Nintendo is rewarding us with 20 VC games. But is that worth the $80 cut-back?

Last week was probably the biggest news day for the 3DS ever. With Nintendo’s newest handheld not doing so well, Nintendo decided to cut the price by a staggering eighty bucks. As a response to those who already purchased the system, Nintendo is rewarding early adopters with 20 free VC games. But is that enough?

Honestly, Nintendo doesn’t really owe us anything. Most of us bought the system because we felt it was worth the $250 price tag. I am one of those people. But there are others who were hesitant in buying the 3DS, but purchased it anyways.

And then there are people who are contemplating whether or not this “Ambassador” program is worth the extra $80 to purchase a 3DS now.

Okay fine, I don’t think anyone fits in that last category (if you do, then good for you!). But whatever category you fit in, most of us are asking the same question: Are 20 VC games worth the $80?

The Nintendo Ambassador’s program is split into two parts: 10 free NES games coming in September before the general public receives the games on the eShop, and 10 free GBA games coming later this year exclusive to ambassadors only. Since I wasn’t around during the NES era, I have played very few NES games. With the list of 5 possible NES games for Ambassadors, I’ve only played Super Mario Bros. And that’s the case for quite a few 3DS owners who weren’t around to experience the NES.

But for those who have played those NES games (and if you still have a working NES), what’s in it for you? For one, portability. I know you can play these games on smartphones and such, but let’s be honest, the controls on those things are not exactly stellar. Being able to play classic NES games on a portable device that actually has buttons is great. Plus, Nintendo plans to add local multiplayer, something you can’t do on smartphones and without wifi on laptops.

What about the GBA games? If you purchased a GBA game, chances are that it still works. Heck, I still play GBA games on my DS Lite. But the GBA era is over now, and the 3DS is the current, so why not put some GBA games on it? To me, that’s great. GB, GBC, GBA, DS, and 3DS games all on one portable. If you want one system to play all you classics on, the 3DS is the one to buy, not to mention that GBA games cost so much online now, AND they’re still very, very fun. Most of the GBA games they announced are top quality AAA titles, too. Take Yoshi’s Island, considered by many as the best platformer of all time. And many of these games are unplayable on emulators (like Minish Cap, where most emulators can’t support one of the rooms in the final castle).

So, is it all worth it? Honestly, it’s really hard to put a value on these games. I mean, The Legend of Zelda is obviously worth a lot more than, say, Ice Climber. Furthermore, you can’t really place a value on multiplayer, portability, and nostalgia. So really, it’s up to the 3DS owner. If you hate every single title that Nintendo churns out, then sure, you’re going to hate the Ambassador Program. But if you like 10 classic NES games, 10 quality GBA games, multiplayer, and all that other stuff for free, then it really is a pretty good bonus for us early 3DS adapters.

Keep in mind that it is still unknown whether or not we will get to choose 10 titles of each from a catalog of a lot more, or if we don’t get to choose.