During the Nintendo Direct livestream that went live on Wednesday, January 14, hosts Satoru Iwata and Satoru Shibata ( the presidents of Nintendo and Nintendo of Europe respectively) revealed new information on a Western release for the New 3DS handheld. Scheduled to become available next month, the new console will be accompanied by two launch titles: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3D and Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate , both of which will take advantage of the New 3DS’ hardware in their own way.
Both the New 3DS and the New 3DS XL will launch in North America and Europe on Friday, February 13. The new line of 3DSs boast a superior processor than its predecessors, as well as improved 3D stability and built-in NFC (Near Field Communication) functionality. However, it’s worth noting that neither the 3DS or the 3DS XL (and variants thereof) will ship with a packaged charger, which will have to be purchased separately.
Majora’s Mask 3D is the 3DS remake of the original sequel to The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time . While further details have yet to be revealed on how the game has been adapted to the 3DS hardware, it’s stated that the Majora’s Mask title will make use of the New 3DS C Stick, which will allow for more tactile camera controls. Furthermore, those who play the game on the new hardware will be able to enjoy super-stable 3D, allowing for players to still see the handheld’s 3D effect from much wider angles.
Monster Hunter 4: Ultimate is the latest installment to the Monster Hunter franchise, wherein players hunt and fight beasts both large and small to craft items, weapons and armor. Players will be able to team up with three other friends at a time in local multiplayer. Alternatively, friends can also team together via a wireless internet connection, allowing them to interact in online multiplayer. A demo for the game is available, but it’ll only be exclusive to selected Monster Hunter fans. A code to download the game will be emailed to the lucky gamers, which will also include three additional codes for them to share. These codes are redeemable in the Nintendo eShop, which will feature three different quests and local and online multiplayer.
Like Majora’s Mask 3D , Monster Hunter 4 has its own special edition New 3DS XL bundle. The bundle itself will include a Monster Hunter 4 -themed New 3DS XL with the game pre-installed on a 4GB microSDHC card, which will be available on the same day as the New 3DS models release. Two sets of Monster Hunter 4 -themed cover plates will also be available for the New 3DS, but not the New 3DS XL .
The Nintendo 3DS XL is currently listed for $199.99 / £179.99 on Nintendo’s official website / UK store . The Majora’s Mask -themed version is also selling for the same price, but it doesn’t come include with the game pre-installed (unlike the European version). The Monster Hunter 4 special New 3DS XL (which does include a copy of the game pre-installed) has been priced at $229.99 / £209.99. You can watch the latest Nintendo Direct via the second source link below.
[ Sources: Press release / Nintendo Direct ]