The Future of Four Swords?

Four Swords: a strange creature in the realm of Zelda, but nonetheless, it is most definitely Zelda. So then, having had only two entries in the overall franchise, with an anniversary rerelease on the 3DS just last year, what does the future hold for this somewhat ambitious, yet tempered beast? Oddly, the timing of this, my first article, resonates with Axle’s article on the multiplayer of Zelda earlier this week. Having read through it myself, I find that he has already covered many points I was going to discuss, so I’ll make this brief. More or less, I thought to comment on the possibility, and potential, of a Four Swords game on either of Nintendo’s leading platforms from the end of 2012 onwards – the 3DS and the Wii-U. Hit the jump for a more in-depth analysis.

Let’s look at the 3DS first. Nintendo has already announced that a Zelda 3DS is in the works. At the same time, they have expressed interest in porting Majora’s Mask over in a similar fashion to Ocarina of Time. No doubt they will outsource this to Grezzo or a similar entity while they work on Zelda 3DS, which is fine, I believe they did a great job with OoT 3DS. Thirdly, Miyamoto dropped a possible hint towards, what could be, A Link to the Past 3DS, however, more to the point, I believe the next Zelda 3DS is an entirely different beast. It may be a sequel to Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, or it may be something completely different.

However, I don’t see why Four Swords can’t make a return. Perhaps it is not so relevant to the series as to be its own game (Four Swords Adventures) but, perhaps, the multiplayer experience in the next game could harken back to a Four Swords like game, an all-out brawl between four Links. Or even a completely new co-operative story that you can go through with friends in, maybe, an arcade-like fashion, akin to the StreetPass Quest of the 3DS. It may not be relevant enough to be its own game, but I think expanding multiplayer beyond just a ‘mode’ with one or two mini games would be a good step forward for the series, especially with the potential the 3DS has. I think the 3D could shine in some puzzles, like in Super Mario 3D Land, and the gyroscope could somehow play a part.

On the Wii-U, however, a Four Swords game/mode might actually be more likely than one would think. Bringing to mind the new controllers, I think a world of possibilities has opened up. Perhaps at first, all the carnage is happening on the big screen, four Links going all out against their foes. Then, one player moves to loot or explore a nearby cave, or maybe a house. They disappear off the big screen and on their controller screen the large cave or house appears for them. Perhaps if they are in trouble, a little beacon would appear over the cave/house back on the main screen to alert other players as, if Nintendo can get its online act together, this could help strengthen communication without being in the same room.

The multiple screens can provide such advantages, maybe even to the point where the overworld is displayed on the big screen, so that you can keep tabs on your comrades, and the dungeons on the smaller one (of course, you can switch this around if you like with the press of a button). There could be puzzles that span the entire world, and all four players have to go through a mini dungeon each to get to a switch that must be activated simultaneously with the other three, or something to that effect. Of course, this idea could work just as well on the 3DS, but it would be a good way to show off the Wii-U’s potential as well. It’s different, but I get the idea that it would still feel distinctly ‘Zelda’.

I could go on about the possibilities but, in the end, it is up to Nintendo, as it always has been. I’m sure whatever they choose to do will be fine, but my point is that multiplayer is something they should really try and tap into. It was good in Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, but it could be so much more. And why not add an existing idea back into the fray? So at the end of the day, I highly doubt Zelda 3DS or Wii-U is going to be a standalone Four Swords game. But I believe that either, if not both, would benefit from having a Four Swords multiplayer gameplay thrown in just to mix it up. Given Nintendo’s recent Four Swords Anniversary Edition, it appears they too want to give Four Swords some loving.

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