New to the 3DS. What games to buy?

[Dramatist]

I bought a 3DS for me and the family Saturday with the price drop.  I bought Zelda: Ocarina of Time.  What are the good games that are out now and what should I look for in the coming months?

I usually like RPGs and Strategy stuff on the DS, plus some fun puzzle and action games.  Doesn't look like there's much out now that I'd really like, but I might be sold on something and I'm sure there will be good stuff be Christmas time.

[Misguided]

I think the one title that might be worth it, aside from Zelda, is the Ghost Recon Shadow Wars game. I still haven't picked it up, but have read many good things and been tempted to do so.

The new GameInformer has a six page spread of upcoming titles, and there are several that I am interested in, though they all seem to be Professor Layton games or clones thereof. Not that that's a terrible thing.

[Bullwinkle]

What he said.

Zelda, Ghost Recon.  I also really like Dead or Alive.  Ridge Racer is pretty good, and I think Pilotwings is a lot of fun, but it runs out of steam.

Let's Golf is a nice download title, too.

[wonderpug]

Is Kid Icarus out yet?  That was my favorite 3DS game I saw at PAX.

[Bullwinkle]

Is Kid Icarus out yet?  That was my favorite 3DS game I saw at PAX.

Not yet.  Holiday, supposedly.

[Misguided]

Is Kid Icarus out yet?  That was my favorite 3DS game I saw at PAX.

It is a holiday release.

One that really looks interesting that I hadn't heard about is James Noir's Hollywood Crimes

Heck the reason I went ahead and bought the system when I did was because I knew I'd want it when Layton came out. It came out in Japan months ago, but there's still one more DS release in the US first this fall.

[Dramatist]

It looks like I haven't missed any can't miss releases for my tastes.  I will see how long I enjoy Zelda (my kids will love that one too) and then see what else is out.

I enjoyed the DS as much as any platform over the last several years so I have high hopes that great games will come to the 3DS.

[EngineNo9]

I just recently picked up a 3DS as well (to get one before the Ambassador's program was over) and have been equally unimpressed with the games that are out there for it.  Hopefully that changes a bit after this holiday season, but I can definitely see why the 3DS hasn't been selling well from the standpoint of not having many killer games yet.

[Eel Snave]

As of right now, the only games I've played for it are Ghost Recon (excellent) Ocarina (excellent) and Rayman 3D (meh). Bear in mind that this winter should be a good group, with StarFox 3D coming in less than a month, then Kid Icarus, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario Land 3D in quick succession along with Kirby Mass Attack and Solatarobo for the DS.

But yeah, pickins are slim right now. There are a few cool games on the VC right now, though, like Donkey Kong, Super Mario Land and Link's Awakening. Plus, DSiWare has some good stuff available, like Cave Story and Shantae.

[Dramatist]

How do I connect to the virtual console?  I haven't figured that out yet.

[The Grue]

You buy games from the eShop. If you don't have the eShop app, make sure you update your 3DS.

[Misguided]

Unbelievable. Just saw a 3DS add talking about the price change. They featured three games:
Ocarina of Time
Super Mario Land
Mario Kart

they had this tag line:
Amazing Games you can only play on Nintendo 3DS

I damn near snorted my soda up my nose. No, you can't even play those on 3DS...that's the problem!

[CeeKay]

Unbelievable. Just saw a 3DS add talking about the price change. They featured three games:
Ocarina of Time
Super Mario Land
Mario Kart

they had this tag line:
Amazing Games you can only play on Nintendo 3DS

I damn near snorted my soda up my nose. No, you can't even play those on 3DS...that's the problem!

huh?  you can't even play them on the 3DS?

[Kagath]

Well, the name is Misguided.

[Misguided]

 

You're derailing a perfectly good rant.

[Atragon]

Returning to the original topic...

I'm also thinking of getting a 3DS. Not having owned any iteration of DS, I'm somewhat overwhelmed by the massive library of games.

Can someone point me in the direction of some good 'best of' or 'top X' lists to look at?

Alternatively, I'm thinking I'd be going for RPGs (preferably in the style of FFIII or Chrono Trigger), Platformers (ie, Mario), and puzzle games. What are your favorite games along these lines?

[Misguided]

Alternatively, I'm thinking I'd be going for RPGs (preferably in the style of FFIII or Chrono Trigger), Platformers (ie, Mario), and puzzle games. What are your favorite games along these lines?

Massive library indeed.

jRPGs
You realize that Chrono Trigger was remade for DS, yes?
Tons of FF games
Tons of DQ games
Contact
Radiant Historia
Many, many others

Platformers
Castlevania series

Puzzle Games
Meteos
Professor Layton series
Soul Bubbles
Prism: light the way
Tetris DS
Puzzle Quest
Might&Magic: Clash of Heroes

Other Genres
Elite Beat Agents
Phoenix Wright
9 hours, 9 persons, 9 doors

Too many to name...

[Eel Snave]

Oh, holy cow, you have a TON of DS games to pick from. It has the deepest library ever for a handheld (GBA included).

The World Ends With You is an amazing RPG by the makers of Kingdom Hearts that eliminates random battles and has an incredibly engrossing story in the backdrop of modern Tokyo's Akihabara district (IIRC).

If you get a Professor Layton game, the first one (IMO) stinks but the second and third ones are great. The fourth one comes out in a few months. Also, Kirby Mass Attack is out in a month or two.

Dragon Quest IX is a great RPG too. It has a good story, although the characters in your party literally have no personality. It's still one of the best RPGs I've had the privilege of playing. I sunk about 100 hours into it and have only seen about 50% of the game, if that.

[Bullwinkle]

I loved the first Layton game and hated the second. Third is good, though.  I did not care for TWEWY, either.

Your friend for finding the best back catalog games is GameRankings.  You can go to "All Time Best" and play with the filters.  Obviously choose DS as the platform, but number of reviews and the time frame are useful, too.

[Eel Snave]

I loved the first Layton game and hated the second. Third is good, though.  I did not care for TWEWY, either.

/removes white glove
/slaps Bullwinkle across the face

How DARE you.

[Bullwinkle]

I loved the first Layton game and hated the second. Third is good, though.  I did not care for TWEWY, either.

/removes white glove
/slaps Bullwinkle across the face

How DARE you.

/rubbing face

I get that TWEWY just didn't click for me and that others really loved it.  I tried.

With Layton, though, I really don't get how anyone could prefer the second one to any of the other two.  The story is just so inert.  I had no interest at all.

[Scraper]

Returning to the original topic...

I'm also thinking of getting a 3DS. Not having owned any iteration of DS, I'm somewhat overwhelmed by the massive library of games.

Can someone point me in the direction of some good 'best of' or 'top X' lists to look at?

Alternatively, I'm thinking I'd be going for RPGs (preferably in the style of FFIII or Chrono Trigger), Platformers (ie, Mario), and puzzle games. What are your favorite games along these lines?

Radiant Historia is hands down the best JRPG I have played on the DS. And yes I have played Chrono Trigger, the various DQs, the various FFs, Mario RPGs, the various Shin Megami games, etc.

[Purge]

I loved the first Layton game and hated the second. Third is good, though.  I did not care for TWEWY, either.

/removes white glove
/slaps Bullwinkle across the face

How DARE you.

* Purge shows Eel how to actually DO things by using the following text:

Code:

/me shows Eel how to actually DO things by using the following text:

[The Grue]

With Layton, though, I really don't get how anyone could prefer the second one to any of the other two.  The story is just so inert.  I had no interest at all.

I thought the story in the second one was beautiful.  Very sad.

[Bullwinkle]

With Layton, though, I really don't get how anyone could prefer the second one to any of the other two.  The story is just so inert.  I had no interest at all.

I thought the story in the second one was beautiful.  Very sad.

When does it start doing anything?  I felt like I wandered around the train and the village waiting for the story to start for hours. 

[Misguided]

The moose is right. TWEWY sucked and the second Layton game was the weakest. The entire story was told as exposition at the end.

[The Grue]

The moose is right. TWEWY sucked and the second Layton game was the weakest. The entire story was told as exposition at the end.

I will agree it was slow in the beginning, but to me, the payoff at the end and how touching and sad it was, made up for it.  I guess I am just sentimental.

[wonderpug]

I appreciated how original TWEWY was but I couldn't really connect to the setting and I didn't particularly care for the combat mechanics.

[Misguided]

The moose is right. TWEWY sucked and the second Layton game was the weakest. The entire story was told as exposition at the end.

I will agree it was slow in the beginning, but to me, the payoff at the end and how touching and sad it was, made up for it.  I guess I am just sentimental.

The story itself was interesting. I don't think it was presented as well as it might have been.

[Purge]

If you've not played the Castlevanias, they are all good in their own right.

[Eel Snave]

Yes, all the Castlevania games are good, although I'm partial to Dawn of Sorrow, then Order of Ecclesia. That's just me though.

[Atragon]

So I picked up a 3DS today with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Radient Historia, Trauma Center, and Picross 3D. I should have lots of gameplay here to keep me busy for the next while. Thank you all for the advice.

[Eel Snave]

Great choices all! Star Fox 64 3D just came out too, so that's there.

[Scraper]

So I picked up a 3DS today with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Radient Historia, Trauma Center, and Picross 3D. I should have lots of gameplay here to keep me busy for the next while. Thank you all for the advice.

Those are all great games (never played Picross, but the rest are really good).

[Bullwinkle]

So I picked up a 3DS today with Castlevania: Order of Ecclesia, Radient Historia, Trauma Center, and Picross 3D. I should have lots of gameplay here to keep me busy for the next while. Thank you all for the advice.

Those are all great games (never played Picross, but the rest are really good).

Picross 3D is fantastic.