Details | The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

Question: What modes are available?

Answer: The Japanese version of Four Swords offers three modes: Hyrule Adventure, Shadow Battle, and Navi Trackers.

Question: What's Hyrule Adventures?

Answer: This is the Four Swords you all know -- and which was shown at E3 last year. Up to four players team up and slash, bomb, and hop their way through lavishly designed 2D levels, competing for top points, but collaborating to overcome the challenges in their way. Gameplay is very similar to the GBA Four Swords, meaning you will have to work together, synch up and step on switches, and take on oversized boss characters. Locations include Mount Doom, the Lost Woods, and even the Dark World (don't forget to grab the Moon Pearl first) and plenty of other places players encountered in the Zelda series.

Question: Has it changed at all since it was shown at E3?

Answer: Yes, Four Swords has undergone some serious graphical upgrades. While it's still using the same 2D (sprite-based) presentation that makes it look like a smoother, high resolution take on A Link to the Past, the developers have opened up a whole new bag of particle and lighting effects that brings the screen to life. Imagine hundreds of enemies on screen, all moving independently, bright light glares and flashes, swirling smoke, and more. It may not look like much in stills, but it looks pretty amazing in motion.

Question: What's Shadow Battle?

Answer: This is basically a Zelda-themed take on Bomberman. In other words, expect frantic 2D overhead battle action for up to four players. Using traditional Zelda weapons and items (yes, bombs, too) instead of just bombs, the four differently colored Links go up against each other to be the last man standing.

Question: What's Navi Trackers?

Answer: Imagine a scavenger hunt set in Hyrule. Up to four players hook up their GBAs and are then asked by Tetra (on the TV screen) to participate in a "stamp rally". The main action then takes place on the GBA screen, as players race through town and use items to collect stamps as quickly as possible.

Question: Does this mean Tetra's Trackers is cancelled?

Answer: While NOA has yet to announce the feature set of the US version of Four Swords, it's safe to assume that Tetra's Trackers, which was shown as a standalone title at E3, is no longer slated for release.

Question: What about this connectivity stuff?

Answer: Four Swords + is from the ground up designed to highlight the whole GameCube to GBA connectivity idea. Before you roll your eyes, listen to why it's actually an integral element to the game. You see, in Hyrule Adventure, players often have to take different routes to get to the goal. Often times, a dungeon or doorway leads to a secret passage viewable only on your GBA monitor. As you explore a room or dungeon on your GBA, you friends may still be trying to overcome enemies on the main TV screen. Any rupees you pick up in the course of your little sidequest remain of course your little secret. But that's not it, of course. Shadow Battle's competitive nature actually uses the GBA for even more insidious purposes. The moment you disappear into GBA world, your foes don't know what's going on, what weapon you're going for, or where you're going to pop up next. And finally, Navi Tracker's gameplay is entirely based on the idea that your opponents don't know how you overcame a certain puzzle or what stamps you've already gotten.

Question: Can I play this game alone? And does it require a GBA?

Answer: You can play Hyrule Adventure alone, without the need for a Game Boy Advance. Whenever you go into an area that would normally be displayed on the GBA screen, it will simply be overlaid over the main screen, as shown in the screenshot on the right. But if you want to play with two or more players, you have to use GBAs. Shadow Battle requires two to four GBAs to be connected to the GameCube. As it's basically Four Swords +'s versus mode, you cannot play this game alone. You can, however, play Navi Trackers alone. But it looks like that you will still need a GBA because all of the gameplay takes place on the small screen.

Question: When is the game coming out?

Answer: In Japan, it will ship on March 18. The package, which will include a GBA/GCN Cable will cost Yen 5,800. US gamers will have to wait till May 11. We imagine there will be a similar pre-order deal as with Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles, where early birds get their hands on a GBA cable for free.

Question: How many blocks does the game take to save?

Answer: No worries -- a mere 3 Blocks.

We should have more information on this title soon!