Clearly the biggest selling point of the 3DS is the incorporation of glasses-free 3D gaming. In this regard the console is an astonishing success: the effect is wholly believable and grants games an additional degree of depth that just isn’t possible with a traditional 2D display.
Whether or not the feature will lead to better gameplay remains to be seen, but as a purely cosmetic addition it’s more than welcome.
There will no doubt be some unfortunate individuals who find that the 3DS effect results in headaches or bouts of sickness, but the ability to switch off the 3D effect goes a long way to mitigating these complaints.
Some would argue that this robs the console of its unique selling point, but we sincerely hope that there’s going to be more to the 3DS than just an enhanced impression of depth. The hardware is certainly capable enough, providing impressive graphical power in a slim and lightweight frame.
As has always been the case with new hardware, the proof will be in the games. The initial launch titles are appealing, but it could be argued that they’re very traditional titles and don’t use the technology to its fullest potential.
Time will tell if the 3DS can offer more than a visual gimmick to entice mobile gamers away from their iPhones and fight off the attack from the upcoming Sony NGP, but we wouldn't be at all surprised to see Nintendo’s domination of the portable arena continue for a good while yet.
Part one: Introduction