With the imminent release of the Nintendo 3DS (though since this article is posting late, it’s probably already out in Europe) I thought it’d be a good idea to go over all the games releasing alongside the new console. So in preparation for the launch of the Nintendo 3DS on March 25th in Europe, the 27th for North America and 31st for Australia, here are your launch titles. Given that the only game I’ve played on the console is the 3D version of Ocarina of Time (which isn’t even a launch game) I’ll try to keep my opinions away from the actual discussion of what’s coming out.
In terms of first party titles, Nintendo are releasing three launch games (or five if you want to count different versions of Nintendogs + cats, which you really shouldn’t). As well as the long awaited sequel to Nintendogs —the game that sold thousands of DS units whether you like it or not— Pilotwings is also finally being revisited, with Pilotwings Resort switching the setting to Wii Sports Resort’s Wuhu Island. Rounding out the trio is Steel Diver, an odd submarine simulator that started life as a tech demo for the original Nintendo DS. Steel Diver will only be a launch title in North America, so I’m predicting we might have another Excitebots on our hands, where Nintendo releases an incredibly niche title in the US only to never bring it anywhere else. That’s not to say that Steel Diver will sink, though, as previews of it so far have been fairly positive.
Just so you know – this picture is in 2D.
Also available worldwide on the 3DS’s launch day is Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition, a port of Capcom’s famous fighting game that uses the handheld’s 3D capabilities as well as the “StreetPass” function to swap and battle character figurines. Though it lacks some of the visual clarity of its console big brothers, the game still features all online modes and the massive character roster (but it doesn’t have characters exclusive to the recently-released arcade version, unfortunately).
You can’t exactly plug in a fightstick, but the touch screen makes it easier to pull of Super and Ultra combos
Also bringing a heap of 3DS games to the table are Ubisoft, with six titles. While the quality of Ubisoft-published launch games for new Nintendo consoles is usually patchy at best (anyone remember Sprung and GT Pro Series?), their launch-day lineup for the 3DS shows some promise. Even if it is over a decade old at this point, a new version of Rayman 2 is always good (provided you don’t already own the game for the millions of other systems it was released on) so Rayman 3D should be a solid platformer. Another remake heading to the system is Tom Clancy’s Splinter Cell 3D, which is actually a remake of Splinter Cell: Chaos Theory. If that isn’t enough Tom Clancy branded military machismo for you, Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars is also out on launch day and actually sounds like the closest thing we’ll get to Advance Wars on the 3DS for quite some time. Also part of Ubisoft’s launch line-up are Asphalt 3D —A port of a Gameloft-developed iPhone game—, Rabbids 3D —which is more of a 2D platformer than the usual manic minigame collection—, and Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D. Not every game will be available in every region on day one, though, as Rabbids 3D and Combat of Giants have been delayed in Europe, and Splinter Cell 3D doesn’t seem like it’ll be available on launch day in America.
Quiz: What version of Rayman 2 is this screenshot of? If you answered “the 3DS one,” then congratulations!
There’s also something for sports fans in the 3DS’s launch lineup, though it all depends on what football code you follow. For those who prefer “the beautiful game,” Konami are releasing Pro Evolution Soccer 11 3D on launch day in all regions. If you’re more into beefy men running into each other, there’s always Super Street Fighter IV 3D. Or Madden NFL.
I wish I knew enough about American football to come up with a caption for this.
Every other game being released for the 3DS is part of an established series, so you should already have a pretty good idea of what to expect. Ridge Racer 3D should be nice arcadey racing game, SAMURAI WARRIORS: Chronicles (you have to shout it) is presumably a hack and slash style game like all the other SAMURAI WARRIORS titles I haven’t played, and Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars is Lego Star Wars III: The Clone Wars. Super Monkey Ball 3D features the same tilt-operated maze navigation as previous games in the series (plus car racing, for some reason), Bust-a-Move or Puzzle Bobble Universe —depending on where you live— features the same bubble–bursting puzzles that have been remade on every cellphone ever (but sort of in 3D!), and the Sims 3 (not “The Sims 3D,” oddly enough) should have enough micromanagement and menial tasks to satisfy even the most boring person. What was I saying about not getting my opinions in the way of the article?
To be fair, I don’t have a whole lot of opinions on SAMURAI WARRIORS
While Nintendo only confirmed Nintendogs + cats and Super Street Fighter IV 3D for the Australian release of the console, third party publishers have since stated that these won’t be the only games heading to the 3DS on launch day. All of Ubisoft’s 3DS games will be available down under from day one, as will Ridge Racer 3D, The Sims 3 and Pro Evolution Soccer 2011. Despite some notable omissions like Pilotwings Resort and SAMURAI WARRIORS: Chronicles, the Australian launch line-up isn’t looking too shabby.
Remember, the 3DS is region locked, so don’t even think about whinging about your country’s weak launch line-up and importing an overseas title. Ghosts will come out of your cartridge and brick your console (or so I’ve heard). If you’re really that unimpressed with the launch games available, there are always the many Alternate Reality games built into the console as well.
Think of all the fun you could have turning your PSP Go into a grave!
Anyway, here’s a full list of what’s available on launch day by region. Apologies to anyone who lives in other parts of the globe – it was hard enough to get concrete release dates for all of these places.
