Switch owners, did you have a Wii U/3DS?

[theredninjacat]

I presently own both a Wii U and a 3DS but I got both of them AFTER I got my Switch. Prior to the Wii U and original 3DS, I had owned every Nintendo console and handheld except for the VirtualBoy. I loved and still do love my Wii and DS. When the Wii U and 3DS came out, I just didn't understand them. To me, the Wii U was just a clumsy, expensive Wii with upgraded specs. And the 3D technology in the 3DS was totally lacking. So I continued to just play on my old systems. Prior to the Switch launch, it was clear that Nintendo was on the right track again. The Switch launch did not disappoint and I got one during the first year, while it still lacked top-quality games. Since getting my Switch, and absolutely loving it, I got the New 3DS and Wii U for the following reasons.

One big reason that I got both the Wii U and New 3DS is because my old Wii and DS are physically aging and may not last much longer. My Wii has been sent to Nintendo twice for repairs and now Nintendo has discontinued repairs for the Wii. The hinge on my DS is so loose that I'm afraid it might split into two at any point. The Wii U plays Wii games and the 3DS plays DS games so I get to play all my favorite old games on newer, more reliable systems. *

Another reason I got both systems is the crazy good library of games. I got both systems at the end of their life so that opened up the option of playing lots of fun games I had never experienced like the Mario Kart 7 and the 3D Mario games. Furthermore, these old games are really cheap now on eBay and other places.

Over the past several years, TVs have advanced a lot and 4K is now the norm. While this has happened, old non-HDMI connections have gone mostly extinct. With my new razzle dazzle TV, my Wii still connects but the picture is often (randomly) distorted and always darker than it should be. The Wii U allows me to play my Wii games through an HDMI connection which, as a bonus, allows me to benefit from upscaling. It's pretty nice!

Finally, another reason I got the New 3DS is because they finally got the 3D technology right. Playing Street Fighter, Metroid, and Zelda in 3D with the new eye-tracking 3DS is surprisingly fun, and you can't get that on any other system. Incidentally, the 3DS Zelda (A Link Between Worlds) is now my favorite Zelda game and I've played ten of them.

* The ages of my Wii and DS have become my biggest motivator for getting their successors. I recently lost my son who grew up playing the Wii and DS with me and his sister. I can't bring my son back but I can relive good memories of him by playing old games on new, healthier systems.