Sonic the Hedgehog-inspired Freedom Planet joins Wii U eShop

By Danny Cowan Published October 1, 2015

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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Before the Wii U eShop closes, pick up the best Zelda remaster ever

Link waving in Wind Waker HD.

As we approach the final days of the Wii U’s life span with the impending eShop closure, I’ve been reflecting on my time with that system. Although it’s considered a low point for Nintendo, the Wii U and 3DS era was when I truly became a fan of the company, closely following every new announcement and release. I enjoyed many great Nintendo games on Wii U, like Super Mario 3D World and Xenoblade Chronicles X. Still, The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker HD is the Wii U game I still come back to the most.

Maybe it’s because I got the Wind Waker-themed Wii U that included the game as a pack-in, but I fell in love with the HD remaster. Not only did it show off the console's power with gorgeous updated visuals, but it fixed a couple of issues with the original and used the system's GamePad seamlessly. On top of that, it's a charming and surprisingly bold game that still stands as one of the best games in the series 20 years after its North American release on GameCube.

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Claim these free 3DS and Wii U games before the eShop closes

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The eShops on the 3DS and Wii U will shut down on March 27, so players are splurging on great games that they want to pick up in the final days of each storefront's life span. If you can't drop any cash on games for these systems before then though, you're probably wondering what's available from them for free. For the most part, it's demos, as the 3DS and Wii U weren't really known for their free-to-play offerings. Even then, many of the available free-to-play games -- or "free-to-start" titles as Nintendo called them in that era -- won't have much use after the eShops cease game sales because most of their content is gated by microtransactions.

Some might be a little more time-consuming due to in-game timers and other microtransactions, but are still worth checking out regardless. If you're wondering what full games you can play on 3DS and Wii U for free ahead of the eShop storefronts' discontinuation on March 27, we recommend checking out the following six titles.
Team Kirby Clash Deluxe

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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.