As far back as 2000, when the Gamecube was first unveiled to the public at that fateful Spaceworld, Nintendo was saying how amazing they could make the connectivity between Gamecube and the forthcoming Game Boy Advance, and all the games, features and ideas that could take advantage of it. However, the way it was first described to the public was little more than a dream as the two systems panned out. What GC-GBA connectivity ended up being was a little more than being able unlock bonus features and such in one version of a game if you'd completed something in the other, and vice-versa. Square attempted to do it right with the four player Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, but all it was was that each player would use their own GBA screen as the inventory menu, while controlling their character on the TV screen. Leave to Nintendo themselves to finally show us how it's supposed to be done with The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures. Each time a player enters a house, a cave, falls through a hole or anything else, the game shifts flawlessly from the TV screen to the GBA screen while suffering only a minimal graphical reduction, which one would expect. Four Swords Adventures has two modes of play: Shadow Battle, which is really just a "last man standing" mode, and Hyrulean Adventure, which is the main mode and bulk of the game. Much like the GBA version that was included on A Link to the Past, the game focuses on both competition and cooperation. The goal as a team is to use all your combined powers to advance through the levels, yet you'll all have ulterior motives, for Hyrulean Adventure also awards the player with the highest amount of Force Gems, the in-game treasure. For the less social, fear not, this game features both solo and multiplayer modes, but this game definitely shines as a multiplayer game. The story has been crafted to go along with the need to have a situation with multiple players. A being called Shadow Link escapes from a sealed realm and kidnaps Zelda, and the only weapon capable of fighting him off is the legendary Four Sword, which, upon pulling it out of its pedestal, transforms Link into four separate colour-coded Links. However, the sword was also the seal holding the evil wind sorcerer Vaati prisoner, and Vaati escapes The Links set off across Hyrule in order to save Zelda and put of stop to Vaati, as well as the other evils that lie in wait for them. It's not as fleshed-out as a usual Zelda game, but it's not bad by any means. If you just all try to backstab each other and grab money, you'll never get anywhere. Huge blocks, pressure-activated switches, hundreds of swarming enemies, such things would be impossible for one Link. Therefore, the game demands that players work together. One thing that makes this a requirement is the puzzles that require several items. Each player can only carry one item at a time, and all classic Zelda items are here, such as the Fire Rod, Bow & Arrow, Pegasus Boots, Roc's Feather and so on. Many puzzles require more than one item to complete, and many others require all player to have the same item. Whether by necessity or not, by the time you reach game's end, you'll be cooperating with your fellow Links very well. One thing unfamiliar to Zeldaphiles in FSA is how contained the game is. There isn't one huge world like it's been in the past, but rather, it's been broken down into worlds and levels, much like the original Four Swords. This can make the game either much more tolerable or much less, depending on how much effort you're willing to put into your playtime, because you can only save your game at the end of each level, and some levels can last a long time depending on how well you're cooperating with your other players. But like the very idea of a multiplayer Zelda game, this works in the game much better than it sounds. Graphics-wise, don't expect to be amazed. In fact, don't expect anything at all, because if you do, you'll be fine. FSA looks greatly like A Link to the Past, only with more depth that you couldn't really expect on either the Super Nintendo or Game Boy Advance. Many little effects, such as a bomb exploding or a puff of smoke a defeated enemy emits, seem to have been taken right out of The Wind Waker, as well as Link's appearance and the appearances of many other characters you'll run into. When making the transfer to the GBA, the game retains most of its visuals, only losing its minor subtle effects, like the way smoke wafts from a fire or Link suddenly loses his shading, much as he looked in Four Swords. It's really hit-or-miss here; either you'll appreciate how the linking works, or you'll dislike how the graphics aren't supposedly up to speed with current technology. Although, if the latter's your train of thought, you've really missed the entire point altogether, haven't you? Music and sound are always an important factor, and here Nintendo delivers. Most tunes are remixed from previous Zelda games in one way or another, and sound effects are all those you remember too, from the sword swiping to bombs exploding to Link yelling. When having two or three friends working with you to progress through a level, it's always pleasant to have the classic overworld theme playing, or to hear the fairy fountain theme on the menu screen, or to have the fanfare when a treasure is discovered or a secret door blown open. It allows for each player to become more immersed in the experience, not to mention it's just freakin' cool to hear them all. One thing that makes for some fun is hearing a song and then all of you try to pinpoint which Zelda game it came from originally. Try it sometime. Everything that is great about Four Swords Adventures still can't truly make up for the game's one giant flaw, if you can call it that: it only works with multiple players. The solo game has much less value, although the ability to control all four Links in different formations isn't all bad. Also, level layouts may or may not differ depending on whether or not you're alone. Usually, the single-player puzzles are easier, but not always. There are other things for people to complain about as well. Some people may not like that you can't keep items or heart pieces or gems going from one level to another. But in the end, Four Swords Adventures does exactly what it set out to do: be both a Zelda game and an incredibly fun multiplayer experience all the same.
Other Helpful Reviews for Zelda no Densetsu: 4tsu no Tsurugi+
The Good: Switching between the GBA screen and the Cube's is intuitive and well executed; the game is fun no matter how many players there are; the music is as wonderful as ever; humor helps make the game more friendly t... Read Full Review
From what I've seen the Singleplayer in this game isn't as good as Co-Op Multiplayer. The Multiplayer allows up to 4 players simultaneously, all of which need a Gameboy, and connector cable of their own. The gameplay ... Read Full Review
