Hyrule Warriors Legends - 3dsI've been spending a lot of time with my 3ds lately, so I decided to give this a go despite having played it back on the Wii-U. I also don't own the Switch version, which is the "definitive" version. From what I have researched the bulk of the Switch version's content was already on the 3ds version (and actually introduced in that version). The switch only adds co op, two new costumes, and a bonus mode that lets you play as Ganon in his large, monstrous form. That all sounds cool, but not reason enough to upgrade
The game holds up well on 3ds. I imagine the console versions have improved graphics, performance, etc., but playing this on the 3ds provided me with a similar experience to how I remember the game on Wii-U. I should note that I played it on the new 3ds (XL model with dual IPS screens), by all accounts it's not a good idea to play this on an original 3ds. I had the 3d turned on. The effect is nice, but honestly you don't need it. The game doesn't do much with it compared to other 3ds ports like Captain Toad Treasure Tracker and it's occasionally distracting when the eye tracking gets wonky.
I like some of the additions that were added when the game moved to the 3ds. I don't know if they were retroactively added to the Wii-U version via updates/DLC. I don't remember having fast travel options on the Wii-U version, but it's here in certain levels. That along with being able to switch control between playable characters helps speed things up in each stage as you try to complete all of the objectives. You can also order playable characters you aren't directly controlling to move to different spots on the map, but my god it takes them forever to get there.
You can use fairies in this version. There's a mode where you feed them and stuff in order to make them grow and get stronger. It's like taking care of a pet or something. This pays off when you bring them into battle. They have various abilities you can use, plus a powerful magic attack that is like dropping a nuke on the battlefield. The process of making them stronger and getting whatever various abilities you want is a bit complicated, but you'll figure out if you use a nice internet guide. There's a process like in Disgaea where you reset their level whenever they hit level 99 and then level them up again which makes them stronger and stronger. Basically, the fairies give you one more powerful tool to use in combat, so it's a nice addition. Plus, it's part of Zelda tradition to have fairies helping Link.
There's other new stuff they put in the game too like new weapon skills and characters.
All in all, it's a great port IMO, but you should probably opt for the Switch version if you can. This version is a great alternative though, but not if you have the OG model of the 3ds. Before they released the Switch version, the 3ds port was the best way to play this game if you had a new 3ds. It had more content than the Wii-U version and was at the time the only portable way to play it. All of that was worth the small performance/graphics downgrades.
Fire Emblem Warriors - 3dsSo this is the spiritual successor to Hyrule Warriors. While there are similarities between both games, this one has more of a Dynasty Warriors vibe to it than HW. In fact, having played the best warriors games (3, 5, and 8 ), in some ways I enjoyed this game much more. I feel like FEW gives you more control than a lot of other musou games do. You can switch control between different playable characters on the battlefield, which isn't a new thing. However, you can also give them various commands. What I love is that unlike some musou games (including Hyrule Warriors), your allies are actual CAPABLE and USEFUL. If you order them to take out an enemy or seize a fort, more often than not they actual will do just that. This isn't like some musou games where basically any character is completely useless until you take direct control of them. I love doling out tasks to my partners and knowing that they'll actually get them done, unless you send them into a bad situation where they will be at a serious disadvantage. You can even order allies to guard a unit, or more importantly, heal someone. This is so incredibly useful. You don't have to completely panic when someone is in danger as you race to their location, dropping whatever you were doing. Instead you can send other units to go deal with the situation or at least keep the person alive until you can get there. This may be the first musou game I've played where I don't feel like I have to do everything myself. It's about damn time
The game has little Dynasty Warriors touches to it too, like raising morale by seizing forts. Once you take a fort, you and your allies can use it to heal. I love some of the Fire Emblem elements in the game too. You can pair up with people to make you stronger in battle and even alternate control between them with a touch of a button like tagging in a partner in a fighting game. Speaking of fighting games, your partner can even do an assist attack, useful when the enemy is weak to your partner's weapon and resistant to yours. Yeah, that's right, the game has the whole Fire Emblem weapon wheel thing where some enemies will have an advantage/disadvantage against you based on your chosen weapons. You also need to keep track of things like what classes are strong/weak against others, and whether or not characters are weak to specific weapons or magic. This all applies to both your army and the enemy. All of this stuff carries over the strategic feel of the Fire Emblem games. Plus, some parts of the game will require you to use flying units to access parts of the map or deal with certain enemies. That's the other thing that brings a nice Dynasty Warriors feel, the usefulness of mounted units whether on horseback or on flying creatures. It's tons of fun to zip around the battlefield on a dragon or Pegasus and knock someone up into the air and juggle the crap out of them since you can stay in the air for quite a while with a flying unit.
Also, combat somehow feels faster, flashier, and more aggressive compared to Hyrule Warriors. I think because the game just seems to give you more offensive options. The pair up system gives you a huge edge as long as you don't mind taking one of your controllable characters off of the battlefield. It's one less person to give orders to, but in return you become much more dangerous with that character teaming up with you. Plus, taking a fort is as simple as killing one guy versus the obnoxious way you have to keep chipping away at low level mooks to take a keep in Hyrule Warriors (unless you're playing as Ganon). I feel more powerful in Fire Emblem Warriors, which is how a musou game SHOULD be, and I feel like I actually have a useful army unlike 90% of musou games I've played.
Another perk versus Hyrule Warriors is that the game has tons of voice acting, which makes battles livelier than the boring grunts and yells of Hyrule Warriors. Zelda games have this fear of voice acting for whatever reason. Another bonus is that FEW added a Japanese voice option via DLC so no one needs to get into a sub versus dub debate.
The bonding system is here too, like other Fire Emblem games. Pairing up with people, healing them, etc. increases the bonds between characters. This unlocks various character upgrades and the occasional conversation scene.
There are some negatives. The game represents your character on the mini map with this gigantic sprite. This often makes it hard to see where you need to go because the sprite obscures so much of the map screen. There's a zoom in function that helps, but having to keep using it or pausing the game to see where to go on the map is annoying. This is a downgrade from the simple arrows Hyrule Warriors uses to represent characters. Also, using the inner shoulder buttons on the new 3ds (I think this game isn't even available on the old 3ds) for things like locking on or activating your awakened state is somewhat awkward. I found myself missing the simple, tap up on the dpad lockon system of Hyrule Warriors. Control-wise, that game is slightly better than Fire Emblem Warriors, but FEW gives you far more options in each level. Heck, you can even assign orders to your units prior to starting a level (like having them pair up with someone without your direct control or just sending them somewhere on the map to do something) or decide their starting positions on the map. FEW gives you so much choice and control and I love that. I guess it's a nod to the strategy RPG roots of the series, even though this is a musou game. There's even AI settings you can set for characters you aren't controlling though I didn't use them that often.
Again, this game probably looks/runs better on the Switch, but I had a blast playing it on the 3ds, and unlike Hyrule Warriors there is no missing content here. Also, compared to the HW port, I felt like there were more enemies onscreen.
Captain Toad Treasure Tracker - 3dsYet another 3ds port, though you could have fooled me into thinking this game was originally made for the 3ds, because its bite-sized levels feel so portable friendly. This is a fun puzzle platformer with a focus on finding collectibles. I love the call back to Super Mario Bros. 2 of pulling up turnips in the ground and throwing them at enemies. Toad can't jump or attack, and it's fun seeing how the game gets you to creatively get rid of enemies. There's also a fun bonus objective in each level of finding a pixilated, 8-bit looking version of Captain Toad hiding in each level and tapping it with your stylus.
The 3d effect is really well done in this game. Again, it's hard to believe that this game was not made for the 3ds. The ability to move a level around and view it from different angles is cool and required to help you navigate the environment or find collectibles. It's like each stage is this little, cube-like, thing being held by some divine entity and he is moving it around and viewing it from different angles. That's the best way I can think of to describe it. You're that entity. Only thing I don't like about the game is the gimmicky way you have to use the stylus to interact with some things in the stages. It feels awkward being forced to take your right hand off the face buttons and finagle with the touch screen to try and move an object right in the middle of a fight against a boss. Nintendo always goes over board with gimmicky stuff in their games in order to justify the odd way they design all of their consoles/handhelds (see Starfox Zero or the original Donkey Kong Country Returns). This stuff could have just been handled with the tap of a button.
All in all though, this is a fun game that oozes that Nintendo, first party, charm. It's basically another Mario spinoff and a must play for Mario fans or anyone who likes a good platformer. While the other two games mentioned in this post are good ports, Captain Toad actually feels like it was MADE for the 3ds.