The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords...

[Atari Master]

I was wondering, do you HAVE to own a GBA to play this game? It looks interesting, but I don't want to have to buy one of those wires AND the GBA game. : /

[Pixelboy]

I was wondering, do you HAVE to own a GBA to play this game? It looks interesting, but I don't want to have to buy one of those wires AND the GBA game. : /

You can play using a regular Cube controller, but only in the single-player game. In a multi-player game, each player must have a GBA. You don't need to have any cart in the GBA's cart slot, just a Link Cable plugged in (the Game Cube downloads data to each GBA via the cable at boot time).

 

I've played the game from beginning to end with two of my friends, and believe me when I say multi-player rocks! If you've got friends with GBAs, it's worth buying the Link Cables just to play this game.

[Atari Master]

I was wondering, do you HAVE to own a GBA to play this game? It looks interesting, but I don't want to have to buy one of those wires AND the GBA game. : /

You can play using a regular Cube controller, but only in the single-player game. In a multi-player game, each player must have a GBA. You don't need to have any cart in the GBA's cart slot, just a Link Cable plugged in (the Game Cube downloads data to each GBA via the cable at boot time).

 

I've played the game from beginning to end with two of my friends, and believe me when I say multi-player rocks! If you've got friends with GBAs, it's worth buying the Link Cables just to play this game.

 

What about single player? Is it any good?

[Pixelboy]

What about single player? Is it any good?

I haven't tried the single-player mode yet, but from what I know, it's fun but rather weak. The reason for this is that the levels are mostly designed for multi-player sessions, and the single-player mode reuses the same levels (where you control all four Links simultaneously or one at a time, it's up to you) with some minor modifications in layout, puzzles and boss fights. As a result, while you're playing these levels, you're always yearning for some buddies to play with you, because everything screams multi-player.

It almost feels like the single-player mode was thrown in as an afterthought (note that I did say 'almost').

[BrianC]

One important thing, a major mode, Navi's Trackers was taken out of the US version. For the most part the mode doesn't require much Japanese to play and there is a faq on it at www.gamefaqs.com. Navi's trackers requires a GBA for all modes, even single player. The GBA is used as the game screen and the GCN is used as the map. In this mode you race against tingle (single player) or other links to find the pirate holding up the correct number.

 

The import version of Four Swords is fairly cheap for a Japanese game since play-asia has it on sale for 29.90, though the shipping is about 7 dollars since the game comes with a GCN-GBA link cable. The freeloader disc (which they have for about 23 dollars), a Japanese GameCube, or a modded US GameCube is needed to play the game. The game saves fine with Freeloader, though some games like Mr. Driller Drill Spirits, don't. A seperate memory card is needed for imports.

Edited October 12, 2006 by BrianC

[Hounder]

I played and beat it by myself. Honestly, it's not really that hard of a game. I did play Z:Four Swords on the GBA linked to 3 other guys and it was a blast.

[BydoEmpire]

Single player is pretty fun for what it is. They took just the dungeons out of a 2d zelda and made an entire game out of them. It's more arcadey that a typical zelda in that each dungeon stands completely on its own. There is no carryover of items or health from one to the next. Fun, but it doesn't feel like a "complete" game. Not an A title single player, imho, but still worth $20 if you like that kind of thing.

[NE146]

I have only played this game single player. I like it. However as people have said, it's Zelda with stages.

 

One thing though when playing it single player, you just will keep thinking to yourself "yeah this part would've been awesome with another player"