How does the 3DS Expansion Slide Pad feel?
Though it won’t let anyone try them out with actual games, Capcom is allowing Tokyo Game Show attendees to get their hands on the upcoming 3DS Expansion Slide Pad.
Most people seem to agree that it’s not the best looking piece of kit, but if you’re curious to hear about how the peripheral feels — especially if you plan to play supported games like MH Tri-G, RE: Revelations, MGS: Snake Eater 3D, Ace Kombat 3D, Dynasty Warriors Vs., and Kingdom Hearts 3D with it — I’ve gathered impressions on the 3DS Expansion Slide Pad from several sites.
1UP said it feels as big as it looks in photos:
“I’ve heard people compare it to the Game Gear, and I don’t think that’s accurate — it’s much more ergonomic and comfortable to hold, though it does have some of the bulk of Sega’s machine. I can’t see anyone carrying this around in their pocket, for instance — the width would make that nearly impossible.
Despite feeling hollow, the attachment isn’t wobbly in the least, so it doesn’t rattle when you play with it, and the shoulder buttons are comfortable to reach and well built. Basically, it feels like one bigger unit rather than two pieces stuck together.”
Joystiq’s impressions are brief:
“The circle pad attachment feels fine, if a bit bulky. … The circle pad itself is identical to the already existing circle pad on the left side of the 3DS. More interestingly, the attachment also adds triggers and bolsters already existing shoulder buttons, giving the entire console more of an actual controller feel.”
Kotaku noted that the peripheral really should have a rubberized finished, along with other problems:
“Using the second slide pad was easier and less awkward than I thought. It is not graceful, but seems serviceable. The response on the pad was the same as the original 3DS slide pad. If you like that, you’ll like this. If you hate it, you’ll hate this.
Looking at the screen, I did have the feeling that I was peering around a corner, because your hands are not perfectly positioned behind the screen.
The 3DS Expansion Slide Pad has pistol type grips that were confortable to hold, and the ZL and ZR buttons work well. They are not clicky, and might be a bit too squishy for some, but I found them responsive.
Where things go wrong is the R button. I felt as though I had to reach up, going from the ZR button. The left side was worse, because it doesn’t have an add on button. Rather, it uses the 3DS’s left shoulder button. So I had to reach up and back.”
IGN said it’s “very comfortable”, despite some issues:
“Gripping a 3DS encased in one is not cumbersome at all due to the curve of its shell, and I found myself naturally finding the system’s two R buttons and two L buttons. Of course, the increased size is a double-edged sword. In some ways the 3DS is easier to hold than before.
The positioning of the second circle pad is the only part that worries me. Though it’s possible to reach the four main face buttons on the 3DS, it is slightly awkward, partly due to the position and partly due to the distance, which feels just slightly greater than it should be. I have reasonably long fingers, but those of you with smaller hands may struggle.”
Engadget also weighed in (and took all these photos):
“It’s much more comfortable to hold than the naked 3DS, giving our meaty hands a smooth, contoured surface to grip. The new right-hand circle pad feels just as solid as the handheld’s dedicated pad, and didn’t significantly obstruct our access to the 3DS’ face buttons. All in all, the cradle is a comfortable, if awkwardly large extension to the 3DS that doesn’t seem to compromise the handheld’s existing input.”
And Eurogamer was also mixed on the device:
“So, how does it feel? Well, rather nice actually. While making the thing easy on the eye has proven a feat beyond even Nintendo’s usually infallible design team, they have at least made it a pleasure to hold.
What you couldn’t see in the first promo shot of the peripheral is its ergonomically curved exterior. It’s a pleasing fit in your hands and surprisingly light too. Perhaps it shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise that it feels a lot like Nintendo’s new Wii U controller. …
For the most part, the button placement feels spot-on, too. The shoulder bumpers feel chunkier and more comfortable than those on the barebones 3DS, the thumb falls naturally on the second circle pad and, if anything, the extra girth afforded by the cradle actually makes the console’s d-pad feel a little less out on a limb. …
However, perhaps inevitably given the impossible scale of the task, it’s not all good news. The left shoulder button is stuck in an uncomfortable groove between the edge of the peripheral and the 3DS’ top screen, throwing the handheld off balance. The volume slider is hard to get at too, the wi-fi switch is blotted out altogether and the game and stylus slots are covered up, so no hot cart switching.”
I hope these issues are addressed before the peripheral releases in Japan this December (I’m guessing that’s when it will hit, since that’s when’ Monster Hunter Tri-G ships there), or even before it comes to the West.
Best case scenario, by the time it makes it to the U.S., Nintendo polishes the peripheral and shoves a battery pack in there. I’ve never been an optimist, though…
Buy: Nintendo 3DS (Flame Red, Black, & Blue)
Find: Nintendo DS/3DS release dates, discounts, & more
See also: More of the 3DS Expansion Slide Pad
tags / nintendo 3ds / 3ds / gaming / expansion slide pad / tgs / tgs 11 / accessories
