Sega’s Game Gear portable is fondly remembered by many for it’s full color screen, backlight (that was big back then!), and horrible, horrible battery life.
Now that the GG’s library is starting to show up on the 3DS’ eShop, at least you won’t have to worry about the battery anymore. Oh wait…
Anyway… a trio of favorites from the early days of handheld gaming have appeared for your downloading pleasure. Sonic Triple Trouble, Shinobi, and Dragon Crystal are all on point representing Sega’s first Virtual Console offerings.
If you’re looking for recomendations- I’d give Sonic and Shinobi a spin. Both games are patterned after the series’ classic entry’s and were pretty good fun back in ‘the day’.
eShop
3DS
- Sonic the Hedgehog: Triple Trouble – $4.99 — Race to retrieve Chaos Emeralds that have been scattered across the planet Mobius. Loop, blast and super-spin-dash through six zones, five bonus rounds and a wild 3D stage.
- Shinobi – $3.99 — An evil force emanating from Neo City has captured your fellow students, and only you can save them. Attack with your powerful katana as you battle for their freedom.
- Dragon Crystal – $2.99 — Pass through 30 worlds in search of the Magic Goblet. Blaze a trail through the treacherous labyrinths of four magic kingdoms, collecting weapons, armor, magic books, potions, rods and rings as you go.
eShop/DSi
- Pirates Assault – $1.99/200 points — 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 Video
- Kid Icarus 3D Anime – free — Nintendo is partnering with renowned Japanese animation studios to celebrate the Kid Icarus franchise and bring their latest creations exclusively to Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Video™. The first anime series, Thanatos Rising, comes from Production I.G. Look for videos from Shaft, Inc. and Studio 4°C, coming soon!
Wii
Virtual Console
- Samurai Showdown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge – 900 points — Samurai Shodown IV: Amakusa’s Revenge is the fourth installment in the Samurai Shodown series, which launched in 1996. The combat system is essentially the same as in the third installment, 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 it takes 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.
