OK, Just got Citra running on my Quest 3 and tried A Link Between Worlds, and, while it's running a bit chuggy at times and I haven't figured out how to change any settings in Citra and stuff, it's very cool. Given the cost of amassing a sizeable 3DS and Virtual Boy collection today, would I advise people to stick with original hardware when such a compelling alternative exists? Given that Nintendo doesn't offer official access to its Virtual Boy library and has recently shuttered the 3DS eShop, there's definitely a solid argument to say that you're better off experiencing both of these platforms via a VR device like the Meta Quest 3 – especially as it allows you to enjoy their 3D magic in the most convincing way imaginable.
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People are recreating the amusement arcades of their youth (complete with playable machines), while EmuVR – which sadly isn't yet native to Quest 3 (yet) and requires the use of a computer – delivers a similar experience but with the added benefit of netplay and the ability to experience light gun games in VR. Outside of Nintendo's machines, we're already seeing the Meta Quest 3 become a surprisingly fertile playground for old-school gamers. The best way to play 3DS in 2024? /B1mLMQ7Wsz- Time Extension March 1, 2024 Mario Kart 7 running in the Citra 3DS emulator (beta, hence the odd skip) on the 3. It's clearly going to get much better than this, but there are already some features which really impress me, such as the ability to connect a Bluetooth controller and use that instead of the (actually perfectly fine) Meta Quest 3 controllers. Compatibility is also something of an issue, at least for me personally some games don't currently boot, while others (such as SEGA 3D Classics Collection) load the game's main menu fine but won't load up any of the games. Performance can be spotty, with regular pauses and skips – this will hopefully improve over time. Given that it's in beta, there are some caveats to consider with Citra. I wish I could accurately show what this looks like, but, as was always the case with the 3DS, you have to experience it to get the full impact. Mario Kart 7 becomes more exciting thanks to the convincing sense of depth and speed, while Zelda: A Link Between Worlds gives the impression that you're gazing down into a doll's house while the characters move around within it. Games that previously looked impressive on the 3DS' tiny autostereoscopic screen are now capable of filling your entire field of view, and while the graphics are dated compared to modern-day VR titles, the experience is often overwhelming it's almost as if 3DS games have been given a next-gen upgrade when played in this way (it's actually possible to upscale the games in the emulator, too).
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In Citra – which is still in beta, I should note – you can reposition the top and bottom screens, as well as enlarge the uppermost screen for a more immersive view of the action.
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As Mark Zuckerberg has been keen to point out recently, the Meta Quest 3 can do this as well (and at a fraction of the price), but outside of work, it's a great way to play 3DS games without having to cut yourself off from the world. Apple has coined this approach 'spatial computing', where you're able to have multiple 'virtual screens' dotted around the room. Released in 1995 to consumer apathy, it has gone down as the Japanese company's most costly commercial blunder, yet playing its games via the VirtualBoyGo emulator on the Meta Quest 3 is a transformative experience – even for someone like myself who owns an original Virtual Boy and has spent many headache-inducing hours craned over a desk playing it.Ĭitra running on the Quest 3 delivers something new and different, however, because it allows you to play in 'passthrough' mode so you can still view your real-world surroundings. In fact, the Meta Quest 3 (and its predecessor, the Quest 2) is already a great way to experience another of Nintendo's experiments with 3D visuals – the ill-fated Virtual Boy. VirtualBoyGo (left) was developed for Quest 2, so it doesn't offer passthrough, but Cirta (right) does – allowing you to see the world around you as you play 3DS - Images: Damien McFerran / Time Extension