Old Games on the eShop: Some Ideas

With original software like Mutant Mudds and Mighty Switch Force, emulations of old handheld games, game demos and more, the eShop is a pretty good service thus far. I do think, however, that Nintendo has a lot of untapped potential for old games that should be ported, remade, and followed up with sequels on the downloadable service for the Nintendo 3DS. Some of its back-catalog is a perfect fit.

Bird and Beans was released for the DSiware service in 2009

The big N had the right idea with Bird and Beans and Paper Plane on DSiWare. These were both originally minigames included on the Gameboy Advance game Warioware Inc, and were both plopped on DSiWare separately for $2 a pop. This is smart. Perhaps a $1 price point for each makes more sense, but they at least have the right idea. These were fun, simple little games that make perfect sense as digital offerings for a handheld device.

One of the best minigames included in Super Mario 64 DS

So, I say, why not take the same idea and do it for the mingames included in Super Mario 64 DS and New Super Mario Bros.? Although these more almost certainly thrown into these games to show off the potential of the Nintendo DS's unique features, a lot of them were really quite brilliant. I remember one tasked you with the duty of protecting a single bob-omb from touching any other bob-omb by moving it around with your stylus, avoiding the little guy's flammable brethren to avoid a massive explosion. Another had you flicking little Mario's with your stylus to bounce them off of shy guys and keep them airborne. Many of these also had fun multiplayer options that added to the usual arcade-style lasting appeal. Bring them to the eShop, Nintendo!  

Nostalgic for you DS early-adopters?

Yoshi Touch and Go was the game that made me write this article. This game was tons of fun when it released with the original DS back in 2004, tasking you to get baby Mario as far as possible with the help of cute little Yoshi's that swapped out as different colors as you got further and further into the game. The game made clever usage of the touch screen, dual screens, and microphone of the DS; features still on the 3DS. So why not throw it on the eShop for $10 or so?  It almost seems like this game was meant for a platform like the eShop, with its compelling gameplay but steep price point of $30 when it originally released. I'd rebuy this game in a heartbeat if Nintendo threw it on the eShop - especially if they spruce it up with stereo-3D and wide-screen. 

It's time to remake it, Nintendo.

How about some truly great remakes of arcade classics Donkey Kong and Mario Bros. for the eShop? Donkey Kong has a port to the NES, and that port was ported to the Wii's Virtual Console, but how about a full-on remake for the 3DS that boasts a dual-screen, stereoscopic-3D display with Mutant Mudds-quality graphics? As for Mario Bros., Nintendo was smart to remake it and throw it on the remakes of various Mario games on the GBA: I wouldn't mind just a straight port of that great remake, although even better graphics, usage of the dual-screen display, and stereo-3D would make it even better.

Remember this game? Let's get another one. 

And lastly, I would love to see follow-ups to the Pokemon Trozei and Pokemon Pinball brands for the 3DS's eShop. It's been a very long time since I've played either of these spin-offs (I've never actually played the original Pokemon Pinball, only the GBA one), but I think they're the types of games I'd love to have always on my 3DS to play on-the-go. Pokemon Trozei, for those who have forgotten it or never heard of it, is a tile-based puzzler originally released on the Nintendo DS in 2005. It was a fun game, and I think a continuation of this IP on the eShop would be sweet. And my desire for a new Pokemon Pinball game on the eShop should be something I don't need to explain much. Nintendo could copy the Pinball FX formula by putting out a cheap download with a few boards - or even a free download with no boards initially - and offering more boards as paid DLC. Let's not forget that Nintendo is attempting to champion paid DLC now, which can be seen with its DLC strategy for New Super Mario Bros. 2. 

These are my ideas for old Nintendo games that should live on in the eShop. What do you think? Have any suggestions of your own? Hit up the comments below!