Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program games are now ready for you to download

By Adam Rosenberg Published August 31, 2011

nintendo-3ds-650px — Image used with permission by copyright holder

If you bought a Nintendo 3DS before the August 12 price drop and have been quieting your anger with thoughts of the 20 free games you’ll be getting from Nintendo‘s Ambassador Program… your time has arrived.

Ten of the 20 freebies are now up and ready for download on the 3DS eShop, one day ahead of schedule, according to 1UP. Today’s 10 are all NES classics, as was previously promised, with 10 Game Boy Advance titles to follow before the end of this year. The NES 10 are: Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong Jr., Balloon Fight, Ice Climber, The Legend of Zelda, Metroid, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, NES Open Tournament Golf, Yoshi and Wrecking Crew.

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Finding the games is a little complicated, since there’s no obvious “GET YOUR AMBASSADOR PROGRAM GAMES HERE” option on the main eShop menu. First you have to tap the Menu button in the top-left corner, then select “Settings / Other” followed by “Your Downloads.” If you’re in the program, the list of available downloads — a record of everything you’ve purchased in the eShop — should have increased by 10. There’s no bulk download option, however, so you’ll need to grab each game individually.

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Former Digital Trends Contributor

Previously, Adam worked in the games press as a freelance writer and critic for a range of outlets, including Digital Trends…

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Kid Icarus Uprising

Kid Icarus Uprising is mostly remembered for its entertaining story, charismatic characters, and odd controls, but it also features a surprisingly fun multiplayer experience in Together Mode. In multiplayer, up to six players can use powerful weapons and abilities from the main adventure in one of two modes. Free-for-all lets players loose on a map, tasking them with racking up the most kills within a set time limit. Light vs. Dark is more complex, as two teams of three face off until enough players are defeated that one respawns as an angel; when that powered-up angel is killed, the match is over.
While far from balanced, Kid Icarus Uprising's Together Mode is one of the most entertaining competitive multiplayer experiences exclusive to 3DS. It can be played locally, using bots to fill in empty spots, so thankfully it won't stop working entirely. Still, it's not easy in 2023 to come across multiple people near you who have copies of Kid Icarus Uprising and want to play. As such, check out this cult classic 3DS game's hidden gem of a mode before praying that the rumors of a remaster eventually become true.
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