If the 3DS’ price feels a bit steep for your blood, this trailer does a decent job of reminding gamers the bang they’ll be getting for their buck.
Yes, the 3DS is ¥25,000, which – thanks to an incredibly strong yen against the dollar – directly equates to $298. Other systems that launched in Japan at ¥25,000 include the Wii (retailed in the West for $250) and the original PSP (which came over here at $199), but they were released in an era of more favorable exchange rates.
Whether it’s $250 or $300, either way you look at it, the 3DS is still on the upper bound of “how much gamers will be willing to shell out for a handheld.” This software lineup trailer from Nintendo’s recent 3DS conference, though? It does a pretty good job at justifying that price.
The big hitters here, of course, are Kid Icarus, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Resident Evil, Paper Mario, StarFox 64 and Zelda: Ocarina of Time. Mario Kart 3DS looks like more Mario Kart, which isn’t a bad thing at all, and I am sure that somebody out there will absolutely go gaga over Nintendogs & Cats.
If all of these games are out at – or shortly after – launch, it could be one of the most impressive release day lineups I’ve seen in ages. Does that make a hypothetical $300 (or $250) price tag any less high? No, not really. But it’s certainly helping me justify the purchase to my own wallet.
