Opinion: Has Nintendo now done enough to save the 3DS?

Try to summon the following image to mind: Nintendo takes up its 3DS surfboard and races into the waves, ready to take them on head-first.

However, from the moment the first wave hits, it's obviously that Nintendo isn't exactly in full control. It crests a wave, then gets wiped out. Every so often it almost seems to be regaining control, but another wave always comes along and churns it over.

This has basically been the last eight months for the Nintendo 3DS. It appeared to have so much potential, but it hasn't really fulfilled its promise, despite a number of boosters along the way.

The month of October, however, has seen the biggest boosts to the handheld has had so far, with the announcement of a big firmware update on the way, new features added to the hardware, and the promise of an expansion to the console's current game line-up.

Has the Nintendo 3DS finally received the kick up the arse that it needed? We're still a bit wary here at Pocket Gamer, as we've been promised lots of things from the 3DS that still haven't been provided, but for the first time since its launch we're finally feeling excited again.

The new firmware update, due to be released some time in November, is the biggest update to the console so far, adding some features that we've been pinning for, and others that come as a welcome surprise.

The big one is the 3D video recording which, when it comes down to it, is actually a huge deal.

We remember passing the console around family members and friends earlier in the year and seeing impressed faces. However, the big question was always 'does it do 3D recording too?'

No doubt the handheld will once again be passed around on Christmas day, this time with satisfaction guaranteed.

Then there's the new StreetPass games, including a new StreetPass Quest to complete - something we've wanted ever since we finished the last one.

There's still an underlying feeling around Pocket Gamer Towers that a lot more StreetPass games are needed to really engage us in the functionality, but this will definitely keep us going for another little while until Nintendo inevitably fires out something new.

The launch of the eShop was a landmark moment for the 3DS. Then it rapidly became apparent that there's barely anything in the digital store to play.

Now Nintendo has promised to give a real push to the online features, with an overhauled eShop as part of the upcoming firmware update - albeit consisting of features that should have been there at the very beginning.

DLC for retail games will soon be available, along with demos for you to try out. We've also been promised lots more 3D Classics titles, including Kirby’s Adventure, originally for the NES.

Up to now, we've seen two original 3DS eShop games. That's two in four months - a pitiful number.

Now we're promised at least three new downloads between now and Christmas, including puzzlers Freakyforms and Pullblox and a tool for drawing pictures for your friends called Nintendo Letter Box.

It's still not enough - especially if you compare it to a competitor like the App Store, or even Xbox Live Arcade. But it's a step in the right direction, and hopefully things will pick up in 2012.

It sounds like we're finally get some decent games as well.

There's a new Harvest Moon on the way, a new Kingdom Hearts, downloadable title The Rolling Western, and a whole host of Japanese games. Hopefully, some of those will make it over this side of the pond.

For now, however, Nintendo is really focusing on the launch of Mario Kart 7, with a new Mario Kart channel announced for free download on your 3DS. If you've downloaded the Mario Kart Wii channel before, you'll know what to expect with this.

It's a great initiative, and we're looking forward to playing around with it. However, it does make us wonder if Nintendo is focusing so heavily on just a couple of titles because it doesn't really have anything else to offer in the near future in terms of games.

The company did promise us 'new genres' are to come, along the same lines as the popular Brain Training and Wii Fit, but those could be a whole year away - and in that time the PlayStation Vita will launch, potentially stealing the 3DS's thunder.

And this is the big picture, really - the PS Vita is due to be in our hands by next February, and if the 3DS still hasn't offered something incredible by then Sony could very well steal the show with an incredible launch.

For now, the latest announcement is a big step in the right direction for Nintendo. Now we need more retail games, more eShop games, more StreetPass features and a whole lot more excitement.

Here's hoping Nintendo can surprise us over the next few months.