It’s a pretty big week for Nintendo platforms with Deus Ex finally making its way to the home console and Homeland Story sprouting on the portable front. Both games are accompanied by an entourage of other titles on their respective platforms, making it appear as though Nintendo platforms could once again be on the upswing.
Earlier this week we reported that, after a $50 price cut to $299 and bundling in a download copy of The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD, the Wii U saw a 200 percent increase in sales from August to September. Who would have thought that charging a more reasonable price and chipping in a gratis starter game could save a struggling console?
While that’s all well and good for the home console, Nintendo’s portable market also received a big shot in the arm last week and, by big, we’re talking about a needle the size of a semi truck. With the release of Pokemon X/Y over the weekend, the Nintendo 3DS had little trouble remaining the best-selling game system in the U.S. for the fifth straight month.
Now that both consoles are looking healthy heading into the holiday season, all Nintendo has to do to capitalize on their upward momentum is dish out a few highly anticipated games. The good news is that they’re primed to do exactly that. The 3DS has The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and Mario Party: Island Tour, both of which are launching on Nov. 22, just in time for Black Friday. On the home console side, Wii Party U is due out Oct. 25 with Wii Fit U and Super Mario 3D World on the close horizon. In short, it looks like Nintendo should be going strong into the New Year.
And is anyone truly surprised? This has been Nintendo’s M.O. for more than a decade. While third party support isn’t always that great (or nearly non-existent in the case of the Wii U), their platforms manage to hang on just long enough for a few big first party titles to come out, and then the things fly off the shelves in record time. Once that party gets started, Nintendo consoles basically become an annual love affair, where gamers tend to forget about them for much of the year, but eagerly make their way back when that next big first party exclusive drops. In 2014, for instance, the average gamer probably can’t name three big third party titles that are coming down the pipeline and worth getting. But I’d put money on those same people being well aware of the fact that (and likely ready to plop their dollars down on) new Mario Kart, Donkey Kong, Kirby and Smash Bros. titles are on the way.
But that’s all in the future, today, we’re looking at the weekly Nintendo releases, of which there are quite a few.
Deus Ex: Human Revolution Director’s Cut hits the Wii U this week, alongside Mighty Switch Force 2, Just Dance Kids 2, Urban Champion (Virtual Console), and Clu Clu Land (also on the Virtual Console).
The 3DS’ big offering is the new family-friendly farm/life simulator, Hometown Story, accompanied by 101 Penguin Pets 3D, Brunch Panic, Jewel Master: Cradle of Rome 2, My Vet Practice 3D: In the Country, Snow Moto Racing 3D and Pinball: Revenge of the Gator.
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