GoNintendo 'End of Day' thought - Is the 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro heading your way?

A busy week ahead, my friends. Lots of goodies to cover, I'm sure. Monday already proved to be ripe with rumors. We'll see how many turn out true as the week rolls on! See you in a few, short hours.

Let's be honest here. The Circle Pad Pro hasn't really seen that much love from developers, Nintendo included. There are a handful of titles that support the add-on device, but it's not necessary to enjoy the games that are out there. It does indeed make some titles a bit more comfortable when you play, but nothing you absolutely have to shell out the cash for.

If there were ever a reason to pick up a Circle Pad Pro for your 3DS, it would have to be Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate. It seems like the single reason the device exists. Again, you can play Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate without the Circle Pad Pro, but there are going to be times when it really tests your patience.

I'm currently tackling Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate on the 3DS XL. That means I am not using the Circle Pad Pro XL, as it was only put up for purchase in North America last week. With this being my first real foray into Monster Hunter, I wondered just how bad it could be without a Circle Pad Pro. Things aren't all that bad with the controls. Actually, it's all quite manageable...until you fight underwater.

There are a number of monsters that want to fight underwater, which means camera control is super important. You have to point the way you want to go. Using a virtual d-pad to get that done just doesn't provide the tactile response you need. Is it possible to run through the game without the CPP? It is, and that's how I've been doing it. The thing is, the water hunts/captures are so intense that struggling with the virtual d-pad is not something I want to do.

I plopped down my cash to order a Circle Pad Pro XL and it's on its way. If you purchased the retail copy of MH3U, you can just switch over to your 3DS with the CPP. If you've gone the digital route on your 3DS XL, your only option is to buy the CPPXL. Either that, or transfer your 3DS XL goodies over to another 3DS!

How many of you have already purchased a 3DS XL Circle Pad Pro? How many of you are planning to do so? If you are grabbing one, is Monster Hunter 3 Ultimate your motivation? If that's not the case, let us know why you're picking one up!