The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is out soon, and we're diligently working away on a review to share once we're allowed to share it. Undoubtedly designed for multiplayer, to the extent that the game tries quite hard to discourage you from playing solo, it's an experience that's certainly best enjoyed with friends or online.
Of course, there'll be preferences or occasions where solo play is the only way to go, and so far we've not been been overly pleased with how it works. A notable design choice in the game is that you play with two motionless doppels, requiring you to manually toggle between your three heroes with the touch screen. We said the following about this in our preview for the game.
This is a baffling design choice, which is even more peculiar given the far superior implementation of solo play in Four Swords, in which you could place doppelgangers, they would follow you or you could whistle them so they're next to you in an instant. There's no such option to summon the doppels, making stages a slow - at times ponderous - routine of either walking around as a totem (which isn't always practical) or manually selecting each character to move them on. In some puzzles this works well for relatively slow-paced and thoughtful play, but at other times it's either frustrating or downright prohibitive. For puzzles that require quick timing it can be fiddly, and some boss battles are an exercise in frustration as they've evidently not been designed to accommodate solo play.
In any case, that's an opinion based on early time with the game. Our man Alex Olney has brought together some footage of an early-ish level for you in which you can see the single player swapping mechanic for yourself. Check it out and let us know what you think.
Comments 56
Looks do able, but at time unbearable...
This is... uncharacteristically bland.
This looks like playing the same level three times in a row... I was planning on buying a Zelda game regardless, but this video along with the poor preview posted earlier on this site is leading me to hesitate on this one. I'll be reading the review closely before purchasing it. I hope it brings the same Zelda charm as so many other games have, but there is not much hype right now for a new Zelda release (I wish they would've just released A Link to the Past or a new true 3DS Zelda game following A Link Between Worlds I would be beyond hyped).
That's a confirmed drop for me. I don't have friends to keep playing with, and even if I had, they had to get an extra copy themselves to fully enjoy it. Not including a solid single player was a bad move. Why not develop a sequel to ALBW instead with multiplayer elements away from the core, mandatory experience?
After playing OOT and Majora's Mask 3D, I have one simple question. Why can we not get a brand new 3D Zelda built from the ground up for the Nintendo 3DS?
I did not care much for A Link Between Worlds, and this game just looks lame especially if you want to play it solo.
Well, at least this saves my credit for Fire Emblem Fates and maybe Dragon Quest 8 if it comes to the west next year.
I think it looks fun, but I will be buying for the Download Play. It might be worth noting it that this game has a different director than usual. So it might have a different feel despite it clearly using the same assets/engine of LBW.
Also, can you turn into a painting in this game?
Looks doable, but painstaking at times. Unfortunately, a lot of my gameplay will be solo, so I think I'll wait a bit on this one before picking it up.
It honestly looks unbearable, and talks someone who played 4 swords DS port by himself, this just looks silly. Why not the clones follow you by default? Why can't you change clones with just a button instead of the touchscreen? Why to bother to have the same stamina bar cutting the number of actions you can take "in turn" in SINGLEPLAYER? One thing is to encourage multiplayer but this is forcing it!
Looks fine to me, especially since it's intended to be multiplayer, anyway.
It's not as bad as everyone is making it look to be. It's kind of like the gameplay in the Lego Batman games, switching back and forth with different characters, without the AI which was terrible in Lego Batman 3: Beyond Gotham.
@ravens326 And that's the reason of why I hate Lego games. They look good, but the gameplay is terrible.
I'm getting this Zelda, anyway. But that's a way of putting anyone else down. If only the stamina wasn't shared by the 3 "Links" in solo gameplay.
The fact it says "X person got a heart" every time they get one would really annoy me... Plus, the single player looks tedious enough... not sure if this Zelda game will click for me.
This is really surprising. I've known Nintendo for putting the utmost quality in their games, ESPECIALLY their two moneymakers Zelda and Mario. But this... This looks like they couldn't be arsed to put their trademark quality into it.
Looks...unfortunate.
For me, this looks pretty boring playing solo ... even with 3 players I don't see it being fun for long play sessions. Looks more like a zelda game, for people who don't play zelda games.
Anytime reviews are withheld, that's a bad sign about the game. Either way, I wasn't interested in this game unless single player was remotely possible or fun. Looks like I'll be passing.
Called it. This game will fail for the same reason Four Swords Adventures never caught on. It's even more difficult to find friends with A) 3DSes and B) copies of the same game than it would be simply to do multiplayer co-op on console (and remember, Four Swords tried to make consumers buy extra GameBoy Advances for each extra player). In short, just an awful marketing scheme trying to disguise itself as a game.
Interestingly, I just came across a Zelda Informer post on Facebook which stated the Famitsu score was 34/40 (9/9/8/8). This is allegedly one point higher than FSA.
This actually doesn't look too bad to me. This probably won't be a game I play too often over other things, but I think I'll still have some fun with it.
Eww
@Caryslan I haven't gotten my copy of LBW in the mail yet, but I have always been a fan of the top-down Zelda games (SNES and forward) but I totally agree with you that a true unique 3D Zelda on 3DS would be the smart money. I generally prefer the 3D Zelda titles, having been brought into the genre by Star Fox Adventures in 2002 and I would have been much more excited for that.
Multiplayer in Zelda games is a niche idea I feel, and is better left as a bonus on the title screen, like LttP&4S on GBA.
Do you use the touch screen to move like on the DS Zelda games? If so, then hell no.
The single player looks very boring and repetitive. Thankfully, I'll only be playing this game with friends. Most of my friends will not be getting this game, so thank goodness for the download play option. I can definitely see me and two of my friends going through dungeons together. While this game doesn't look like anything to write home about, it still looks like good fun. Plus, it's honestly the only game I want for the 3DS coming out this holiday season (other than a couple indies).
I don't know, this takes ditching Yoshi to a whole new level.
...Its just that the whole thing kind of reminds me of four swords. ... And even with the Anniversary Edition being offered for free twice, it was hard to find people.
Single player looks so dull and tedious. I'm still planning on getting this, but I'll have to find some people to play with.
@shinesprite This.
Most multi-cart 3DS multiplayer games are a pain to play locally. I wish they have definitely turned away from multi-cart requirement and offered a better way to play locally with a single cart, abandoning download-play (very limited). I miss the game link cables so much.
@rushiosan
Like I said, I have my misgivings about this game It somewhat surprises me to say it, but I might just pass up this one (and pick it up down the line).
..in fact, I might just pass up on all of Nintendo's releases this fall/winter.
Yeah, they should have done it like they did with Four swords adventures. It still looks fun, but also a bit cumbersome.
"After playing OOT and Majora's Mask 3D, I have one simple question. Why can we not get a brand new 3D Zelda built from the ground up for the Nintendo 3DS?"
Its probably harder (and more expensive) to make. They much rather keep developing New 3D Zelda's for the home-consoles, it seems.
Still can't believe I'm saying this but I'm not getting this Zelda. I usually get every Zelda (even Hyrule Warriors AND THAT'S NOT EVEN A ZELDA), I don't even have think about it. But I don't understand why they would basically force you to use multiplayer to get some enjoyment out of this. I have enough friends, it just so happens that they don't play 3DS and prefer PCs or PS4. I'm not buying this for boring, repetitive single-player, though, no thanks. Your loss, Nintendo. :/
Well this looks a bit rubbish to be honest, I love Zelda games but it seems Nintendo don't anymore. A link between world's was pretty good if a not so subtle remake of the snes game. Why not give us a proper 3D adventure after showing us what orcarina and majoras mask can do on the console?
This is the first Zelda game that I won't be buying. I don't like Zelda as a multiplayer game, it's always been a solo adventure game (except 4 swords) that I can hide away and play for weeks.
Nintendo has lost their direction. Wasting time on themes for 3DS, cover plates, Amiibo, mobile games, etc. Get focus and make great games, don't be like Apple after Steve Job died.
As others have said, it looks incredibly tedious and dare I say awkward. The idea of the other two Links remaining stationary (and unresponsive to the world around them) when not under player control suggests a great amount of repetitive switching in order to complete even the most basic of tasks.
Not for me at all, at least I've still got the fantastic GBC Zelda games to enjoy!
I loved ALBW, even if some elements were a bit of rehash. But this game looks utterly boring. For Nintendo, who usually pride themselves of implementing excellent single player experiences in multi-player games, is very disappointing.
They got it so right with MK, Smash, Splatoon and Mario Maker, but they've got it so wrong with this. Let's hope it's a one-off.
Single player doesn't look too exciting but I'm getting this for multiplayer. Still I wish it supported 2-player mode since that was a thing in both Four Swords games.
Kitschy game that should never have been given the Zelda title. Same goes for Federation Force.
The single player doesn't look that bad. It kind of reminds me of playing Lost Vikings on SNES. I'm looking forward to getting this. I think I'll enjoy both single and multiplayer. Nice music too.
@AtlanteanMan To be fair, you only require three 3DSs and only ONE copy of the game, as this game support download play. It's even confirmed on this official website.
http://zelda.com/tri-force-heroes/#team-up
I don't know what happened lately, but Nintendo shows an increasing sloppiness for singleplayer in multiplayer-centric games. Splatoon was already a testament for this despicable practice, and Smash 4 and Mario Kart 8 didn't fare better either, but now it's getting pathetic.
The simple rule should always be: if it's in the game, make it good! But this shoddy excuse for singleplayer seems more like a critical annoyance to push people towards multiplayer without making an effort to motivate them. I wasn't interested in this game in the first place, but now I'm really starting to lose faith in Nintendo's quality standards...
I'm not surprised this game sucks. Looked boring from the start, even the multiplayer.
That looks so bloody tedious in single player.
Worst Zelda ever? (Including only games featuring the 'Legend of Zelda' moniker). It's looking that way.
And I'm still pretty peeved about no two player - screw you Nintendo for that.
I'm a massive Zelda fan, but I guess I'll have to skip this as single player doesn't look that good. Even the multiplayer itself doesn't look THAT amazing. First with Happy Home Designer, now with Triforce Heroes—A lot of this E3 line-up that was announced just hasn't felt that enticing to me (I would normally never skip a Zelda or Animal Crossing title). Don't get me wrong, there are still solid games that are coming, but overall I feel that Q4 2015 is one of the most disappointing in years (it's only just barely been saved by games like Super Mario Maker, Xenoblade X, etc.).
@KnightRider666 No you get direct control over the Links. Touch screen appears to just be to switch between Links.
@Nintendian Yeah I kind of agree. This does not look like fun to me. The strange thing is, Four Swords Adventures on GCN was also meant to be a multiplayer game but I've played it entirely single player too and it was just as fantastic alone as it was with 3 other friends. This...not so much. It's really a shame with Nintendo games from E3 this year. Happy Home Designer lasted me about 2 days before I grew bored of it, then Chibi-Robo delivered an underwhelming and forgettable experience, and now this looks almost painful playing alone. Not to mention Star Fox Zero was delayed. 2015 might be the worst year for Nintendo games yet. Well, at least we get Mario Maker and Yoshi's Woolly World.
@OneBagTravel fo' real...
This was what I was worried about and with the confirmed region locking on multiplayer, this is a definite skip as Mario Tennis Open was dead online.
Can't see the problem, seems a lot like 4 swords to me.
@rushiosan you can play the game all together via one cart. its been confirmed.
@mjc0961 this is wrong. the games menual states you can play with 2 people and get the third one online.
@Nintendian i dont get this logic. whenever nintendo tries something new its bad now.
@HMNIM No saves allowed for download play though.
I really fear for Nintendo now. I love Zelda games but other than four swords they have always been single player and that's really what their fans want and enjoy. If you're going to make another mp Zelda game at least give us some usable and enjoyable single player way of playing it. This really just looks Iike torture to play alone. I'm not into mp gaming so I'll pass.
Looks real fun for multi-player, but I'll be doing it online most of the time. I think that this title would've worked better as a eShop download game rather than a 'full retail game'. I don't know, it just doesn't seen to have the kick that most retail releases do.
@krakensoup: Thanks, good to know.
I'll give the online demo a trial when it's live, but since I don't really have anyone to play the game with and I'm not a fan of playing with randoms, I'll probably end up passing on the game. Shame too, everything about this game - other than the forced multiplayer - looks great.
@Nomad I don't know, I loved Lost Vikings but that was a finely crafted single player experience that relies on switching characters. This just looks like they tacked on an unpolished way to play when you didn't have the ability to play multiplayer.
Well, it looks doable... But the scarecrow appearance for the stale Link looks so sad, it's like it constantly reminds you that you are alone, that you should go out and find two friends with 3DS to play together. They really should make them more alive, or has some AI at least. That said, I'll give the demo a try. Hopefully, I could get online (for some reason, only MK7 allow me to play online and I have failed playing MH4U and Smash Bros online). It'll still a buy for me though regardless, as I love ALBW, so even if it's a sad solo play, I'll bear with it.
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