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The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is Nintendo’s latest attempt at a multiplayer Zelda game. The last time they tried this, it wasn’t exactly a masterpiece. This time around, however, they seem to really have their act together.

The gameplay is pretty reminiscent of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS, except now each puzzle you encounter requires three people to complete. You can play online with strangers, online with friends, locally with friends, or by yourself with two doll-like stand-ins called “Dopples.” I got to try a dungeon at PAX Prime and it was super fun—way better than the multiplayer puzzles in Four Swords Adventures. For one, it felt extremely cooperative. Every Link shares hearts and rupees, and so figuring out my teammate’s strengths was essential to success. There was no competition between Links, only practical problem-solving.

The plot of the game is both new and familiar. We’re seeing a whole new realm introduced in this title: Hytopia. In this kingdom, the citizens are obsessed with fashion and style. When Princess Styla is placed under a curse that forces her to wear a plain black onesie, three heroes must work together to break the curse and help her become fashionable again.

costumed links

Here are some of the costumes that will be available to you in the game.

While many Zelda games have featured tunic upgrades, Tri Force heroes takes costuming to a whole new level. You will be able to craft and wear a number of different outfits, including a Zelda dress and a giant cactus, each of which will impact your gameplay.

In addition to the main quest, Tri Force Heroes also features a competitive battle mode, which can be played with one to three players. This is the only gameplay mode that can be played with just two people. That’s right: you can play the campaign with two other friends, or by yourself, but you cannot play in a party of two. Bummer.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes comes out on October 23 for Nintendo 3DS. Stay tuned to Pixelkin.org for our full review.


This article was written by

Courtney is Pixelkin's Associate Managing Editor. While working with the Girl Scouts of Northern California, she mentored young girls in teamwork, leadership, personal responsibility, and safety. Today, she spends her time studying adolescent development and using literary analysis techniques to examine video games.