The Strength of the Nintendo 3DS

The general mood towards Nintendo, if industry analysts and investors are to believed, is somewhat grim. In the aftermath of the company's pre-TGS press conference, commentary seemed restricted to how the 3DS is doomed to fall before the iPhone and PlayStation Vita. Despite the 3DS selling reasonably well since its launch, and having strong sales since the August price drop, many seem eager to label the system as a failure.
The attitude is a bit remarkable. There's no denying Nintendo has made some mistakes, but at the end of the day, content is king. Last week the company rolled out a flood of titles, adding to what has to be considered a very strong lineup by any standard. The following is a partial list of what is due out for the system in the near future, plus one or two notable games on the horizon. A few Nintendo DS games have even made the cut, as they can and should be considered as part of the 3DS's roster heading into the holiday season.

Platform: DS
Release Date: Out Now
Genre: Touch-Based Action/Platforming
One of the newest releases for the Nintendo DS, Kirby Mass Attack is a revelation in terms of clever, innovative touch-based gameplay. The idea of controlling Kirby with a stylus is nothing new, but true to Nintendo style, the gameplay execution is a thrill.
Platform: 3DS
Release Date: Out Now
Genre: Shooter
Another game that's already in stores, Star Fox is the latest Nintendo 64 title to hit the Nintendo 3DS. Just as with Ocarina of Time earlier this year however, this remake is excellent, featuring significantly upgraded graphics and an expanded multiplayer mode. Most importantly, the gameplay holds up, and it's awesome.
Platform: DS
Release Date: October 11
Genre: Action
Aliens is the one game coming to the DS this fall that you probably didn't think twice about and weren't planning on buying. But you should think about it, and you should buy it. A "Metroid-vania" style adventure from WayForward, Infestation is a fine example of why 2D gaming should always be around.
Platform: DS
Release Date: October 17
Genre: Puzzle
We've seen several Professor Layton entries thus far, but that doesn't make them any less enjoyable. A prequel to the previous three Layton games, and the start of its own trilogy, Last Specter should prove fascinating to fans of the franchise. It also includes a 100 hour RPG, so prepare to spend a lot of time on Layton next month.
Platform: 3DS
Release Date: November 2011
Genre: Platformer
We still don't quite know when Sonic Generations will hit the Nintendo 3DS, but we're looking forward to it all the same. Its Xbox 360 and PlayStation 3 cousins have really blown us away, and our limited time with the 3DS version has us rather impressed. Brace yourself for the best 3DS grass you've ever seen.
Platform: 3DS
Release Date: November 13
Genre: Platformer
A 3D Mario that plays like its 2D predecessors? The return of the Tanooki suit and other classic Mario power-ups? The next Mario sounds like a bold experiment for Nintendo, but we have faith it's going to deliver like every other major installment. As excited as we are for Zelda, Mario is beginning to command an equal amount of attention.

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