Nintendo 3DS Impressions

Avatar sparked a filmmaking revolution that forever changed the way Hollywood does business. Just a few months later, Nintendo announced that it would attempt to do the same for video games by releasing the world's first glasses-free 3D device: the Nintendo 3DS. At that time, no screenshots were released. No games were announced. And no release date was set. But just a few months later in June 2010, Nintendo had gained the attention of the thousands of industry professionals who attended the annual Electronic Entertainment Expo. By doing so, Nintendo also gained ample coverage – and ample attention – from the millions of consumers who watched E3 coverage from home. Now, after a full year's worth of anticipation, the Nintendo 3DS is finally here.

How To Train Your Dragon, the DreamWorks'

masterpiece released last summer, presented some of the most impressive effects of any movie shown in 3D. As dragons flew around the gorgeous environments, moviegoers felt as if they were soaring through the air. It was, dare I say,

. My first experience with the Nintendo 3DS was not all that different. From the moment you begin to play PilotWings Resort,

, pre-loaded software (such as Face Raiders and AR Games), or virtually any other launch title, you will be immersed in a world unlike any other. When looking at the screen for the first time, the experience is nothing short of surreal. You won't believe your eyes. You will be completely stunned by the fact that this technology works – that it is actually possible to view the 3D images without donning a pair of clunky glasses. It is nothing short of remarkable.

From a presentation standpoint, PilotWings Resort gives us a great example of where the Nintendo 3DS could be headed. But if you're wondering about the system's future in terms of gameplay innovation, look no further than Face Raiders and AR Games. Using the system's various cameras (of which there are three; one above the top screen and two on the front of the system), Face Raiders allows you to capture images of family and friends, which are then turned into floating heads that attack you in the game. It sounds ridiculous, but the results are wonderful. The floating heads are hilarious. They fly all over the place, requiring the player to literally move the 3DS around the room to find them. The heads are defeated by firing Nerf-style balls, ensuring that the game maintains its family-friendly status. AR Games is Nintendo's foray into augmented reality. Using one of six AR cards (included with every Nintendo 3DS), the AR Games mode uses the system's cameras to detect the selected card and apply an interactive game element. In short, this means that virtual objects will literally unfold from within the card, forming targets and other elements that you can interact with in the game.

The Nintendo 3DS is roughly the same size as the Nintendo DSi. The sleek, hard plastic exterior is traditional for Nintendo devices: it looks good but feels sturdy enough to take a few bumps and bruises. Physically, the Nintendo 3DS features two shoulder buttons and four face buttons, just like the original DS. It also features a Home button, allowing players to quickly exit the current game and return to the main menu. While it might take a few minutes to get used to the new placement of the power button (it's where the start button used to be on the DSi! That's an accident waiting to happen), the face and shoulder buttons are top-notch. They're appropriately raised and feel very clickable, like the buttons of an arcade machine or those on the Nintendo 64 controller. This means that the Nintendo 3DS should be easy to use with a wide variety of game types: action, adventure, RPG, fighting, simulation, etc.