Nintendo 3DS

This article is about a subject in the real world. Information in this article is about real-life people, companies, and objects, and does not relate to the in-universe Sonic series.

The Nintendo 3DS is a handheld game system released by Nintendo. The 3DS is the successor to the Nintendo DS and is notable for fully integrating stereoscopic 3D graphics.

To do this, the system uses a technique known as autostereoscopy, which involves rendering two separate images, one for each eye. This allows the top screen to present a sense of depth but the 3D is adjustable. Note that the bottom screen is not a 3D screen, and is instead a touchscreen interface similar to that found on the preceding Nintendo DS.

The 3DS is also backward-compatible with the entire backlog of DS games. All Sonic the Hedgehog games released on the DS can also be played on the 3DS. The cards for the 3DS have a bump on the right side in order to avoid them being inserted into a regular DS system.

With the release of Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal in November 2014, a puzzle of Sonic Boom was added to the puzzle Swap game found in the Street Pass Mii Plaza which is preinstalled.

List of games

Game	Name
	Sonic Generations
	Mario & Sonic at the London 2012 Olympic Games
	Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed
	Sonic & All-Stars Racing Transformed: Bonus Edition
	Sonic Lost World
	Super Smash Bros. for Nintendo 3DS
	Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal
	Sega 3D Classics Collection
	Mario & Sonic at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games
	Sonic Boom: Fire & Ice
	Sega 3D Fukkoku Archives 3: Final Stage

Virtual Console

The 3DS allows players to download old games onto their system via the eShop's Virtual Console service, similar to the corresponding service on the Wii U. Like the console version, the 3DS version includes games from non-Nintendo systems. Several Game Gear games are available internationally.

Game Gear games on the Virtual Console come with more features than other Virtual Console games. In addition to Restore Points (save states), users can select whether the display fits the screen as a square, stretches to fill the screen, or is surrounded by a detailed, 3D Game Gear border. The latter comes in three colors: red, blue, or black. Screen blurring is an option that emulates the original screen if chosen. Even game performance can be altered between "original" and "special" (original accurately emulates slowdown and special fixes the slowdown issues of the original games).

In addition, there is also a library of Sega 3D Classics on the eShop. These games are emulations of arcade games, Sega Genesis games, and Sega Master System games. These games support 3D, have save states, can add screen blurring and the games with multiplayer have local multiplayer via wireless.

List of Sonic Games on Virtual Console

Icon	Title
	Sonic the Hedgehog (8-bit)
	Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (8-bit)
	Sonic the Hedgehog Triple Trouble
	Sonic Drift 2
	Sonic Blast
	Sonic Labyrinth
	Tails Adventure
	Dr. Robotnik's Mean Bean Machine (8-bit)
	3D Sonic the Hedgehog
	3D Sonic the Hedgehog 2

3DS Themes

In 2014, Nintendo updated the 3DS to include different themes for the 3DS home screen. Many themes based on the Sonic the Hedgehog and Sonic Boom series have been released.

List of 3DS Themes

Image	Theme	Price	Release date	Bundle	Bundle price
	Sonic Boom: Shattered Crystal Sonic Toon: Sonic and Friends (JP)	Free	November 11, 2014[5] December 10, 2014[6] (JP)	N/A
	Sonic the Hedgehog Theme	$1.99	November 28, 2014 December 10, 2014[6] (JP)	Sonic Bundle[7] (four themes)	$5.99
	Amy Rose Theme	$1.99
	Shadow the Hedgehog Theme	$1.99
	Chao Theme	$1.99
	Sonic Series: 25th Anniversary	Free	September 22, 2016[8] October 27, 2016[9] (JP)	N/A
	Sonic Series: Boom Style	$1.99	September 22, 2016[8] September 28, 2016[10] (JP)	Sonic Bundle #2[10] (three themes)	$4.99
	Sonic Series: Sonic Style	$1.99
	Sonic Series: Classic Style	$1.99
	Sonic Series: Cute Style	$1.99	October 13, 2016 October 19, 2016[11] (JP)	Sonic Bundle #3[10] (three themes)	$4.99
	Sonic Series: Shadow Style	$1.99
	Sonic Series: Silver Style	$1.99
	Sega 3D Reprint Archives 2 Package Illustration	¥200	December 22, 2016 (Japan only)	Package Illustration (three themes)	¥500
	Sega 3D Reprint Archives 3 Package Illustration	¥200

Revisions

Nintendo 2DS

On 12 October 2013 in North America and in the PAL Regions, the Nintendo 2DS was released. The 2DS is a budget model that is fully compatible with all 3DS and DS games but does not include the ability to display games in 3D. It still features all the functionality of 3DS and can be put to sleep using a slider that replicates closing the clamshell on a standard 3DS. WiFi can still be turned off, though it’s done via controls in the software rather than with a physical switch. In addition, the system only features a single mono speaker, unlike the dual stereo speakers on other models. When it was released a red model and a blue model were sold at US$129.99 alongside the 3DS and 3DS XL.^[12]

New Nintendo 3DS (XL)

In late 2014/early 2015, the 3DS received a hardware upgrade in the form of the "New Nintendo 3DS", an iterative update comparable to the Nintendo DSi. Improvements on the original model include slightly larger screens, faster quad-core CPU, doubled RAM, and extra buttons to match the Circle Pad Pro accessory (a second analog nub and ZL/ZR buttons). Other new features include built-in amiibo support on the touch screen and an eye-tracking 3D feature that allows the console to adjust stereoscopic output based on the user's position. Several games can only be played on the New 3DS due to its upgraded hardware, although this does not include any Sonic games.

Like the original console, the New 3DS is produced in regular and XL variants. The regular model features interchangeable face plates similar to the Game Boy Micro, and received a limited release in NTSC regions.

Trivia

• The 3DS is the first portable console to receive a 3D Sonic game, in Sonic Lost World. The game also marks the handheld debut of the ability to play as Super Sonic in levels, and the first predominantly-underwater 3D levels in the series.

References