I could have sworn there was a thread like this already, but I can’t seem to find it. Oh well.
As most of y’all probably are aware, in 10 days the 3DS and Wii U eShops will close permanently, making all games on both consoles harder to acquire and rendering digital-only games inaccessible by legal means. So! Let’s make this a thread to shout out favorites, share recommendations for stuff to grab before the ship goes under, or just reminisce about a pair of consoles that deserved better than what they got.
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I never owned a Wii U nor a 3DS, which outside of the Virtual Boy and Game and Watch, would be the only Nintendo hardware I didn’t experience firsthand. The Wii U I am less regretful about considering the majority of its library made it to the Switch (Tokyo Mirage Sessions #FE rules!), but it does sting to miss out on the 3DS, especially with hardware costing so much these days. Setting aside the fact that Nintendo is terrible with maintaining its archive, the form factor of the 3DS makes it all but impossible for hobbyists to preserve its legacy in any reasonably accessible form. It’s an absolute tragedy, and I’m saddened that I’ll never get the chance to play A Link Between Worlds, Super Mario 3D Land, or Fire Emblem Awakening.
Anyway, let this be an lesson to never trust Nintendo with anything digital, and be sure to get the physical version of Tears of the Kingdom when it drops.
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This post made me panic and check that A Link Between Worlds was still loaded onto my 3DS. The other two classics I have the carts for.
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A Link Between Worlds really is a gem. I spent a lot of time with the 3DS in high school and college, since it was my only gaming device for a long time. Its virtual console was what really let me get into Zelda after only having Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks available on the regular DS. Something like half the series was (well, still is, for a little while) available on there. And the Ocarina of Time/Majora’s Mask remakes were what let me experience those games for the first time too.
And I definitely wouldn’t have done (or, erm, still be doing) my whole Metroid thing without either of these consoles. Basically every game is on either one or the other (though at least now it seems like they’re being drip-fed onto Switch online). It seems like the Wii U also has almost every Mario Kart title on its VC — and again I guess I just have to hope Nintendo dumps them on Switch Online eventually.
And shoutout to Kid Icarus: Uprising. That game rocks and deserves a control scheme that doesn’t make your fingers fall off.
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Unfortunately, due to finding the battery of my 3DS swollen and thus disposing of it when I unpacked it a month ago, I can’t check my library but I didn’t engage too much with eshop exclusives. Some of my friends would always speak highly of Crimson Shroud so I’d love to check that out if I get the chance.
Also, reminder to check on the batteries of your old devices every so often. They can be actual fire hazards when lying dormant. Note the product ID and search AliExpress or something for a replacement.
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