Well, maybe not all 8-bit, but with a pair of NES classics kicking off the company’s 8-bit Summer- it feels like 1989 all over again.
I kinda split the difference there with the dates, in actuality this week’s pair of NES games posting to the 3DS’ eShop were released in 1987 and 1991 respectively. Both The Legend of Zelda and NES Tournament Open Golf are now available for all your Summer vacationing pleasure.
NES Open I could honestly take or leave as I don’t really need the thrill of putting with Luigi, but LoZ? That’s a classic. Sort of goes without saying that if you’ve never played it (for some odd reason), then you need to. It’s awesome. Period.
I’m also pretty pumped up for the Heroes of Ruin demo that just arrived. It’s an action/RPG from Square/Enix that has a kind of cartoony look and has a heavy emphasis on loot- all you Diablo and Borderlands players know how that song goes. It feels like it’s going to be a winner, so make sure you grab it and give it a shot.
So the 8-Bit Summer is here and there’s lots to like. Crank the AC!
3DS
Games
- The Legend of Zelda – $4.99 — Celebrate the Nintendo eShop “8-bit Summer” series with this smash-hit adventure, originally released on the NES™ console in 1987. Help Link™ restore the Triforce, rescue the princess and thwart Ganon’s evil plans.
- NES Open Tournament Golf – $4.99 — This classic NES game from 1991 – now available for Nintendo 3DS as part of the Nintendo eShop’s “8-bit Summer” series – lets you challenge another player in Stroke, Match and Tournament modes.
- Family Tennis 3D – $6.99 — This casual tennis game features eight playable characters and six different courts, all packed with variety. Start with the Tournament mode to unlock everything in the gallery, then try the mini games.
- Akari by Nikoli – $4.99 — With the Nikoli puzzle series, you can enjoy high-quality “Akari” puzzles, created by Nikoli, who gave the world-famous puzzle “Sudoku” its name. The Nintendo 3DS allows for the realization of simple and easy to play operability.
Demos
- Heroes of Ruin – Enter the Elder Forest using a customized character from one of two classes – Vindicator or Gunslinger. Discover fierce villains, optional side quests and the ability to link up with friends through local or worldwide multiplayer.
Game of the Weekend
- Sakura Samurai – $4.99 — The “Game of the Weekend” program is featuring Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword. For a limited time this precision sword-fighting game is available at a special price of $4.99. Offer is valid from 9 a.m. Pacific time on Friday, July 6, through 9 p.m. Pacific time on Sunday, July 8.
3DS/DSi
Games
- 3, 2, 1… Words Up! – $1.99/200 points — Build the maximum number of words with the same combination of letters. Do it before time runs out or you will lose! Challenge yourself in this unique game of wit and skill. Practice your mental agility and your knowledge of the language in 3, 2, 1… WordsUp!
- Topoloco – $4.99/500 points — For each of the 5 continents he covers you can practice your skills in a series of mini-games like locating cities and countries, dragging flags, and more! You can practice as much as you want in order to prepare for a final exam which you can take whenever you think you’re ready. Topoloco is both a fun topography learning game and a digital atlas for all ages.
Wii
WiiWare
- Let’s Create! Pottery – 500 points — With “Let’s Create! Pottery” making ceramics has never been more simple and fun! Become a true artist and create “one of a kind” pottery items and share them with your friends!
Virtual Console
- 2020 Super Baseball – 900 points — Originally released in 1991, this is not your typical baseball game. In the near future, there are two leagues with a total of 12 teams for players to choose from. Pick your team and go for the championship. The games are held at the exclusive Cyber Egg Stadium, where the home run zone is alarmingly small and the fair zone is unusually wide. There is even a stop zone to stop any ball that lands there. As the game progresses Crackers (mines) are installed. During games, armor can be purchased to reinforce your players. All this makes for a unique baseball experience. You may be a bit perplexed at first, but once you get used to it and begin devising a strategy, you might even start enjoying all the curveballs being thrown at you.
I watched the video of Family Tennis 3D, and my eyes burn. The 3D effect is all over the place. Objects in the background look like they're upfront, foreground objects seem far away. It's a real mess and ugly on the eyes immensely.
Haha, I would be very surprised if anyone bought this, considering Mario Tennis was only just released.
A pretty awesome week actually. I enjoyed an hour with the Heroes of Ruin demo, yes, even without Chocobos.
Looking forward to more 8-bit love next week.