The Legend Of Zelda: Four Swords Is Now Free (For Some)

The last new “Legend of Zelda” game, not counting the recent remake of “Ocarina of Time” and the very hit or miss “Link’s Crossbow Training,” came out in 2009. The next game in the franchise, “Skyward Sword,” won’t debut until later this year. This leaves a pretty big gap in the Link-lover’s schedule, which Nintendo is more than happy to fill by giving every 3DS and DSi owner a free copy of the GameCube/GameBoy Advance classic, “Four Swords Adventures.”

The game boasts a completely new single-player experience in addition to the multiplayer elements that set it apart from other games in the series. Now, however, you won’t need to get three of your friends in the same room at the same time to enjoy the multiplayer experience, as you’ll be able to quest with your friends via the DSi and 3DS’s built-in Wi-Fi connection.

    
“Four Swords Adventures” is available on the Nintendo eShop as of today, and will stay there, free of charge, until February 20, 2012. If you pick it up now, you should be done with it in time for “Skyward Sword’s” November release – consider it a primer to put your brain back into Hyrule mode.

The story of “Four Swords” revolves around Link’s efforts to repair the damage caused by a dark version of himself, known as Shadow Link. Over the course of his adventure, Link (naturally) discovers that there are fouler forces at play, and must do everything in his power to set things right. Every level in the original game can be played by anywhere from one to four players – there are always four Links on-screen, but in the absence of human player the computer picks up the slack.

The one bummer about the re-release is that you lose the experience of four people sitting in a room together, hopelessly confused about what each person is supposed to be doing. Teamwork is much more interesting when you can yell at the person next to you.

Do you think that the Wi-Fi experience will be just as fun, or is the experience lost in translation?

Via Joystiq

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Zelda Anniversary Takeover Day Announced

The 25th year of The Legend of Zelda definitely has got all the fans up in a frenzy of excitement. Yet another event was announced in honor of the said occassion, this time courtesy of videogame festival GameCity.
The said event is the Zelda Anniversary Takeover Day, happening in Nottingham's Old Market Square, on October 29th, Saturday. Basically, the whole square will be magically transformed in a Hyrulean market, much to the definite delight of fans.
Among the many activities line up for this festivity are the make-your-own sword and shield booths, or the Ocarina lessons. If you just want to chill out, then you can head over to the LonLon Milk bar and have a sweet fix. If you complete all these, then you will be rewarded with pieces of the Triforce, and tehreby be able to complete the Hero's Quest.
Probably the best thing about all of these, however, is the fact that the upcoming The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword, will be available for hands-on play throughout the day. That's some three full weeks ahead of folks who are just going to have to wait till the game comes out to the market on the official date of November 18th.

Of course, there's plenty more to do there, as the Takeover Day is just a part of a bigger ongoing occassion, which is the GameCity festival. So be sure to make your way around and enjoy the sights, sounds, play, and more.
Nintendo has launched an official 25th Anniversary Website, where fans can take on a little nice trip down memory lane. If you can't come to Nottingham for the Takeover Day, then you can just head over to Los Angeles in October for the Zelda orchestra concert.
Via [Official Nintendo Magazine]

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The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword Japanese limited edition bundle revealed

You didn't think Nintendo would leave Japan out of the limited edition loop, did you? After announcing the game's official release date, Nintendo has revealed the Japanese limited edition bundle for The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.



Just like North America and Europe, gamers in the territory will get the option to puchase a limited edition variant that comes with a golden Wiimote. The golden Wiimote won't be available as a separate item in North America and Europe, so presumably the only way to get it in Japan is through the game's limited edition too.

Both the limited edition bundle and the standard edition will also include a 25th Anniversary Orchestra Special CD. Actually, in a sense, both the golden Wiimote bundle and the standard variant are limited editions. The gold packaging seen in the image above will only be used in the standard discs produced this year. Next year's production run will feature the standard white packaging sans the bonus CD, so if you count yourself as one of the hardcore then you better make sure you get your copy this year.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword comes out in Japan on November 23. The game will hit Europe on November 18 and North America on November 20.

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The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition Available for Free from September 28

Good news for DS and 3DS owners as Shigeru Miyamoto confirms that an enhanced edition of The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords will be available for free very soon.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords was a side dish to the excellent Game Boy Advance version of A Link to the Past, but it offered some entertaining multiplayer challenges in its own right. One drawback of it, however, was the fact that you couldn't play it by yourself, making those who didn't have GBA-toting friends living nearby miss out on a fun experience.
With the upcoming free rerelease of the game for DSiWare, Nintendo is fixing that particular problem by adding a new single player mode in which players control two Links. On top of this, new levels have been added to the existing game content, allowing players to unlock new skills for their Link. Beating the challenging Hero's Trial area will unlock the Hurricane Spin move, while Realm of Memories is made up of locations from past Zelda titles. Completing the latter unlocks the Master Sword for use.
Nintendo hasn't specifically said that the game will offer online play -- the wording they use is that "two to four players wirelessly connect their Nintendo DSi, Nintendo DSi XL or Nintendo 3DS systems," suggesting that it may be local wireless play only. At least you won't need to remember where you put your Link Cables, however.
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Anniversary Edition will be available for a limited time only, starting on September 28 and remaining available until February 20 of 2012. It'll be completely free for everyone able to access DSiWare.

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The Interrogation Room: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword

By Ryan Scott and Eric Neigher | Jun 8, 2011 Triforces nd princesses and Ganondorfs and magical MacGuffins. Oops, spoiler.Welcome to the Interrogation Room, GameSpy's signature pre-release game coverage format. Here, a GameSpy editor (typically one who's relatively in-the-dark about the game in question) grills his peers for information on a hotly anticipated game -- hopefully with more entertaining results than the typical boilerplate preview would provide.
Eric Neigher, Contributing Editor: So, The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword. Cool, right? What's new about this particular Zelda for Wii? Did you get to kill Ganon?
Ryan Scott, Executive Editor: I didn't get to kill Ganon (although hey, let's be honest, you know he's the bad guy). I did, however, get some hands-on time with Skyward Sword's motion controls, which included things like looking around by waving the Wii-mote, aiming the bow with the Wii-mote, swinging the Wii-mote like a sword, and using the Wii-mote for one of those awkward motion-controlled flying sequences that we all want to see their designers burn in the ninth ring of Hell for.

Eric Neigher: Sounds like the Wii-mote might not be the best fit for this particular game. Does it include an option to just use a GameCube controller? Also, what can you say about the story of Skyward Sword? What the hell is a Skyward Sword?
Ryan Scott: I didn't get to delve too deep (I played a stupid flying race, a bit of a dungeon, and a boss battle), so I don't know what all's available option-wise -- I'm sure Nintendo just has motion controls on the agenda with their demos here, since we're all supposed to think motion controls are awesome, right? In any case, I hear that the titular Skyward Sword is supposed to be one and the same with the series' ubiquitous Master Sword -- and this is supposed to be some kind of Master Sword origin story. The portions I played weren't too heavy on plot, though -- just motion controls of varying annoyance levels.
Eric Neigher: So I take it you weren't too high on the game -- a rarity, given your usual Nintendo enthusiasm. Did anything stand out as enjoyable and/or good? Better, even, than previous Zelda titles?
Ryan Scott: The art style's pretty cool, though I'm sure most interested gamers have seen that by now. It's sort of a cross between The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess' realistic-ish character models and The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker's cel shaded design. But the motion controls really bugged me, man. It feels so unnecessary and forced in games like this, you know? Anyway, damn, I'm being a Debbie Downer here. Assuming Nintendo includes some alternative control options (and why shouldn't they, since they sure existed in previous Zelda games!), it seems like it'll be... well, another fun Zelda adventure. Again, I don't know much about what's going on story-wise, but Zelda seems to be some sort of lovely island girl this time around (as opposed to royalty), and I can only imagine that she gets kidnapped somehow, because what else is she gonna do?

Eric Neigher: Cool, cool. I like my island girls. Did you get a chance to encounter any new and/or familiar enemies? Any bosses we should look out for? What tricks and items did you get a chance to use? The famous hookshot, perchance?
Ryan Scott: I messed around with the bow which, in terms of mechanics, isn't even as cool as the bow in Wii Sports Resort. So, that sucks. Link also has a flying beetle that you can navigate through alcoves to trigger switches in -- you guessed it -- a motion-controlled aerial minigame. Alas, no hookshot. But I bet I know how I'll aim it when I do get a chance to use it. I wonder if I'll make a wide swinging motion with my arm! Speaking swinging motions, the boss that I fought -- some David Bowie-looking demon with a sword -- was some arrogant I'm-gonna-act-like-the-real-villain-until-Ganon-comes-along kind of guy. He kept deflecting my awkward sword swings and then destroying me with a bunch of newfangled danged magic, so I was probably supposed to employ some mechanic (or fancy Wii-mote-manship) that I just didn't know about.
But alas, my swinging arm is all tired out now. Thanks, Zelda... I hope this turns out to be more enjoyable than the time you tried to "help" me fight Ganon at the end Wind Waker and wound up killing me about six times with your bow instead. Fingers crossed. On an analog stick. Without any mandatory. motion controls.

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