The original 3DS XL came out in 2012, following the release of the 3DS in 2011. In the age of PS5 and Switch 2 it can be easy to forget about the 3DS. Released in 2011 to replace the aging DS, the 3DS promised a new era of gaming featuring a glasses-less 3D screen. And yet, early on there was little promise of success. I remember thinking about buying a 3DS in 2011, only to decide against it after witnessing the thin lineup of games available, the limited 3D function, and how weak the system was graphically (about on par with the much older PSP). However, as time went on, I began to appreciate the 3DS more. I eventually was gifted one for my birthday, with my first games being Pokémon Black, Chrono Trigger, and Mario Kart 7. Over the years my collection of 3DS games grew to incorporate titles like Pokémon X and Pokémon Moon. Then in 2016 I put my 3DS into semi-retirement, where it gathered dust in a drawer most of the time, the exception being when I had the urge play Pokémon. I redisc...