Today marks the release for two highly anticipated titles: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition and Metroid II: Return of Samus. Not only that, but other third party companies snuck titles to the eShop this week as well. Here’s what hit the eShop today:

DSiWare

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition - Free

3DS Downloadable Software

Okiraku Tennis 3D - 500 yen

Nikori no Puzzle Mashū - 500 yen

Virtual Console

Metroid II: Return of Samus - 400 yen

Video Content

Itsu no Ma ni Terebi’s Chōkoku no Mori, which previously highlighted various statues and artwork from an open air, outdoor museum in Hakone, Kanagawa, Japan is now focusing on various pieces of art located outside throughout the Tokyo area. All of the other video offerings from this particular service have largely remained unchanged.

The eShop also has a few videos for the upcoming release of Just Dance 2 in Japan, which features popular Japanese artists such as AKB48, Exile, Kara, and Morning Musame. The videos on the eShop mainly highlight AKB48’s huge hit, Heavy Rotation. There are also two new streaming 3D videos available as well, one for Fish Eyes 3D (known as Reel Fishing 3D outside of Japan) and one for Animal Resort (Zoo Mania). Also, even though last week I mentioned that the 3DS conference videos were no longer available, they actually are still up on the eShop! I just simply overlooked them. So, there still is time to download the deluge of 3D videos that came from the conference if you have a Japanese 3DS and the means to download them.

Software Impressions

This week, I obviously couldn’t pass up the free The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition or spending the minuscule 400 yen to pick up Metroid II: Return of Samus. Fortunately, I also had a little bit of time to sit down and play both of the titles.

Metroid II: Return of Samus is an extension of the original Metroid with a few differences. The mechanics remain more or less the same, except this time, the camera is a lot closer on Samus and her jumping seems to be a little bit slower than the original. Like the original, it is really easy to get lost as there is no map system (correct me if I’m wrong) to help you keep track of where you have been or where you are going. Mixed with black and white environments, this can be doubly confusing. The sprite work for Samus, on the other hand, is very well done, and because of the closer view of the action, it is easier to see details on Samus’ suit that couldn’t be spotted very easily in the original version. Samus also has the ability to duck and shoot, as well as shoot directly below her while in mid-jump, things that she couldn’t do in the original.

With Four Swords, this is my first real experience playing the game. I own The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past for GBA which included Four Swords, and although I had more than one GBA available, I never could find another friend who owned the GBA cart. Including the one player mode in the new Anniversary Edition of the title is a godsend and finally gives me a chance to play the game. For those that haven’t played the game (like me), you are in for a treat. The title is basically everything that you love from a 2D Zelda game with fresh takes on familiar weaponry and new items to discover and use. The visuals are very similar to what was found in A Link to the Past and Minish Cap and fit the style of the game perfectly. The game relies heavily on puzzle elements, ranging in difficulty. Players also can compete with their friends (or with themselves if you’re like me!) collecting rupees throughout each level. I’ve only played for around an hour or so and the single player is excellent. I can only imagine it is even better to play co-op with a friend. If all else fails, I can always play co-operatively with my DSi and 3DS.