Nintendo eShop’s New December 8, 2016 Releases

It’s a Thursday again, so let’s see what Nintendo uploaded to the eShop. Three of Nintendo’s beloved properties are getting some attention this week.

Metroid: Other M is the latest mainline Metroid title, and it successfully answered an interesting question: what would happen if you take several of the series’ defining facets – including its sense of isolation, exploration and immaculate world design – and omit them in favor of an awkwardly written father-daughter story with poor controls? The result is an extremely polarizing Metroid game. Honestly, not everything about Other M is unsalvageable, and a sequel could’ve refined its formula, but Other M’s inconsistencies are so egregious that it earned its place as my all-time most disliked video game.

Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon is the Nintendo DS remake of the first Fire Emblem game. Have you ever wondered who that Marth guy in Super Smash Bros. is? Well, now you can find out! Shadow Dragon is accommodating for greenhorns, as it hands out new recruits like candy. While it’s raddled with unsightly visuals, it’s still a decent pick if this is your first time with the strategy series.

Animal Crossing: New Leaf – Welcome amiibo is the updated release of the 3DS’s Animal Crossing: New Leaf. While those who own an older copy of New Leaf probably downloaded the patch when it first went live, now you can buy a hard copy with the update pre-installed.

Demon’s Crest, a classic Super NES platformer, is getting a re-release for the New Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console. Firebrand (who you may recognize from the Ghosts ‘n Goblins series) has to reclaim six mythical stones, lest Phalanx muster control of all jurisdictions.

By the way, are you a Pokémon Trainer? Meloetta is the final mythical distribution, and you can catch one for free in your copies of X, Y, Omega Ruby and Alpha Sapphire through the in-game Mystery Gift feature.

Here’s everything Nintendo released on the eShop this week:

Wii U

Games:

• Bridge Constructor Playground (Joindots, $9.99)
• SDK Spriter (HULLBREACH STUDIOS, $12.50)
• Teslapunk (klutzGames, $9.99)
• Fire Emblem: Shadow Dragon (Nintendo, $9.99 – originally for the Nintendo DS)
• Metroid: Other M (Nintendo, $19.99 – originally for the Wii)

Nintendo 3DS

Games:

• Animal Crossing: New Leaf—Welcome amiibo (Nintendo, $19.99 – available at retail)

New Nintendo 3DS

Games:

• GALAXY BLASTER (RCMADIAX, $1.49)
• Demon’s Crest (Capcom, $7.99 – originally for the Super NES)

Nothing listed above catches your attention? Then check out what’s on sale. I haven’t personally tried it yet, but Parascientific Escape Cruise in the Distant Seas is the only eye-catching title for me. It must be better than, say, Hold Your Fire: A Game About Responsibility.