Nintendo plans to launch its eShop service for 3DS on June 6. In addition to cutting-edge games specifically designed for the glasses-free 3-D handheld, the digital store will stock a backlog of 20 years’ worth of gaming on the go. Classic titles from the Game Boy and Game Boy Color libraries will be available to play using the 3DS Virtual Console.
In selecting games for the eShop, Nintendo will be spoiled for choice: Well over a thousand games were released for the two machines during the ’90s. Because the company has adopted a quality-over-quantity approach for its digital store, we don’t expect to see them all. However, Jason Schreier, Daniel Feit and I have compiled this list of classics that we don’t think the 3DS Virtual Console can do without.
If your tastes run to the other 95 percent of the Game Boy library, drop us a line in the comments to let us know what you’re hoping to see in the Nintendo eShop.
Above:
Nintendo Superstars
Super Mario Land series: These quirky takes on the Mario series were an experimental playground for ideas that were never used in other games, like bouncing projectiles and shoot’em-up stages. Exploiting the first game’s bugs is half the fun. —Chris Kohler
Kirby’s Dream Land series: Nintendo’s pink puffball got his start right here in black-and-white. Adorable graphics and awesome music are second to the fact that you can ride on a hamster in the sequel. —Chris Kohler
Wario Land series: Mario collected coins as a hobby, but his evil twin (cousin? weird uncle?) Wario turned it into an obsession. The ultimate goal of these action games is to collect as much treasure as possible in order to build a massive castle and make Mario jealous. Further series installments played around with new mechanics — Wario became unkillable, and the gameplay took on a much more puzzle-y tone. —Jason Schreier
Images: The Video Game Museum
See Also: – Buyer Beware: Rating Nintendo 3DS Launch Games