There has bee a lot of skepticism surrounding the release of the first ever 3D handheld gaming system. It has promised many things to Nintendo and gaming fans worldwide, but has it lived up to expectations? To a degree, yes. It really does give you the chance to hold the power of 3D in your hands. However, some light irksome decisions in the design process and other technical issues keep the system bogged down from being truly great.

The system was released last Tuesday on March 27th. It was made available in the colors of Aqua Blue and  Cosmo Black and retailed for 250 Dollars. Now right there is one of the first problems with the system. In a market where a customer can buy a brand new Xbox 360 for only 50 dollars more, they are less likely to spend the money on a handheld system that has a limited supply of games.

The hardware itself is pretty solid. It has two screens, both at a decent size and run  at a resolution of 800×240 pixels. The touch screen is very responsive; however, the new collapsible design of the stylus is really, really annoying.  It’s size is also a little small, and I found my hand to get a little cramped while holding it for an extended period of time. The system is light, but bulky, making it hard to carry in your pocket which is another minor annoyance. Battery Life is also a little weak, as it can only last four hours off the charger.

Graphically the system is impressive. So far it is the best looking graphics Nintendo has ever offered its fans. Being a company that’s notoriously more about gameplay than flash and pizazz, I’m happy to say that they finally seem to have found a balance between both that allow someone to play a game without feeling like it’s 1994 and they’re playing an original Playstation.

The system launched with several games. It launched with Super Street Fighter (which I believe to be the strongest title released with the system launch), Nintendogs and Cats, Pilotwings, Rayman 3-D, Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon, and Samurai Warriors. The games do showcase the sytem’s 3D power and are a pleasant play. However, none are really breakout titles, and two of them (Super Street Fighter, and Rayman) are remakes of previously published critically acclaimed games.  I wish they had delivered more of Nintendo’s money makers. Like Zelda, or Mario. They’re coming, but I’m a little agitated that I have to wait until May for games that should have come with the system to showcase its power.

Now the most important question; Is the System truly 3D? I can say confidently yes. It really feels like you are watching animations of your favorite video game characters coming to life and playing around you. It’s really impressive what Nintendo has been able to accomplish and they should definitely be commended for their technical prowess.

However there are some problems with it. Right when you start the system and begin playing in 3D you do begin to experience some slight pain in your forehead and eyes. Now this fades as you play but this has so far become a common problem for the system. Many fans have chosen to play the system in standard 2D rather than 3D to avoid these potential migraines.

Nintendo knew about this problem when the system shipped, as there is a disclaimer that warns that parents should not allow parents of children under 6 years old to play the system in 3D mode for more than 30 minutes or else they can permanently damage their eyes. Wait… Nintendo launched a system that can damage its costumers eyes? Really Nintendo? Really? It’s just a little agitating to know that they sacrificed a few months to perfect the idea of 3D just so they could make money faster.

It is also a little irritating to know that to construct the system it only costs $100 per unit yet they charge $250. I understand they’re trying to make a profit, but come on guys, really?

The 3DS is a  strong system. It has all the impressive features that gamers have come to love about the Nintendo DSI, yet also offers more. It gives you the chance to game in 3D and see just what it’s like. For a first try it is a pretty impressive showing from one of gaming’s oldest companies, and I was impressed. However the system cannot be considered a complete success. It just has too many technical issues and not enough strong launch games for it to be a must buy. If you have the money, and you are willing to potentially be upset, I’d say give it a shot, and see what you think. I give it a 4 out of 5 on Ziggy’s Scale of Excellence.