Nintendo 3DS games console

Turning on the Nintendo 3DS for the first time is really quite exciting. We have been waiting for a great use of 3D technology for some time – and we're still sceptical about 3D television – but Nintendo appears to have found it.

The 3D effects are some of the best we've seen. But the Nintendo 3DS doesn't require you to wear glasses. Instead the 3D relies on a special display that looks 3D when you view it from a certain distance. This was a very comfortable way of playing and were soon immersed in the surprisingly, sharp, clear and effective 3D.

What the Nintendo 3DS does so well is subtlety. Things don't fly out the screen towards you; instead, the images are layered to give a real sense of depth and perspective. This makes the whole experience of playing 3D games on the DS really immersive and fun.

The 'augmented reality' (AR) cards that come bundled with the 3DS are really clever. Place one of the cards down on a table in front of the 3DS, select the AR game from the 3DS menu and the card will morph in front of your eyes as 3D objects pop out of it and start moving around.

The first task involves shooting targets that appear to grow out of the AR card. We were really impressed that, when we moved the console around the 3D targets which sprouted out of our desk, we could see behind them and around them. We moved the 3DS about taking out each of the targets, only to be told there was still one left.

This provided the 3DS with its first 'wow moment': moving the console directly above the 3D scene that had sprouted from our desk revealed a hole and in this hole is the final target.

This real sense of depth – the illusion of objects being there and you being right in the middle of them – is the 3DS's key selling point.

Another piece of included software, a comedy shooting game called Face Raiders, is far less impressive. We found that moving the console around, which is necessary to shoot the flying targets, ruined the 3D effect as the console often left the ‘sweet spot' that makes the 3D work.

Importantly, the 3D effect can be turned off: there is a switch on the side of the console that can be used to adjust its strength or disable it completely.

The 3DS is also compatible with most DS and DSi games, and there is an online store for buying 3D games or classic titles from consoles such as the Game Boy.

In terms of looks, the 3DS isn't a major departure from previous versions. It retains the same basic design. The bottom screen is touch-sensitive to either a stylus or a finger, and the top screen is where all the 3D action takes place.

The buttons are much the same, but there is now a small analogue joystick for your left thumb: this is nicely recessed, making it comfortable to use.

Switch to camera mode and you can take 3D pictures using the two cameras on the back of the device. Taking photos in 3D is a really nice trick, although the quality of the images wasn't always great. Photos taken can be stored on the 2GB SD card that is included with the console.

Importantly, the Nintendo 3DS is fun to use and technically impressive. The quality of the 3D effect is very good and the fact that you don't need to wear special glasses is a huge advantage over other 3D systems.

The ultimate test of any games console is, of course, the games that are made for it, and at the moment it's just too early to judge these – although Nintendo fans will no doubt be happy to hear that Super Mario 3D is on its way. When it comes to the console itself, though, the 3DS is almost perfect.

The Nintendo 3DS is available in the UK from 25 March.