Nintendo Adds 12 Games to Nintendo Selects Line for Wii U, Wii, and 3DS
On March 11, 2016, Nintendo expanded its Nintendo Selects budget line in North America with 12 titles across the Wii U, Wii, and 3DS, priced at a lower MSRP.
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On March 11, 2016, Nintendo released a new wave of Nintendo Selects titles in North America, adding a total of 12 games for the Wii U, Wii, and 3DS to its budget-priced collection. Each game in the Selects line received a permanent price reduction and new packaging to distinguish it from the original releases.
The expansion brought some of each console’s most popular titles to a wider audience at a lower cost. For some games, like Pikmin 3, the re-release was particularly welcome, as its initial print run was low, making physical copies difficult to find.
Wii U Nintendo Selects
Four titles joined the program for the Wii U. This selection featured some of the console’s most critically acclaimed first-party games.
- Donkey Kong Country: Tropical Freeze: The platformer from Retro Studios, known for its challenging level design and vibrant art style.
- NES Remix Pack: A physical compilation of NES Remix and NES Remix 2, two eShop titles that present classic Nintendo Entertainment System games as a series of bite-sized challenges.
- Pikmin 3: A real-time strategy game where players command armies of plant-like creatures. The Nintendo Selects release made it more accessible after its initial limited availability.
- Super Mario 3D World: A multiplayer-focused 3D Mario adventure that was widely praised upon its original release.
Wii Nintendo Selects
The Wii also saw four of its popular titles added to the Nintendo Selects library. These games were playable on the Wii U through its backward compatibility feature.
- Animal Crossing: City Folk: The series’ entry on the Wii, allowing players to live in a town populated by animal neighbors and visit a bustling city.
- Donkey Kong Country Returns: The predecessor to Tropical Freeze, this title revived the classic SNES series with modern graphics and gameplay.
- Super Mario All-Stars: A re-release of the Super NES collection that features remade versions of the first four Super Mario Bros. games.
- Super Mario Galaxy 2: The celebrated sequel to Super Mario Galaxy, expanding on the original’s gravity-defying platforming with new power-ups and the ability to ride Yoshi.
3DS Nintendo Selects
Four handheld games for the Nintendo 3DS rounded out the new additions, including a popular remake and several franchise staples.
- Donkey Kong Country Returns 3D: A portable version of the Wii title, adapted for the 3DS with stereoscopic 3D visuals and new content.
- Mario Party: Island Tour: A handheld installment of the long-running party game series, featuring a variety of minigames.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time 3D: A full graphical remake of the iconic Nintendo 64 adventure, considered one of the greatest games of all time.
- Yoshi’s New Island: A successor to the classic Yoshi’s Island, continuing the art style and egg-throwing platformer gameplay of the series.
New Packaging
All games re-issued under the Nintendo Selects banner featured distinct packaging. The new box art included a bright red border around the original cover art and a gold banner in the top-left corner that clearly identified the title as part of the collection. This design made them easy to spot on store shelves.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Nintendo Selects program?
Nintendo Selects was a budget marketing label used by Nintendo to re-release popular, best-selling video games on its consoles at a lower price point. The program made acclaimed titles more affordable for a wider audience after their initial launch period.
How can you identify a Nintendo Selects game case?
Nintendo Selects physical copies are identifiable by their unique packaging. The game cases feature a prominent red border surrounding the cover art and a gold seal or banner, usually in the top-left corner, that explicitly labels the game as a 'Nintendo Selects' title.
Which Mario games were added to Nintendo Selects in March 2016?
The March 2016 additions included several Mario titles. For the Wii U, *Super Mario 3D World* was added. For the Wii, *Super Mario All-Stars* and *Super Mario Galaxy 2* joined the lineup. The 3DS received *Mario Party: Island Tour* as part of this wave.
Was Pikmin 3 hard to find before the Nintendo Selects release?
Yes, physical copies of *Pikmin 3* for the Wii U were known for being somewhat difficult to find in North America due to a relatively low initial print run. Its inclusion in the Nintendo Selects program made the game much more widely available and affordable for players.