Looking Back - Revisiting Nintendo Handhelds

Nintendo has dominated the world of portable gaming for decades, innovating and revolutionizing how we play on the go. Through it all, the company's vision for a handheld console has transformed from a device used only in cars, waiting rooms and airplanes, to something gamers can compare to other major home consoles on the market. Since the days of opening our first Game & Watch favorites and playing them on the go, Nintendo continues to deliver some of the most unforgettable moments of portable joy.

With the 3DS just weeks away from launch, many of us wonder if the ultimate revision of last decade's dual-screen hit will be a smashing success like its predecessors, or if Nintendo's usage of the 3D "gimmick" (once again) could cost them their continuing reign as the largest seller of handheld game systems. We're also in an age growing on digital reliance, where practically any compact device with a screen and battery could present itself as an exceptional gaming platform; this is also quite the obstacle for a handheld developer like Nintendo.

So how did it all start, and how has Nintendo continued to successfully defeat the competition on this constantly expanding market? In celebration of the 3DS and its debut, Press Pause Radio will be looking back at Nintendo's greatest triumphs in the handheld world. From Game & Watch and Game Boy, to the Nintendo DS console's final revisions, we'll blast you back to the past and share some of our most memorable moments with these amazing play-as-you-go treasures.

We'll release a new article each week, leading up to the highly anticipated launch. Be sure to keep your eyes peeled as we celebrate Nintendo's gargantuan impact on the world of portable gaming -- and don't forget about your current Tetris game while checking.