The first full-fledged multiplayer Zelda game is a resounding success.

User Rating: 8.9 | Zelda no Densetsu: 4tsu no Tsurugi+ GC
By KewDrew | Review Date:
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures was originally a concept for the Gameboy Advance. It was a multiplayer Gameboy Advance game that could only be played with four people. That meant four Zelda fans, four Gameboy Advances, four cartridges, and link cables. Because of that, not too many people (myself included) got a chance to play the original. It’s been a few years in the making, but Four Swords Adventures has now made its way to the GameCube with a whole new adventure. Four Swords Adventures is a multiplayer Zelda game that utilizes GameCube/Gameboy Advance connectivity and stresses teamwork. The game can be played solo using the standard GameCube controller or with up to four people using Gameboy Advances as controllers. The game provides many fun and unique moments if you’re playing it by yourself, but this game is at its peak with multiple players. The purpose of using the Gameboy Advance as a controller is to give each player their own private screen. The overworld will be shown on the TV, but whenever entering a cave or house the action will be diverted to the Gameboy Advance screen. This concept may sound clunky or even confusing, but it works very well because it gives you tremendous freedom and independence from the other players while still requiring teamwork. It’s true that the Internet could have done the same thing, and many people would have even preferred that approach, but I disagree. An online Zelda game would have been great, but having a bunch of friends around you to share the laughs, thrills, and trash talking is really an integral part of the fun.

The story of the game is pretty basic and derivative. Zelda is captured by Ganon and Link draws a blade before setting off in Zelda’s rescue that splits him into four counterparts. The four Links (each controlled by a different player) then continue their quest to rescue Zelda. Along the way, you’ll venture through several worlds each full of its own unique moments, memorable boss battles, and inventive puzzles. Throughout the journey, players will compete over force gems that will power up Link with new abilities. The player who gets the most force gems throughout the entire game will be the true hero that rescues Zelda. So, it’s important to work together in order to get through each level, but it’s equally important to watch out for yourself and make sure you reap every last reward.

The graphics in this game are really quite great. The game is 2D from an overhead point-of-view, but everything is so clean and colorful. The graphics are reminiscent of A Link to the Past with effects from The Windwaker. It’s a great blend of old and new graphics brought to life in such a colorful and vibrant manner. However, it is worth noting that when the camera zooms in close things start to get pixilated. 480p support is also available for gamers with progressive scan displays.

If you’ve ever played A Link to the Past then the sound of this game will be very familiar territory. Some people may think of it as being cheap or repetitive that literally almost all of the game’s music is ripped directly from A Link to the Past, a game released over a decade ago on the Super Nintendo. However, the music is so great, so catchy, and so fitting that you will soon not care how old it is. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.

In the end, I had a blast with this game. This is one of the best multiplayer games for the GameCube and the best use of connectivity yet. If you and your friends have the requisite hardware then do not, by any means, pass up Four Swords Adventures. As a gamer, you owe yourself a chance to play this.

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