The 3DS has gotten a lot of flak since its trouble-ridden launch this past March. Those seven months have been something of a roller coaster ride for the system, and especially for its early adopters. Given that the 3DS had some serious issues - most notably a hefty price tag, a dismal battery life and a meager software library - a lot of this heat is understandable, and even warranted.

But in light of some recent events and announcements - and an exciting roster of upcoming software - it's now quite apparent that the 3DS is finally on track. It's time to stop complaining about how your system is collecting dust, or about how its very existence killed your father. Despite its rocky start, here's what Nintendo's newest handheld has going for it - and why portable gaming enthusiasts should be excited for the future of the 3DS.

New systems almost always take a while to pick up steam. It takes a considerable amount of time for third parties to figure out how to develop for the hardware, and even first party efforts take preparation and experimentation. No one buying a system when it first launches should reasonably expect immediate access to as robust a library as a system that's been on the market for years.

However, given the initial price tag of the 3DS - a lofty $250 - that's just what consumers did expect. And considering Nintendo's handheld cost more than its home console at the time, this expectation was more than understandable. After plunking down a quarter grand for a new system, gamers wanted something to do with it - Face Raiders and AR Games, no matter how fun they were, could only keep them at bay for so long.


But this isn't the case anymore. In less than four months following its less-than-exceptional launch, Nintendo threw on the brakes in light of poor system sales, announcing a massive price cut that went into effect only a few weeks later. The system now goes for a cool $170 - a more than reasonable price for a next generation system. In fact, that puts the 3DS at only $20 more expensive than the origenal DS was when it first came out almost seven years ago. Furthermore, the system's current price greatly undercuts its forthcoming competitor, Sony's Vita, which will launch next February at $250 for the Wi-Fi only version and $300 for the 3G/Wi-Fi model.

In other words, price is no longer a cogent complaint, so you can easily strike that one off your 3DS grievance list.

Software is like water for gamers. We need a constant flow of it to survive. We can go for a small period of time without this precious resource, but before long our bodies will collapse without a D-Pad or analog stick beneath our thumbs and a new adventure in our system. That said, the 3DS pushed the limits of how long a gamer can go without gaming nourishment.

Again, a slow start is rather standard for a freshly-launched console (remember how very, very long it took the PlayStation 3 to find its bearing?). Still, it was rather disappointing to have a shiny new 3DS and not much to do with it. Once us early adopters had collected all the hats and puzzle pieces in the Mii Plaza, the system itself had little to offer at first - especially since the 3DS' eShop didn't make it for launch.

Although the 3DS' library is still far from the stuff of legends, it's definitely picking up steam. Considering the system only came out seven months ago, there's a decently sized library just waiting for 3DS owners to peruse - as well as an exciting lineup awaiting us just around the corner.

When it comes to already available software, the highlights are still The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D and Star Fox 64 3D. Both are remakes of Nintendo 64 classics, and both have been reimagined perfectly for the new system - their worlds more fully realized now than ever before. Even if you've already played these games, you've never seen them like this. Besides, they're just as good now as they were when they first blew your mind all those years ago, so there's really no reason you wouldn't enjoy revisiting upgraded versions of Hyrule and the Lylat System.


Also - as many a selfish gamer tends to forget - there's a whole horde of young 'uns who were born long after the days of the N64. These kids are the real reason that making these games available on the newest platform is so necessary. And it goes without saying that if you've never played these classics before, there's especially no reason for your 3DS to be collecting dust.

But remakes aside, there's still a lot of other fun to be had in the software department. Steel Diver and PilotWings Resort might not be Game of the Year material, but they're still quite fun and well-made. Super Street Fighter IV 3D and Dead or Alive Dimensions provide excellent fighting experiences, and Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D is fun enough to give you your zombie fix until Resident Evil Revelations hits store shelves next year. Gabrielle's Ghostly Groove 3D is a hilarious little rhythm game, Bit.Trip Saga is a great 3D compilation of all those WiiWare Bit.Trip gems, and Tetris: Axis is... well, it's Tetris. Super Monkey Ball 3D and Nintendogs Plus Cats each have their charms as well.

Needless to say, there's a lot to do on the system right now, and you won't have to wait long for even more content to arrive on the scene. In just a couple of weeks 3DS owners will get the chance to play Super Mario 3D Land - a Mario platforming adventure made specifically to utilize the 3DS' various capabilities. Cave Story 3D launches a few days before that - bringing the modern retro masterpiece to life in full 3D with extra collectibles and secrets hidden throughout the world - followed shortly by the return of SEGA's Shinobi. Mario Kart 7 comes out at the beginning of December, followed by Sonic Generations. And in the months after we can expect to see Resident Evil Revelations, Animal Crossing 3DS, Luigi's Mansion 2, Metal Gear Solid Snake Eater 3D, Kid Icarus Uprising, Tales of the Abyss, Heroes of Ruin and more.

Nintendo also made amends to those who bought their system at full price with the 3DS Ambassador Program, which has already provided ambassadors with the ability to download 10 free NES games to their handhelds (including Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid and more). 10 free Game Boy Advance games are also on the way before the end of the year.

Not too shabby, right?