E3 2010: Nintendo 3DS initial impressions

Weve gotten some early hands-on time with Nintendos 3DS, and the results are nothing short of glorious

Nintendo rounded out a show-stealing press event at E3 with a surprise for all attendees- hundreds of functional 3DS units, ready to check out, were escorted through the hall by an army of models. I was lucky enough to be one of the first to get my hands on the unit.

The 3D works, and the presentation is exceptional.

There was no gameplay, rather a showreel of iconic Nintendo characters, all shown off in 3D. The depth of field is greater than I expected and the impact is instant the moment you hold it in your hands. There is a limit to the viewing field, but I was able to move my head around to a reasonable before the effect broke and the image fell apart into its separate elements.

Not only does the 3D functionality really pop, but the improved graphical fidelity was also impressive. Leagues ahead of any currently available handheld or portable device, the 3DS’s rendering capabilities are far more in the same league as last-generation consoles. The hard edges and grainy textures of the DS are long gone, replace by smooth curved edges, high-res textures, and reasonable although not perfect level of anti-aliasing.

Accompanying the unveiling of the 3DS is the comforting news that the new handheld will recieve very solid support from a diverse range of third party developers. Joining with Nintendo to deliver the first games on the system are Konami, SEGA, Bandai Namco and a host of others.

Don’t worry, we’ve got plenty more time to spend with the 3DS this week. Be sure to check back with full impressions of gameplay later this week.