The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
- Developer
- Nintendo
- Publisher
- Nintendo
- Genre
- Action
- Players
- 1 - 4
- Rated
- Everyone
- Released
- 06/07/2004
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventure
If you haven’t noticed lately, Nintendo has been including the controversial “connectivity” into more and more games. Most recently, Nintendo made Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles its connectivity poster child, creating quite the stir in the gaming industry. Although the mandatory Game Boy Advance’s didn’t sit well with many fans, Nintendo is obviously not concerned, as they are releasing yet another game that requires GBA’s for multiplayer purposes: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. However, Four Swords offers a much different experience than Crystal Chronicles and most likely, a much more enjoyable single player experience.
The game consists of three different modes: Hyrule Adventure, Shadow Battle, and Navi Trackers. Hyrule Adventure is much like the original Four Swords for the GBA, but with many improvements. It can be played with up to four players all of which must use a GBA in order to play (no GBA is needed when played alone). The goal in Hyrule Adventure is to rescue the captured maidens and defeat the evil that captured them. Naturally, each maiden is stashed away in her own dungeon, complete with thousands of puzzles and enemies, eventually leading up to a final boss.
The way in which the single player mode is established in Hyrule Adventure creates quite a unique experience. The first noticeable thing is, even though you’re playing by yourself, you have complete control over four different Links. Normally, you will control the green Link while the other three follow you in single file. Where the strategy comes in is when you perform certain formations. There are four different formations to choose from, which are all accessible through the Y button: a horizontal line, a vertical line, a square (2 rows of 2), and a diamond shape where all Links face outwards. When all Links are in a formation, they perform the same action at the same time. So when you press the attack button, all the Links will swing their swords, when you fire a boomerang, all the Links will fire their boomerangs, etc. The formations all have their own strengths and weakness; for instance, the diamond shape is perfect for defending yourself against hoards of enemies, while the square is perfect for focusing your attack on individual enemies. Fortunately, the formations can also be quickly selected using the c-stick and cancelled by pressing the Y button. Not only can you gather all your Links into formations, but you can also freely control each one individually while the others stay put. The X button allows you to rotate through each Link, leaving the other Links transparent. Controlling each Link separately adds a lot of strategy and problem solving to the game, specifically when faced with puzzles that require each Link to perform a certain task on their own. For instance, you might be faced with a series of blocks that are preventing your further progress in a dungeon. The blocks are coloured similarly to that of the Links, with green bocks, blue blocks, red blocks, and purple blocks. To get passed them, each Link must push the block with his corresponding colour out of the way, so that the next Link can push his corresponding block out of the way. On top of this, the blocks will most likely be arranged in classic Zelda style, having you to push the blocks in certain directions in a certain order. Also, when controlling a specific Link, you can pick up the other Links, carry them around and throw them, which comes in handy during certain puzzles. Seeing as how the c-stick and X and Y buttons have been mentioned, its pretty obvious that the single player can be played using the GCN controller, which should put a stop to some of the “connectivity” controversy Four Swords is likely to receive. In some ways, the single play should be easier than the multiplayer, mostly because the helpful formations in single player would be almost impossible to manipulate with your three friends.
Shadow Battle can be played by 2 – 4 players. In this mode, players are pitted against each other in classic deathmatch style in an attempt to be the better Link. All battles take place in specifically designed arenas, which are chosen before the battle begins. Each arena comes fully equipped with booby traps, secondary weaponry, and of course, jars full of goodies. Navi Trackers is the third mode and plays much like a scavenger hunt in which all players compete with each other to collect the most stamps. This mode is played almost entirely on the GBA, while Tetra (the pirate from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) offers commentary on the TV screen.
The reason why connectivity is mandatory is simple: when you or any other player enters a building, or a cave, you are then made to carry on you exploration on your GBA, while the rest of your team mates remain on the TV screen. When played on the GBA, the game looks much like that of Four Swords for the GBA. This was obviously implemented in order to get rid of the need for split screens, which can add a lot of unwanted clutter and complication to the game.
Probably the most unique aspect of Four Swords is the graphics, which can be summed up as Link to the Past on graphical steroids. Basically, the graphics are a blend of Four Swords for GBA and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The most noticeable Wind Waker influences are the water and fire effects, and most famously, the swirl of purple smoke that arises after an enemy has fallen. The graphics on the GBA are almost exactly the same as the first Four Swords for the GBA. The sound will also feature a classic Zelda score of old songs, new songs, and a few remixes.
FSA is scheduled for release in June of 2004, which means we all have plenty of time to save up for the necessary GBA’s and link cables.
- Luke Seeley
If you haven’t noticed lately, Nintendo has been including the controversial “connectivity” into more and more games. Most recently, Nintendo made Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles its connectivity poster child, creating quite the stir in the gaming industry. Although the mandatory Game Boy Advance’s didn’t sit well with many fans, Nintendo is obviously not concerned, as they are releasing yet another game that requires GBA’s for multiplayer purposes: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. However, Four Swords offers a much different experience than Crystal Chronicles and most likely, a much more enjoyable single player experience.
The game consists of three different modes: Hyrule Adventure, Shadow Battle, and Navi Trackers. Hyrule Adventure is much like the original Four Swords for the GBA, but with many improvements. It can be played with up to four players all of which must use a GBA in order to play (no GBA is needed when played alone). The goal in Hyrule Adventure is to rescue the captured maidens and defeat the evil that captured them. Naturally, each maiden is stashed away in her own dungeon, complete with thousands of puzzles and enemies, eventually leading up to a final boss.
Link and the entire Wind Waker cast return for yet another Zelda adventure.
The way in which the single player mode is established in Hyrule Adventure creates quite a unique experience. The first noticeable thing is, even though you’re playing by yourself, you have complete control over four different Links. Normally, you will control the green Link while the other three follow you in single file. Where the strategy comes in is when you perform certain formations. There are four different formations to choose from, which are all accessible through the Y button: a horizontal line, a vertical line, a square (2 rows of 2), and a diamond shape where all Links face outwards. When all Links are in a formation, they perform the same action at the same time. So when you press the attack button, all the Links will swing their swords, when you fire a boomerang, all the Links will fire their boomerangs, etc. The formations all have their own strengths and weakness; for instance, the diamond shape is perfect for defending yourself against hoards of enemies, while the square is perfect for focusing your attack on individual enemies. Fortunately, the formations can also be quickly selected using the c-stick and cancelled by pressing the Y button. Not only can you gather all your Links into formations, but you can also freely control each one individually while the others stay put. The X button allows you to rotate through each Link, leaving the other Links transparent. Controlling each Link separately adds a lot of strategy and problem solving to the game, specifically when faced with puzzles that require each Link to perform a certain task on their own. For instance, you might be faced with a series of blocks that are preventing your further progress in a dungeon. The blocks are coloured similarly to that of the Links, with green bocks, blue blocks, red blocks, and purple blocks. To get passed them, each Link must push the block with his corresponding colour out of the way, so that the next Link can push his corresponding block out of the way. On top of this, the blocks will most likely be arranged in classic Zelda style, having you to push the blocks in certain directions in a certain order. Also, when controlling a specific Link, you can pick up the other Links, carry them around and throw them, which comes in handy during certain puzzles. Seeing as how the c-stick and X and Y buttons have been mentioned, its pretty obvious that the single player can be played using the GCN controller, which should put a stop to some of the “connectivity” controversy Four Swords is likely to receive. In some ways, the single play should be easier than the multiplayer, mostly because the helpful formations in single player would be almost impossible to manipulate with your three friends.
Shadow Battle can be played by 2 – 4 players. In this mode, players are pitted against each other in classic deathmatch style in an attempt to be the better Link. All battles take place in specifically designed arenas, which are chosen before the battle begins. Each arena comes fully equipped with booby traps, secondary weaponry, and of course, jars full of goodies. Navi Trackers is the third mode and plays much like a scavenger hunt in which all players compete with each other to collect the most stamps. This mode is played almost entirely on the GBA, while Tetra (the pirate from The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker) offers commentary on the TV screen.
Surprisingly - being a port - one of Four Swords strongpoints is its visual style.
The reason why connectivity is mandatory is simple: when you or any other player enters a building, or a cave, you are then made to carry on you exploration on your GBA, while the rest of your team mates remain on the TV screen. When played on the GBA, the game looks much like that of Four Swords for the GBA. This was obviously implemented in order to get rid of the need for split screens, which can add a lot of unwanted clutter and complication to the game.
Probably the most unique aspect of Four Swords is the graphics, which can be summed up as Link to the Past on graphical steroids. Basically, the graphics are a blend of Four Swords for GBA and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. The most noticeable Wind Waker influences are the water and fire effects, and most famously, the swirl of purple smoke that arises after an enemy has fallen. The graphics on the GBA are almost exactly the same as the first Four Swords for the GBA. The sound will also feature a classic Zelda score of old songs, new songs, and a few remixes.
FSA is scheduled for release in June of 2004, which means we all have plenty of time to save up for the necessary GBA’s and link cables.
- Luke Seeley