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[Cheesemeister]

It's been a wild ride so far for the one-year-old 3DS, launched on February 26th, 2011 in Japan. From a slow start hampered by natural disasters to price drops, ambassadors, and a holiday season rally propped up by 3 million-selling titles, few system launches have been such rollercoaster rides. By the end of 2011, 15.03 million units had shipped worldwide. On February 19th, sales in Japan topped 5 million.

Let's take a look back.

NeoGAF Nintendo 3DS Games of the Year 2011 (link)

01. Super Mario 3D Land (615 points, 12 honorable mentions)

02. Mario Kart 7 (261 points, 5 honorable mentions)

03. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (162 points, 20 honorable mentions)

04. Pushmo (88 points, 9 honorable mentions)
05. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (24 points, 1 honorable mention)

Top-Reviewed Games (GameRankings)

01. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D (93.84%)
02. Super Mario 3D Land (90.19%)
03. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition (86.57%)
04. Mario Kart 7 (84.96%)
05. Resident Evil: Revelaitions (83.59%)
06. Cave Story 3D (83.32%)
07. Dead or Alive: Dimensions (82.16)
08. Star Fox 64 3D (81.96%)
09. Tom Clancy's Ghost Recon: Shadow Wars (78.93%)
10. Tetris Axis (76.17%)

Popular Threads

RECOMMENDATIONS: Nintendo 3DS Games: what does this thing have?

Nintendo 3DS Japanese Launch Thread
Nintendo 3DS North American Launch
Nintendo 3DS European Launch

Swap Note
3DS Streetpass Experiences
LTTP - 3DS, new after price cut 3DS owners share your impressions
LTTP: Nintendo 3DS design flaw? Lower screen scratches upper screen!?
Official "Free" NES/GBA games for 3DS thread of Nintendo's guilt
3DS: GBA Ambassador games are revealed and up in all regions
MGS: Snake Eater 3DS - New Trailer
3DS Ambassador - NES games are available for download... now!
Nintendo's 3DS 2011 Lineup (with 3rd parties too)
IGN: Vita is destined to sell better than 3DS
3DS Slide Pad Detailed: Works with KH3D, MGS3D, RE:R and more [Tons Of New Pics]
3DS (Wii?) Conference 2011 Thread: [Over, but has interviews]
Monster Hunter Tri G confirmed for 3DS (Famitsu)
Monster Hunter 4 - 3DS [No Port Begging]
Nintendo announces 3DS Control Expansion Pack
Nintendo 3DS Conference 2011 - Sept 13, 2011
Rumor: 3DS to get right analog stick dongle, relaunch 2012 w/ new name
Nintendo 3DS Trade Show Confirmed for September 13
Cross-Platform Smash Bros. coming to 3DS/WiiU, [Has Not Started Development]
Iwata explains the reasons of 3DS's price cut; gives it 4 months to resurrect
Nintendo 3DS Price drop thread (169 USD, 15k yen, 250 AUD, ~£130, 169 EUR)
Nintendo eShop update officially released [New Update: Fixes Ridge Racer 3DS issue]
Capcom finds way to make overpriced handheld games (3DS) have even less value.
Nintendo 3DS eshop official site (Japan) + press releases
3DS European Price Thread
Ocarina of Time 3DS screenshots
3DS battery life - 3-to-5 hrs for 3DS games; 3.5hr to charge[Various Realworld Tests]
3DS demo station @ Best Buy
Jan 19th Preview Event for the Nintendo 3DS Thread
Nintendo 3DS Is a Last-Gen Game Machine - Wired/Game Life Opinion
3DS launching March 27 at $250 in the US!
Nintendo 3DS smuggled off a Chinese assembly line
3DS reserves start December 26th.
3DS Launching February 26th For 25000 Yen In Japan, March In US/EU, Features Detailed
New Nintendo 3DS Hardware Info (Conference At 10 PST/1 EST Today)
Nintendo 3DS Revealed [N-CONF] - Releasing in 2011
3DS FAQ - Everything we know about the 3DS so far

 

[EloquentM]

Being a day 1 US buyer I can confidently say it was a good year for handhelds. It's almost lived up to it's potential when it first debuted at e3 2010

 

[AceBandage]

Seems like only yesterday we got that mysterious notice from Nintendo that they would be revealing their new handheld soon.

 

[DidntKnowJack]

Wow. Has it really been a year?

WHAT'S HAPPENING?

 

[BassForever]

3DS has been the little handheld that could, glad to see it's finally doing well. Here is to another great year!

 

[Cheesecakebobby]

I think if you include eshop games, Pushmo is actually the second-best reviewed game. And it is my most played title so far this year.

 

[Takao]

 

[TheGreatMightyPoo]

None of the major titles(Mario 3D Land, Mario Kart, Resident Evil) have been disappointing, they are all "9"ish games to me.

Kid Icarus is the next up and that game could be stellar or hot garbage.

So far, a very consistent software lineup I'd say and the future is bright.

 

[Verelios]

Tales of the abyss needs to get more love. Amazing game.

 

[Electivirus]

Fuck yeah, <3 my 3DS.

From Ocarina of Time 3D to Resident Evil: Revelations to Pushmo. No shortage of awesome software, and I hope the stream of great games continues.

 

[Alligatorjandro]

I love my 3DS.

 

[AceBandage]

Tales of the abyss needs to get more love. Amazing game.

Well, first, Namco has to love it.

 

[JoshuaJSlone]

By the end of 2011, 11.43 million units had sold worldwide

That's shipments from April 1 forward. Total is 15.03m shipped.

 

[BassForever]

Well, first, Namco has to love it.

Namco does love it in Japan, just not in NA/Europe

 

[frankie_baby]

Cheesemeister - the sales figure in your otherwise brilliant OP is wrong

Edit - beaten

 

[Cheesemeister]

That's shipments from April 1 forward. Total is 15.03m shipped.

Thanks for the catch.

 

[timetokill]

3DS is amazing. It's exactly what I want from a handheld.

This year's lineup looks goddamn incredible too, and that's not even counting the games that will be revealed at E3.

 

[plainr_]

2011 was the fastest year ever.

 

[Gravijah]

3ds is a pretty alright guy.

 

[Boney]

Should've waiting for the pink model

 

[SpaceBridge]

It took a year.

Now lets cut the Vita the same slack please.

 

[ZombiePlatypus]

Wow a year already. I have to say the machine had one hell of a recovery after that super clumsy launch. The library is finally shaping up to be more or less OK, but tapping into DS's backlog has been a massive asset.

It took a year.

Now lets cut the Vita the same slack please.

Yeah, seriously. I really hope both handhelds stay neck-and-neck around eachother when it comes to competitiveness and market performance.

Well, first, Namco has to love it.

Zing!

 

[SteeloDMZ]

Excellent lineup of games so far. And Kid Icarus next month <3

 

[chickdigger802]

hey hey HEY.

When you sort something by gamerankings. Do remember to change the filter of 'with at least X reviews'.

Pushmo didn't get reviewed by many outlets, but that doesn't mean it's garbage. Same of tales of the abyss and Devil Survivor OC ;P

 

[AceBandage]

It took a year.

Now lets cut the Vita the same slack please.

It took far less than a year...

 

[Ignis Fatuus]

3ds is a pretty alright guy.

Shows stereoscopic 3D and isn't afraid of anything.

 

[Electivirus]

I really need some way to organize all this stuff, though. Ambassador games, 3DS download titles, DSiware, trailers that don't really serve any purpose anymore but that I'm too OCD to delete, built-in software, demos...

I've got a good 65-75 pieces of crap on this screen taking up space. ._.

 

[fernoca]

It took a year.

Now lets cut the Vita the same slack please.

Get out fanboy!!!

Spoiler

***

Though, should add a note that in the main post, that the top reviewed games are the ones "with at least 20 reviews".

In general, is this one:

1. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: 93.84%
2. Pushmo: 91.32%
3. Super Mario 3D Land: 90.19%
4. Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition: 86.57%
5. Mutant Mudds: 85.00%
6. Mario Kart 7: 84.96%
7. Skylanders: Spyro's Adventure: 84.29%
8. Metal Gear Solid: Snake Eater 3D: 84.00%
9. Resident Evil: Revelations: 83.59%
10. Cave Story 3D: 83.32%​

Which also includes a game like Skylanders, which since September 2011 only has 7 reviews and I doubt there are going to be more reviews coming.

 

[Dug]

Should've waiting for the pink model

I'm waiting for that purple model.

 

[EloquentM]

Nintendo just needs to come out with an XL version (with matte casing) and I'll be completely satisfied.

 

[Tunavi]

love my 3DS too, just waiting for 2D mario, Fire Emblem NoA, a super metroid port, and a new 2D metroid announcement.

 

[Lonely1]

I can't understand the hate it's getting in the Vita thread. I can't say that haven't enjoyed the 8 months I have the device so far.

Is my first Nintendo handheld (well i owned a DS for a few months before losing it to my brother for a few months), previously I owned a GG and a PSP.

 

[Nemo]

Worth it for just the top 3 games. Still playing through Zelda, I'm at the desert dungeon

Finished MK7 and ML3D tho, ML3D was probably top 2 game of the year for me

 

[timetokill]

I can't understand the hate it's getting in the Vita thread.

lol, this got me

 

[- J - D -]

More demos on e-shop. Make it happen.

 

[chickdigger802]

I can't understand the hate it's getting in the Vita thread. I can't say that haven't enjoyed the 8 months I have the device so far.

Is my first Nintendo handheld, previously I owned a GG and a PSP.

And soon you can play GG games on it as well! 3ds was destined for you!

 

[frankie_baby]

--

 

[jimmypython]

I love my white Japanese 3DS...Happy birthday~

 

[Count Dookkake]

.

 

[MasterSheen]

I'm still amazed how 3DS went from record breaking start to rock bottom and then towards rise to heaven, all in the span of one year. It really is a cool handheld with high amounts of potential. Just hope it gets proper support from both third parties as well as Nintendo.

 

[Nibel]

It had a very difficult start, but the current line up is pretty nice and if this thing is going to explode like the DS, we will have an incredible library in the future.

Happy B-Day, 3DS!

 

[shadyspace]

Happy birthday 3DS! You have a long life of being unfairly marginalized by the gaming press and clueless analysts ahead of you!

 

[Relix]

My #1 platform right now. Bought it back in December (Zelda 3DS) with Zelda, 3D Land, and MK7. Played the shit out of them and recently bought TOA, with MGS3D and RE: Revelations and Kid Icarus coming soon. The games that should be played are surprising me, and the ones coming up even more Really.

I usually thought of Handheld games as afterthoughts. I owned a GB for Pokemon. GBA I nevber cared for... "minor games". I also owned a DS but aside from Phantom Hourglass and the Mario&Luigi games, I missed out on a lot of games because of that line of thought. Well the 3DS surprised me...... And thanks to my busy life its the platform that is getting the most love ATM. I also love the 3D effect. Fuck the haters

 

[ShironRedshift]

Been loving my 3DS so far~ And it doesn't seem to be letting up: next month is looking like it could break the bank for me with Crush 3D, Rhythm Thief, Rayman Origins, and Kid Icarus Uprising all supposed to be coming out. Can't wait~

 

[Atomski]

I bought mine just a couple weeks ago and am enjoying it. Nintendo games are great as usual and I really am in love with Pushmo. I can't wait till they put all retail games on the e store though.. I hate lugging carts around.

 

[TheFLYINGManga_Ka]

It started off slow but it did pick up.

Although I have no regrets picking it up close to launch, I do feel that I probably could've waited for the price drop and not miss a thing.

Zelda Minish Cap makes me happy though!

 

[vagabondarts]

Loving the 3DS. Loving it even more with the extra battery life and gripability of the Nyko PowerPak+. Best $10 accessory I've ever bought.

Can't wait for the second year, we're going to get to play some amazing games!!

 

[Tim-E]

A great console already. I hope the Vita does as well, too, so people will shut the fuck up about handhelds dying already.

 

[Neuromancer]

I've been pretty disappointed with the system lately, well not so much the system as the lack of games I want to play on it.

 

[SteeloDMZ]

I can't understand the hate it's getting in the Vita thread. I can't say that haven't enjoyed the 8 months I have the device so far.

Is my first Nintendo handheld (well i owned a DS for a few months before losing it to my brother for a few months), previously I owned a GG and a PSP.

Alright pal, let's take a wild guess here. Why would you think that people on the Sony's PS Vita thread are hating on Nintendo's 3DS.

It's no rocket science I tell you that.