The Nintendo 3DS is the latest hand-held console to be added to the Nintendo franchise. While we drool in anticipation, let’s take a look at some of the hardware features and upcoming game releases.
The Nintendo 3DS weighs in at 200g, which is 14g lighter than the DSi. A new control function has been added just above the directional button and this new ‘Slide Pad’ allows for 360° input controls and a 2GB game card will be included with the console. The 3DS retains the backplay feature of the DSi so only the DS family of games will be playable on it. Say a fond farewell to the original Gameboy games.
As the name 3DS suggests, this console will use 3D technology without the need for those horrid glasses. The top screen will have 3D capabilities with 800×240 resolution and the bottom screen will remain a touch screen minus the 3D features. Three cameras will be included with one inner camera and two outer cameras with a 0.3 mega pixel resolution, which is extremely poor quality considering that regular mobile phones have upward of 3.0 mega pixel resolution.
Wireless connectivity is integrated neatly into this console to help you communicate and it also facilitates social gaming. A bonus feature is that the 3DS can receive information from other 3DS users and directly download data when in sleep mode.
Some of the games slated for release with the 3DS include Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, Animal Crossing, Resident Evil: Revelations, Mario Kart, Nintendogs (and cats), Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D and Kid Icarus: Uprising.
Pricing and availability details have not been released yet, so one can only imagine the cost for one of these puppies.
Let’s take a peek at zombie video games from the early nineties to modern day. Not all the zombie games are featured but the heavy-hitters are here. The Silent Hill series was going to be included but it could be described as horror instead of zombies.
Zombies Ate My Neighbours
First up is Zombies Ate My Neighbours circa 1993 and a classic on the SNES, Mega Drive and the Wii (which is news to me). This game involves trampolines, swimming pools, psycho supermarket axe wielding laughing dolls, giant stomping babies, butch chainsaw dudes, enormous centipedes, saving civilians and cheerleaders, need anymore? The main guy character sports 3D glasses, little did he know that they’d spring back into fashion. No explanation for the zombo apocalypse but toxic barrels are a hint.
Resident Evil
Resident Evil is no doubt synonymous as a zombie video game franchise from 1996. and its spawned thirteen games so far including the various Director’s Cut versions and Outbreaks. Rarely does a video game translate well into a film and vice-versa but Resident Evil has a CGI movie called Resident Evil: Degeneration and has three live-action movies with the fourth, Resident Evil: Afterlife, hitting cinemas in September 2010. Pretty good for a video game franchise and a pesky virus. Below is a video of the first Resident Evil game from the Gamecube, as the Playstation vids are pixel painful to watch.
The Last Guy
The Last Guy on the PS3 in 2008. I’ve never played this game but I added it since it’s a bit of a twist with a zombie guiding humans to safety from other infected. A drawback is that the storyline for the game could be easily adapted to something else, e.g. a moma chicken liberating her chicks and other farm animals while avoiding a combine-harvester.
Plants Vs. Zombies
Something a little bit light-hearted compared the usual gore-fest. It’s been recommended in the past and I think I’ll get it soon. Similar to The Little Shop of Horrors with sentient plants protecting instead of eating the silly homo sapiens. Awh.
Here’s a Plants Vs. Zombies music video.
Left For Dead
A first-person shooter, team based zombie game which is the next big zombo franchise. There’s nothing quite like popping a cap at a Boomer or revving up a chainsaw in a bayou and having a human player to cover your back.
The Nintendo 3DS is the latest hand-held console to be added to the Nintendo franchise. While we drool in anticipation, let’s take a look at some of the hardware features and upcoming game releases.