Think the 3DS Launch Line-up Sucks? A Comparison of Past Nintendo Launches

There's been a lot of whining on message boards over the last week about the Nintendo 3DS North American launch line-up. Admittedly, some of the criticisms and disappointment expressed by fans online has been warranted. Frankly, the 3DS launch line-up isn't Nintendo's best – even if what Reggie says about it being a strong third-party line-up for a Nintendo platform is true. The lack of a clear flagship title – well – just straight-up sucks for Nintendo fans.

That said, I thought it'd be worthwhile to look back at some of Nintendo's other launch efforts. Below you'll find a list of all of Nintendo's North American launch line-ups over the decades.

In perspective, the 3DS launch line-up isn't the end of the world. It's actually not all that bad even. Certainly, it's better than the DS launch – or at least appears to be. Even if I'm still not particularly excited about the handheld (check back soon for a write-up on why), the launch line-up is far from the disaster many are labeling it as.

Nintendo 3DS
Pilotwings Resort
Nintendogs + Cats
Steeldiver
Dead or Alive
Pro Evolution Soccer 2011 3D
Madden NFL
Super Street Fighter IV 3D
Asphalt 3D
Combat of Giants: Dinosaurs 3D
Ridge Racer 3D
Resident Evil: The Mercenaries
LEGO Star Wars III: The Clone Wars

Nintendo Wii
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Excite Truck
Wii Sports* (pack in)
Call of Duty 3
Red Steel
Rayman Raving Rabbids
GT Pro Series
Monster 4X4 World Circuit
Happy Feet
Super Monkey Ball: Banana Blitz
Need for Speed: Carbon
Madden NFL 2007
Dragon Ball Z: Budokai Tenkaichi 2
Cars
Avatar: The Last Airbender
Spongebob Squarepants: Creature from the Krusty Krab
Rampage: Total Destruction
The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy
Tony Hawk’s Downhill Jam
Marvel Ultimate Alliance
Trauma Center: Second Opinion

Nintendo DS
Asphalt Urban GT
Feel the Magic: XY/XX
Madden NFL 2005
Mr. Driller: Drill Spirits
Ping Pals
Ridge Racer DS
Spider-Man 2
Sprung
Metroid Prime Hunters: First Hunt
Super Mario 64 DS
The Urbz: Sims in the City
Tiger Woods PGA Tour

Nintendo GameCube
All-Star Baseball 2002
Batman Vengeance
Crazy Taxi
Dave Mirra Freestyle BMX 2
Disney's Tarzan Untamed
Luigi's Mansion
Madden NFL 2002
NHL Hitz 20-02
Star Wars Rogue Squadron II: Rogue Leader
Super Monkey Ball
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 3
Wave Race: Blue Storm

Game Boy Advance
Army Men Advance
Castlevania: Circle of the Moon
ChuChu Rocket!
Earthworm Jim
F-Zero: Maximum Velocity
Fire Pro Wrestling
GT Advance Championship Racing
Iridion 3D
Konami Krazy Racers
Namco Museum
Pinobee: Wings of Adventure
Pitfall: The Mayan Adventure
Rayman Advance
Ready 2 Rumble Boxing: Round 2
Super Dodge Ball Advance
Super Mario Advance
Tony Hawk's Pro Skater 2

Game Boy Color
Tetris DX
Game & Watch Gallery 2
Centipede
Pocket Bomberman

Nintendo 64
Super Mario 64
Pilotwings 64

SNES
Super Mario World
F-Zero
Pilotwings

NES
Balloon Fight
Baseball
Clu Clu Land
Donkey Kong Jr. Math
Duck Hunt
Excitebike
Golf
Gyromite
Hogan's Alley
Ice Climber
Kung Fu
Mach Rider
Pinball
Stack-Up
Super Mario Bros.
Tennis
Wild Gunman
Wrecking Crew

There you have it. The 3DS is definitely not Nintendo's brightest moment in its history of launch line-ups, but is it its worst? Nope, not that either.