The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Other products by Nintendo

Product Details

• Shipping: Currently, item can be shipped only within the U.S. and to APO/FPO addresses. For APO/FPO shipments, please check with the manufacturer regarding warranty and support issues.
• ASIN: B00021HBAE
• Product Dimensions: 8 x 5.8 x 1.8 inches ; 9.3 ounces
• Media: Video Game
• Release Date: June 7, 2004
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (66 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #9,541 in Video Games (See Bestsellers in Video Games)
• Discontinued by manufacturer: Yes

Product Description

From the Manufacturer

The Legend continues on Nintendo GameCube in an all-new epic adventure for one to four players. Fusing cooperative and competitive action, Four Swords Adventures features a unique gameplay system that incorporates both the television and the Game Boy Advance.

When you enter a building or dive into a cave, your character switches from the TV to the Game Boy Advance. When you emerge, the frantic action shifts back to the big screen. To thwart Vaati's nefarious forces, you'll have to master new skills and techniques never before seen in the Legend of Zelda series.

Features

• Up to four players can link their GBAs to the Nintendo GameCube to join a fun and frantic competition for Force Gems and special items while cooperating to move massive blocks, trigger switches, and slay mighty bosses.
• Explore eight massive worlds in the Hyrulean Adventure mode, or fight your friends in Shadow Battle mode until only one Link remains!
• A rich single-player mode allows you to assume control of all four Links and command their every move by seamlessly switching among battle formations.
• A high-resolution, top-down play perspective features dazzling visual effects like vivid colored lighting, silky-smooth water ripples, swirling smoke and stylized weather effects.

Long ago, a valiant hero defeated an evil wind demon known as Vaati and imprisoned him with a magical seal. Over the ages, the seal weakened. Now, Vaati has escaped and abducted Princess Zelda and the six Shrine Maidens. To thwart Vaati's vile forces, legendary hero Link turns to the mystical power of the Four Sword to split himself into four colored copies of himself. The four Links embark on a quest to collect Force Gems and save Princess Zelda. Their journey will take them through enemy-infested lands and puzzle-plagued dungeons.

Four Swords Adventures seamlessly fuses many elements from past Zelda games into an all-new adventure. Zelda veterans will recognize items, characters and enemies from Zelda classics like Link's Awakening, A Link to the Past, The Wind Waker and more. This game really is a dream come true for any Zelda fan!

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

25 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A Great Game but not quite like all the other Zelda games, June 10, 2004

By	Nite - See all my reviews (TOP 50 REVIEWER)

The Legend of Zelda Four Swords Adventures is quite different from the past Zelda games. But as far as games go, this one will probably convince you to go out and get that GBA connectivity cable.

If you're familiar with the story of the Four Swords on the original GBA version that was with The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past then you'll probably be familiar with the story in this. The game starts off with the wind sorcerer Vaati kidnapping Princess Zelda and the other six maidens that watch over his prison. Link decides to grab the Four Sword which divides him into four versions of himself. These four Links now have to go save the six maidens as well as Princess Zelda. While the story isn't as breathtaking or in-depth as other Zelda games it still has the scale of a good story.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures takes a different path from your basic Zelda quest. The game is divided into levels that each take 45-60 minutes to complete. The difference however, and I'm not to fond of it, is that you start every level with four hearts and your basic equipment. You find power-ups and heart-containers in each level but once you complete one level you lose it all. At the start of the next level you go through it all again.

If you remember, the original Four Swords on GBA stressed multiplayer. This one doesn't. In fact, whether you play it on Multiplayer or not makes no difference in the flow of a level. This game more stresses cooperation with your fellow Links. Most puzzles require all four Links to do his part. The Links might have to stand on four switches at once, or push a large block. On single player mode you'll be the classic forest green Link leading all the others through the levels.

But where the game shines is its connectivity bonuses. Most Gamecube games connectivity are used to unlock secrets, this one however is different. Every time you enter a bulding, cave or some sort of subdungeon or go through a moon gate the action changes from your TV to your GBA screen. This takes a moment to get used to but after a while its as easy as finding the buttons on your controller.

The good news is that you do not HAVE to link up with your GBA to unlock with The Four Swords Adventure has to offer. In fact, the GBA only heightens the experience.

The graphics for this game can sometimes be appealing but you have to wonder sometimes. Most of the graphics are a mix between the original Four Swords on GBA and Gamecube graphics. It's almost like putting in the original Four Swords on a Gameboy Player. Sometimes the graphics disappoint, especially if you didn't like the cel-shaded look for the Wind Waker.

The Sound is classic Zelda music. In fact, throughout Four Swords there isn't a single tune you haven't heard in one of the past Zelda games. Most of the tunes are taken from the Windwaker. Most tunes you've heard in previous versions before. The music is great but be warned that none of it is really new. The theme is the same and you still here the same notes when you unlock a secret that you've been hearing since the first Zelda game.

The Four Swords Adventure is actually a pretty pleasing Zelda game. Though it is by far the most different of the series it couldn't hurt to by it, link up with a couple of friends and play. The game is good but not quite as Legendary as the previous games.

23 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't Listen to the Critics, June 18, 2004

By	"clifford273" (Michigan) - See all my reviews

I'm a 35 year old female gamer. This is a great game that satisfies my Zelda craving for the time being! I'm hooked - playing it every chance I get. I'm only playing the 1-person game and am totally enjoying every minute. This IS a different Zelda than you're used to....it's more focused on puzzle solving in smaller levels within different worlds rather than exploration of a huge over and under world. The game play moves along quickly. I like the unique concept of working together as a team more than I thought I would. The puzzles do sometimes make you sit back and think how your team is going to solve them, but aren't so challenging that you're constantly stuck. I like that! The controls are fluid and responsive.

Everything so far has been a nice reminder of Zelda games past. The majority of the game reminds me of Link to the Past, but there's elements, items, and characters from all the games. You'll feel comfortable in no time at all.

I have one complaint, but as you can see I still gave it 5 stars! You CANNOT save any time you want. You only get the option to save after completing a level. Since the levels aren't terribly long, and health as well as life fairies are abundant, it's not too bad.

Definitely worth a look for any Zelda fan!

22 of 25 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Silly, Goofy Fun -- as a Mini-Link Saves Hyrule, September 20, 2004

By	Angela D. Mitchell "Paranoid PR" (Jacksonville, FL United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Fun:5.0 out of 5 stars 

I'd heard about Zelda: Four Swords mainly for its interactive qualities -- for the fun it offered gamers in groups (and seamlessly integrating the GBA into the action). However, the game is a throwback to the classic Nintendo and arcade games in many ways, with bright semi-pixellated screens, funny mini-universes and tiny heroes. It's also surprisingly satisfying by the end -- a really complex game even for the one-person player.

However, it's for multiple players that ultimately Zelda: Four Swords really shines, and in that capacity it's a real breakthrough for integrating the GC with the GBA. A hilarious and innocent world, and an absolute blast to play with someone else -- that's really where the fun is.

Four Swords is creative, challenging and very cute to boot -- worth a purchase, too, as the gameplay even for one player is dozens of hours, with a host of additional games and multiplayer options offering potentially dozens of additional gameplay hours as well. It's good clean fun for all ages, and any gamers with a sense of fun -- kids and adults alike -- will adore it.