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With new 3DS titles, Nintendo's got game, finally!

From Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater to Paper Mario, solid first- and third-party titles are at long last making their way to the 3DS.
Written by Gloria Sin, Inactive

Nintendo has promised you better 3DS games and it seems

they'll be arriving in droves this winter and early next year -- at least in Japan. At the non-English 3DS Press Conference in Tokyo Tuesday, Nintendo President Satoru Iwata showed off a number of first- and third-party titles that would make even hardcore gamers add the 3DS to their holiday wish list.

Photo Gallery: 10 Hottest Nintendo 3DS titles for 2012 revealed

It looks like most of the third-party titles are not just mere ports but new versions designed to take advantage of the 3DS' glasses-free three-dimensional display. Of course, there is no telling if or when any of these titles will make it to North America (a few has just been confirmed by Nintendo America), but here are the most likely ones that will land in our retail stores soon.

(Note: Most dates/prices cited below are for the Japanese market only; we will update with North American news as they become available. Due to the fact the entire press conference was conducted in Japanese, I had to rely on Kotaku's Brian Ashcraft for his English play-by-play. Thanks, Brian!)

  • Super Mario 3D Land, November 3, 2011 (Nov. 13 for North America)
  • Mario Kart 7, December 1, 2011 (Dec. 4 for North America)
  • Metal Gear Solid 3D: Snake Eater, Winter 2011
  • Monster Hunter 3G, December 10, 2011 for 5800 yen (approximately $75 US)
    nintendo-3ds3dsconfmonster-hunter-3g.jpg
  • Theatrhythm Final Fantasy, Winter 2011
  • Resident Evil: Revelations, early 2012
  • Kid Icarus: Uprising, delayed to between January and March, 2012; 3D Kid Icarus animations will be available for free downloads (confirmed for North America)
  • Mario Tennis, 2012 (confirmed for North America)
  • Paper Mario, 2012 (confirmed for North America)
  • Luigi's Mansion 2, 2012 (confirmed for North America)
  • Animal Crossing, 2012 (confirmed for North America)
  • Mario & Sonia at the London Summer Olympic Games, Spring 2012
  • Gal's Mode (also known as Style Savvy)
  • Fire Emblem 3D (for up to 4 players), 2012
  • Ace Combat 3D Cross Rumble, 2012
  • Tekken 3D Prime Edition
  • Monster Hunter 4, under development!

Newly unveiled titles that will likely be Japan-only:

  • New Love Plus, December 8, 2011
  • SD Gundam G Generation 3D, December 22, 2011
  • Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai (with "vocaloid concerts" via AR cards), March 2012
  • Square Enix's Bravely Default: Flying Fairy (RPG), 2012
  • Tecmo's Shinrei Camera
  • Calciobit, 2012
  • Culdcept, 2012
  • Dynasty Warriors Vs. (for up to 4 players), 2012
  • Tomodatchi Collection
  • Rocket Slime
  • Gals RPG: Cindere Life

I think the Monster Hunter 3G and Monster Hunter 4 will really redefine the handheld console as more than a digital babysitter for children and get more serious gamers interested in the system. Hatsune Miku: Project Mirai sounds like it makes innovative use of the 3DS' AR feature (there's more to the console than just glasses-free 3D) so I may have to find a way to bring that title over to these shores. Any particular game catches your eye?

[Source: UStream's livestream of the 3DS Press Conference, Kotaku, Siliconera, BusinessWire]

Updated at 2:36am PT: Titles confirmed for America by Nintendo America.

Updated at 10:36am PT: Added a link to the photo gallery of 10 3DS games and link to pricing/details on the right thumbstick peripheral.

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