Fighter IV and Resident Evil, Super Monkey Ball, Samurai Warriors, The Sims 3, Dead or Alive and Splinter Cell. That's just third-party stuff, too, because Nintendo is working on getting Nintendogs + Cats, Pilot Wings Resort, and Steel Diver, a brand new submarine game, onto shelves at the same time.

  We're only scratching the surface, of course, so we'll be bringing you more in-depth coverage of 3DS titles throughout the week when we know a bit more about them. Stay tuned!

• Ubisoft's 3DS launch titles revealed

  Everybody wants a piece of the 3DS, but publishing giant Ubisoft is really working overtime to create games for Nintendo's handheld. Yesterday, the publishing giant announced eight games that will hit the console before this June.

  It's quite a list, too: Start saving up for Rayman, Splinter Cell, Combat of Giants: Dinosaur 3D, Asphalt 3D, Rabbids 3D, Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars, James Noir's Hollywood Crimes and Driver Renegade.

  A lot of those names will be pretty familiar: nice to see car games featuring with both Asphalt and Driver entries, while Splinter Cell and Ghost Recon promise lots of military action, and Rayman and Rabbids provide a blast of silly fun. Combat of Giants and Hollywood Crimes, meanwhile, are a little less expected, offering prehistoric brawling and a cerebral puzzle adventure respectively.

  Ubisoft isn't the only publisher getting the games out thick and fast, of course. Capcom, Konami, and EA amongst others are also hitting the console with beloved franchises too. We'll have more on that as news trickles out over the next few days.

• Hollywood getting excited about the 3DS

  Eurogamer's put up an interesting news story suggesting that the 3DS has strengthened the relationship between Nintendo and Hollywood.

  What does this mean exactly? For one thing, according to Nintendo's chief, Satoru Iwata, it means that film studios are excited about putting their 3D films and trailers on the handheld.

  "People making 3D content today are having trouble because of a lack of output," he explained in his regular Iwata Asks feature on the Nintendo website. "There may be an outlet at movie theatres, but not in televisions at home. While 3D televisions are on sale, I don't think 3D televisions requiring the use of special glasses will catch on that quickly. As a matter of fact, when we show Nintendo 3DS to people in Hollywood, they're intensely interested. I think lots of people would be happy if they could watch things like 3D movie trailers on their Nintendo 3DS."

  But that's not all. Shigeru Miyamoto, the father of Mario and Zelda amongst others, has also suggested this new collaboration could mean Hollywood will start making films about Nintendo's characters.

  "Game developers used to have a complex about Hollywood," Miyamoto said. "There was an atmosphere of inequality, but recently Hollywood is taking Nintendo seriously. A long time ago, there used to be a lot of unusual projects out there - off the beaten path, you might say - that wanted to use Nintendo's characters in that way, but these days lots of people say quite seriously that they want to make movies of Nintendo's characters. I suppose one attraction is the wide range of ages covered by our fans. If those kinds of people seriously work with Nintendo 3DS, some interesting things could happen."

• Sonic creator's new game bound for 3DS

  Yuji Naka, the creator of Sonic the Hedgehog, has just unveiled his latest project, and it's a 3DS and Wii game called Tenku no Kishi: Rodea.

  The game's been detailed in Famitsu and, thanks to translation by 1Up, it looks like Naka's been dreaming up an aerial shoot-m-up, which isn't a million miles away from the SEGA Saturn masterpiece NiGHTS. It looks like bosses are a much bigger part of the deal, however.

  With a story created by Takumi Miyajima, who wrote Tales of the Abyss and Arc Rise Fantasia, this is an exciting project. The games creators certainly think so, anyway, with Hitoshi Hasegawa, speaking on behalf of Kadokawa Games, the Japanese publisher, saying, "I've always wanted a game that captured the wonder of flying through the air, the sort of thing everyone's dreamed about at least once in their lives. The idiosyncrasies of player and camera control have always been a problem with that, but with his unique perspective and experience, Naka has been able to find a solution for us."

  If you're interested in checking out some of Naka's post-Sonic work, have a look at Ivy the Kiwi, a neat little platformer for the Wii and DS which is out right now.

• Ridge Racer 3DS has learnt from Mario Kart?!

  It looks like Namco Bandai taking a leaf out of Nintendo book with its forthcoming 3DS version of Ridge Racer. According to an interview with the localisation producer Ryo Totoyama over at Nintendo World Report (thanks for the spot, VG247), the game been built with a broader audience in mind, in order to appeal to kids who grew up with Mario Kart.

  "We've realised that some people have had trouble controlling the car," said Totoyama. "Drifting itself is hard enough sometimes it's really hard to enter the drifting state, because you've got to release the gas pedal momentarily to enter the drift, and then you've got to counter-steer to control the car. We've realised that, so we've introduced this easy one-button drift feature. It really works similar to Mario Kart, so young audiences, young players are familiar with how Mario Kart works, so it helps lower the barrier, expanding the game to a wider audience who have been intimidated by the controls."

  There no date announced for this one just yet, but wel keep you posted. The 3DS, meanwhile, hits shelves on 25th March.

• Nintendo 3DS: Who needs glasses?

  

  Nintendo 3DS: Who needs glasses?

  

  Hands up who'd like to enjoy their gaming in three glorious dimensions? Chances are your arm's in the air right now. There's something undeniably exciting about 3D, the way it draws you into the screen and the potential it has to bring you further into the gameworld than ever before. Plus, y'know, it's just cool.

  But here's another question: hands up who can afford a big fat 3D telly and some expensive high-tech specs to go with it? More than one pair, in fact, if you fancy a bit of multiplayer action? Hmm, not so many arms are likely to shoot up in answer to this one.
  
  The good news is it won't be like this forever. The price of those swank 3D accessories is already falling, and who knows, in a few years they could well be affordable for everyone.
  
  But the even better news is you don't have to wait that long. As of 25th March, you'll be able to enjoy 3D gaming in the palm of your hand - no glasses required. Because that day will see the long-awaited arrival of 2011's must-have gadget, the Nintendo 3DS.

  
  

  
  

  

  The price is right

  The new machine was first unveiled at E3 back in June, but we've had to wait until now for launch details. At a special showcase event in Amsterdam last week, Nintendo announced the release date at last. It was also revealed that the 3DS will retail for £219.99, while games will set you back £39.99. OK, so that's no drop in the ocean, but it's still an awful lot less expensive than buying a TV and specs.

  
  

  
  

  

  Tech specs

  The 3DS will be available in two colours at launch, Cosmos Black and Aqua Blue. Whichever model you choose, it boasts a host of fancy new features and cool add-ons which make it well worth the asking price.

  
  

  
  

  

  Screens

  The standard touch screen is present and correct on the 3DS. But now you also get that gorgeous 3D screen, measuring 3.53-inches and with a resolution of 800 x 240 pixels. That works out at 400 per eye, making it possible to see in 3D without wearing glasses. You can even adjust the intensity of the 3D using the nifty sliding switch on the side of the screen.

  
  

  
  

  

  Cameras

  The 3DS comes with a standard camera on the inside, just between the screens. But there are also two lenses on the outside shell. These allow you to take 3D pictures of whatever's going on around you.

  
  

  
  

  

  Connectivity

  With the new StreetPass feature enabled, you'll be able to swap game info - like high scores, for example - just by walking past someone else with a 3DS. You can also connect to wi-fi hotspots using the SpotPass service. Look out for exclusive content like new Shaun the Sheep videos, plus clips from Sky 3D and Eurosport.

  
  

  
  

  

  Controls

  Now you can enjoy motion control gaming on the move as the 3DS has a built-in gyro and motion sensor. There's an adjustable, extra-long stylus, plus the new Circle Pad - an analog controller which provides much more precision than the plain old d-pad.

  
  

  
  

  

  But what about the games?

  No matter how fancy a piece of hardware, it always comes down to how good the games you get to play on it are. The 3DS launch window line-up features some real treats, from reimaginings of classic Nintendo franchises to some brand new games which make the most of the handheld's functionality.

  
  

  
  

  

  The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

  Zelda buffs will be cheering from the rooftops at the news this retro favourite is getting a makeover. With its gorgeous visuals, sublime gameplay and epic storyline, Ocarina 3DS will be an essential purchase for those long journeys.

  
  

  
  

  

  Steel Diver

  Who hasn't always secretly wanted to be a submarine captain? Now you can get all Hunt for Red October to your heart's content with this brand new shooting and strategy game. Pilot subs, fire torpedoes and scan the horizon with your virtual periscope - all in 3D.

  
  

  
  

  

  Kid Icarus: Uprising

  Another Nintendo fave returns with a 3D twist. If you recall the brilliant platforming of the original NES Kid Icarus with fondness, you won't be disappointed with this great-looking sequel and its 3D-enhanced gameplay.

  
  

  
  

  

  Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition

  The classic beat-em-up goes 3D with this new instalment. Choose from a cast of 35 fighters, practice your special moves in three dimensions and battle it out online. A must for fans of the genre everywhere.

  
  

  
  

  

  PilotWings Resort

  Take a break from all that fighting with this rather more relaxing offering. Enjoy a spot of hang gliding, pilot a bi-plane or try out a jetpack as you take to the skies above Wuhu Island. It might not sound too action-packed but serious skills are required to rack up those high scores.

  
  

  
  

  

  Not long to go now...

  So there you have it - the Nintendo 3DS is a great little gadget, packed with features and compatible with a host of fantastic games. And that's without even mentioning the fact it's the best, easiest and cheapest way to enjoy gaming in three dimensions right now. With the 25th March release date not far away, and the 3DS sure to be a big hit, better pre-order yours now if you don't want to miss out...

  
  
• Super Mario headed for the 3DS

  It's obvious, but it's still good to hear: Nintendo's already working on a Super Mario game for the 3DS. Phew!

  The news came from Mario's daddy, Shigeru Miyamoto, speaking on Iwata Asks - thanks, Eurogamer. The legendary designer announced, "In the interests of adopting new technology for the Super Mario Bros. tradition, I am now making a new Super Mario Bros. game for the Nintendo 3DS system."

  He didn't offer any further details, but he did expand on a comment of Mario co-creator Takashi Tezuka's, suggesting that Mario must always be family friendly. "I think Tezuka-san is exactly right about making something that families can enjoy together," he said, "but I also think it's important to always use the most advanced technology for Mario in order to create something no one has ever seen before. Of course, it's important to make sure people still say things like "Falling down the holes is the most fun!" but something new is necessary for other aspects of the games, and it's those new elements that make a Super Mario Bros. game what it is."

  With no news of a date, this is one we're probably going to have to wait for - but it will be worth it.

• Hundreds check out the 3DS thanks to Gamestation!

  

  Hundreds check out the 3DS thanks to Gamestation!

  

  This weekend saw Gamestation and the mighty Eurogamer.net teaming up to give eager Nintendo fans a little quality time with the 3DS - well ahead of the machine's 25th March release date!
  
  During a packed two-day event staged in both Manchester and London, lucky visitors got a chance to put handheld gaming's newest champ through its paces. The verdict? The creator of the GameBoy and the DS has got another hit on its hands.

  "Kid Icarus totally convinced me"

  "Nobody does handheld gaming like Nintendo," said Mike, who came to London's Truman Brewery event all the way from Taunton. "It's a seal of quality, and the 3DS is better than I could have expected."

  After playing the demo for Kid Icarus: Uprising, and using the Mii Maker - which utilises the inside camera - to craft his own avatar, he was ready to pre-order for his girlfriend and himself.
  
  "Kid Icarus totally convinced me that the 3DS could handle fast-paced shooting games, and even though the Mii Maker seems to think I"m a bit fatter than I actually am, it's a great bit of software. Day one!"

  
  
  

  "I can't believe how bright the action is."

  With the Kid returning after 20 years' absence, it was good to see some of Nintendo's other cherished franchises making an impact too, not least with Zelda: The Ocarina of Time and Pilot Wings Resort.
  
  Both make great use of the new handheld's 3D capabilities, with the depth slider adding a whole new dimension (sorry) to Link's adventures in Hyrule, and providing would-be pilots with a surprising amount of realism as they buzz around WuHu Island.

  
  
  

  "Zelda's the game I absolutely can't wait for," said Nelson, from London. "I can't believe how bright the action is."

  "The 3D really works with Pilot Wings," added Chris from Buckinghamshire. "It makes it much easier to judge how far away from the ground you are, and allows you to line up tricky manoeuvres much more easily."

  
  
  

  "If you love DS, you'll love 3DS twice as much."

  Outside of the classics - alongside pixies and airplanes, the two-day event allowed visitors to check out new instalments from the Resident Evil, Mario Kart, and Metal Gear Solid series - there were plenty of brand new games knocking around too. Racing fans queued around the show floor to check out Asphalt 3D, while Steel Diver sees Nintendo's best designers swapping the Mushroom Kingdom for the chilly ocean depths with a surprisingly tense submarine battler.

  
  
  

  "If you love the DS, you're going to love the 3DS twice as much," calculated Mel from Chiswick.

  "The screens are really big and clear, the unit feels great to mess around with, and best of all the analogue circle controller is just as good as a thumbstick." None of that stopped her from running her sub aground, however. Twice.

  
  
  

  Style and substance

  The handheld's other capabilities were also a big hit, with the ability to take 3D photos with the two outside cameras - or use the portable to play Augmented Reality games that turn everyday tables and desks into shooting galleries - getting a thorough investigation from the huge crowds.
  
  And alongside all the new games and features, Nintendo laid on a party with real style, allowing Street Fighter IV fans to watch a real-life battle between Ryu and Ken (Ken lost - obviously) and roping in Raccoon City stalwarts Chris and Claire Redfield to guide the masses through a throng of zombies infected by the T-Virus.

  The waiting game

  With the classics taken care of and a bunch of great new games to look forward to - and between 3D photography and a new online StreetPass system that allows for Wi-Fi game content transfer - this weekend's event left the crowds convinced that Nintendo has the software and the hardware to truly reinvent handheld gaming.
  
  March can't get here soon enough!
  
  

• Cave Story headed for the 3DS

  One of the PC indie scene's greatest games will be heading for the 3DS, according to Eurogamer. Retro platformer Cave Story will be getting a packaged release on Nintendo's new handheld!
  
  And it's hardly a basic porting of the 8-Bit classic. Instead, you can expect new character designs and art layouts, better lighting, and - of course - 3D visuals.
  
  Cave Story is a charming game of exploration and combat with a strong narrative and a host of cute characters. It's an experience you shouldn't miss out on, and an updating for Nintendo's new hardware makes us very excited indeed.
  
  We're not the only ones, with the game's creator Daisuke Amaya admitting that he wasn't expecting his game would ever make such an impact with Western audiences. He's also hinting that a sequel might finally be on the cards.It's now been 10 years since the original Cave Story came out, so I'm now thinking that maybe it's time to start thinking about a sequel for Cave Story. There's a very, very good chance we'll see a sequel," he said.
  
  There's no word yet on when Cave Story 3DS will be hitting shops around the UK, but we'll keep you posted.
• 3DS wasn't originally 3D

  The glasses-free 3D visuals of Nintendo forthcoming 3DS have been wowing critics and gamers alike ahead of the console March release, but an interview with Nintendo Hideki Konno a key figure in the development of the handheld reveals that it didn originally have that feature.

  "In 2008 [it] didn't have 3D visuals," Konno told Famitsu magazine. "They [Nintendo] have had a history of experimenting with 3D visuals. With this system, you could say the timing was just right for us. It was the right time to start thinking about using the latest in high-tech and try out glasses-free 3D."

  Konno also revealed that the console motion sensor was another late addition to the feature set, with Shigeru Miyamoto ultimately responsible for its inclusion. "We officially went with them just before E3 last year," he explained. "The boat had really left the port by that point the hardware team had the final specs and just had to work it all out. Then, in the midst of that, Miyamoto said his isn enough; we can really change things if there a gyro sensor in there.We had a prototype for the sensor already, so we got everyone together to try it out."

  A wise decision, we think; Nintendo 2DS doesn't quite have the same ring to it. The 3D- and gyro-enabled portable hits Japan this weekend and will be available across Europe on 25th March.

• 3DS sells like crazy in Japan

  No surprise here: Nintendo has a huge hit on its hands. The legendary company's new 3DS handheld console went on sale in Japan over the weekend and promptly sold by the bucketload.

  How big is a bucketload? In this case, it's 400,000 - count 'em - consoles, as Japanese gamers rushed to pick up the spangly new device, that sees Nintendo embracing the third dimension with an amazing 3D top screen to complement the good old touch screen below.

  With reports that queues stretched to over 750 people - thanks, Eurogamer - the initial shipment sold out almost immediately, with Nintendo seeming likely to shift 1.5 million units in Japan alone by the end of March.

  Figures are all right, of course, but what about us? Well, we'll be getting our hands on the 3DS on 25th March, which means the wait is almost over. Better yet, we'll be able to grab games like PilotWings Resort and Super Street Fighter IV on the same day, with Mario Kart and Zelda instalments hopefully arriving before the year is out.

  If Japan's proved one thing, though, it's that you should probably pre-order to avoid disappointment. This one's selling out on day one, we reckon.

• Super Mario 3DS on the way!

  There's so much news coming out of the Game Developer's Conference, today we're just going to cover what Nintendo's been up to - and it's been up to a lot. How much? Let's just say there's a new Super Mario game on the way.

  Let's call it Super Mario 3DS for the time being. Announced by Nintendo big cheese Satoru Iwata at his keynote speech, it's a brand new 3D Mario adventure that's being created just for the handheld. There's no date yet for it, but we have been told it's being made by the Super Mario Galaxy team, so that's pretty much a guarantee of quality.

  Iwata showed a handful of screenshots of the game, all of which show a traditional Super Mario world, filled with colour and bricks for you to bust open. The most interesting twist, however, comes in the form of a tail attached to the logo, which will remind older Mario fans of the various suits Mario wore in Super Mario 3 for the NES all those years ago.

  Iwata's said we'll have to wait until E3 to find out what that's all about, but in the meantime if you're interested in checking out Mario's older adventures, his NES games are available on one disk for the Wii in the form of the 25th Anniversary set.

• Miyamoto spills the beans on Zelda 3DS

  In the latest Iwata Asks, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto talks about why he's been so eager to update N64 games like The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Star Fox 64 for the company's new 3DS handheld.

  "One major reason is that at the time of their release, both games ran at the limit in terms of polygon counts and frame rates," Miyamoto said in the latest Iwata Asks (thanks to Andriasang for the translation and Eurogamer for the spot). The update has given his team the perfect opportunity to deliver the games as they were always intended to be - with the added bonus of 3D visuals.

  Miyamoto went on to add that gamers who played the games first at school would now be in their mid-twenties, and that "the time was right for a remake."

  We personally can't wait to get the chance to charge across Hyrule Field again when Ocarina of Time hits the 3DS in June. Star Fox 3DS is due out later this year, while the console itself hits shelves on 25th March - that's really, really soon!

• Ocarina 3DS set for June launch

  With industry eyes on Capcom yesterday, Nintendo decided to steal some of the limelight by announcing upcoming software release dates for its three current consoles.

  There a particularly strong 3DS line-up for May and June, with three first-party titles on the slate. First up on 6th May is Steel Diver, which blends side-scrolling aquatic action think Ecco The Dolphin with torpedoes and a 3D periscope mode that uses the console gyroscope as you attempt to sink enemy ships. Best played in a swivel chair, or so we hear.

  Just a fortnight later, Super Street Fighter IV will have a new challenger to its portable beat-em-up crown, as Tecmo Dead Or Alive: Dimensions arrives on 3DS, with Nintendo - perhaps surprisingly, given the game blend of violent scrapping and lovingly-rendered lady lumps - on publishing duties.

  Perhaps most exciting, however, is the news that The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D will be with us on June 17th. This graphically-enhanced remake is being handled by little-known developer Grezzo Games, though as studio founder Koichi Ishii was the director of SNES classic Secret of Mana, it appears to be in safe hands.

  The humble DS has two corkers in store, too: Nintendo is bringing over Square-Enix superb Dragon Quest VI: Realms of Reverie, as well as localising Solatorobo: Red the Hunter, Namco-Bandai gorgeous action-RPG.

  Meanwhile, June will see American Wii owners get their hands on Wii Play: Motion, sequel to the Wii launch title that was, until Call of Duty: Black Ops, the biggest-selling game of all time in the region. The title a collection of 12 minigames - comes bundled with a Wii Remote Plus. It doesn currently have a European release date, but Nintendo of Europe has confirmed that it will arrive on these shores later in the year.

• British 3DS owners gets 3D Video update today

  The Nintendo 3DS continues to pick up pace, following the blockbuster releases of Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries. Today, Wednesday July 13th, sees the long awaited 3DS Video Service go live in Europe, offering a steady stream of 3D movie content direct to your console.

  Among the visual treats planned for the launch are the Aardman-esque cartoon series Oscar's Oasis and Magic Tricks, a series of optical illusions and conjuring stunts which use Nintendo's handheld to bamboozle friends and family, or maybe random strangers in the street if you fancy being the David Blaine of handheld gaming.

  More enticing for the future is the fact that Nintendo has already struck deals with Hollywood studios like Dreamworks to bring hit 3D movies to the console, as well as TV channels from Sky and Eurosport.

  The Nintendo 3DS is out now. Isn't it time you got one?

• The Best Games of 2011... So Far!

  The Best Games of 2011...So Far!

  Summer can be torture for us gamers. It's the slow season, when publishers hold back their biggest releases for Christmas and we're forced to venture outside, blinking and confused, in the hope of a few days of decent sunshine.

  It doesn't have to be this way though. True, July may not bring much in the way of blockbuster releases, but why not take advantage of the lull and catch up on some of the great games that have already been released? Here's our pick of the year so far.

  

  Killzone 3

  Sony got 2011 off to a bruising start with this hefty, punishing first person shooter which surely ranks as one of the most visually stunning games of this console generation. Trapped on the toxic planet of Helghan, you'll battle your way through some of the most memorable action set-pieces in the genre as Guerilla Games shows you just how high the FPS bar has been raised. Also playable in 3D and with PlayStation Move, Killzone 3 is a taste of the future of shooters today.

  "One of the most visually stunning games of this console generation."

  

  Brink

  If you prefer your shooting action a little more fluid and team-based, this striking multiplayer mash-up from Splash Damage hits all the right notes. Playing as either Security or Rebel forces on a ramshackle floating city gone to ruin, the ability to run, scramble and leap over scenery with a single button press opens up the traditional deathmatch action in fresh new ways. Add in some of the best character customisation ever seen in a shooter, and the option to play offline against AI bots, and you've got one of the smartest genre refinements in years.

  "One of the smartest genre refinements in years."

  

  Mortal Kombat

  How do you expect to FINISH HIM if you haven't even started yet? OK, so the Mortal Kombat series hasn't been in the best of health in recent years, but this blood-soaked reboot gets everything so right you can safely start over with this one. It's simply a blistering one-on-one fighting game, with an array of well balanced classic characters, but it's the ridiculous gore that makes it stick in the mind, like a ruddy big kitchen knife. Bodies are sliced, diced, crushed and skewered with savage abandon, so even if you're getting beaten to a squishy pulp it's impossible not to be entertained.

  "This blood-soaked reboot gets everything so right."

  

  Portal 2

  Maybe you prefer a little more wit and style in your gaming? If that's the case then the lovely polished geniuses at Valve have you covered. This sequel to their oddball Orange Box bonus game is a master-class in interactive storytelling, as Stephen Merchant's quirky robot walks you through another mind-bending series of space-warping puzzle rooms. Effortlessly building on the potential of the already brilliant original, Portal 2 even offers a completely separate series of co-op multiplayer puzzles, making it an unmissable package.

  "A master-class in interactive storytelling."

  

  L.A. Noire

  Rockstar takes us back to the Los Angeles of the 1940s in this critically acclaimed adventure, which benefits from the most stunningly realised characters in gaming history. As Cole Phelps you move from beat cop to homicide detective, uncovering conspiracies and solving serial slayings in a city that's drowning in sleaze in L.A. Noire. Ground-breaking facial capture techniques mean that catching the culprit is only half the job you then have to outsmart them in nail-biting interrogations where every twitch of the lips or flicker of the eyelids can be a clue. Truly a game that has to be played to be believed.

  "Ground-breaking facial capture means that catching the culprit is only half the job."

  

  3DS

  Feeling a little flush? Fancy treating yourself to a whole new gaming system? The Nintendo 3DS is now amassing an enviable software library, with must-haves like Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time now reworked in astonishing glasses-free 3D. The wireless StreetPass lets you swap game data with passing strangers, there are built-in Augmented Reality games, and it can even take 3D photos. Just like its predecessor, the DS, this is a handheld that will only get better with age. Jump aboard now and ride the wave!

  "The Nintendo 3DS is now amassing an enviable software library."

• Nintendo 3DS gets massive summer price cut

  Nintendo has confirmed that from August 12th, the 3DS will have its price slashed by a third across Europe. Or, as the more poshly worded official statement has it: intendo of Europe will be reducing the European trade price of Nintendo 3DS to retailers by around a third from 12th August 2011, as part of a global trade price reduction initiative./p>

  What's that? You already bought a 3DS at the launch price and now you're exploding with rage at being ripped off? Simmer down, hotshot. Nintendo got your back, yo.

  All of us faithful early adopters are getting some payback of our own, in the shape of the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Programme. This rewards existing 3DS owners with twenty free NES and GameBoy games from the Nintendo eShop. To qualify, existing 3DS owners just have to connect to the shop before the August 12th deadline.

  This scheme is already running in the US, where the games include classics such as The Legend of Zelda and Metroid Fusion. The games won't be available immediately, but will be delivered to consoles over the coming months.

  All of which leaves prospective 3DS owners with two tempting possibilities snap up a console now and qualify for a sackful of worthwhile freebies, or wait a few weeks and save some dosh on the console itself. Win win, as Charlie Sheen might say.

• Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure announced for 3DS

  Sega is to unleash a unique new musical adventure on Nintendo 3DS early next year titled Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure.

  The game will introduce players to Raphael, an honourable art thief operating in the city of Paris, who embarks on a rhythm-based journey to solve the mystery of the Wristlet of Tiamat and find the truth behind his father's disappearance.

  Gameplay will take the form of a series of musical challenges, with players tapping and swiping the screen or controlling the gyroscope in time with the beat in order to progress.

  Rhythm Thief & the Emperor's Treasure will support multiplayer modes and StreetPass, while featuring perplexing puzzles, stylish animations and eye-popping 3D graphics.

  Gary Knight of Sega said: "This unique blend makes creative use of the Nintendo 3DS technology, offering an engaging, challenging and most importantly fun experience throughout."

  Published: 31/08/2011

• Nintendo 3DS sales reach 6.68 million

  Nintendo has expressed hope that sales of its 3DS console are back on track after reaching 6.68 million units at the end of September.

  Although the figure is below the company's expectations, it is ahead of the data for the device's predecessor the DS during the same period, reports MCV.

  Sales of the 3DS, which allows users to experience an innovative way of playing new and exciting games, increased during August as a result of a substantial price cut.

  Nintendo has also forecast strong sales during the festive period, with the reduced cost and an improved software line-up expected to attract customers.

  This comes after the Japanese technology firm announced the launch of a new coral pink 3DS console, created to mark the upcoming release of Nintendogs + Cats.

  Set to hit stores on November 18th, the new title will see the portable pooch accompanied by an adorable female friend to play with.

  Published: 04/11/2011

• Nintendo 3DS to introduce 3D video recording in December

  Nintendo 3DS to introduce 3D video recording in December

  Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to use their consoles to make their own 3D movies from next month onwards.

  On December 8th 2011, gamers will be able to download the latest firmware update for the console, adding a host of new features and functions for the popular handheld.

  Most prominent is the ability to shoot and save up to ten minutes of 3D video using the system's in-built cameras, while creative users can even put together stop-motion animations.

  Meanwhile, the StreetPass Mii Plaza will be bolstered by a range of new content, with extra puzzles for the Puzzle Swap game and all-new areas for StreetPass Quest.

  The update will also make it possible for owners of more than one Nintendo 3DS system to completely transfer all data, including downloaded games, between the two systems.

  Nintendo 3DS was released in March 2011 and has seen a surge in popularity thanks to a recent price reduction, plus the launch of games such as Super Mario 3D Land and the new Mario Kart 7.
  

  Published: 29/11/2011

• GAME : 3DS update Round-up

  
  

  GAME : 3DS update Round-up

  If there's one thing the latest generation of consoles has taught us, it's that newly purchased gaming systems aren't the finished article when you first take them out of their shiny wrapping. Not to say they 're lacking anything fundamental, far from it in fact, but system updates now mean it's possible for platform holders like Nintendo to dramatically improve a console's functionality and boost the user experience post-launch.

  

  December's free 3DS system update is a prime example, introducing fresh game content, social features and hardware functionality to the console. Here, GAME runs you through all the major new additions.

  
  

  3D Filming!

  One of our favourite new features is the ability to make ten minute long 3D videos with just a few simple button presses. Icons on the 3DS touch screen allow you to select or fine-tune different recording features such as the 3D effect, altering the sharpness and brightness of your video, and choosing whether to film in regular colour, black and white or sepia. The quality of the recordings we've made so far is surprisingly good, although you obviously have to see them in person to get the full 3D effect.

  While the basic ability to record in 3D is a cool feature in itself, special praise is reserved for the three Trick Shot modes. Interval Shot takes still snaps at your choice of intervals, between every half a second and 60 seconds, before playing them in a rapid slideshow.

  Frame Pick, which essentially enables you to create stop-motion animations, is similar to Interval Shot except it lets you capture images of a physically manipulated object whenever you choose, creating the illusion of movement when the series of pictures is played as a continuous sequence.

  Meanwhile, Clip Link enables you to record various video segments which are then mashed together in the same video file. There's no doubt that budding animators and movie makers will spend a lot of time playing around with these simple to use but rewarding new video recording features.

  
  

  New Plaza updates

  The system update also introduces a range of new features for Mii Plaza, the place where 3DS owners can view the Mii characters they've met via StreetPass (which automatically swaps the Miis and gameplay profiles of players who pass each other on their travels). These include a follow-up to the free, in-built 3DS RPG-style game StreetPass Quest, and new 3D puzzles of famous Nintendo characters to complete by collecting pieces from other players.

  

  
  

  You now receive congratulatory messages in the Mii Plaza for achieving goals such as meeting a certain numbers of Miis or ones from different countries (which are displayed on a new StreetPass Map showing the locations of all the Miis you've encountered), or by working your way through StreetPass Quest 2. There are 78 accomplishments to get in total and a congratulatory message for each. They also unlock up to 35 different tunes to listen to in a new Mii Plaza Music Player.

  The new Puzzle Panel pieces we've collected so far are for Donkey Kong Country Returns and Legend Of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time 3D. The puzzles themselves are larger than the originals, with 24 pieces to collect instead of 15, including four pink pieces which can only be collected via StreetPass (others can be purchased with Play Coins, a virtual currency accumulated by carrying your 3DS around with you like a pedometer).

  
  

  New Street Pass Quest

  StreetPass Quest 2, in which you control a team of fighters made up of your friends' Miis, challenges players to save three fictional family members kidnapped by slimy monsters and placed in separate cages. It contains branching paths as well as brand new enemies, and even lets players make parties of Miis to carry out team attacks using weapons or magic. The game also offers players the chance to collect a total of 57 hats for their Miis, compared to the original game's 16, but the title's only accessible if you've completed the first one twice.

  
  

  Download Demos

  Additionally, the 3DS system update paves the way for players to download demos of 3DS games, although none have been made available yet, as well as making it easier to browse and pay for games and content in the Nintendo eShop. Players can now transfer games purchased from the eShop, as well as account funds and save data including photographs and audio files, from one 3DS system to another too.

  
  

  Summary

  All in all, the 3DS system update is an impressive release, adding great new hardware functionality, amusing new game content and cool new social features. It has been almost nine months since release and our 3DS feels like a fresher piece of kit than ever before, all of which leaves us eagerly awaiting the next major system update.

  

  Published: 14/12/2011

• New Eurosport content arrives for Nintendo 3DS

  New Eurosport content arrives for Nintendo 3DS

  Sports fans can now download special 3D content from Eurosport via their Nintendo 3DS consoles.

  Nintendo has teamed up with the broadcaster to launch a free Eurosport video player application via the 3DS eShop, with new videos to be released on a weekly basis from December 15th 2011 onwards.

  Content will include two to three-minute clips from the popular Watts show, which mixes footage of high-calibre action with amusing sporting bloopers from around the world.

  Laurent Fischer, managing director for marketing and PR at Nintendo of Europe, said: "We are always striving to bring fun and exciting new content to our fans and this new partnership with Eurosport will do just that."

  Nintendo 3DS owners already have access to all sorts of 3D clips via the Nintendo Video application, which offers content from the likes of Red Bull Media House and Aardman Animations.

  Furthermore, a firmware update released earlier this week lets users record their own 3D movies of up to ten minutes in length.
  

  Published: 16/12/2011

• Nintendo Letter Box brings wireless messaging to 3DS

  Nintendo 3DS owners will have a new way of communicating with their friends this week with the release of the new Nintendo Letter Box application.

  Downloadable for free via the Nintendo eShop, the new tool lets users stay connected by sending customisable messages using the handheld consoles' StreetPass and SpotPass wireless features.

  Players can create their own text messages, photos and sound effects, or even 2D and 3D drawings, which will come to life as though they are being drawn in front of the recipient's eyes.

  Nintendo Letter Box will be available this Thursday (December 22nd 2011), just in time for 3DS fans to send off Christmas messages to their friends.

  This is one of many new communication and media features introduced for the Nintendo 3DS in the last month, with a recent system update adding 3D video recording functions for the first time.

  Other recent additions include new StreetPass Mii Plaza content and an app featuring downloadable 3D Eurosport videos.

  Published: 23/12/2011

• Pink and white Nintendo 3DS consoles launching next month

  The popular Nintendo 3DS will be available in two new colours from February 10th 2012 onwards.

  Nintendo has announced that it will be launching the hit handheld system in Coral Pink and Ice White shades next month, bringing the total number of available colours to five.

  Previously, these colours were only available as part of special bundles, with the pink unit coming with Nintendogs + Cats, while the white model accompanied Super Mario 3D Land.

  Now they are being made available individually, prospective 3DS owners will be able to take their pick of Coral Pink, Ice White, Cosmos Black, Aqua Blue and Metallic Red versions of the system.

  Since its launch in March 2011, the Nintendo 3DS has sold more than 15 million units worldwide, thanks to hit games such as Super Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart 7 and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D.

  The console offers 3D photography and video recording, web browsing and online gameplay and shopping, as well as compatibility with more than 1,000 Nintendo DS titles.

  Published: 26/01/2012

• 3DS owners get free Wi-Fi access at 5000 UK hotspots

  Online gaming on the go just got a lot easier, as Nintendo has announced that the 3DS now has access to over 5000 free wireless internet hotspots across the UK. The locations include popular fast food outlets McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and Subway, as well as Ibis and Etap hotel chains.

  Firing up your 3DS in any of the hotspots will enable the console to automatically detect and open the connection. Features available over Wi-Fi on the 3DS include downloading game content via SpotPass, browsing and downloading new game content and, of course, using the web browser.

  "The access points are largely located in popular restaurants and hotels - places where Nintendo 3DS owners are likely to want, and to unwind in," explained Laurent Fischer, Nintendo's European director of marketing and PR. "We also urge all Nintendo 3DS owners to also take advantage of the latest System Update which has brought an array of new features and enhancements, including 3D video capture."

  The 3DS is out now, in case you hadn't noticed.

• Nintendo agrees 3DS connection deal with free-hotspot.com

  Nintendo 3DS owners will be able to enjoy online gaming at a much wider range of locations thanks to a new agreement between Nintendo and free-hotspot.com.

  The gaming giant has struck a deal with the free wi-fi network provider to allow 3DS users to automatically connect their console to more than 5,000 hotspots across 21 European nations.

  It means gamers will be able to easily browse the web on the 3DS systems at fast food restaurants such as McDonald's, Burger King, KFC and Subway, as well as at a number of leading hotel chains.

  Doing so provides users with access to a wide range of online content, including downloadable software from the Nintendo eShop or 3D videos via the free Nintendo Video app.

  Nintendo's Laurent Fischer said: "The access points are largely located in popular restaurants and hotels - places where Nintendo 3DS owners are likely to want to unwind in."

  Having also recently agreed a separate connectivity deal with Boingo Wireless covering many leading UK airports, Nintendo is ensuring it has never been easier to take their 3DS consoles online.

  Published: 02/02/2012

• Crush 3D demo available for 3DS this week

  Nintendo has revealed that a demo of Sega's platform game Crush 3D will be available to download for Nintendo 3DS this week.

  The trial version can be downloaded for free via the Nintendo eShop and will let players get a taste of its innovative blend of 2D and 3D gameplay, which challenges them to use all their wits and spacial awareness to reach the goal.

  Crush 3D is a remake of the acclaimed PSP game Crush and centres on Danny, a young man who is trapped in a dream world created from his own worries and must escape his own labyrinthine, tangled imagination.

  Gamers can "crush" the visuals from 3D to 2D at any point, allowing them to progress through more than 50 levels in different head-scratching ways.

  The 3DS version of the game includes all sorts of bonus content, including new collectibles and unlockable artwork, as well as the ability to swap gifts using StreetPass.

  Other demos already available for 3DS include Resident Evil: Revelations and Cooking Mama 4.

  Published: 06/02/2012

• June 2012 launch marked for Myst 3DS

  A June 2012 release date for the Nintendo 3DS version of Myst has emerged through the fog, with Funbox Media handling publishing duties.

  The latest version of the enduringly popular puzzle adventure will feature revamped 3D visuals thanks to the 3DS' signature stereoscopic screen, which will help to breathe new life into the 1993 megahit.

  Myst transports players to the eponymous fantasy island and challenges them to explore their surroundings, learn about the history of Myst and figure out how to get home.

  Featuring six worlds and more than 80 hours of gameplay, it has sold more than 13 million copies and was once the best-selling PC game ever.

  Myst has also proved a common staple of recent handheld console libraries, with versions appearing on Nintendo DS and PSP.

  Mark Clemens, sales manager at Funbox, said: "We're sure it's going to be a big hit with the fans that remember the original and those that will be new to one of the greatest adventure games ever."

  Published: 16/02/2012

• Shaun the Sheep 3D shorts coming to Nintendo Video

  Nintendo 3DS owners will be receiving weekly doses of fluffy fun with exclusive new Shaun the Sheep shorts from March 7th 2012 onwards.

  Award-winning Wallace & Gromit creator Aardman Animations are teaming up with Nintendo to create brand new 3D clips based on its popular kids' TV show, which will be distributed via the Nintendo Video service.

  The first film will see Shaun and his farmyard friends heading to the countryside for a picnic, with a total of 15 new shorts to be available for download over the next few months.

  Aardman co-founder David Sproxton said: "To be contributing to something as innovative as the Nintendo 3DS from the very outset is an extraordinary experience for us."

  The Nintendo Video app is available for free at the Nintendo eShop and works using the console's SpotPass wireless connectivity feature, which means content is automatically downloaded to the system when it enters a compatible wireless zone.

  Over the last year, the application has featured 3D movie trailers, Sky 3D previews, Zelda orchestral music performances, Kirby animations and much more.

  Published: 20/02/2012

• Sega cult classic Seaman coming to 3DS

  Now that the 3DS is flying off shelves in Japan, where it recently became the fastest console to reach five million sales, it looks like we're going to see some stranger ideas making their way to the machine.

  Top of that list? Sega's bizarre and frankly disturbing 1999 Dreamcast virtual pet game, Seaman. In the original, players used a microphone to raise, nurture and befriend a fish with a grumpy (and nightmare-inducing) human face. Seaman started as an egg and could be evolved into a frog. Just to make it even more surreal, the game was narrated by Leonard Nimoy, best known as Spock in Star Trek, when it was released in the west.

  It's unclear whether the new version will be a straight remake, or an all-new game based on the same pant-wetting concept. With the addition of a touchscreen, the possibilities are both endless and horrifying.

  Japanese news source Nikkei reports that the move is part of an initiative by Nintendo to identify and revive popular old games from other publishers that would work well on the 3DS.

• A History of Handheld Gaming

  
  

  

  This week saw the long-awaited UK release of the PlayStation Vita, the most powerful handheld gaming console ever. Despite a size that fits snugly into your palms, it's a muscular beast of a machine capable of giving its PS3 big brother a run for its money where graphics and processing oomph are concerned. But how did we get here? How did gaming on the go become such a big deal?

  The simple answer is that it's always been a big deal. Even way back in the early 1980s, when the best games were on giant arcade cabinets and the best home gaming had to offer was the bleeping blocks of the Atari 5200, Nintendo was cleaning up with its Game & Watch series of handheld LCD games. Simple in the extreme, they were a cultural phenomena - and Nintendo's first runaway gaming success.

  They were so popular, in fact, that their creator, Gunpei Yokoi, couldn't leave the idea of portable gaming alone. As well as designing classic games such as Donkey Kong and Metroid, he is best known as the father of the GameBoy.

  

  Launched in 1989, this chunky beige brick with a tiny monochrome screen was nothing short of a revolution. Gamers snapped the system up, along with portable versions of hit console games, movie tie-ins, the first entries in the evergreen Pokemon franchise and a certain little game called Tetris. Bundled with the GameBoy, the Russian puzzle classic helped to define handheld gaming as the natural home of simple yet addictive one-more-go game design. It also pioneered the world of multiplayer, using a link cable to allow two GameBoy owners to battle against each other.

  The GameBoy was such an enormous hit - shifting well over 100m units in its lifetime - that other electronics companies tried to ride the bandwagon. Atari released the Lynx, the first handheld with colour graphics, but it struggled to match Nintendo's efficient tech, draining its batteries at inconvenient speed.

  

  More challengers emerged from Japan, such as the TurboExpress, but it would be Nintendo's long-standing rival, Sega, that put up the best fight. The Game Gear launched in 1991, and shrewdly used the same technology as the popular Master System home console, allowing hit games to be quickly ported to the handheld. Although it never outsold the GameBoy, the Game Gear put up a solid challenge.

  GameBoy and Game Gear battled for handheld supremacy throughout the 1990s, with other - often technically superior - portables such as the Neo Geo Pocket and WonderSwan barely making a dent in their dominance. Nintendo's lead was so assured that they waited until 1998 before upgrading the GameBoy's grey and black screen to a colour model.

  

  As the 21st century rolled around, however, the home console experience was becoming so sophisticated that the handhelds were starting to look outdated. Nokia tried to capitalise on the rise of mobile phones with the ill-fated N-Gage, a clumsy hybrid of phone and console that failed to capture the public's imagination.

  It was Nintendo, once again, in 2004 that changed the landscape. The Nintendo DS at first appeared to be an act of supreme folly. Boasting two screens - much like some of the Game & Watch titles of yesteryear - as well as a stylus for touchscreen interaction, it was like nothing else around. And, as with the original GameBoy, Nintendo kept the DS fresh by constantly revising and relaunching the machine in different configurations - smaller, larger, and with more features.

  

  With Sega having long since abandoned the hardware market, the challenge to the DS came from a new rival: SONY. Having exploded into gaming with the PlayStation, SONY's take on handheld gaming was sleek, powerful and designed for the hardcore gamer on the go. The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, certainly made the cheerful DS look like a toy but, much like the Game Gear, it was never quite able to topple Nintendo from its throne, even with cult hits such as Monster Hunter making the system a must-have in Japan.

  

  Which brings us to 2012, where once again Nintendo and SONY are battling for the palm of your hand. Nintendo's 3DS continues the design approach of the original DS, with left field technical innovation and a breezy pick-up-and-play approach. The PS Vita, as we've seen, is the PSP on steroids, a desirable bit of beautiful entertainment technology that pushes the boundaries of what can be done in a small space.

  Looking from dazzling titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, all the way back to the rudimentary two-button Game & Watch experience, it's hard to believe only thirty years separate them and yet it feels as though handheld gaming is only just getting up to speed. Imagine where we'll be in 2042!

• Project Zero horror games coming to Wii and 3DS

  Two new additions to Tecmo Koei's acclaimed psychological horror series Project Zero will be heading to Nintendo consoles across Europe this year.

  Coming to Nintendo 3DS in the second quarter of 2012 is Spirit Camera: The Cursed Memoir, a unique augmented reality game that utilises the console's in-built cameras to deliver a spine-chilling experience.

  The game challenges players to help a mysterious girl called Maya, who is caught in a terrifying curse and can be seen interacting with gamers' real-world environments through the camera.

  Included with the game is a 16-page notebook filled with unsettling images that come to life when viewed through the 3DS screen, some of which reveal clues to unravel mysteries, while others will cause players to come under attack from evil spirits.

  Meanwhile, Nintendo also confirmed a Western release for a new Wii remake of Project Zero II: Crimson Butterfly, originally launched on PlayStation 2 in 2003.

  Over the years, the game has developed a reputation as one of the scariest games ever made.

  Published: 23/02/2012

• Fire Emblem to arrive on 3DS this year

  Nintendo's acclaimed Fire Emblem series will be making its debut on Nintendo 3DS this year.

  The gaming giant has confirmed a 2012 European release for the latest instalment in the popular tactical role-playing series, which promises to feature strategic battles, an epic fantasy story, full voice acting and a lavish anime art style.

  It will also be one of the first 3DS games to offer premium downloadable content, which will be available to purchase following the launch of the main game.

  It means fans will be able to look forward to new maps and characters becoming available as DLC add-ons.

  Created by Intelligent Systems, which is also responsible for the Advance Wars and WarioWare franchises, the Fire Emblem games have been a well-established institution in Japan since 1990.

  However, the series did not receive a Western release until after the launch of the blockbuster GameCube fighting game Super Smash Bros Melee in 2002, which included Fire Emblem characters Marth and Roy as playable characters.

  Published: 24/02/2012

• Nintendo 3DS - Great Games Coming Soon

  
  

  The Nintendo 3DS has been with us for just over a year now - where does the time go? - and in that time it's really started to come into its own. With an array of features and controls that can't be found anywhere else, the latest games for this handheld feature some classic Nintendo icons as well as creating some new ones, and show that you can have console-quality gaming on the go, and that 3D is here to stay!

  

  Mario Tennis Open

  Mario once again proves that he's as adept at sports as he is with a plunger in a game that offers tactical tennis fun previous unseen on a handheld. With a choice of traditional controls or the use of touchscreen and gyro sensors, Mario Tennis Open offers players a chance to really maek use of what the 3DS can do. It also takes advantage of Nintendo's StreetPass, letting you play online with friends or with other players in the local area, as well as the chance to upgrade your player. Whether it's a friendly game or a fight to the championship, Mario Tennis Open and 3DS are a perfect match.

  

  Heroes of Ruin

  Heroes of Ruin is the first RPG designed specifically for the 3DS, and takes unique advantage of the handheld's interactive features. You can quest alone or with other players both locally or online using drop-in, drop-out gameplay. There are extra daily challenges online to earn rewards, you can meet and trade with other players using the 3DS social features, and even buy in-game items using StreetPass. And on top of all this, the game itself is fun and immersive, coming from the strong RPG pedigree of Square Enix.

  

  Luigi's Mansion 2

  The original Luigi's Mansion was a launch title for the GameCube back in 2001 and has become something of a cult classic. This follow-up promises more of the same, sending Luigi back into a haunted mansion to capture ghosts using his "Poltergust 5000" vacuum cleaner. Promising a more puzzle-based approach than it's predecessor, Luigi's Mansion 2 also makes use of the gyroscopic controls to move Luigi around the mansion, and will finally deliver the 3D ghost-chasing that they didn't quite manage for the original!

  

  Azada

  There aren't many games that suit a transfer from PC to 3DS, but Azada is just that. Following the misadventures of hapless magician Titus, this is a series of mini-games, hidden object games and escape the room puzzles. This may seem like a simpler, older style of gameplay, but it's one that suits the on-the-go nature of the 3DS and seems a suitable follow-up title for fans of Professor Layton and other puzzle games.

  

  Animal Crossing

  Another Nintendo franchise gets a 3D facelift as Animal Crossing arrives on the 3DS. The use of 3D is said to be subtle, giving a new depth and detail to the animal village, with the bigger changes coming in the form of how much more you can do within the game itself. Customisation has been enhanced for both your player and your home, allowing for more choice in type of house, furniture and clothing. For fans of the series looking to move from DS to 3DS, this "a bit more of everything" approach is really all the reason you need!

  Published: 08/05/2012

• A Brief History of Handheld Gaming

  
  

  

  This week saw the long-awaited UK release of the PlayStation Vita, the most powerful handheld gaming console ever. Despite a size that fits snugly into your palms, it's a muscular beast of a machine capable of giving its PS3 big brother a run for its money where graphics and processing oomph are concerned. But how did we get here? How did gaming on the go become such a big deal?

  The simple answer is that it's always been a big deal. Even way back in the early 1980s, when the best games were on giant arcade cabinets and the best home gaming had to offer was the bleeping blocks of the Atari 5200, Nintendo was cleaning up with its Game & Watch series of handheld LCD games. Simple in the extreme, they were a cultural phenomena - and Nintendo's first runaway gaming success.

  They were so popular, in fact, that their creator, Gunpei Yokoi, couldn't leave the idea of portable gaming alone. As well as designing classic games such as Donkey Kong and Metroid, he is best known as the father of the GameBoy.

  

  Launched in 1989, this chunky beige brick with a tiny monochrome screen was nothing short of a revolution. Gamers snapped the system up, along with portable versions of hit console games, movie tie-ins, the first entries in the evergreen Pokemon franchise and a certain little game called Tetris. Bundled with the GameBoy, the Russian puzzle classic helped to define handheld gaming as the natural home of simple yet addictive one-more-go game design. It also pioneered the world of multiplayer, using a link cable to allow two GameBoy owners to battle against each other.

  The GameBoy was such an enormous hit - shifting well over 100m units in its lifetime - that other electronics companies tried to ride the bandwagon. Atari released the Lynx, the first handheld with colour graphics, but it struggled to match Nintendo's efficient tech, draining its batteries at inconvenient speed.

  

  More challengers emerged from Japan, such as the TurboExpress, but it would be Nintendo's long-standing rival, Sega, that put up the best fight. The Game Gear launched in 1991, and shrewdly used the same technology as the popular Master System home console, allowing hit games to be quickly ported to the handheld. Although it never outsold the GameBoy, the Game Gear put up a solid challenge.

  GameBoy and Game Gear battled for handheld supremacy throughout the 1990s, with other - often technically superior - portables such as the Neo Geo Pocket and WonderSwan barely making a dent in their dominance. Nintendo's lead was so assured that they waited until 1998 before upgrading the GameBoy's grey and black screen to a colour model.

  

  As the 21st century rolled around, however, the home console experience was becoming so sophisticated that the handhelds were starting to look outdated. Nokia tried to capitalise on the rise of mobile phones with the ill-fated N-Gage, a clumsy hybrid of phone and console that failed to capture the public's imagination.

  It was Nintendo, once again, in 2004 that changed the landscape. The Nintendo DS at first appeared to be an act of supreme folly. Boasting two screens - much like some of the Game & Watch titles of yesteryear - as well as a stylus for touchscreen interaction, it was like nothing else around. And, as with the original GameBoy, Nintendo kept the DS fresh by constantly revising and relaunching the machine in different configurations - smaller, larger, and with more features.

  

  With Sega having long since abandoned the hardware market, the challenge to the DS came from a new rival: SONY. Having exploded into gaming with the PlayStation, SONY's take on handheld gaming was sleek, powerful and designed for the hardcore gamer on the go. The PSP, or PlayStation Portable, certainly made the cheerful DS look like a toy but, much like the Game Gear, it was never quite able to topple Nintendo from its throne, even with cult hits such as Monster Hunter making the system a must-have in Japan.

  

  Which brings us to 2012, where once again Nintendo and SONY are battling for the palm of your hand. Nintendo's 3DS continues the design approach of the original DS, with left field technical innovation and a breezy pick-up-and-play approach. The PS Vita, as we've seen, is the PSP on steroids, a desirable bit of beautiful entertainment technology that pushes the boundaries of what can be done in a small space.

  Looking from dazzling titles like Uncharted: Golden Abyss, all the way back to the rudimentary two-button Game & Watch experience, it's hard to believe only thirty years separate them and yet it feels as though handheld gaming is only just getting up to speed. Imagine where we'll be in 2042!

  Published: 22/02/2012

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