Zelda - The Four Swords Adventures Rated

An anonymous reader writes "The GameCube has had a drought of games since the start of spring. Many gamers are eagerly awaiting 'the next big game,' The Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords Adventures. The game, which is set to be released this June, has already been released in Japan and a full review from the SiliconEra website. According to the piece, the game is 'easy to learn, innovative and can appeal to people of all ages', but the reviewer also states that the US release of the Four Swords will be minus some Japanese features, as it will be missing the Navi Trackers mini game."

Comments

Navi Trackers

[Blackwulf]

Navi Trackers was the main reason I was looking forward to this game. I played Tetra's Trackers at E3 last year (with English voices, no less) and it was a LOT of fun. I felt it would have made a great minigame. (Most people were upset at the "gimmick" of using 4 GBA's to control the action, but once I got past that line of thinking, I actually enjoyed myself immensly.)

And I guess since it's so language heavy, it wouldn't be a good import. Ugh.

At least Four Swords was just as fun.

Re:Navi Trackers

[Anonymous Coward]

The main reason it's not in there is because of the American public generally not liking it as much as the rest- if you really want it in the US version, then try getting as many people calling Nintendo asking about it.

Hey, it worked for the Wind Waker bonus disc.

Re:Navi Trackers

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it probably didn't. Releasing said bonus disc seems like such an obvious move, considering that it had already been released in Japan, and that an English translation had already been written.

Of course, it couldn't hurt...

Re:Navi Trackers

[swat_r2]

I can't remember where I heard this but I thought the reasoning was due to a localization issue - that the english voices would add more time to the development cost/timeframe. Either way I'm a bit annoyed it won't be included, I sure hope the price is set accordingly.

Re:Navi Trackers

[Anonymous Coward]

The Japanese version of Navi Trackers lets you input your name in Japanese. Navi then gives signals to players by saying their name. It's a cool feature, and I can see how it would be tough to implement using English.

My question is: Why didn't they just change the game to always say "Player 1" or "Green Player" or something? Why take away an entire game instead of just one feature of a game?

I, too, enjoyed Navi's trackers (then Tetra's Trackers - which made everyone think that there was a new Tetris game) at last years E3. In fact, after playing it one time, some members of the Nintendo development team interviewed myself and a few friends about our play experience and our reaction to the game. It disappoints me that it won't come out in the U.S. at all now.

Four Swords is a blast... as long as you are playing with patient people. Be ready to throw stuff at the guy in your group constantly lighting people on fire "by accident." :)

Re:Zelda is the first gay video game character

[consolidatedbord]

Zelda is a female, and usually gay females are referred to as lesbians. I am assuming that your ignorance of the game led you to beleive that the main (male) character was named "Zelda" and thus your use of the word "gay." This obviously makes no sense since the stories are, in a nutshell a male rescuing a female. How is this in any sense homo-erotic?

Four GBAs to play?

[b0r0din]

I like connectivity to a GBA. But what's with these games like Zelda and PacMan that require like 4 GBAs to unlock all the features of gameplay? Last I checked, the new SPs were 100 bucks. So in order to play this game in multiplayer mode, say, with one other, you'd need to buy the game (40 bucks) two GBAs (200 bucks) PLUS of course the GameCube. Why not make the game for the GameCube w/controllers, so you can use your damn GameCube controller. Why all this crap with GBAs. I think GBA connectivity could be useful, but not like this. This is a retarded marketing ploy to get people to buy 4 GBAs for one game.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[consolidatedbord]

"This is a retarded marketing ploy to get people to buy 4 GBAs for one game."

You answered your own question. I couldn't see any other reason for this either besides to gain profits. Though it does seem a bit extreme, they got bills to pay too, right?

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[whiteSanjuro]

when i was playing pacman last night, it only required one gba for 4 players.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[DavidLeblond]

Four players, four gameboys... that suggests that each player has his/her own gameboy... makes sense to me.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Anonymous Coward]

Thats the dumest thing I ever heard. First off you are way more likley to find some one who owns a GBA then someone who owns a Gamecube. Secondly YOU only need to have ONE GBA. Your friend (You have friends rights?) has to have his own. Third if you dont have a GBA and your friends dont why the fuck are you buying a game that requries them? Obligatory link: http://www.penny-arcade.com/view.php3?date=2003-08 -25

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[b0r0din]

On the PacMan side, my mistake. That seems like a fair enough model. One GBA for one Gamecube. I still disagree that it's a good idea to require four GBAs to play all four Links, though. All fanboys aside, assuming you are an adult and have two or three kids that play the GameCube, you might buy a game that is then going to force you to buy 2 or 3 more GBAs just for everyone to enjoy. I understand the cunning nature of the marketing, I just think it's rediculous to require this when you've got a goddamn GameCube. The whole POINT of owning a gamecube is to play games on it, not to suggest you go buy other hardware that isn't needed. I don't care if you have four friends that want to play the game and own GBAs. Why can't you play the game with a fscking Gamecube controller? Is it really that difficult to port it to a full GameCube version?

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Anonymous Coward]

Jesus fucking christ. Okay now that we all know the guys from PA are your heros and all, why not really thinking about the god damned situation instead of just regurgitating what your idols say. You fucking sheep. What is it with you people and thinking Gabe and Tycho are authors of the gamers bible.

Anyways, obviously you don't hang with people who are not quite as hardcore gamers as yourself. Pacman aside, because of Nintendos lame 4-player GBA requirement people like me, who socialize with more than just the hardcore crowd, can't play games with everyone I want to. My room mate and I play games all the time, but she doesn't own a GBA so that limits us from a couple of the really good GC multiplayer titles.

If nintendo persists with this requirement because it actually enhances gameplay, then their next console really needs to come with GBA controls right off the bat.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[realdpk]

It's not unlike multiplayer PC games. Everyone has to have their own PC in those, too. Plus a switch. Plus an Internet connection if they're playing online.

Anyways, I haven't yet heard of one of these games not working if you didn't have a GBA. Single player mode can be played alone. Multiplayer mode requires people to have their own hardware.

I for one am glad they're doing this sort of thing, instead of just throwing away ideas because they might require some investment.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[realdpk]

You could just play other games. There's no *requirement* that you go out and buy the "latest/greatest" games that require lots of money to get involved with.

You may as well complain that some games require a PS2 to play, and that's unfair because you don't have a PS2.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Acidic_Diarrhea]

Part of the premise of the game is that your character can go wandering on his own. How exactly are you going to replicate that with a Gamecube controller? Split the screen up as soon as someone walks off screen. That would be disorienting and it would also allow the other players to see what you were doing.

Your argument is, as I see it, akin to saying, "Man, why can't I play DDR without the dance pad?" except taken to a more extreme level. Nintendo introduced a game where GBA connectivity offered a different kind of experience that could not be replicated with a standard Gamecube controller. No one is forcing you to buy it. Don't like it? Don't buy it.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Anonymous Coward]

I used to agree that having to buy a gameboy as a controller was a stupid idea. I definately didn't want to be spending 100 bucks on a gameboy SP. But I ended up buying a gameboy advance for 30 bucks on Ebay and it's proven to be a great investment. Not only do I now have an extra gaming platform, but it opens up a whole lot of great opportunities on the gamecube. I'm going to be encouraging my friends to buy their own $30 gameboys off of ebay as well.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Rallion]

I understand where you're coming from, I really do. But I honestly fail to see the problem. I have a GC, but no GBA. So, I play other games instead, and remember this one in case I want to make that investment some day. I see it as no different than an XBox or PS2 game that I just can't play without a substantial investment. Oh well.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[default luser]

I'm just going to say this:

If Nintendo wanted this kind of functionality with the Gamecube, they should have shipped the system with interactive controllers (ala the Dreamcast VMU).

It's not as if this is a NEW concept. The problem is, a controller with a VMU costs $20, which makes the GBA seem like one damn expensive controller. There are MANY people who will never own a GBA, and it hurts Nintendo's ability to get developers onboard because their potential market is that much smaller.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[realdpk]

I think that may be a problem when 90% of the Gamecube games require GBAs. I've only heard of a small handful, though, that even take advantage of a GBA.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Anonymous Coward]

A GBA is an expensive controller in the same way that an Alienware PC is an expensive typewriter. If you don't treat the GBA as a complete gaming system you're not using the device to its fullest potential.

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Anonymous Coward]

Here Here,

I like the cube and of all the games I play, baldur's gate is the one I spent the most time with. MYy wife and I played it through 2 times. There is a derth of multiplayer fantasy games for the NGC. I was crestfallen when I found out 2 new/ highly anticipated titles for the NGC both req'd GBAs.. (i.e. FF:CC Z:FS).

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[Kataton]

There are two versions of this game: The first is GBA-only, and the newer is for Gamecube (with or without GBA).
If you do some investigation, you'll find that this game works without GBAs.
If a player goes into a mini-dungeon, a GBA screen appears in your TV and you play in it. If you have a GBA, you simply see the screen in your GBA instead of your TV screen.
If one of the links goes away the screen, the screen zooms out (to a limit).

Re:Four GBAs to play?

[greenskyx]

I agree. They did this with Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles (which SUCKED compared to other FF series games) as well. I probably won't buy another Nintendo because of this. They make great games, but having to purchase Gameboys to play multiplayer GameCube cames is just play stupid.

idiots

[BigBir3d]

Nice to know that Japanese companies still don't understand one of the biggest markets they have. This interweb thingy is just exacerbating the situation.

Re:idiots

[Joe Tie.]

I don't know the inner workings of Nintendo, but couldn't it be the American branch that made this decision? It seems like they'd have a good deal of say on how localisations should be handeled.

Re:idiots

[-kertrats-]

Dude, if you think any significant portion of gaming is internet-only on consoles, you're sadly mistaken. Regardless of how popular online is on PC (i'm not saying it isnt), on consoles neither Sony nor Microsoft have broken even off of their online programs. Microsoft is draining millions into Xbox Live, and while its a great system, Microsoft isnt making money off it. Nintendo might be wise in not going online yet; if, however, N5 isnt online, they'll be in trouble.

Re:idiots

[BigBir3d]

My comment was in reference to gamers the world over communicating via the internet. The propogation of bad or disappointing news is much faster, and available to a wider audience than a typical gamers magazine.

The internet connected console is a cute idea... but I would rather do that with a PC. I prefer the isolated nature of a traditional console attached to a TV.

PacMan and Marketing

[Ian_Bailey]

PacMan only requires 1 GBA, and so is not as expensive as many of the other connectivity games.

The connectivity ploy is an attempt by Nintendo to give their console something unique that will drive people to GameCubes. There are easily 4 times more GBAs out there than GameCubes, so in theory, their idea could work.

Honestly, if you think about the targets for this game (Who has 3 friends with GameBoys? Kids and hardcore nintendo fanboys.), it seems like this is not the sort of game that will be accessible to most people. The rest of us will have to suffer.

Re:PacMan and Marketing

[ooPo]

If you're suffering... you may already be a hardcore nintendo fanboy.

Spend the cash. Come join us.

Re:PacMan and Marketing

[Anonymous Coward]

Agreed, I'm a college student and I know like 2 people with GameCubes. I can count over 10 with GBAs.

well i was excited...

[rogabean]

until i started reading and figured out this whole GBA connectivity thing...now I'm just confused. :(

This is the style of Zelda I prefer... (I hated the N64 and Current Gamecube releases in the "newer" style) But I can't seem to understand from the article if I have to have a GBA with this to play at all, or if it also has a standard gamecube release.. =\ /sigh

Re:well i was excited...

[Fred Or Alive]

I think every player has to use a GBA as a controller, like Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles. Presumably, like all good Nintendo fanboys, you and all your friends already own them, and the requisite Gamecube->Gameboy cable.

Having played the Gameboy Advance version[1] I'd say it's quite a fun game, rather action orientated compared to traditional Zelda, but its the sort of game that depends on you being able to get enough people (of the right quality) together to play. I gather the Gamecube is longer than the over-in-an-evening GBA version, which is nice. The GBA version was very fun, with a nice competition element of who can get the most rupees. At least with the Gamecube version you don't have to all own copies of the game, you just need one, but all the people playing have to be able to own / buy / steal / borrow a Gameboy to join in.

The fact Nintendo seem to have cut a section of the game out because they can't be bothered to translate it sucks, it can't cost that much to record a new set of voices for a game (just use Sega's patented technique, and grab a few people off the street and stick them in front of a microphone.)

[1] And fighting the complete stupidness that European and US cartridges won't play together (you get connection error messages), but luckily I was able to get my money back on the US cart I'd picked up second hand and get a nice new EU one like a nice, non-import using Nintendo patron. (Remeber kids! Importing video games supports terrorism!)

Re:well i was excited...

[Phil Wilkins]

You don't need a GBA for the single player mode, which is still a great game. Controlling 4 Links in formation is a lot of fun.

Re:well i was excited...

[Alunissage]

The GBA Four Swords isn't completely comparable to the GCN game (Hyrule Adventure). I would say that having more people is less necessary to the fun quotient of the GCN game than the GBA one; I've been having almost as good a time playing it single-player as with a friend. Granted, I haven't had the chance to play with more than one other person yet; my problem is not the lack of friends with GBAs and link cables but the fact that no two of them live within 50 miles of each other or me.

One difference which may or may not be a big deal to you is that unlike the GBA game the environments are fixed. You can go back and replay past levels at any time, but they're always the same levels (although there are minor differences if you're playing single-player rather than multi). A couple other noteworthy differences are that the number of Forces collected by each player is always visible, making the competition less obvious and that there are always four Links on the screen, with "extras" being picked up by the actual players, who can move them individually, keep them in formation, or default to conga-line where you're only really using the one in front.

On the topic of using the GBA or not...Hyrule Adventure is completely playable single-player *without* a GBA. When you're using the GCN controller, a subscreen shows up in the middle of the screen showing what would appear on the GBA if you were using one. (This also shows in the four-player mode if the other characters are trying to walk off the screen and one person is lagging behind because of being on a GBA screen -- that person's GBA action is shown on the main screen for the mockery of all.) This is my preferred one-player mode, but it does block out the "overworld" main screen...and things do continue to happen on the big screen while your Link is on the GBA. However, in one-player you can also press the Z button to hide the GBA screen. You get rumble from things like the Hammer or the Pegasus Boots, too.

A lot of people have been complaining about the need to use a GBA in multiplayer. I must say that the game as it is WOULD NOT WORK with multiple people all on the big screen! The GBA is used far more extensively than in, say FFCC. Any time a single Link goes into a house, cave, hole in the ground, underwater in some cases...the action transfers to the GBA for that person, while other players are still wandering around. Sometimes the two interact. The 2D-based graphics lend themselves very nicely to these switches, by the way.

By the way, one feature of Navi Trackers is voice synthesis; you can pick out a two-syllable name and Tetra will use it as she narrates the action like a sports announcer. This is one thing I don't think would transfer so well. It really is a shame that it won't be coming, since I'd like to know what she and the other pirates (and that weird guy who runs the Battleship game in WW) are all *saying* but given all of the voice that must be in it I'm not all that surprised. I've only played that one one-player; you can play completely solo or with Tingle as an opponent (you set his speed, or something like that). I'm looking forward to playing that one with at least one other person. Kind of a shame that all the action really happens on the GBAs, but it's no stranger than the Four Swords GBA game, I suppose.

Shadow Battle, the deathmatch game, didn't do much for us two-player and really needs three or four. There were some cute things in it, but the playing arenas are quite small and it's easy enough to avoid each other with just two. However it looked like it might be a lot of fun with three or four.

Re:well i was excited...

[Anonymous Coward]

The article says that you don't need a Game Boy Advance to play the game "If you're one of the Zelda series and have been frowning on the idea of Game Boy Advance connectivity, rest assured it supports a single player without a GBA. When you're playing single player mode you are still in control of all four Links."

Re:Zelda is the first gay video game character

[Anonymous Coward]

Yep. Cause it really matters, right?

Sometimes the troll mentality makes me chuckle a little, but mostly it just makes me shake my head. Kinda like seeing a 10 year old kid shit himself. A little funny, a lot sad.

Re:Meh... another Zelda game

[Hedonist123]

Don't sugar coat it Taj, tell us how you really feel.

Anyone, anyone? That's right, Van Wilder.

Anyway, I refuse to respond to the troll's actual text, just thought the quote was needed.

hed.

Re:Meh... another Zelda game

[Anonymous Coward]

Go ahead... worship your lil purple box

Sorry, mine is black, does that mean I don't count?

If you like this sort of thing.

[AzraelKans]

You may want to check graal online http://www.graalonline.com is basically zelda online in the style of an mmorpg of sorts is cool and to certain extent is free.
A comment about the game, Im sorry but I really cant vouche for nintendo on their decision to require 4 gbas to play a 4 player game, it sounds more like a scare tactic than a product feature. And come on? 4 friends with 4 gba'S? I have 2 brothers a neighbor and between all of us we have 4 friends with one gba and one gamecube. In which alternate reality every brother in the same household and every neighbor friend has a gba? (well at least it doesnt require 4 cubes)

Re:If you like this sort of thing.

[Samhaine]

It's like Crystal Chronicles or Pac-Man Vs. Stuff gets moved to the GBA so it's not cluttering the view of the other players (In CC it's MAP/status views and menus. In PMvs, the PM player has a full view of the map on the GBA, while the Ghost players have limited fields of view on the TV. The PM player randomly changes between rounds)

Re:If you like this sort of thing.

[Anonymous Coward]

They did this with Crystal Chronicles and I thought "Great... I have a GBA, I have 3 housemates, they have GBAs". Unfortunately, it transpired that less thought had gone into the gameplay than into the gimmick and even with 4 players, Crystal Chronicles never really rose above the mediocre for us. There are better action RPGs on other platforms that don't have the 4-handhelds requirement, which I do realise I was extremely lucky to be able to meet.

Re:Meh... another Zelda game

[Rallion]

Yes, because new character graphics and voices really "push the industry forward." A game with old characters can never be innovative!

I can't believe they're making Doom 3, why don't they try something new? Same goes for Half-Life 2, and Final Fanstasy whatever, and Halo 2. And why did they make a new Prince of Persia or Ninja Gaiden? These things have been done so long ago!God, people, come up with something new!

sarcasm.kill();

Re:Meh... another Zelda game

[MMaestro]

Come up with something new? Sure, pay them roughly $10 million USD and they'll come up and publish with a new game. You won't make all $10 million USD back, but you'll have something new.

A game with old characters can never be innovative!

Does this mean Metroid Prime, Super Mario 64, and the use of chocobos, moogles, and Cid in the Final Fantasy games make them uninnovative?

Kind of like the PS2 trying to be an Xbox

[swat_r2]

What I did was pick up some cheap older GBA's - found a couple for around $15 each, that's hardly an investment.

I think it's even worse for a PS2 owner. With the price of the console, multitap, ethernet, hard drive, and memory cards - now THAT's an investment! (and it's already called an Xbox).

I think the connectivity is great though, it expands conventional game design - even a simple game like PacMan is a whole new experience.

Re:Zelda is the first gay video game character

[RevAaron]

The word "gay" is more encompassing than just referring to homosexual males. The term gay can and is often applied to homosexual females, or lesbians. On the other hand, "pillow biter" or "fag" is usually only applied to males and not females. I don't doubt that in some places, it's a faux paux to call a homosexual woman gay, though that isn't the case around here.

Re:Meh... another Zelda game

[Rallion]

Sigh. Clarification. The above is sarcastic.

Being ridiculous is sometimes more effective than being logical.

Though I am ashamed that I failed to resist the troll.

Re:Meh... another Zelda game

[Anonymous Coward]

Sign your posts, McDick.

Birdo from SMB2 for NES

[Trillian_1138]

I know you're aiming for flamebait, and not very skillful flamebait at that, but the first 'gay' videogames character I know of would be Birdo from the US version of Super Mario Bros 2 for the NES. Specifically a transgendered character, according to the manual Birdo 'thinks he is a girl and he spits eggs from his mouth. He'd rather be called 'Birdetta.' Apparently Birdo was just misguided, and really wanted to be friends with Mario and Co. A search for "birdo 'super mario'" on google or whatnot will pull up other references for Birdo. And now you know. -Trillian

Not accesible?

[Inoshiro]

Man, everyone who plays games on the go has a Gameboy. Maybe you thought the GBA wasn't worth while or something, but the thing is, the SP is pretty dang worthit, cheap, and has a good selection of games. Plus it plays my old crap from a decade ago.

It's certainly a lot better thought out than the VMU games on the Dreamcast.

Re:Zelda is the first gay video game character

[Anonymous Coward]

Actually, it would be initialisms, not acronyms. (Well except for HAND, that would be an acronym. The other two are not. HAND)