New Nintendo downloads this week in America and Europe. The games go live on Thursdays in America at 9AM Pacific time and in Europe at 5PM UK/GMT time.
Today’s big addition is the Sega Game Gear games joining the 3DS Virtual Console! Sega has promised to keep all games retro faithful. As such, the menu options allow you to change the: screen mode, system color (black, blue, yellow or red), ghosting/after image, performance. I was a Nintendo Game Boy kid, so the only times I could play was on my nephew’s Sega Game Gear. It’ll be fun to relive some portable Sonic & Co. on 3DS!
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Nintendo has now added new/classic games to the Wii Shop Channel, Nintendo DSi Shop and Nintendo 3DS eShop. Users with a high-speed Internet connection can redeem Wii Points or Nintendo DSi Points to download the games. Wii Points can be purchased in the Wii Shop Channel. Nintendo DSi Points can be purchased in the Nintendo DSi Shop. While the Nintendo eShop is a cash-based service, where virtual wallets are added to using a credit card or by purchasing a Nintendo 3DS Prepaid Card at a retail store and entering the code from the card. A Nintendo Points Card can be purchased at retail locations or Amazon.com.
American Nintendo Downloads
Nintendo 3DS eShop:
• Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble (3DS Virtual Console / Sega Game Gear, $5)
Game Description: Sonic and Tails are back with three times the fun and three times the trouble! Dr. Robotnik is building the ultimate super-weapon with the help of Knuckles, but you can stop him by getting the Chaos Emeralds first. Rip across snow and water on Sonic’s new jet skateboard or zip underwater in Tails’ “Sea Fox”. But look out – Nack the Weasel is after the Emeralds, too!
• Shinobi (3DS Virtual Console / Sega Game Gear, $4)
Game Description: Shinobi. It’s Japanese for stealth, the perfect description of a Master Ninja. And that’s exactly what you are! Armed with throwing stars and finely-honed battle skills, you must defeat the Ring of Five. Fight your way past mercenaries and karate thugs. Take out the meanest martial artists and rescue hostages. But these dangers pale in comparison to your ultimate challenge: A fight to the death against five evil Ninja Assassins whose mastery of the deadly ancient arts may well surpass your own!
• Dragon Crystal (3DS Virtual Console / Sega Game Gear, $3)
Game Description: In Dragon Crystal you must fight countless battles with frightful creatures, as you search for the way out of a bizarre world of labyrinths.
• Kid Icarus 3D Anime: Episode 1 – Thanatos Rising (Video, Free)
Nintendo DSiWare & 3DS eShop:
• Pirates Assault (200 DSi Points / $2)
Description: Enemies have come in search of your Treasure, Captain! Pirates Assault is tower defense game that brings a little twist to the genre. A treasure must be protected, and to accomplish that you have to build the best defense strategy. Even if some pieces of the treasure are stolen, they can be retrieved as long as the enemy that stole your treasure is on the screen and alive. If the enemy is sunk, that piece of treasure can’t be recovered.
Nintendo WiiWare:
• Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge (Wii Virtual Console / NEO-GEO, 900 Wii Points)
Description: Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge is the fourth instalment in the Samurai Shodown series launched in 1996. The combat system is essentially the same as in the third instalment, Blades of Blood, with tweaks added to enhance the combat experience, such as a vastly altered Rage Explosion System and more powerful chain combos. The ending also changes depending on the time taken to clear the game, encouraging players to improve their skills and speed if they want to see the One True Ending. Players can choose from 17 samurai warriors, including new characters Kazuki Kazama and Sogetsu Kazama, to battle their way through the game.
European Nintendo Downloads
Nintendo 3DS eShop:
• Metroid (3DS Virtual Console / NES, £4.50 / €5)
• Sega’s Rhythm Thief & the Emperor’s Treasure Demo (Free)
• Shaun the Sheep 3D: Episode 2 – Penalty! (Video, Free)
• Flying Steps (Video, Free)
Nintendo DSiWare & 3DS eShop:
• Battle of the Elements (500 DSi Points / £4.50 / €5)
• 1st Class Poker & BlackJack (500 DSi Points / £4.50 / €5)
Nintendo Wii Shop:
• Strider (Wii Virtual Console / Sega Mega Drive, 800 Wii Points)
Future Downloadable 3DS eShop Games & Software:
Upcoming Releases In March:
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble (SEGA, Game Gear) March 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Shinobi (SEGA, Game Gear) March 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Dragon Crystal (SEGA, Game Gear) March 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Dr Mario (Nintendo, NES or Game Boy) March 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Kid Icarus Of Myths and Monsters (Nintendo USA, Game Boy) March 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – 3D Classics: Kid Icarus (Nintendo USA, 3DSWare) March 2012
• Nintendo DSiWare – Cave Story (Nicalis) March 2012
• Wii Virtual Console – Mega Man 5 (CAPCOM, NES) March 2012
• Wii Virtual Console – Strider (CAPCOM, NES) March 2012
• Wii Virtual Console – Super Street Fighter 2 with added Online Multiplayer! (CAPCOM, SNES) March 2012
Upcoming Releases In April:
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – SpeedThru: Potzol’s Puzzle (Nintendo) April 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – 3D Solitaire (Zen Studios) April 2012
• Wii Virtual Console – Metal Slug 3 (D4 Entertainment, NEO-GEO) April 2012
• WiiWare – La-Mulana (Nicalis) April 2012
Upcoming Releases In 2012:
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Toki Tori (Two Tribes, Game Boy Color) Q2 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – Art of Balance TOUCH! (Shin’en Multimedia) Q2 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – Colors! 3D (Collecting Smiles) Q2 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – Mutant Mudds (Renegade Kid) Q2 2012 [in Europe]
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – Picross e (Jupiter) Q2 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – Marvel Pinball 3D (Zen Studios) Q2 2012
• Nintendo DSiWare – Amoebattle (Intrinsic Games) Q2 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Kirby’s Dream Land 2 (Nintendo, Game Boy) 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Sonic Labyrinth (SEGA, Game Gear) 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Sonic Blast (SEGA, Game Gear) 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Sonic Drift 2 (SEGA, Game Gear) 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console – Columns (SEGA, Game Gear) 2012
• Nintendo 3DS Download Software – Bit Boy!! ARCADE (Bplus, 3DSWare) 2012