Highlights

  • Four Swords Adventures was a unique, multiplayer-oriented Zelda game released for GameCube in 2004.
  • Unfortunately, the game's setup required costly equipment, hindering its popularity despite its innovative features.
  • With its distinctive visuals and gameplay, a modern re-release on Nintendo Switch would be a welcome addition to the franchise.

Across its lifetime, the Legend of Zelda franchise has had many interesting takes on its formula, whether through new mainline releases or spin-off titles. One of the more unique ones is The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, a multiplayer oriented GameCube spin-off and sequel to the original The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Game Boy Advance multiplayer expansion for A Link to the Past. Not only are its origins strange by Legend of Zelda standards, but so is the game itself, as Four Swords Adventures allows one-to-four players to control different Link’s in an adventure spanning a familiar, but ultimately unique Hyrule.

For its time, there was nothing else like Four Swords Adventures on the market, though that wasn't necessarily to its advantage. Released as a GameCube exclusive in North America on June 7, 2004 - exactly 20 years ago - this heavily multiplayer-oriented title did not have the benefit of online play to ensure other players were available. To make matters worse, actually starting a multiplayer session with even two players required GameCube – GBA link cables and a Game Boy Advance for each person. It was a prohibitively expensive setup, and contributed to this experimental Zelda game languishing in obscurity for much longer than it deserved to.

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Zelda: Four Swords Adventures Is One Of The Series' Most Unique Entries

Zelda Four Swords 20 Years Body

While it has occasional rough patches and obtuse design, Four Swords Adventures makes for a great time once it's up and running. Designed around having four Link’s in play, the game’s puzzles and battles can be spread out over wider areas, and even multiple screens at once. The same can be said for Zelda’s dungeon items, which differ per level, and often need to be used in tandem. Add on the formation system for single-player and the competitive scoring in multiplayer, the ability to perform sword lunges and moving spin attacks to wrack up combos, optional item upgrades, and more, and it's easy to see why this title really sticks out in some players’ minds.

Nothing Else Looks Like Four Swords Adventures

Of course, a Zelda game wouldn't be complete without its presentation. Four Swords Adventures uses a top-down, sprite-based aesthetic that mixes elements of The Wind Waker and ALttP, and takes advantage of the GameCube’s visual capabilities to achieve a timeless look. Players proceed through regions based on concepts and iconic locations from prior Zelda titles, with every level differentiated from the others in its group through smart thematic choices. Familiar Zelda music and sound effects complete the picture, and the whole package is rounded out with a couple of multiplayer modes that ensure setting up an Adventures session was worth it.

Four Swords Adventures Would Fit Into Zelda's Modern Lineup

All of that value hammers home how Four Swords Adventures is in dire need of modern attention. Four Swords Anniversary Edition was released for DSi and 3DS in 2011 to celebrate the GBA original’s tenth birthday, and it even had a new single-player option somewhat like Adventures’. The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes then launched as a 3DS exclusive in 2015, and while it was another multiplayer-focused spin-off Zelda, it didn't scratch the same itch as a normal Four Swords game. With that nearing its own tenth anniversary, the lack of multiplayer Zelda games during the Nintendo Switch era comes into stark focus.

Zelda: Four Swords Adventures Needs A New Release

Getting a port, or even a Nintendo Switch Online release, of Four Swords Adventures would quickly solve these issues, and then some. Four Swords Adventures always suffered from its costly and convoluted multiplayer set-up, and playing it online with modern hardware would make the game’s best features easier to get to. A higher resolution would also play great with this Zelda title’s impressive art design. The Legend of Zelda could do with a game like Four Swords Adventures released every once in a while, and that role could just as easily be filled by Four Swords Adventures itself.