The Legend Of Zelda - Ranking Every Gameplay Gimmick
13. Four Swords - Multiplayer
The Zelda series is essentially about one boy battling against the odds to save the princess. Link has often been joined by a companion or guide but, at its core, Zelda is a contemplative solo endeavour. This is what made Four Swords (a multiplayer experience included with the GBA remake of Link to the Past) such a jarring addition to the franchise.
Zelda should be about the joy of exploring new locations and cracking puzzles rather than competing with your friends to see who can gather the most Rupees. Whilst there was something nice about working with friends to solve puzzles, adding the frantic competitive elements went against the lonely zen which the franchise is known for.
It would not have been so bad if Four Swords was just a forgotten spin-off, but the Zelda team seem to treat it as part of the main series. The game was given a full-size sequel on the Gamecube (which needed a ludicrous number of Game Boys and link cables) and a spiritual successor in the form of 2015’s Tri Force Heroes, which featured crafting, online play and power-specific costumes.
There was some fun to be had with Four Swords but the competitive elements just didn't work with the established tone of the series.