Jumpin said:
Also, I don't find his assessment to be accurate as to where the handhelds fit in their respective generations: Gameboy, GBA, and DS all offered the best handheld experiences of their generation, the 3DS was the only major Nintendo handheld that didn't, since it fell behind iOS in terms of offering compelling software; and the sharp decline in handheld sales reflect this. The Switch, while not a pure handheld (it's a handheld/home console hybrid) took Nintendo hardware back to the top of handheld gaming, compelling software availability has resulted in a sharp increase over 3DS for Switch hardware. The Switch isn't perfect, it misses out on top quality casual experiences - including Nintendo's own titles in the genre, like Fire Emblem Heroes - but that is mainly because of the lack of a proper pipeline of approval and implementation for these games, it's something that can come in the future with new updates, though they should wait for new hardware (a glass capacitive touchscreen with a higher tap density would help). Of course, Switch MUCH more than makes up for this omission with games like Breath of the Wild, Mario Kart 8, and Animal Crossing... which, in a way, is Nintendo exploring the casual games genre with one of the highest quality casual games (if not the highest quality casual game) ever created. |
It's all just opinions. 🤗
I've only owned Nintendo handhelds until Sony made their play at the market. I wouldn't say Nintendo ever offered the best experience (aside from GBA) but they offered the best games for the best price and the best battery life until the 3DS.
I'm a big fan of features, too. Maybe that's part of my problem. I don't know. But with all of the useless little features that the 3DS offered (Nintendo video, Netflix, AR games, Spot Pass, Miiverse, and more), I always felt like I needed my 3DS with me, even if I wasn't playing games.
