[...]
This C-Stick isn't really something you can flick, which makes me wonder how it will feel to use in Super Smash Bros. for 3DS.
But, like I said above, the C-Stick is an extremely welcome addition for camera controls.
The Slide Pad appears to be the same Slide Pad on current 3DS models, and I personally didn't notice a difference. The Dpad and the face buttons all felt nice (the buttons were slightly clicky), and everything else appeared to be in good working order. The new added shoulder buttons (ZR and ZL) required more of a reach to use, but since they stick out slightly, they were easy enough to use. The back of the handheld, however, was glossy plastic, and I kind of wish Nintendo would have gone with a nice matte finish.
The biggest surprise was not the controls. The improved 3D effect is truly improved. It actually surprised me how good the effect looks now. This is something I've long hated on the original 3DS and have rarely used because it made my eyes tired. Instead of making you feel like you are crossing your eyes, the new 3DS effect has more of a shadow-box effect than you get with the current 3DS. Instead of feeling like the game is popping out, it's as though the New 3DS is drawing you into the game.
To help pull off the 3D effect, Nintendo installed new face tracking software. You can move your head around and don't have to constantly fiddle with your positioning or the slider to keep the 3D effect. The tracking wasn't completely smooth, however, as there is some herky-jerky panning to calculate the effect.
[...]