While everyone is off enjoying the continued success and new titles constantly releasing for the Switch, Nintendo’s previous consoles about to sunset. On March 27th, 2023; both the Nintendo 3DS and Nintendo Wii U eShops will be closing, meaning that sales of downloadable titles, DLC, and applications. You’ll still be able to download your previously purchased items, but any new purchases of 3DS & Wii U digital content will not be possible, leaving only whatever physical means that you can find. However, with the time we have left, some of the Source Gaming team have come together to share what software of both the 3DS & Wii U eShops we personally recommend for you to purchase before the closure.
Your place of birthright, an adoptive family of conquest, or a path that reveals all. The second 3DS title in Nintendo’s SRPG series, Fire Emblem Fates, was released back in February 2016 and with its release came a catch. Following a similar method akin to Pokémon, the story of Fire Emblem Fates was split across two games for players to purchase: Fire Emblem Fates: Conquest and Fire Emblem Fates: Birthright. However, if you purchased the special edition of Fire Emblem Fates, another path was included: Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation – the third and final part of Fates’ story. But, if you didn’t purchase the special edition, then the only way to acquire Revelation is by purchasing it not through the eShop, but through the DLC menu within the Fates titles themselves. With the time that you have left, you can purchase Fire Emblem Fates: Revelation for $19.99. Otherwise, that means a third of Fates’ gameplay and story will be lost, unavailable for newer fans to experience. Although many say that Fates’ story is hit or miss, depending on which path you play, the gameplay is always fun and Revelation takes from both paths to create a complimentary experience, even if you’ve only played one of the paths.
Those of us in the rumor mill have heard at least one whisper about a port or remake of Kid Icarus: Uprising. I’d be ecstatic if that turned out true, but until then I can’t not recommend one of the single most frenetic and imaginative games ever cooked up by Nintendo, its handhelds, and Smash Bros. maestro Masahiro Sakurai. Ostensibly a reboot and sequel to a game made twenty-five years earlier, Uprising is more a burst of creativity that takes every idea the NES Kid Icarus had, twists them into something new entirely, and then submerges them in a sea of new characters, mechanics and ideas. Between the innovative difficulty scale, stellar writing and acting, and addictive gameplay loop, it was something else. And, its one true flaw, its problematic 3DS control scheme, would be fixed by a port to a system with a standard control stick. Of course, that’s assuming a port happens, and until then I’d like to give it a shout-out. It’s exactly what the 3DS was at its best: new, old, and triumphantly weird.
NightSky is a little game where you play as a ball going through various physics-based challenges with the sole goal of getting to the next screen. It’s a quaint little title that I enjoyed and I often revisit it when I’m feeling down and want a small pick-me-up. Its atmospheric music combined with the satisfying sound effects and addicting gameplay makes for the perfect package. It is also on Steam.
A collection of Wii games were released for the Wii U eShop that are all $20 each. While I could talk about an actual Wii U game, I feel the call to shill one of my favorite games of all time, the ill-fated Trauma Team, the last game in the Trauma Center series. It’s an exciting story from beginning to end with great character writing and a myriad of memorable moments, with the Forensics portions of the game being home to some of my favorite stories ever told. The second Forensics chapter broke me. The surgeries are all fun as well, though Endoscopy can be a little clunky. If you’ve been looking for an excuse to break out the Wii Remote and Nunchuck, you simply can’t go wrong with Trauma Team. I just hope you don’t have a European Wii U, because it’s not available there.
Few games actually utilized the gamepad, so you might as well get the ones that do. But it’s not an arbitrary recommendation by any means (otherwise I’d include Star Fox Zero). It’s a tower defense game from the perspective of individually placed security cameras. If you played Five Nights at Freddy’s, you have no excuse not to try this… especially when there are more gameplay mechanics to it 😛. Checking back and forth between multiple cameras while trying to take out robots is exhilarating! Especially when you find out one of your cameras was hacked and had a corrupt feed to look like nothing was there. Now you know how security camera operators in every spy film feels! If you get the physical copy of Star Fox Zero, Star Fox Guard comes with it, but you can opt for the latter at a lower price. It’s also the better of the two, as someone who recently played Star Fox Zero.
Yoshi’s Woolly World! A shame it isn’t ported (to Switch) as it’s a great 2.5D platformer. It might have felt like too many platformers released on Wii U during that time, but you’re not in that frame anymore and can give it another/fair chance. It’s challenging enough, but not too difficult, with plenty of unlockable costumes. Speaking of, it’s great for amiibo owners because it has a TON of amiibo costumes too. Even for third-party characters like Pac-Man, Mega Man, and… characters from amiibo cards. I didn’t know it even supported them until now. Regardless, it’s one of the best Wii U games, period, and that’s enough reason to pick it up.
HarmoKnight! Another, but different kind of rhythm game, an auto-runner of sorts. The protagonist, Tempo, runs through the stage while you hit objects and enemies to the beat. In some ways, it’s easier, as there are branching paths, and I think the bar to complete a stage (collecting notes) is either low or you just have to survive till the end. In other ways, it’s harder, as the timing for some bosses is off, and the game will throw multiple enemies at you in quick succession. You can earn health back at points but 3 hits and you’re done. It has some rough edges, but it’s a worthwhile experience and fairly inexpensive. It’s also developed by Game Freak and includes some bonus Pokémon (game) tracks which is fun.
Outside of these purchasable titles, there are also things to take advantage of on the free side of the eShop. Some of it will be easily accessible, but some will require a bit of research. Check out our video on the matter that was also released today!
