Gameplay and design
The core gameplay of Four Swords is multiplayer cooperation, but with a competitive twist. The game supports 2 to 4 players, each controlling a differently colored Link—green, red, blue, or purple. Players must work together to navigate levels, solve puzzles, and defeat enemies, but at the end of each level, the game ranks players based on the number of rupees collected, with the highest earner receiving a special reward. This design keeps players cooperating while fostering a sense of rivalry, balancing teamwork and competition.
Each Link carries a sword, but the item inventory is limited to a single slot. Players can switch their current item at item stands scattered throughout the levels, choosing from bombs, bows, boomerangs, and more. This limitation forces players to think ahead: should they carry bombs to clear obstacles, or keep the bow for distant enemies? The choice and timing of item switches become crucial for effective teamwork.
The level structure is also carefully designed. Each level is divided into three tiers: the first two involve exploration and puzzle-solving, while the third is a boss battle. After defeating the boss, players return to a hub area where they can access the next level. The order of levels is not fixed but randomized, adding replayability. Puzzle difficulty and types adjust based on the number of players; for example, some mechanisms require two players to step on switches simultaneously, or four players to stand on separate platforms, making it impossible to progress with fewer players.
The visual style of Four Swords contrasts sharply with the bundled port of A Link to the Past. The latter uses classic pixel art, while Four Swords features brighter, more cartoonish rendering, reminiscent of The Wind Waker, which was released around the same time. This visual difference makes the two games instantly distinguishable and highlights Four Swords as a new title.
The game also features connectivity elements with the bundled A Link to the Past port. For instance, completing certain conditions in A Link to the Past can unlock hidden content in Four Swords, and vice versa. After beating Four Swords, players can unlock the 'Four Sword Palace' in the port, allowing the two games to influence each other and increasing the overall value of the cartridge.
Background and release
The story of Four Swords takes place at the earliest point in the Zelda series timeline, even before Ocarina of Time. Legend has it that a wind sorcerer named Vaati was once sealed away by a hero using the Four Sword. Years later, as the seal weakens, Vaati escapes and kidnaps Princess Zelda. Guided by three fairies, Link comes to the Four Sword and draws it. The sword's power splits Link into four differently colored copies, who must work together to rescue the princess and reseal Vaati.
This setting fills an important gap in the series timeline. In the official chronology, Four Swords is placed after The Minish Cap and before Ocarina of Time. It explains the origin of the Four Sword and introduces Vaati, who later appears in Four Swords Adventures. For series fans, the story is simple but sets the stage for future installments.
Four Swords was not initially released as a standalone game but as part of the GBA cartridge The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords. This cartridge included both a port of A Link to the Past and the new multiplayer Four Swords. For players at the time, the cartridge offered a chance to revisit a classic while experiencing new multiplayer gameplay, providing excellent value.
The game was first released in North America on December 3, 2002, followed by Japan on March 14, 2003, and Europe on March 28, 2003. In 2006, it was re-released as part of the Player's Choice line at a lower price. Although Four Swords itself was not sold separately, it gained significant attention as part of the cartridge.
Notably, Four Swords was first unveiled at E3 2002, where Shigeru Miyamoto personally demonstrated the multiplayer mode, with the game tentatively titled The Legend of Zelda GBA. This debut caught the attention of many players, as the Zelda series had not previously featured true multiplayer cooperative gameplay, and Four Swords filled that void.
Development
The development of Four Swords was a collaboration between Nintendo's Entertainment Analysis & Development division and Capcom. Capcom was concurrently developing another Zelda game, The Minish Cap, but paused that project to allocate staff to Four Swords in order to support its multiplayer mode. Only after completing Four Swords did Capcom resume work on The Minish Cap. This prioritization underscores Nintendo's commitment to multiplayer innovation.
The core development team included directors Minoru Narita, Yoichi Yamada, Takashi Tezuka, and Zenichi Yamashita. Their biggest challenge was designing puzzles suitable for multiplayer. The team decided to dynamically adjust puzzle difficulty based on the number of players, with some mechanisms requiring a specific number of players to trigger. This ensured that both two-player and four-player sessions offered appropriate challenges, a novel approach at the time.
The choice of visual style was also deliberate. The team did not reuse the pixel art of A Link to the Past but instead adopted a cartoonish rendering closer to The Wind Waker. This style not only made Four Swords look more modern but also made it easier to distinguish the differently colored Links on the GBA's small screen. The visual differentiation greatly improved clarity during multiplayer sessions.
Four Swords was not initially planned as a sub-series, but during story development, the team set it as the earliest point in the series timeline. This decision later influenced the entire series, as Vaati continued to appear in sequels, and the Four Sword concept was carried forward. In essence, this seemingly simple multiplayer game unexpectedly became a cornerstone of the series' lore.
During development, the team also designed original items, such as the 'Gnat Hat,' which allows Link to shrink and access areas otherwise unreachable. This idea was later expanded in The Minish Cap, evolving into the talking hat Ezlo, which became a core mechanic of that game. From Four Swords to The Minish Cap, these design concepts were carried forward and deepened.
Reception and legacy
A Link to the Past & Four Swords received high praise upon release. On GameRankings, it holds an aggregate score of 91.70%, and on Metacritic, it scores 95, making it the highest-rated game on the GBA. IGN awarded it Best Surprise at E3 2002 and praised Four Swords' multiplayer mode as 'worth the price of four Zelda cartridges.' These accolades reflect the game's standing among players and critics.
In terms of sales, as of December 2007, the game had sold 1.63 million copies in North America, with Japan adding 290,000 copies by December 2009. While these figures represent the cartridge as a whole, Four Swords as a key component undoubtedly contributed significantly to this success. For a multiplayer game, such performance is impressive.
The success of Four Swords led to a sequel, Four Swords Adventures, released on the GameCube in 2004. This sequel continued the story of the Four Sword and expanded the gameplay, supporting even more players. Although on a different platform, Four Swords Adventures clearly inherited the design philosophy of its predecessor, taking the blend of cooperation and competition to new heights.
In 2011, Nintendo released Four Swords Anniversary Edition as a standalone DSiWare title. Developed by Grezzo, this version added a single-player mode where players control two Links and can switch between them at will, along with new areas like the Realm of Memories and Hero's Trial. Notably, this version was offered for free for a limited time starting September 28, 2011, before becoming a paid download. While not the original, it allowed more players to experience the fun of Four Swords.
Four Swords has had a lasting impact on subsequent Zelda games. It not only introduced the villain Vaati but also established the basic framework for multiplayer cooperative play. Later titles like Four Swords Adventures and The Minish Cap drew inspiration from it, and ideas like the Gnat Hat were carried forward in other works. In the series timeline, Four Swords' position makes it an essential piece for understanding the overall narrative.
