Nintendo 3DS Débuts In Japan

There's another month before we get the Nintendo 3DS here in the UK (fans, mark your calendars for March 25th), but the incredible handheld console has already had its début in Japan. The 3DS launched over there with great titles including Professor Layton and the Mask of Miracles, Ace Combat and Pilotwings. The latest instalment in the Layton franchise seems to have gone down well with critics, scoring 32/40 in Japanese gaming magazine Famitsu as "investigating a puzzle with a screen that has depth feels good", even though "the puzzle solving doesn't use 3D much" (the score falls in line with what its predecessors The Diabolical Box and The Lost Future received from Famitsu). Nintendogs also became a 3DS launch release, gaining 38/40 from Famitsu as "it can be enjoyed by anyone". Other ratings by the magazine included 34 for Super Street Fighter IV and 32 for both Ridge Racer and Super Monkey Ball, and we'll bring you the first UK reviews from the Official Nintendo Magazine when it releases on the 17th of March. The Nintendo 3DS releases in the UK on March 25th at a hefty RRP of £229.99, but once I've had some playtime with one I'll bring you a full review of the console in April!