Sonic the Hedgehog-inspired Freedom Planet joins Wii U eShop

By Danny Cowan Published October 1, 2015

freedom planet hits wii u eshop freeplanwiiu header — Image used with permission by copyright holder

This week’s Wii U eShop update marks the console debut of Freedom Planet, an indie-developed tribute to 16-bit era platformers and Sega’s Sonic the Hedgehog series.

Released digitally for PCs in 2014, Freedom Planet combines the high-speed platforming of the classic Sonic games with open-ended level design suited for a cast of characters with widely varied traversal abilities.

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Also on the Wii U this week is River City Ransom, an NES brawler developed by Double Dragon series creator Technos. River City Ransom expands on traditional brawling mechanics with an RPG-like structure, allowing characters to power up their stats throughout by purchasing items and equipment.

River City Ransom also boasts a two-player co-op mode that lets players team up with friends to take down the gangs that occupy the streets of River City. The game has earned a cult following in the years after its release, and is widely cited as one of the best beat-’em-ups of the 8-bit era.

Toto Temple Deluxe also arrives on the Wii U this week, offering team-based multiplayer action with “king of the hill”-styled mechanics. Up to four players compete in local multiplayer battles that center around an egg-laying, explosive goat that can instantly take out the competition.

Other Wii U eShop games premiering this week include The Rivers of Alice: Extended Version, Gemology, VoxelMaker, and Pumped BMX. 3DS owners, meanwhile, can expect to see Kemco’s retro-styled RPG Chronus Arc.

This week additionally marks the launch of a Nintendo-sponsored contest that challenges players to put their drawing skills to the test via Miiverse. Artists can compete by submitting a work of Animal Crossing-themed fan art, and winning entries will receive a free digital copy of the recently released Happy Home Designer.

Nintendo closes out this week’s digital lineup with a new batch of Super Smash Bros. DLC for the Wii U and 3DS, adding new character costumes and playable stages, including a level inspired by Super Mario Maker.

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Danny’s passion for video games was ignited upon his first encounter with Nintendo’s Duck Hunt, and years later, he still…

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You need to get this oddball Zelda game for free before the 3DS eShop closes

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The day of reckoning is fast approaching: The Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop isclosing down on March 27. When that happens, you’ll no longer be able to make any digital purchases on those systems. Considering that several games on each platform only ever got digital releases, it’s creating a bit of a preservation nightmare. Hidden gems that never came to another platform, like Affordable Space Adventures, will be totally lost to time.

But it isn’t just obscure indies that are impacted by that change: One of Nintendo’s biggest franchises is about to lose a piece of its storied history. You’ve only got just over a week to grab a certain Legend of Zelda game before it disappears forever -- though it’s probably not one you’re expecting.

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Grab these Nintendo 3DS games before the eShop closes

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While the Nintendo 3DS had a rocky launch, the handheld system recovered gracefully and ended up having one of the best game lineups of any Nintendo system. Many of these 3DS games, like Super Mario 3D Land and Fire Emblem Awakening, were very popular and well-known. Still, the 3DS had a lot of fantastic games that not as many people know about and threaten to be lost to time when the eShop closes down.
The 3DS eShop will shut down soon, preventing people from purchasing new games. As such, we've been reflecting on the system's vast library and all of the fantastic games that 3DS owners will no longer be able to buy digitally. From games that we think will skyrocket even further in price after the store shuts down to some enjoyable hidden gems that didn't get the attention they deserve, you might want to snag these 3DS games before you can't anymore after March 27.
Ever Oasis

Grezzo is one of Nintendo's most underrated developers. It's delivered top-notch The Legend of Zelda remakes like Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, and Link's Awakening. So what if I told you that it used that experience to make an original IP for 3DS that's one of the best-looking and expansive games on the system? Ever Oasis, a 2017 3DS game, follows a young kid as they help a water spirit named Esna build an oasis and try to save their brother from Chaos.
The result is a mix of 3D The Legend of Zelda and city management games. Players can venture out into surprisingly large open worlds and dungeons to restock and grow the number of "bloom booths." This mix of open-world exploration, dungeon crawling, and oasis-building will keep players engaged for dozens of hours, and it also stands as one of the deepest and best-looking action-adventure games on the platform.
Ever Oasis didn't get much attention when it launched because the Nintendo Switch had been released a couple of months earlier. Still, it stands as one of the 3DS' best games, so it's a shame that more people don't know about it. It risks being forgotten forever now the 3DS eShop is closing down, so check it out before the closure; it will surpass your expectations.
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You need to buy the best Wii U game before the eShop closes down

A Nintendo Wii U gamepad flat on a table.

If you're a Nintendo fan, you should pull out your calendar and put a big red circle around March 27. That's the day that both the Nintendo 3DS and Wii U eShop will officially shutter their doors. It'll be your last chance to pick up digital copies of all digital games, from Virtual Console classics to first-party exclusives.

There is no shortage of good games worth picking up before that deadline happens, though some of the systems' best titles can be purchased on other platforms. There's one game in particular, though, that finds itself in a precarious position: Affordable Space Adventures. If you even have a passing interest in the Wii U exclusive, you'll have to act fast, because it'll go fully extinct at the end of the month.

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