Nintendo 3DS Turns 2 Years Old in Europe

It's been two years of portable 3D gaming with the Nintendo 3DS celebrating its second birthday in Europe today.

On March 25th 2011 Nintendo released the successor to the DS console in Europe and after selling 113,000 units in its first two days in the UK, it became the company's most successful launch in the country.

There were two flavours available at launch - Cosmo Black and Aqua Blue, together with a fairly solid selection of games including Super Street Fighter IV: 3D Edition, Ridge Racer 3D, Nintendogs + Cats and Rayman 3D.

However sales trickled and Nintendo made the decision to cut the worldwide price of the system, launching the 3DS Ambassador Program to compensate early adopters with ten free Game Boy Advance games to download.

The newer price, together with a growing catalogue of must have games - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Star Fox 64 3D, Mario Kart 7 and Super Mario 3D Land - Nintendo 3DS began to find a growing number of new adopters by the end of the year.

2012 saw the trend continue, earning a high quality catalogue of 3D games throughout the year from both Nintendo and third parties. The eShop has also thrived, with a combination of download-only and retail releases gracing the system. Indie studios have pumped the Nintendo 3DS with eShop titles like Aero Porter, Colors! 3D, Dillon's Rolling Western and Pullblox.

Nintendo also launched the Nintendo 3DS XL (LL in Japan) during July/August 2012 offering a bigger base, screens and arguably more comfortable edges for those longer play sessions. Both the original and XL consoles still remain in production together.

With 2013 in full swing already, there's plenty in store for the Nintendo 3DS system this year and beyond.

Have you purchased a Nintendo 3DS or 3DS XL yet? What are your favourite 3DS titles so far?