3DS eShop Preview 2012
You'll have plenty of games to download next year, giving you a chance to paint, manipulate gravity and rescue a princess.
From the looks of it, 2012 will be a great year for 3DS at retail, with such games as Paper Mario 3DS and Luigi's Mansion 2.
With this in mind, Nintendo has plenty in store for the system's eShop, delivering a variety of downloadable titles for fans to enjoy.
On that note, here's a more in-depth look at what you'll see during the New Year.
3D Classics: Kid Icarus (January)
Nintendo kicks off the New Year in style with a 3D version of the old school NES title, complete with revamped graphics. The best part? It'll be free to European Club Nintendo subscribers, so long as they register one of the following games before January 31: Mario Kart 7, Resident Evil: Revelations, Super Mario 3D Land, Tetris: Axis, Pokemon Rumble Blast, Star Fox 64 3D, Resident Evil: The Mercenaries 3D, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D, Dead or Alive Dimensions, Pilotwings Resort, Nintendogs + Cats, Steel Diver and Super Street Fighter IV 3D Edition.
Stay tuned to see if this deal applies to U.S. players.
Colors! 3D
OK, it's no Mario Paint sequel, but Colors! 3D has a lot of potential. This simplistic painting application lets 3DS owners channel their inner Leonardo DaVinci to display their creations in glasses free 3D. There's also a fully integrated gallery and four-person collaborative play, which should make for some interesting designs.
VVVVVV (December 29, 2011)
This has to be the strangest title for a game in recent memory. Regardless, VVVVVV received praise when it was released for Windows and Mac in 2010. In it, you must control gravity to guide Captain Viridian through an alternate dimension in search of crew members. We like the concept, and the retro inspired graphics definitely set it apart from the rest of the games on this list.
NightSky
Very cool puzzle platformer that lets you guide a ball through a beautiful (and dark) environment. To succeed, you must maneuver the ball into windmills, over hills and even across a stage atop a skateboard. Seems to provide a relaxing experience.
Sakura Samurai: Art of the Sword
We can already tell this one will be addictive. Art of the Sword is a 3D hack-an-slash game from Nintendo that sends players to Japan, where they'll cut down a bunch of enemy soldiers to save a princess. Should look sweet in 3D.
Dillon's Rolling Western
Announced several months ago, Rolling Western's interesting mix of action and tower defense could make it one of the 3DS' best downloadable games. Here, players take on the role of Dillon the armadillo, charged with protecting towns from rock monsters. Keep an eye on this one.
Kirby's Block Ball
Originally released in 1995 for the Game Boy, this Breakout clone lets Kirby showcase his destructive side, as he plows through objects and enemies. Destroy all the blocks and he proceeds to the next level. Simplistic and addictive fun.
Mutant Mudds
This charmer from Renegade Kid stars a youngster named Max, who sets off to save his neighborhood from a host of evil creatures. Old school graphics, the ability to jump between planes and a host of collectibles make this one of 3DS' most anticipated eShop games.
Fun! Fun! Minigolf TOUCH
If there's one thing we need more of, it's mini golf. Shin'en (of Nano Assault fame) should help scratch that itch with a cool and colorful golf title featuring imaginative courses and a wealth of unlockable items.
Jett Rocket Super Surf
Not sure what to expect from this one, but if it's anything like the original Jett Rocket (pictured above) on WiiWare, you'll enjoy hours of platforming goodness, controlling a hero that bears an uncanny resemblance to Mega Man.
Zen Pinball
Pinball enters the third dimension for Nintendo 3DS. Play on one of four tables (Shaman, Earth Defense, Excalibur and Eldorado) while enjoying attractive graphics and special effects. Just don't get too distracted, or you'll lose the ball.
