I was recently put on to the knowledge that with the newest versions of Moonlight (for 3DS), the game streaming tool, you can stream stereoscopic 3d games in SBS format from your PC to the 3DS.
Pictured playing Crash Bandicoot and Mario Galaxy 2 in 3D over it.
So cool! What’s the latency like?
I didn’t measure or anything but it has been playable enough to me so far as long as I am fairly close to access point since the 3DS wifi is not great. My only issue is my stream sometimes drops even when I have a stable connection causing me to die in the middle of something
I just wanted to say Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D is shockingly good!
Passed on the Wii version at the time of release because the perception was that Retro Studios should have been working on something more ambitious. Then the 3DS version comes along and I pass on it due to it seeming like a poor fit for the small screen of the 3DS.
Well, I regret not picking it up until now.
First, the game itself - I think I prefer it to Tropical Freeze. While I had a blast playing through the Wii U sequel, Returns is the game with the tighter, more focused level design. Tropical Freeze has more inventive level themes, but the levels are a lot larger and longer, making replaying them to find collectibles a drag. The levels in Returns never overstay their welcome.
Then there’s the presentation. The 3D is so good in this game that you’d think it was originally designed around it, there’s just so much depth to the environments that it’s wasted on creating parallax on Wii, as it truly shines in 3D.
I’d even go as far as saying it’s one of the most graphically impressive games I’ve played all year, not because of the 3D (which is really good), but the environmental animation is second-to-none. The way all the leaves on the trees animate and react to your actions and movements is made even more convincing on the tiny 3DS screen where the low resolution enhances the perception of there being detail behind every pixel. And a breath of fresh air from modern games which tend to animate fauna using what looks like more automated methods.
I’m enjoying the music, too. Sure, it’s not Dave Wise, but Kenji Yamamoto’s a fantastic composer too and the arrangements and new compositions hit the right notes. Even the bonus stage music is given new energy.
Hmm, interesting.
I also skipped it on Wii, but skipped 3DS too due to low resolution. Now there’s a Switch version coming but I do like 3D…
For what it’s worth, the lower resolution only really stood out as a hinderance in the fifth boss fight - while I was able to complete it the camera is so zoomed out that it you’re reminded it’s a game originally designed to be played on a large TV with higher resolution. Other than that, everything looks great!
The HD port seems like a mixed bag so far, worth checking out these three videos:
Summer 2024:
Early December:
Mid December:
If I had to guess, the game’s been ported to Unity engine since that’s what developer Forever Entertainment has used for all their ports/remasters to date. Would explain why effects are either missing, replaced with alternatives, or lowered in quality (less debris/smole/transparencies) - maybe it was necessary to achieve a rock solid 60fps.
Hope I’m wrong though.
Good timing…
Best way to get a brand new 3DS in 2025 seems to be to send it off for repair, while Nintendo still has a (presumably decreasing) stockpile of wholly new units to use as replacements:
I’m jealous!
Damn. 3DS prices have exploded on ebay too. I really wish I never sold a couple of my models!
Even more quickly after these Reddit posts!
You’re not wrong! I almost feel like I shouldn’t be using my Ambassador N3DS 
Yeah I feel like it is going down a path of becoming a very expensive platform.
I’m eyeing 2DS models etc just to have a spare.
Yep, 3DS hardware and software pricing seems to have hit rock bottom much earlier than other platforms - around 2019, by my count.
Even the eShop closure didn’t have any impact on hardware or software pricing, which continues to rise.
Never owned a 2DS - is it worth looking into? The transparent models look rather nice, and the form factor seems rather novel.
Thread made me check my handheld pile to see what hardware I have handy… looks like both black and white Mario New 3DS systems and a SNES New 3DS XL. I know I have a New 2DS XL in purple that I bought from Nintendo refurbished but I haven’t opened the box yet.
Might be time to get back into 3DS!!
I still can’t stop kicking myself for not getting a few more cover plates when they were cheap. The glow in the dark boo and hanafuda ones were like $40 to import them and I was like “nah, too rich for my blood” and I got a stupid fucking orange one instead. 
Watch out buying cover plates today as there are many reproduction/counterfeits
Wow, you all weren’t kidding about 3DS prices on eBay now. Doing that led me to check on my two systems that I hadn’t played in a while just to make sure they were still OK. Since a new version of Red Viper was just released I went ahead and updated that as well and ended up playing quite a bit of Virtual Boy. What an amazing piece of software.
The Circle Pad on my metallic blue New 3DS XL from 2014 started playing up, and the system was in quite a state with the paint rubbing off the bottom cover, so I sent it in for repair.
Happy to report that Nintendo of Europe replaced it with a brand new system for a completely reasonable flat fee (about $100) and this sort of customer service really is the gold standard and reflects NCL’s dedication to its customers in Japan. That $100 didn’t just get me a brand new system, but it covered the expedited shipping to and from customer service, plus labour etc. All for a system that’s been out of warranty for a decade.
That Nintendo still keeps an inventory of 11 year old consoles for repairs is to be applauded. Even better: they still keep an inventory of 14 year old consoles.
Last year, I gave my launch cosmos black 3DS to a friend and the circle pad rubber had fallen off. He sent it off for repair around the same time I did, paid the same fee, and received back a brand new cosmos black system!
Every couple months someone needs to pick up the “holy S at 3ds prices” baton. I’ll do it this time.
Ugh. Not only are prices crazy, supply is crazy too. I get it, supply/demand, but wow. 3ds might be the most barren console/handheld for sale online now, especially the new versions.
Having said that, I may have picked up a n3ds (non XL), but of course I ‘bought’ it a day after a bunch of countries, Japan included, stopped shipping to the US. Now the waiting game to see if it ships I guess. Honestly I’m fine either way, I’d love to get it, but if not I’ll play my old 3ds XL.
I don’t even want to know what @D.Lo paid for that mint looking white one! 
(you don’t need to say, I’m just envious how mint it looks compared to the slop on eBay)
Yeah I actually got a crazy good deal, sniped a listing on Facebook marketplace after I’ve been looking for a good deal for ages. Got lucky by being quick and finding sellers who don’t list very well. it was a little dirty but not damaged at all and cleaned up well. AU $250 with animal crossing faceplates and I’m selling the faceplates for $50. Going price on eBay is AU$450-500 now.
I’m checking out some AliExpress faceplates because the real ones are too valuable to use now. So my real splatoon plates for my black N3DS are in the box and I’m using some really quite decent AliExpress Zelda and Splatoon ones. Got some plain white for the white model and I’ve ordered some more to try.
!!!
Well done! I’m closer to the AU ebay prices if my purchase goes through.
I do enjoy a “bad listing” win. I bought both of my PVM’s on bad listings, in fact.
