Back when Nintendo was releasing three games a week for the VC they used to try to tie all the games together under a common theme. It made for some very interesting press releases since only under the strangest of circumstances do Mario and, say, Metroid have a common theme other than both being Nintendo games. Needless to say they’ve kind of given up on that tact. But this week it returns (without the three game format) with games to help you celebrate spring in the form of Yoshi’s Cookie (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points) and Bases Loaded (NES, 1-2 players, Rated E for Everyone, 500 Wii Points).

Bases Loaded I get. Spring and baseball go together like Ratchet and Clank/Starsky and Hutch/Mario and Luigi/Turtles and Pizza/Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. Plus this is one of the better baseball games put out for the NES. Or, to be more precise, five year old Matt thought it was. We don’t really trust his opinion anymore though, not after the “Replaying of Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure” incident. The game does sport a surprising amount of depth and some sharp looking graphics for a NES cart.

Now, Yoshi’s Cookie I’m having far more trouble connecting to spring. Cookies and/or puzzle games go together with spring like, well, Yoshis and cookies. Sure, they’re connected in your mind now but it’s only because Nintendo put them together for you. Nintendo excuses the link by calling the game a “breezy, puzzle-busting fantasy,” but there is nothing breezy about it. All I remember is difficulty and how creepy Mario looked as a chef. Not very spring like at all.

These spring filled games go live at 9 p.m. Pacific time today.