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Best 3DS Virtual Console games
The ten best Game Boy games on the 3DS Virtual Console
There are plenty of great new games for 3DS but thanks to the 3DS Virtual Console you can also download old classics for as little as £3.60. Visit the 3DS eShop and you'll find classic Mario, Zelda and Donkey Kong games waiting for you. To help you decide what to buy, here are the best 3DS Virtual Console games.
10. Avenging Spirit
Avenging Spirit sounds a bit like Ghost Trick in that you play as the ghost of a boy who has been murdered. Whereas Ghost Trick had you possessing objects in order to solve the mystery of your murder, in Avenging Spirit you possess people in a bid to rescue your girlfriend who has been kidnapped by the criminals who killed you. A simple yet surprisingly tactical platformer.
This is the NES game Balloon Fight expanded, improved upon and crammed into a Game Boy cart. Far less fiddly than Balloon Fight, you float through the skies in pursuit of your brother who has been carried away while holding onto his balloons. With a funky soundtrack and charming visuals (the skyscrapers are made from pencils), this is a fun little download.
Gargoyle's Quest stars the small red flying enemies from the notoriously tough arcade platformer Ghosts 'N' Goblins. Originally released in 1990, it mixes platforming with RPG gameplay to great effect with Firebrand's ability to climb walls, hover and shoot fire at his enemies being particularly satisfying.
Rad by name, rad by nature (that's if anyone actually says rad any more). Bionic Commando stars Rad Spencer, a man with a mechanical arm who runs around shooting enemies and swinging from platforms with his grapple hook. He may not be able to jump but it doesn't hold Rad back in this quirky, challenging platformer.
The eight games on this collection are incredibly basic (well, one of them is over 30 years old) but they're also addictive and will cost you less than the price of your lunch! You've got the four originals - Fire, Manhole, Octopus and Oil Panic - along with four remakes of each one which star Mario and his mates. So rather than controlling Mr Game & Watch in Fire, you'll be instead of controlling taking charge of Mario and Luigi as they catch falling Toads and Yoshis.
5. Donkey Kong
This fabulous puzzle game lays the groundwork for Mario Vs Donkey Kong. You think you know Donkey Kong? This Game Boy version shakes things up by giving Mario a few fancy new moves. The invincibility hammer from the original game allows Mario to bash opponents on the nut, while the ability to pick up opponents and items and chuck them around is straight out of Super Mario Bros. 2. Mario even has a backflip and a triple jump. With over 100 levels to complete - including a few real head scratchers, this is a classic.
Would love to download some but still no eshop cards around where i am (checked massive Tescos, Sainsbury's and Asda and they've never heard of them- even Game don't have them and they're a game specialist shop for goodness sake!). Thought the Zelda ones were supposed to be out by the end of the year? It's a shame since there are many great games available but some can't have these games because a simple little card is hard to find! Sorry to say it again but, as much as i love Nintendo, they've messed up again. When i do eventually get one, at least i'll be spoilt for choice and will be downloading Zelda first since i missed whe whole GBC era.
I Like Links awakening. I Put a tenner on my account and spent £5.40. I still think the prices are still a bit dodgy. Its pretty easy to get most of these games downloaded for free. "Illegally". Anyway Im going to spend the other part of my tenner on Pokemon Red.
Donkey Kong is brilliant, a true GameBoy gem! I didn't know about it until ONM mentioned it when it was released on the VC. Downloaded Zelda on release day having never played it before but only got halfway through, must finish it...
I'm going to have to take issue with Game & Watch Galley placement. I downloaded it based on its review, however I was very disappointed. It should be replaced in that list with Mario's Picross which is pure gaming gold and the reason why my mum kept stealing my 3DS.
I own Super Mario Land and SML2: Six Golden Coins on original GB cartridges. Super Mario Land is a great platformer, but you can play through the entire game in under 15 minutes!! Six Golden Coins, however, is a lot longer, and plays better in my opinion. So I wouldn't bother with the first game, but definitely try Six Golden Coins.
Glad to see Avenging Spirit on here, quite a cute looking game but with a very sinister backstory oo; I felt so sorry for the main character especially at the end. Also Link's Awakening at #1 is a no-brainer, I downloaded that game on holiday after beating OoT3D craving for more Zelda and I got it with this, such a fantastic addition to the series.
I have a few of those and I'm still loving playing some of my childhood games. (mario world 1,2 and wario land as well as double dragon). I'd like to maybe see metal gear solid ghost babble as a possible release I'd like to play it or maybe the old metal gear games that started the franchise off.
At the moment my favorite eshop game is punch (or Kirby) out it's classic NES goodness. Hopefully we see games like mega man castlevania or even the wonderful super mario bros 3 appear soon.
Would love to download some but still no eshop cards around where i am (checked massive Tescos, Sainsbury's and Asda and they've never heard of them- even Game don't have them and they're a game specialist shop for goodness sake!). Thought the Zelda ones were supposed to be out by the end of the year? It's a shame since there are many great games available but some can't have these games because a simple little card is hard to find! Sorry to say it again but, as much as i love Nintendo, they've messed up again. When i do eventually get one, at least i'll be spoilt for choice and will be downloading Zelda first since i missed whe whole GBC era.
I have the top six in VC / cartridge forms.
Tempted by Avenging spirit.
By the way, you put number 8 as 5
I Like Links awakening. I Put a tenner on my account and spent £5.40. I still think the prices are still a bit dodgy. Its pretty easy to get most of these games downloaded for free. "Illegally". Anyway Im going to spend the other part of my tenner on Pokemon Red.
I have all of those except for Metroid, Avenging Spirit and Gargoyle's Quest.
WH Smith has them
Donkey Kong is brilliant, a true GameBoy gem! I didn't know about it until ONM mentioned it when it was released on the VC. Downloaded Zelda on release day having never played it before but only got halfway through, must finish it...
I'm going to have to take issue with Game & Watch Galley placement. I downloaded it based on its review, however I was very disappointed. It should be replaced in that list with Mario's Picross which is pure gaming gold and the reason why my mum kept stealing my 3DS.
How can you not include Super Mario bros on this? Super Mario Bros is mint.
That's a good point. So far this has all been Game Boy games...
I own Super Mario Land and SML2: Six Golden Coins on original GB cartridges. Super Mario Land is a great platformer, but you can play through the entire game in under 15 minutes!! Six Golden Coins, however, is a lot longer, and plays better in my opinion. So I wouldn't bother with the first game, but definitely try Six Golden Coins.
Glad to see Avenging Spirit on here, quite a cute looking game but with a very sinister backstory oo; I felt so sorry for the main character especially at the end. Also Link's Awakening at #1 is a no-brainer, I downloaded that game on holiday after beating OoT3D craving for more Zelda and I got it with this, such a fantastic addition to the series.
why no kirby? i know kirby`s dreamland lacks the copy ability but it is still a wonderful game
I have a few of those and I'm still loving playing some of my childhood games. (mario world 1,2 and wario land as well as double dragon). I'd like to maybe see metal gear solid ghost babble as a possible release I'd like to play it or maybe the old metal gear games that started the franchise off.
At the moment my favorite eshop game is punch (or Kirby) out it's classic NES goodness. Hopefully we see games like mega man castlevania or even the wonderful super mario bros 3 appear soon.