Nintendo 3DS or Nintendo Switch?

MiamiHeat305

MiamiHeat305

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    Which do you like more? Which do you like better for strictly Pokemon and which is better for gaming in general? If I own neither of them and really want a good Pokemon adventure which should I roll with?
     
    For Pokemon you can play the physical versions of 4th to 7th gen of Pokemon on the 3ds, but digitally you have 1st, 6th and 7th gen and 6th gen is the easiest generation in my opinion. Though ironically Pokemon was really the main games I played on the 3ds. If you get a 3ds, get a new 3ds, don't get why Nintendo gave it such a stupid name, but yeah.

    Though I am enjoying my Switch more since I'm playing a bigger variety of games.
     
    Alexa Bliss said:
    For Pokemon you can play the physical versions of 4th to 7th gen of Pokemon on the 3ds, but digitally you have 1st, 6th and 7th gen and 6th gen is the easiest generation in my opinion. Though ironically Pokemon was really the main games I played on the 3ds. If you get a 3ds, get a new 3ds, don't get why Nintendo gave it such a stupid name, but yeah.

    Though I am enjoying my Switch more since I'm playing a bigger variety of games.
    Click to expand...

    Do you know where I can buy a new sealed product Nintendo 3DS? They discontinued them so it's quite hard to find
     
    That's not exactly a 100% bad thing. It's still just as good, just used and there are after market parts that work out, I mod and fix consoles on the side for part of a living. 👍

    You can still customize it, change out the parts and hack it with custom firmware which the folks in the pirating scene have come a very long way with... So far along that they can teach folks how to de-brick a 3DS after it get's smacked by Nintendo for running hacked software... Which, Nintendo doesn't like people messing with their toys.

    But I do recommend looking into 3DS 2.0 as NEW was an idiotic naming scheme, I still call it a 3DS, just give it a ver. number at the end as the 2.0 models have a more powerful processor to load games a lot faster from the portable Smash Bros to anything else.
     
    Didn't realize the 3DS was this rare. I checked the 2 online shops I often use, one of them still has a single (new/non-second-hand) 'Nintendo 3DS XL Console (Black Blue)' in stock for 200 euros whereas the other hasn't got it at all. Dutch sites though, idk if they even ship international.
    You might have to settle for second hand yeah.

    At any rate, as already stated you can play more different Pokemon games on the 3DS.
     
    I was absolutely addicted to my 3DS and it didn't have nearly the same level of problems, certainly nothing on the level of joycon drifting/connection issues in general. I've also played it a lot more than my Switch when you compare my first two years with a 3DS vs my first two with a Switch. Both are great though, but I gotta say the 3DS wins 👍

    (For Pokémon I'd recommend BW for the DS era and gens 6 and 7 for 3DS personally, if you're able to get your hands on a system + the games!)
     
    ReKoil said:
    Didn't realize the 3DS was this rare. I checked the 2 online shops I often use, one of them still has a single (new/non-second-hand) 'Nintendo 3DS XL Console (Black Blue)' in stock for 200 euros whereas the other hasn't got it at all. Dutch sites though, idk if they even ship international.
    You might have to settle for second hand yeah.

    At any rate, as already stated you can play more different Pokemon games on the 3DS.
    Click to expand...
    New ones are rare, but you can find used ones on EBay. Though I don't know what people would consider reasonably priced since some used ones fetch over $200 there.
     
    i thiiiink the 3DS edges out somewhat for me, even if i find the Switch more enjoyable overall.

    like, as im sitting here typing this, i realise that i barely play my Switch these days. this is mostly due to me not having a tv anymore since i've moved to a new place, and i don't really like playing on handheld much. the 3DS, on the other hand, since it's intended as a handheld, it's been easier for me to be more stuck to it and play pokemon on it for hours.

    buuut, ever since playing the Switch, i can't bring myself to play my 3DS much, anymore (it's weird switching back and forth between those two systems, no pun intended). so there's that =P
     
    3DS easily.

    Switch is one of my least favorite Nintendo Consoles. I despise the removal of the virtual console. And I despise how they jumped onto the "paid online" bandwagon when they don't even know to do online correctly.

    Joycon drift just increases my dislike even more. I can't believe they sold a console with a mass malfunctioning controller.
     
    For Pokemon in particular the 3DS is the better option, since you have access to every generation except for the 3rd and 8th, giving you more games in general and a better chance at one you'll like. The Switch just offers LGPE and SwSh, both of which are not well-regarded, and then later Legends: Arceus (which we can't be certain how good that will end up) and BDSP (which just seem like glorified remasters at this point).

    For gaming in general, they both have a good library to pick from and so it depends on a lot of personal specifics.
     
    Am I the only one who prefers the 3DS library OVERALL to the Switch? I mean for ALL types of games?
    I must be in that minority.
    I was very sad to see my OG red 3DS R button die out as well as the audio. Luckily, I had a spare Blue 2DS with a pre-installed Mario Kart 7. I was so relieved when I did the system transfer AND got MK7 for FREE! So anyway, I have so many downloaded games on there which also include these four Pokemon core games I downloaded (Silver, Crystal, Omega Ruby, and Ultra Moon). So it's obvious my answer.

    Also, don't fall into the "Gotta Catch Them All" trap of the late 90's. I wanted to restart UM, but sadly had to transfer ALL the 'mons somewhere, so I did an experimental...thing with my Switch where I downloaded Home, but NOT the Online Service. Now I have to keep my Switch AND save $20 a year just to save my 'mons. Trust me, Do NOT catch them all. It's a trap that I don't want ANYONE (unlike stupid me) to fall into.

    My two Pokemon games I got for the Switch (LGP, and Sword) sort of not met par so ......... it's obvious.
     
    tbh just get a Steam Deck and emulate it all, because fuck Nintendo and fuck scalper prices for old games.

    This is a fun question.

    For Pokemon specifically, the 3DS easily wins this - there isn't a single core Pokemon game on the Switch worth playing. That probably isn't going to change anytime soon unless ports happen, because Game Freak become more inept with each passing generation. If you only want a machine to play Pokemon games, then the 3DS will be your best bet for this, as you can access seven generations of mothership titles and numerous spinoffs. Literally all you're missing is the original third generation titles, and whilst Emerald is better than ORAS, you can get by with ORAS. For spinoffs, the Switch has New Pokemon Snap - which, whilst high quality, is very minimalistic and not for everyone - and a crappy remake of the original Mystery Dungeon which completely misses the point of what made that game so great. Oh, and a rubbish pay-to-win MOBA game. Because who doesn't want that, right?

    In terms of the quality of the hardware and in-built software the 3DS comes out on top, without question. The Switch is plagued with issues, the most prominent of these being Joycon drift, although even if you don't get drift the construction of Joycons leaves a lot to be desired, with no D-Pad unless you get a Lite (which would mean if you get drift you'd have to send your entire console in for repairs!) and the springs inside the joysticks being prone to coming loose and making clicking sounds every time you move them. They're also undersized - which is occasionally frustrating for longer play sessions and certain titles - and they're not really all that comfortable in your hand either. Then there is the Switch itself - if you're getting an original model, then tabletop play is undesirable thanks to the awful stand it comes with. It has an extremely unattractive bezel around the screen. The UI is a complete fucking mess and easily the worst of any console, ever. I'm not even kidding. The 3DS lets you organise your games into folders, gives you themes to choose from complete with changing system music, and it has a comprehensive activity log. The Switch has none of this. Nintendo Switch Online remains the worst of the three online services despite being the cheapest, too. The Switch is objectively worse when it comes to hardware and software. It's appalling. The ONLY advantage the Switch has here - assuming you don't buy a Lite - is that you can play the games on a TV screen as well as on the Switch screen. That's it. The Switch feels like a bootleg console, both in its build quality and in its software.

    If you're looking to save money, then you need to jump on a 3DS and the games you want quickly. Like, right now. The problem with the 3DS is the pricing, which has been artificially inflated by scalpers, and it's only going to get worse with time. Pokemon is actually the worst hit of this - if you can find a genuine copy of HeartGold/SoulSilver especially for under £60, then you probably need to look at it again. A lot of DS and 3DS titles are VERY expensive now. Moreso than Switch titles, which are already overpriced as it is given the quality of what is on offer. Nintendo think it's acceptable to charge full price for glorified ports (it isn't) and their games never drop in value, so the "wait for a sale" attitude will have the opposite effect a lot of the time: the games just go up in price because of scarcity and greedy bastards online. There's always digital purchasing to offset physical copy prices, but...well, I'd assume you want to own what you buy. Digital games are licenses, not actual products, and they're good only for as long as Nintendo decide to keep the online servers for that system up and running. Which will be a long time, but it's not permanent.

    The library is where it becomes a bit more difficult to gauge, because it really does depend on what you like. The Switch probably has the wider variety of games and it's only going to increase as time goes by, but in terms of the quality of those titles? Well...it depends. The 3DS has Etrian Odyssey, and nothing on the Switch can match that for DRPGs...well, unless we get Demon Gaze Extra over here, which we probably will, but that's one game against an entire series. The Switch doesn't have a single good Zelda or Pokemon game. It has the Link's Awakening remake, but that isn't as good as the original version frankly. It also has Hyrule Warriors, but so does the 3DS. For games, you need to decide on how important visuals are, and what you want to play. Obviously if you care about visuals at all you want a Switch. Personally...well, I have about 60 3DS games. I have over 300 Switch games. But more than a few of those are double/triple dips because I prefer playing games handheld.

    Switch has a lot of games available on other platforms, so if you don't have another system that immediately makes it more appealing. But if you have another console that immediately robs it of a lot of its appeal when compared to the 3DS - the Switch Tax is a thing, and it's horrendous. Doom on PS4 is about £10, Doom on Switch is about £40. Witcher 3 on PS4 is £15, Witcher 3 on Switch is £45. Switch ports also leave a lot to be desired sometimes, and unless you're VERY big on playing a game in handheld mode, the Switch version of a game is the worst choice most of the time because of the performance. It's noticeable when you put the games side-by-side. I say this as someone who can't tell the difference between 60FPS and 30FPS and who doesn't care. Switch ports ONLY have the handheld play going for them.

    So comparing the Switch exclusive titles to the 3DS exclusive titles, it's really not as clear cut. Nintendo games don't drop in price because they have a very high standard of quality assurance. So the 3DS games still hold up very well, and it really brings the Switch games down because you're paying more money for basically what is exactly the same experience. Because if you've played one Mario game, you've played them all. A lot of Nintendo's 3DS titles are in the Nintendo Selects range, and their Switch games are full price. Massive price disparity, minimal quality difference. Doesn't take a geniue to figure out which would be your best bet here. What makes it harder to judge in terms of exclusives would be third party titles...and the 3DS has the DS' library to call upon as well here. It could win this by sheer volume alone, at least for the moment. It's...difficult to say, honestly. At least for me. Because a lot of the games I play on Switch I've played on other systems; it's not really an exclusives sort of system for me, because I am very bored with Nintendo games at this point.

    Overall, for the moment, I'd actually say the 3DS would be the better choice, if we ignore that the Switch is halfway through its life cycle and will inevitably have a bigger and more diverse library by the end of it. You can buy the majority of those games on other systems, and they'll be cheaper and will perform better. Handheld play carries the Switch a VERY long way for me, but really that is all the Switch has going for it over its competitiors. But it's a very poorly-built system, and it isn't going to improve - sure, we've got the Switch OLED coming which makes tabletop play a viable option and has a substantially better screen - seriously, OLED is MUCH better than LCD and it DOES make a difference in visual quality - but that doesn't address the Joycon issues, or the UI problems. Which are both MAJOR issues that Nintendo seem determined to ignore. Those aren't going to be addressed. Let's be real. The 3DS, by comparison, is of a much higher quality. On a like-for-like basis it has better first-party games, easily. Third-party it's not as clear cut, but there are still some amazing third-party games on the 3DS well worth experiencing. It's a fantastic machine and well worth the purchase even now.
     
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    For Pokemon, I would agree and say the 3DS. I have only played Pokemon Unite on the Switch and it is super fun but the 3DS overall has the best selection for Pokemon. Have spent countless hours replaying all my Pokemon games on the 3DS.

    Overall... I have the lite version of the Switch so it's still comfortable as a handheld console. I can play it whilst sitting in bed or on a commute like the 3DS and that's nice. I love how nice everything looks on the Switch but I don't play it nearly as enough as the 3DS purely because I don't own that many games. The 3DS wins for me as I can play all my favourite old DS games and 3DS ones too. That being said I love the Switch too even if I don't use it too much at the moment, some of the games on it are phenomenal and I hope to play and try more in the future.
     
    Yeah I agree Pokemon is better on the 3DS and I generally remember my 3DS more fondly atm, but I haven't had as long with my Switch so it's hard to give a clear cut answer. I do really love playing my Switch so I could see myself remembering it just as fondly in the future. However since 3DS has VC and backwards compatibility with the DS I don't ever see the Switch taking over being the better system for pokemon, even once we have BDSP, Legends and w/e else.
     
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