I also got a 3DS and played a few games mostly based on earlier Codex recommendations. I can say:
Etrian Odyssey - the best mix of exploration, combat, pacing, etc. for me. EOU2 is really nice (play classic, not story mode, you're fucking here for blobbing around fighting not the retarded dialogue are you), EO5 also seems quite good and similar.
Fire Emblem - the pre-3DS old ones are the best, but Fates: Conquest has been decent for me, good old turn-based combat with a fair bit of challenge. Just make sure to rapid-fire skip through literally the most retarded dialogue and character design - some kind of blender mix of 12 year old's first fanfic of a Bioware plot plus the least creative deviantart drawings of SO KAWAII MY FAVOURITE ANIME XX-CHAN SWOON.
The World Ends etc - I think it was worth playing for the novelty value alone; it's a kind of late 90s/early 00s imagination of Shibuya and generational angst that will click with anyone who enjoyed Evangelion, it's a very oddball kind of game all round, and it oozes style. Downsides are that it's not really much of a game, the mechanics are mostly there to move the story along, while the combat is very eclectic and can be hit and miss; I never really got the hang of controlling both characters on both screens at once, but people who do seem to like it. The story is basically "pretty good anime" quality, so that depends on what you normally enjoy of that genre.
Dark Spire - have not yet got a chance to go far on this yet, but this is basically an old school blobber. No hands held, lots of dying and backtracking if you aren't careful.
I can also say that as someone who liked the original Mario games then stopped, the Mario 3D game is excellent and well worth purchasing; the New Super Mario Bros. game is also good, if a bit too more-of-the-same.
Well, this is what I've played so far. I wouldn't really recommend spend good money on any of these games though (maybe 10$ as much), but well I'll just leave a brief comment and judge yourself.
Dragon Quest VII remake: A prettier port, the same game with less grindy features. Monster classes are quirky and have fun abilities, yet unnecessary to invest time on since the game is so damn easy, so you can do well with only the boring-ass human classes. Never had a single battle that challenged my blobby crew of guys with monster classes.
.
I just finished SMTIV. What do I get more if I buy Apocalypse as well? I loved the core gameplay of the game and the atmosphere and lore, BUT:
1) The game gets too easy in the end, at level 70 I had still level 50/55 demons around and no push to update them.
2) Tokyo map is a freaking maze and it's almost impossible to navigate without a guide.
3) fusing demons becomes often a matter of just moving your best skills to a demon with better magic/phy stat. It starts great, but it becomes a bit of a chore in the end.
4) NPCs are nothing to write home about
5) Last 2 dungeon (the forest where you battle the whites and purgatory) were a pain to navigate and I was totally burned: they didn't add anything apart of boring time sink and a headache.
Does Apocalypse address any of these problems? if not, I'll try another spinoff of the series (like DeSu, for example)
I just finished SMTIV. What do I get more if I buy Apocalypse as well? I loved the core gameplay of the game and the atmosphere and lore, BUT:
1) The game gets too easy in the end, at level 70 I had still level 50/55 demons around and no push to update them.
2) Tokyo map is a freaking maze and it's almost impossible to navigate without a guide.
3) fusing demons becomes often a matter of just moving your best skills to a demon with better magic/phy stat. It starts great, but it becomes a bit of a chore in the end.
4) NPCs are nothing to write home about
5) Last 2 dungeon (the forest where you battle the whites and purgatory) were a pain to navigate and I was totally burned: they didn't add anything apart of boring time sink and a headache.
Does Apocalypse address any of these problems? if not, I'll try another spinoff of the series (like DeSu, for example)