Due to a recent article on GameSkinny, I’ve found out that The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords is free temporarily on the Nintendo 3DS. As expected, I’ve already finished the game, and now it’s time to write a review! If you’re looking for your own copy of the game, better act fast since it’s only available until February 2nd for no charge. Refer to this article for more details.
What is this Four Swords?
As weird as it may be, The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords on the 3DS is a multiplayer Zelda game. When I say multi-player I don’t mean through WiFi or passing the game to a friend. I mean you’ll have two mini Links running around solving puzzles together. You can either go play the game solo and switch between two characters, or play it locally with a buddy (up to 4 players). I decided to go with the buddy system, and it was definitely a good idea.
Four Swords Gameplay
The gameplay is exactly what you would expect with any Zelda game, but when playing with a friend you’ll be completing levels that you get scored on. As expected, one player will get the top score and the other player(s) will lose. This doesn’t affect the game much, but it does change how many medals you receive at the end (which I haven’t found a use for). Plus, who doesn’t love some friendly competition among friends?
When playing The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, you’ll meet some familiar characters that you’ve seen in earlier Zelda games, including skeletons and Vaati who is the villain. Some puzzles are also the same, which involve moving giant blocks and boulders out of the way. Teamwork is essential, so it’s best to be a good team-player when taking part in the Four Swords.
Zelda on the Hand-held
One problem I find with the game is playing it on the hand-held system. I’ve previously played the Four Swords for the GameCube and find that using the controller does make it easier for me to play. Of course this is all a personal preference, but I do prefer to play any Zelda game on a console via the TV.
Dungeons
Another re-occurring feature within the Zelda games are the dungeons. Within The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, you find the same dungeons as previously found within the franchise; Death Mountain, Sea of Trees, and Talus Cave. Death Mountain is the same you find within Ocarina of Time, which is a fiery dungeon full of lava and fire-foes. Sea of Trees is very similar to the Lost Woods or Forest Temple. Talus Cave on the other hand is an ice-cave that you won’t find within a Zelda game until Majora’s Mask, when you ascend Snowhead Mountain.
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An amazing part at the end of Anniversary Edition of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords is the “after game” that they have available. Once you complete the game by defeating Vaati and rescuing Princess Zelda, you’ll unlock a section called Realm of Memories. In this realm you’ll find three doors leading to different levels that are themed by other Zelda games.
The first door available after defeating Vaati is A Link to the Past themed. To move forward to door two, you’ll have to finish off A Link to the Past, which will then unlock Link’s Awakening. Finally, after both are done you’ll unlock the final door in Realm of Memories, which is strictly Legend of Zelda themed.
If you’re a big fan of Zelda or need a game to pass the time, pick up the Four Swords. Currently it’s free to download on the 3DS, and I guarantee it’s worth the money to buy. I’d recommend picking it up if you enjoy a semi-quick game that has a lot to offer.
