My Relationship with the 3DS
Hello fellow 3DS enthusiasts. I am absolutely in love with this system and still play it every day. The following is from my personal blog, but I thought I'd share it here as well. It's somewhat long but I hope you enjoy!
My 3DS journey began around November of 2012. I had been on somewhat of an extended gaming hiatus and honestly was totally out of the loop regarding pretty much everything Nintendo related. I caught wind that a new Paper Mario game was coming out, and thought to myself “I fucking love Paper Mario.” (The disappointment of this game is a story for another day, perhaps). So I walked into my hometown GameStop, preordered the game and walked out with a brand new old 3DS preloaded with Mario Kart 7 in tow.
After the initial shock and awe of the 3D used by the system wore off, I was pretty cold on the device and didn’t get much use out of it. Paper Mario was a let down and I didn't’ really know what else to play since no one I knew had one so I turned to the internet for recommendations. I ended up purchasing a few games: Kid Icarus, Fire Emblem, and Animal Crossing. Kid Icarus hurt my hand (I got it pre-owned so I didn’t have that fancy stand). Fire Emblem was fine but I’ve never really been a fan of the turn base tactic games (Disgaea, FF Tactics, etc). Animal Crossing was essentially life changing, but no one should be surprised by that. I honestly was so DETACHED from the gaming community that I didn’t even know ACNL was releasing on 3DS. Or maybe if I did know, I didn’t care (long, sad story). Either way, I absolutely fell in love with this series all over again. To this day, it’s still my most played 3DS title.
Some years pass and Life™️ happens and the 3DS got boxed and put into storage. I had a mixed relationship (AT BEST) with the device, I never really understood it. (I’ll get to that part in a bit). Well then 2015 rolls around and I get curious about the 3DS again (out of no where because I’m sporadic). I decide that I need to restart Animal Crossing. After hours of enjoyment, I turn to /r/3DS for some new game recommendations when I discover that the “New” Nintendo 3DS XL just recently released. I struggled with the justification of buying a replacement for a system that I hadn’t really touched in years, but I ended up convincing myself that “I’d probably play more if I had the super stable 3D eye tracking.” (The 3D popping in and out did bother my eyes and gave me headaches, but still... this was hardly proper reasoning).
So I roll into Best Buy (I was over GameStop at this time with all of their pushes for pre-orders and warranty tactics, “upgrade to pro membership” etc.. I just wanted to be left alone to buy my “New” 3DS in peace) purchase my “New” Nintendo 3DS and walk out. I remember going home and setting it up and thinking that the 3D was very stable, however (again) the effect wore off quickly and before long, my “New” 3DS was back in it’s box sitting in storage.
This cycle of interest/disinterest continued and finally peaked on the side of disinterest when the Nintendo Switch was released. I recall watching Nintendo Directs Post-Switch launch and getting completely turned off by games that were releasing on 3DS. “Why aren’t they just releasing them on the Switch??” I wasn’t really frustrated per se, just more intrigued that the system was still being supported.
Fast forward again to 2018.. the Switch has been out for over a year at this point and it is collecting dust in my bedroom. Nothing on the system is appealing to me. So logically the only course of option is to unpack the trusty “New” Nintendo 3DS.. Except this time, it doesn’t go back into storage. It has become a mainstay in my life for the past however long now. I’ve been picking up games that I wanted for so long, putting time into it, and just enjoying the charming nature of the system.
It took me nearly 8 years to figure it out, but the thing that I enjoy most about the 3DS is it’s care-free attitude and style. It allows itself to have fun and be free of judgement. After spending time with the Switch (Which I’ve also grown to love it it’s own way) I realized that it can never be a true successor to the 3DS in my eyes. The Switch is a more serious type of gaming experience, more akin to it’s other home console brethren. Its been out for over 2 years at this point and we haven’t seen any of the happy-go-lucky titles like “Miitopia” or “Tomodachi Life” arrive on the system. Sure these games are niche, but they are also beloved by Nintendo fans. Miiverse is also dead and gone, along with the Mii’s and their cute cuddly nature.
To this day, I’m still carrying the 3DS with me everywhere I go. I’m still getting street passes (5 last week). I’m still playing new games on the system. Regardless of what happens, this little console will always hold a very special place in my heart. Maybe the “Mini Switch” will find a place in my heart to replace the 3DS but it seems unlikely. I have become obsessed with so many great functions of this device, it will take some major changes in the Switch line up for me to abandon my 3DS. It might have taken me a bit too long to realize the potential of this great system, but I’m glad I did before it completely died.
If you made it this far.. Thanks for reading! I wrote this before the Switch Lite was officially announced so that's why I refer to it as "Mini Switch." I'm also curious to know, did you have a similar experience? Why are you still enjoying your 3DS today? I'd love to have more conversations about this wonderful handheld.
These are some photos I took that I included in the original posting: