We’re all excited about the Nintendo Switch. I know I am. Having a fully-featured, fully portable home console is going to change everything. I guarantee you that after this next generation is over and done with, Sony and Microsoft will have to very seriously consider how they might make taking the home console gaming experience on the go a reality for their customers as well. So, hooray for Nintendo! The Switch represents the birth of a new age of gaming innovation, but we’ve lost something as well.
After the 3DS stops receiving support at the end of 2017 and the Switch establishes its full reign, we’ll have to say goodbye to dual-screen gaming. So many of us have been playing games across two screens for the better part of 12 years now. When the DS was first unveiled in 2004 many thought that the second screen would be of no use, or otherwise an unneeded distraction. Little did we know that over the lives of the DS, DSi, 3DS, and Wii U that we’d enjoy some of our favorite all-time favorite games; games that wouldn’t have been the same or wouldn’t have been possible without a second screen.
The dual-screen era forced (or should I say enabled) us to look at our games in brand new ways. Who can forget playing Sonic Rush for the first time and getting that enhanced sense of speed and sinking in their stomach as Sonic dashed down a huge runway that ran from the very top of the top screen to the very bottom of the bottom screen? Remember how cool you felt turning your DS or 3DS sideways like you were holding some high-tech book in order to play Rhythm Heaven or Hotel Dusk?
Dual-screen gameplay also inspired some pretty awesome new concepts as well. Dragon Quest XI isn’t even here yet, but have you seen the layout? On the bottom screen of the 3DS the game plays out with an old-school 16-bit visuals while on the top screen the game uses the more modern 3D painted style seen in Dragon Quest VII . Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE on the Wii U basically turned your Gamepad screen into an all-in-one communication device. It was always neat receiving a “text” from a member of your party, and looking down at the gamepad when your character on your TV looked down at his phone. How about drawing and making your own maps in the Etrian Odyssey series as you explored?
I think the thing I’ll miss most about dual-screens is just how freaking useful they are. Having an extra screen always made map, inventory, and options management much more convenient. Playing Wind Waker HD is such a delight because you don’t have to pause the game and stop the action every time you want to use an item in your pouch or switch weapons. In Splatoon , having a map in your hands that is updated on the fly with ink and teammate positions makes a huge difference and helps shape your strategy. I can’t imagine playing any of the fantastic Ace Attorney games without a second screen for evidence, investigation, and conversation – it just makes everything flow.
What are you guys going to miss most about dual-screen gaming? What was your favorite game that utilized a second screen? What is going to happen to Picross games? Sound off in the comments and we’ll eulogize dual-screen gaming together.