Monday, January 16, 2012

Free Stuff Makes Me Like Nintendo Again

Oh Nintendo...you crafty devils,  just when I am ready to abandon all hope for you, here come truckloads of free games. Last year between the denial of quality games like Xenogears and terrible PR responses to fans, my frustration with Nintendo was reaching the breaking point. I was also very disappointed in Club Nintendo and the lack of quality rewards for American customers. However, things have been turning around recently with the introduction of free downloadable games for 100 and 150 Club Nintendo points. In the past month I have received three free 3DS games from cashing in my points although one was a stinker (3D Classics: Xevious), the other two were pretty descent games.
Nintendo also surprised me with the Ambassador program. Early adopters to the 3DS got 20 free games to make up for the price drop that occurred later in 2011. These free games weren't just shovelware, no the list included hits like Metroid Fusion, Fire Emblem: The Sacred Stones, and The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap. Supposedly Ambassadors will be the only ones who ever have access to these emulated GBA games so that is one helluva deal for those lucky fans who got on board with the 3DS early on and didn't trade it for a PS Vita pre-order. I am lucky to have one of the Ambassador 3DS systems, and currently I have 23 free games from Nintendo. Once again, I am at peace with Nintendo and all is right with the universe.

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