3D Classics


is a series of emulated classic video games for the Nintendo 3DS. They include stereoscopic 3D functionality and updated features while retaining their original art style and graphics.
The first wave of 3D Classics were developed by Arika and published by Nintendo, and were originally Nintendo Entertainment System games. Subsequent waves of 3D Classics were developed by M2 and published by Sega, and were originally games for Sega systems or arcade games published by Sega.

Development

The series was developed by Arika and published by Nintendo. These releases were directed by Takao Nakano from the Special-Planning & Development Department of Nintendo. Development on this set of games began in 2009, starting with Namco Bandai Games' Xevious. They underestimated the amount of work required to add stereoscopic 3D to a 2D game, requiring much more work than a simple port. Arika attempted a 3D Classics version of the NES/Famicom game Tennis because the background had perspective, but found it looked unimpressive in 3D while requiring re-coding collision detection almost from scratch.

Release

The 3D Classics were originally announced shortly before the Nintendo eShop launched. Excitebike was initially available for free at the launch of the 3DS eShop for a short time; afterwards, it became available for purchase. In North America, Europe, and Australia, it was available for free from June 7 and July 7, 2011; in Japan, it was available for free from June 7 to July 31, 2011.
Kid Icarus was initially available via promotions in each region, before later becoming available as a paid purchase.
  • In Japan, it was available for free to users who registered any two Nintendo 3DS titles on Club Nintendo between October 1, 2011 and January 15, 2012. It became available to download starting December 19, 2011, ahead of the paid public release.
  • In North America, it was available as a pre-order bonus for Kid Icarus: Uprising on its release day March 23, 2012, ahead of the paid public release of the 3D Classics title.
  • In Europe, it was available early for free to users who registered two of a selection of Nintendo 3DS titles on Club Nintendo between November 1, 2011 and January 31, 2012. It became available to download starting January 5, 2012.
  • In Australia, it was available early for free to users who registered two of a selection of Nintendo 3DS titles on Club Nintendo between November 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012. Download codes were emailed starting January 17, 2012.
A total of six 3D Classics games were published by Nintendo, all released in 2011 or 2012.

Sega 3D Classics

Starting in December 2012, Sega began publishing M2-developed 3D versions of classic Sega titles under the 3D Classics title. The first to be released was Space Harrier, released in Japan on 26 December 2012. Sega continued to publish new 3D Classics titles until 2015.
These 3D versions of Sega games were bundled into collections and sold as Sega 3D Reprint Archives. There were a total of three collections, only the second of which was released outside of Japan, under the title Sega 3D Classics Collection.

Reception

Modojo's Chris Buffa criticized the Arika-developed 3D Classics for being remakes of uninteresting games, commenting that the 3D Classics line should focus on major titles such as Super Mario Bros., Donkey Kong, The Legend of Zelda, and Metroid.

List of games

TitleOriginal systemOriginal releaseJapanNorth AmericaEuropeAustralia
ExcitebikeNES1984
Kid IcarusFamicom Disk System1986
Kirby's AdventureNES1993
TwinBeeNES1985
Urban ChampionNES1984
XeviousArcade1983