The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

"A perfect score from the most jaded gamer on planet Earth. An epic game deserves an epic review."

Searching for the right words to convey just how fantastic LOZ: 4 Swords is proves to be a difficult task. Nothing I say can truly do this game justice. However, I will try my best.

In an age where graphics seem to take the highest priority among gamers and developers alike, Nintendo reminds us (as well as themselves apparrently) what a video game should be. A video game should be about gameplay first and foremost, and it seems Nintendo is desperately driving this message home via this new Zelda. Most big-name companies (I won't name names) show no restraint with their cutscenes and are content to let their games be little more than a finger-tapping simulator. Whereas, you tap your finger against a single button to skip a bazillion cutscenes in the hopes of reaching a spot where you actually PLAY the game.

Then, there's the graphics over gameplay approach that is so prevalent in today's industry.Sadly, especially for hobbyist/hardcore gamers, this 1-2-punch of interactive movie syndrome and graphics over gameplay is destroying industry veterans like Nintendo, Treasure, and Capcom among others in the number of sales department.

But Nintendo has readied its largest cannon of them all. From this cannon comes that special reminder I spoke of earlier: LOZ: 4 Swords. An epic game deserves an epic review.

GAMEPLAY-- 10/10

Being clever, lengthy, deep, and fun, are special attributes I look for in video games. A few of my most memorable gameplay experiences (and favorites in general) include: The Lode Runner series, the Unreal Tournament Series, Vagrant Story, Ikaruga, the Zelda Series, Devil May Cry 1, and Viewtiful Joe. Believe me when I say LOZ: 4 Swords crushes them all, even past Zeldas. Bold words but true nonetheless.

The best way to describe LOZ: 4 Swords is to say that it's a mix of past Zeldas delivered in a Link to the Past Format. If you're not a Zelda fan, this means the game is presented in 2 dimensions from an overhead perspective. If you ARE a Zelda fan and thought A Link to the Past was the high point in the series (I thought Ocarina of Time was the previous high point) you are going to be in heaven.

All of the style from A Link to the Past is retained in the gameplay and graphics. You'll be seeing old friends like the magic hammer, boomerang, light/dark worlds, and of course: lots of pots and chickens. You'll also be doing things from the newer Zeldas like riding your horse Epona, meeting Dampe the graveyard guy, avoiding searchlights, witnessing Tingle's odd behavior, and have another run-in with a race of people called Gorons.

The game is divided into levels instead of being a persistent world like the other Zeldas. Now before all of you Zelda Vets start griping let me tell you, I've been with this series since the beginning too and everything feels just as it should. You'll still be exploring towns, shaking down the townspeople for info. You'll still be busting your brain trying to rectify whatever problem has befallen said town in order to proceed or find cleverly hidden goodies. You'll still be using special items. You'll still be searching for a way to enter a dungeon/temple and slay the oh-so-clever boss monsters. Plus, you'll still be bludgeoning tons of chickens senseless and laying waste to rooms full of pottery. Honestly, if something felt out of place I'd be the first to blast Nintendo for it and everything is fine. More importantly, everything is still Zelda.

Inventive puzzles and combat have always been what this series is known for and LOZ: 4 Swords delivers. Combat is much more challenging this time around as opposed to the last Zelda: the Windwaker. The power of the Gamecube allows the game to sometimes throw upwards of 60 enemies at you at once. Boss battles and especially the puzzles put every other Zelda to shame.

In addition to Zelda's always top-quality puzzles you now have an added brain busting element to use: Controlling 4 Links (the hero) at once. (More on Multiplayer later.) This new gameplay mechanic factors into a huge amount of the puzzles and is used in ways that amazed me. The truly great thing about Zelda games, and this one especially, is their seamless integration of combat and puzzles. An area in Zelda rarely consists of all combat or all puzzles. 90% of the time you're experiencing both at once. The sword swinging and butt kicking always have a use-your-brain-element and the puzzles, a lot of the time, require clever use of your weapons.

In this outing you can carry 1 special item and a few items that augment your base statistics allowing you to halve incoming damage or lift especially heavy objects. Much like A Link to the Past.

Obviously, a lot of the commotion surrounding LOZ: 4 Swords stems from the ability to play Cooperative 2, 3, or 4 player and I don't just mean deathmatch. You can play single-player with a Gamecube controller or with 1, 2, and 3 other friends (enemies?) to tackle the main story/adventure mode. You can't play online in multiplayer, rather, you use 1 Gamecube system and as many Game Boy Advance systems/link cables as there are players.

Nintendo's ill-fated "connectivity" is however, put to astonishing good use here. In multiplayer, a lot of the gameplay involves "ducking" into your GBA, while in single-player, a pop-up window is used to simulate a GBA. Thus, in single-player, a GBA is not required. The main action takes place on your TV screen in multiplayer but when a player enters a house, cave, or falls in a hole, they "fall/duck" into their GBA. This allows said player to adventure independently from the others without always having to stay on the same screen as their buddies. All sorts of gameplay nuances and possibilities arise from this mechanic and the whole thing works flawlessly and intelligently.

There will inevitably be people who complain about the requirement for GBAs in multiplayer mode, each with a myriad of reasons. To them I say: I don't care how much you have to pay to get a GBA or 2 if you don't already own one, I don't care if you have to fork out more money for a GBA to GC link cable, it's well worth it. It's just that simple. This game is worth it. Playing through a ZELDA quality game with 2, 3, or 4 of my friends? It's a no-brainer.

Here's the best part though: LOZ: 4 Swords succeeds just as well in single-player. Here, you control all 4 Links (there's always 4 on-screen at once) and can have the other 3 follow behind you, move in set formations like a box, cross, vertical/horizontal line, alter/customize formations on the fly, and/or control each one independently. Brilliant. While in a set formation they'll even mimic your lead Link's actions.

I bought LOZ: 4 Swords during my vacation from work so I had a lot of extra time to tear into it. Lucky for me because I couldn't stop. After finishing the game once, playing equal parts single and multiplayer through the main quest, I can tell you that it's quite a lengthy experience. The levels are huge and stunning which provides an absolute landslide of things to find and accomplish. There's easily 20-30 hours of gameplay time for a Zelda vet on their first playthrough and nearly double that amount for a Novice.

When describing the difference between single and multiplayer I would use the word different rather than say that one mode is better than the other. In single-player, I loved the added control and freedom to command all 4 Links as I saw fit. Being a Zelda Vet and without the unpredictability of other humans, I could generally finish a level more efficiently.

However, in multiplayer, that same human unpredictability and now, lack of complete control are some of what makes multi so fun. Here, you'll have to communicate, divide up the special items, decide as a group where/how to go next, and cooperate to slay those devilish enemies and bosses. Bossfights in multiplayer are an absolute blast because you have a different sense of being a body guard as opposed to single-player. Feeling obligated to protect your teammates during a crucial battle is special, but with this comes a new opportunity to compete.

In multiplayer, LOZ: 4 Swords strikes a yin-yang balance between cooperating and competing. Advancing further is always paramount, but competing becomes a viable second objective. Whoever gets the most force gems, kills the most enemies, dies the least, or has the most hearts/health remaining will reap special rewards at the end of a level. So yes, this aspect is missing from the single-player, but competition only makes multiplayer different, not better. I had an equally fantastic time playing in either mode. Designing the game to accommodate single and multiplayer is a stroke of genius on Nintendo's part.

GRAPHICS-- 10/10

Large, incredibly detailed 2d graphics are boosted further by three dimensional particle effects and a massive amount of objects on-screen at once. The landscape will bend, bubble up, and deform to match the action at hand.

Once again, fans of A Link to the Past will be ecstatic to see that this new Zelda's graphical style pays homage to the past while incorporating the next-gen graphics of today. Also, the game engine is capable of throwing whole legions of enemies at you on-screen at once, giving you plenty of reason to keep that sword sharp.

Blizzards, fire/lava, wind, rain, light/dark worlds, and darkness are represented in true Zelda fashion. Following in some of the graphical footsteps of the Windwaker, the smoke and transparency effects that permeate the screen are excellent.

SOUND/MUSIC-- 10/10

Another crowning achievement in the Zelda series. Ambient remixed music from past adventures are used liberally to compliment the action and tears nearly burst forth as I hummed along to familiar melodies. New music is here as well and the whole score will surely please Zelda newbies too.

Speaking as a Zelda veteran though, little touches like hearing the first few notes of Epona's song from Ocarina of Time when you hop on your horse and the "hold your new item above your head" music are what makes this so great.

CONTROLS-- 10/10

As mentioned before, you can play single-player using a Gamecube controller while an on-screen pop-up window replaces any action occurring on your GBA, no GBA is required. In multiplayer you need as many GBAs and GBA to Gamecube link cable as there are players.

In single-player you can have the other Links follow and/or mimic actions and switch or customize their formations on the fly using a shortcut button. The whole thing works quickly and easily. When/if you need to, you can also control the Links one at a time.

In 2 player, each of you will control a dummy Link in the same way mentioned above. 3 player has 1 player control a dummy while 4 player is obviously all humans and no dummies. To summarize, it's very efficient and painless.

CONCLUSION

Finally, a labor of love from Nintendo that taps the rich history of Zelda to its fullest potential. Video games have been a dedicated hobby of mine for twenty years and I can say, without hesitation, LOZ: 4 Swords is the best video game I have EVER played.

For the past couple years I have felt abandoned by my favorite hobby: videogames. Developers have become consumed with graphics and sales figures, resulting in a steady, garbage-waterfall of videogames the likes of which my hardcore gamer eyes have never seen. Gameplay is merely an afterthought to many of these developers, yet, their undeserving games are selling through the roof. Then along comes LOZ: 4 Swords to brighten my gaming hobby once again. Gameplay should always be first. Thanks for the reminder Nintendo. You should thank them too.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 06/10/04