looks good. Hopefully not as linear as some of the recent ones (not that I didn't enjoy the recent ones)

Given that people have been shoveling ****loads of money at them for 25 years, this criticism loses a lot of its bite.

Doing something different purely for the sake of being different isn't a virtue. Why would someone ever change if what they're currently doing is making them wildly successful?

Note: The first, last, and only Nintendo system I've ever owned was the original gameboy, so we can skip the part where I get called a fanboy.

Same, I'm really excited about this as well and really wanna play it.

It's just the "getting a 3ds" part. Yes, I can afford it - but it feels wrong to spend ~$250 on a console just for one game. I think a lot here are in the same boat and are kinda grown up, have their own apartment with a TV and don't really want a handheld.
Are there any other great non-Zelda games existing for the 3DS that might justify a buy?

A 3ds can play ds games, including chrono trigger, the best snes rpg

i heard its one of the hardest zelda games ever made. true story

not really. lol i got OOT.. and resident evil mercenaries.. i heard the mario game is good.. i wouldnt buy one if it werent for this and mario golf being online. lol

For people who need a 3ds, the bundle is 199.96 in store at Walmart today and tomorrow.

Fire Emblem: Awakening (Turn Based Strategy)
Mario Kart 7
Cave Story (Platformer)
Ironfall (Gears of War-like game)
Super Smash Bros.

+ Original DS games like GTA Chinatown Wars

They should remake Majoras Mask for the 3DS.

The potential is there.

Luigi's Mansion 2 and Paper Mario Sticker Star are great for the 3ds. Pokemon X or Y as well. I have 8 games for my 3ds xl (new Zelda edition).

Spoiler Alert! They are (99% sure).

Fire Emblem: Awakening is good if you like SRPGs.
And 999 and its sequel VLR are excellent if you can enjoy a visual novel...

Thanks for the suggestions guys
I might have to get one. Actually, I just have to get one. Because Zelda too good. If you could somehow connect it to a TV/monitor, it would be an easy decision.
I guess I can give it away to my nephew or something if I don't end up using it much later.

Yes. Fire emblem is amazing. Probably my favorite out of the 3ds games.

Get the XL if you get one, the large screens are so much better it's no contest.

Been playing this for about 3 hours. It's really fun. It really feels like a 2013 version of a LTTP like game. The music and layout are giving me great nostalgia feelings, and the first two dungeons I did were enjoyable. The new mechanic works well.

999 is one of my favorite "games" (it's more like a visual mystery/suspense novel with puzzles) of the past few years. Awesome experience.

So I picked up my 3DS along with a retail copy of ALBW so I could get the pre order chest. Sold the download code to a friend. I went a bit crazy and also picked up MK7, NSMB2, DKCR 3D, Star Fox and Super Monkey Ball. I wanted Mario 3D and Luigi's Mansion but they didn't have them.

The 3DS is an amazing handheld, I'm really impressed with it so far. Zelda is everything I wanted, it's so good. I ended up playing about 3 hours without even realising. So easy to get lost in the game.

MK7 online multiplayer is an amazing experience. Getting my copy of ALBW this Monday. =]

I'm actually pretty shocked at how good MK7 is. I've played it more than Zelda so far. It's early for me so far but I think it's right up there as one of, if not the best MK game. Online seems a lot smoother than Wii as well.

Yeah MK7 is awesome, that's pretty much all I played when I first got my 3DS too. Other games I have are:

Mario 3D Land - This is up there with the other 3D Mario's imo, although 3D World is now out which basically looks like an even better version of the same game. Only complaint is that I think it's slightly too easy in general and then the very last level is insanely hard; I still haven't finished it (for reference I finished "The Perfect Run" on Galaxy 2 in my first few tries). Would have preferred it if the difficulty level went up more gradually. Great game though.

Luigi's Mansion 2 - I thought this was just ok. It would have been way better if you could just explore the mansions on your own, but after each mission there is a cut scene with the Professor and he basically tells you exactly what to do next. Was a bit too linear for my liking. (I never played the GC game so dunno how it compares).

Mario & Luigi: Dream Team - I really enjoyed the M&L games on original DS so picked this up but I didn't think it was quite as good. I only played like halfway through though and then got GTAV and never got back to it so it might get better, will pick it up and finish at some point.

DCKR3D - I never played the Wii version so picked this up and loved it. This is better than any of the NSMB games imo. Most have prob already played it though.

Pullblox (called Pushmo in US) - Really cool puzzle game that was relatively cheap from the eshop. Def recommend this one.

I've heard Fire Emblem is awesome but haven't played it yet. Will probably pick that up next.


As for Zelda, I'm loving it so far. Sat down to play for a couple of hours the first night I got it and ended up playing 8 hours straight then getting like 3 hours sleep, lol. Don't really wanna give anything away as it's better to discover things yourself but I'm really enjoying just exploring, there is so much to do in the overworld(s). I really like the non-linear aspect, and the new mechanic works really well. Best Zelda game of the last 20 years seems a bit of a stretch but it's certainly up there.

Controls are great. Game is very smooth. I'm loving the game so far. I have beaten the first dungeon and I am looking forward to the next one.

I'll be purchasing Bravely Default and Super Smash Bros next year, and reading reviews of Ironfall and Mario Golf before purchasing. That's about it for me.

Loving Zelda so far, it really does feel like LTTP 2013. Stop reading posts about it and buy it if you haven't already.

I did play the Wii version of DKCR and apart from the horrible tacked on motion controls, I really enjoyed it. I picked up the 3DS version only because I wanted to play the game the way it should be played, no motion controls. My only problem with it is they seem to have done a straight port which is fine gameplay wise however the camera is set for a game made to be played on a tv so DK is tiny on screen. I have no idea how people play on a non XL 3DS.

NSMB2 is basically what you expect. The coin gimmick really doesn't add anything new to the formula and the levels don't seem as inspired as NSMBU.

I picked up Pullblox based on teejay's recommendation and it's pretty cool, worth checking out. I also picked up Gunman Clive for $2.50 and it's pretty awesome. It's a no frills Mega Man style game.

Also I can't play the 3DS for longer than 10 minutes without it cramping up my hands so I ordered one of these grips and it makes a pretty big difference. It's not ideal but definitely an improvement. Does anyone have the circle pad pro for the XL and is it worth getting? Has Nintendo compeletely forgotten about it? Seems there isn't that many games that support it.

Damn, Amazon was selling 3ds xl's for 149.99 today.

I just obtained the master sword. I also have the fire rod and bow upgraded.

The only trouble I have is at a place near the top right corner of the map. You will encounter moving platforms that you cannot jump on to save your life. I start the part with 8 full hearts and wind up with 1 1/2 after completing the ordeal.