Nintendo in Japan also gave this game away free in Japan to Club Nintendo members who entered into the drawing for the Limited Edition Mario, Peach and Toad 3ds consoles (each limited to 1,000.) To enter you had to register two 3DS games in a 2-3 month (I think) period. 2 games would enter you into a drawing for one chance at one of the consoles. I myself entered 3 times, six 3ds games (my own and my gf's 3ds games), twice for the Toad 3ds and once for the Mario 3ds.
http://clubnintendonews.blogspot.com/2011/10/limited-edition-mario-peach-toad-3ds.html
Later they sent you code to get the game on the 3ds e-shop.
I'm surprised at how many people dislike the game. I enjoyed it on the NES when I was kid in the 80's although I never owned it. I remember thinking it was hard, but I cleared it on my 3ds.(I also have the Wii VC version) The music is excellent and I never get tired of it. Looking forward to the new one as well.
starcraft: "I and every PS3 fanboy alive are waiting for Versus more than FFXIII.
Me since the games were revealed, the fanboys since E3." 
Skeeuk: "playstation 3 is the ultimate in gaming acceleration"
