It was an easy thing to miss in the midst of the Wii U announcement talk at E3, but Nintendo confirmed at the June trade show that the classic Game Boy Advance game, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, would be released for free in the 3DS eShop later this year as part of the ongoing 25th anniversary celebration of the much-loved series. Well, today officially marks the arrival of “later this year.”
Fans can now nab The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition from the 3DS and DSi eShop at no charge. It’s a limited time offering however, so be sure to grab it by February 20, 2012. The Anniversary Edition also differs somewhat from its GBA predecessor. The formerly multiplayer-only game now offers a single player component which works an awful lot like the multiplayer mode, only you swap between Links with the shoulder buttons instead of relying on other human players.
The new version also includes two added areas, each one containing three levels. There’s also a new “whistle” button (X) which allows players to point out things on the map to other that he or she is playing with. And of course, the Anniversary Edition takes full advantage of both platforms’ lower screen, using it to give players a constant view of the map and their inventory.
For more information, head over to Nintendo’s official Four Swords website.