The New Nintendo 3DS Is Out In America — Everything You Need To Know

The New Nintendo 3DS XL has finally released in North America, months behind the Japanese release. The internet is buzzing with talk of this updated 3DS console, but a lot of consumers are still unsure about what the system is all about. Here is a comprehensive guide to everything you need to know about the New Nintendo 3DS XL, including a close look at how all the features actually work in practice.

First off, is it worth the upgrade? If you already have a Nintendo 3DS, you might want to know if the New 3DS has enough improved features to be worth the upgrade. For diehard Nintendo 3DS fans, the answer will of course be yes. But for more casual gamers, it might help to have a look at all the features that the new system brings to handheld gaming. The upgrades have been covered in a previous report from the Inquisitr, but here is a post-release look at how much of an upgrade these new features really are.

1. More power. The processor is much better in the New Nintendo 3DS XL, allowing for quicker load times and more demanding games. You won’t notice much of a difference on games you already own, but the internet browser is fast enough to actually be usable now — and a few exclusive games will be released for the new system alone.

2. Better battery. The system will survive slightly longer than the original 3DS, although you might not notice a difference unless your old Nintendo 3DS battery was especially worn out.

3. C-Stick and Shoulder buttons. Nintendo finally added an extra control stick on the right side, but it’s tiny and completely stationary. If you can get used to the feel of the little nub, this control stick is a godsend for fans who wanted better camera control. There are also two new shoulder buttons that are perfectly easy to reach, but are useless so far in most games.

4. Motion Tracking 3D. This is one of the big selling points of the New Nintendo 3DS — the system tracks your head and adjusts the 3D effect as you move. This sounds great on paper, but you’ll need a lot of lighting for the Nintendo 3DS to keep track of your face. Occasionally, the system gets confused and the 3D effect can get completely distorted — and it takes longer to correct than old Nintendo 3DS systems, because you have to wait for the system to adjust instead of you doing it yourself.

5. Amiibo Support. If you’re a fan of Nintendo’s new amiibo figurines, the New Nintendo 3DS XL has built-in NFC support, able to detect your figure when it’s placed on the touch screen. This allows your amiibo character to enter certain games.

The New Nintendo 3DS XL is just under $200 in the United States and doesn’t come with its own power cord, although those upgrading should already have one.

Second, what are the reviews saying about it? So far, the feedback on the New Nintendo 3DS has been widely positive. Gamespot gave the upgraded Nintendo 3DS a glowing review, claiming “They’re practically the same size as the original 3DS and 3DS XL, but they’re technically superior in every way. Where do New 3DS systems leave the old models? The answer: in their dust.”

Paste Magazine claims the system is “a weird but worthwhile upgrade,” saying “The New 3DS is a better 3DS, even if the advances aren’t highlighted and underlined with red ink.”

Polygon believes the improvements are much more significant than Paste, claiming the overall design of the New Nintendo 3DS is noticeably better and the gave the system a seven out of 10. However, the process of upgrading is “miserable,” which is the next topic.

Is it easy to transfer from the old 3DS? The short answer is no, not at all. The process is long, complicated and slow and has already caused a lot of heartache for Nintendo fans. If you want to transfer every bit of data you have saved on your old Nintendo 3DS to your new one, you’ll need a microSD card with enough memory to fit it, possibly a computer, and a lot of time. To do it, you should follow the transfer guide at Nintendo Life, which is the most accurate and detailed guide so far. Some transfer guides on the internet are claiming the process is much simpler than it actually is, and Nintendo Life caught a very poorly-worded question that the systems will ask you when transferring. Clicking the wrong answer can result in the transfer being botched, but most users have been able to salvage their data by copying their SD card data to a PC and copying it manually to the new microSD card for the New Nintendo 3DS.

Finally, why isn’t the standard New Nintendo 3DS coming to the states? Nintendo explained their strange decision to only release the New Nintendo 3DS XL in North America in the following statement.

“Different territories make their own business decisions regarding individual products and timing. We think New Nintendo 3DS XL makes the most sense for our market. Nintendo makes different systems at different price points for a whole range of consumers, and New Nintendo 3DS XL simply expands those choices even further.”

So what do you think about the New Nintendo 3DS XL? Now that it’s out and users have finally tested the new features, do you think it’s worth the upgrade?