Nintendo 3DS: Difference between revisions

The Nintendo 3DS's defining gimmick is its [[wikipedia:Autostereoscopy|autostereoscopic 3D]], which allows a player to see an alterable level of 3D without the need to wear glasses. For the most part, the console specs are on par with the ''[[Nintendo GameCube|GameCube]]'', though  is more capable in certain aspects. Despite this, some things, such as particle effects, are noticeably more limited than on the ''GameCube'', in addition to a lower resolution and lack of anti-aliasing. The 3DS features a wireless mode known as StreetPass, which activates when in sleep mode. This allows for it to passively share information with nearby 3DS systems. similarly to StreetPass, SpotPass allows the 3DS to download data from the internet when the 3DS comes in range with a Wi-Fi hotspot. While moving, the built-in pedometer also allows the user to earn [[Play Coin]]s. One Play Coin is earned for every 100 steps walked.  The 3DS is fully backwards-compatible with the majority of DS and DSi games, though, like the DSi and DSi XL, it lacks a Game Boy Advance port. This means that some DS games that use it, such as ''Guitar Hero: On Tour'' cannot be played on 3DS. The Nintendo eShop is the built-in online shopping software. It is the spiritual successor to the Wii shop channel, and the direct successor to the DSi shop. Similarly to them, it allows for the download of older titles via Virtual Console, in addition to the DSiWare returning. Unlike prior storefronts, games can be purchased digitally, The first of which being ''{{iw|mariowiki|New Super Mario Bros. 2}}''. Early adopters of the 3DS prior to its price drop could claim free GBA games via the ambassador program.

A second model of Nintendo 3DS, the '''Nintendo 3DS XL''', was released on July 28th in Japan and Europe, in North America on August 19th, and in Australia on August 23. Like the Nintendo DSi XL, they boast larger screens than the original Nintendo 3DS. In addition, the internals were tweaked, and the stylus placement has been reverted back to its placement on the original DS. A third variation of the 3DS, called the '''Nintendo 2DS''', was released on October 12, 2013 in all regions except in South Korea and Japan, where it was released on December 7, 2013 and February 27, 2016, respectively. It is considered a reduced-cost Nintendo 3DS, and as the name suggests, lacks the option for 3D visuals. Rather than using a clamshell design, it used a flat, simplistic one. It also requires sleep mode to be accessed through a switch.

In the Japanese [[Nintendo Direct|Nintendo 3DS Direct]] on August 29, 2014, the fourth and fifth models (the '''New Nintendo 3DS''' and '''New Nintendo 3DS XL''') were announced, released in Japan on October 11, 2014 and in Australia on November 21, 2014, with Europe and North America getting the handhelds on February 13, 2015. However, in North America, only the XL model was released at launch. The standard-sized model was released on September 25, 2015 in special bundles such as ''Animal Crossing: Happy Home Designer''. Both models have [[ZL]] and [[ZR]] buttons, and a [[C-Stick]]. They boast more powerful hardware being even more similar to the GameCube, with a better processor, and more RAM. They also have a tweaked button layout, with different positioning of some buttons. other changes include a new automatic brightness feature that tweaks the light depending on surrounding light levels, and 3D visuals that can be seen from a wider range of angles without getting blurry. Custom faceplates are available for the regular New Nintendo 3DS, but not the XL version due to size difference. The New 3DS also has built-in [[amiibo]] compatibility, whereas the original 3DS models require a later released adapter to interact with the figurines. A subsequent revision, the '''New Nintendo 2DS XL''', would be released in mid-2017 worldwide, featuring a slimmer, more traditional design than the original 2DS, albeit with the top screen resembling a smartphone. As with the 2DS, it lacks the 3D visuals entirely.

{{for3ds}} was released for the 3DS, marking the first time in the series that a ''Super Smash Bros.'' game has been playable on a handheld system. The Nintendo 3DS can also be used as a controller in {{forwiiu}} by linking the two games. Additionally, a separate app called ''[[Smash Controller]]'' can be purchased without the need of {{for3ds}}. A demo for the game was released in Japan on September 9th, 2014, and special codes for an unlimited demo were sent out on September 12th, 2014. Full access to the demo outside of Japan was granted on September 19th, 2014.

Due to the handheld hardware the game was designed for, the 3DS is the preferred system to play {{for3ds}}, especially in tournaments. The game has never been re-released on another system, so players with physical copies can only use the 3DS. While emulators like Citra are known to be accurate, they can experience performance issues depending on the platform's hardware. However, the isolated nature of the game and the aging hardware have forced the competitive scene to consider and experiment with these alternatives before the game becomes harder to use. With the [[Nintendo Network]] being shut down on April 8th, 2024, unofficial networks are the only option for [[online play]].  

The competitive scene for {{For3ds}}, given its parity with the Wii U version, always had a significantly smaller scene. This was due to players generally preferring to play ''Smash''  on a big screen, which the 3DS explicitly could not do, but the Wii U did. It was more familiar, used higher-resolution graphics, and had easier-to-access control schemes. The 3DS version was released slightly over two months before the Wii U version, but it was not enough time to grow a scene and very few large tournaments specific to this version have occurred.