If there is one thing Nintendo is good at, it is executing creativity. And the creativity has been executed once again with the Nintendo 3DS.

When the system was announced, the skeptics came out in droves. How was 3-D supposed to work without the glasses? Why is Nintendo making another DS? Well, to answer those questions, the system works just fine without glasses, and Nintendo made another DS to make boatloads of cash off the new technology.

However, the system has its problems. The biggest issue is that the battery life lasts as long as the newest episode of Jersey Shore. But at the same time, the supposed “sweet spot” where you have to hold the 3DS to see the 3-D is not as big of a deal as most bloggers and outlets have been saying. All in all, the system is rather amazing and any techno-geek would love to have one.

But how about the sports fans out there? That question is a little harder to answer. I picked up three games: Madden Football, Ridge Racer and Pro Evolution Soccer. Essentially, they are solid titles if you take into account they are launch titles.

Ridge Racer 3D

Ridge Racer seems to be a decent title. With the game modes you expect from a racing game here, your time and money won’t be wasted.

The best part about RR is, shocker, the actual 3-D. The graphics enhance the gameplay, unlike they do for Madden and PES. It will give you a reason to keep the 3-D on the entire time you’re playing.

The gameplay also holds up well. The controls are simple to pick up on, and drifting has never been easier.

Madden Football

Madden looks really amazing on this handheld. The graphics are rather insane for a handheld even though the 3-D effect really does not add much to the experience at all. In addition, the gameplay is solid -- with the added caveat once again being you realize it is a launch title.

Unfortunately, the game lacks about anything and everything you want in a football game. It has an exhibition mode and a season mode. In the season mode, you basically play as the team. You can sign free agents, but trading is entirely out of the picture.

At the very least, there is a new way to play the game. There is a quick five-on-five mode where the goal is to be the first to score X amount of touchdowns. It makes the games go by much quicker, which is a must for handheld gaming.

Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D

Where do I even begin? PES is pretty damn fun. The gameplay is some of the best I have experienced with a handheld, and the depth seems to be all there. I’m not making any promises, but I think this game is complete.

It will take you a game or two to get used to the controls and camera angles for the soccer game, but once you have it down the fun begins. The 3-D, though sweet, is actually more of an annoyance than anything. It does look good, but the game does not really benefit from it at all.

There are quite a few editing options in here, too. All in all, I see no reason why this game can't keep gamers busy for quite some time.

Final Thoughts

After a week with the 3DS and these three games, I can say the system is awesome. It does have its downs like anything else, but it makes up for those shortcomings in other areas. I have not been able to really delve deep into these three titles as of yet, but the reviews will be coming shortly after this article. In order, the reviews will be Madden, Ridge Racer and PES.

Happy 3-D gaming everybody!


Dustin Toms is a staff writer at Operation Sports, specializing in basketball games. Born and raised in Washington state, he has made his life goal to personally see to David Stern's firing after the Seattle SuperSonics were relocated. Follow him on Twitter @eckoefx_OS.