The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

Gameplay

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is a cooperative action-adventure game in which three players control differently colored versions of series protagonist Link and join forces to fight enemies and solve puzzles. Similar to previous multiplayer Zelda titles, such as Four Swords Adventures, players must work together, using the items they receive at the start of each level to help each other progress. One of the key puzzle-solving techniques is stacking the three player characters in a totem pole, allowing the top player to reach higher elevations, attack enemies, and perform other actions. Another game mechanic involves collecting items in order to craft outfits that grant the characters various abilities. Players share a heart meter, with all players losing one of their life fairies should the meter run out.

The game supports both local and online multiplayer gameplay, wherein players use icons on the touch screen to communicate with each other, as well as a competitive Coliseum mode. A single player can also play the game by controlling doll-like companions called "Doppels", though the main mode does not support two players without a third. Tri Force Heroes features a visual style similar to that used in A Link Between Worlds.

Downloadable content

During a Nintendo Direct presentation in November 2015, Nintendo announced free downloadable content (DLC) for the game, which introduces a new dungeon called "The Den of Trials" and two additional costumes. The Den of Trials contains a greater number of stages than the original dungeons and players must defeat all enemies in each of its stages in order to progress. The update was released on December 2, 2015.

Setting

Tri Force Heroes is set several years after A Link Between Worlds and centers on Link, who was originally planned on appearing as the same protagonist of A Link Between Worlds. This was replaced with the Wind Waker styled Link in the final version.

Plot

Tri Force Heroes takes place in Hytopia, a kingdom whose citizens are obsessed with fashion. Princess Styla holds a great power over Hytopia until a witch known as "The Lady" curses her, forcing an unremovable black jumpsuit upon her. King Tuft, Hytopia's ruler and Styla's father, is devastated by the curse and sends out a call for a hero who can lift it. While many answer the call, the king believes the true hero is one who fulfills a prophecy that tells of three heroes coming together to form a totem pole. This hero is revealed to be Link. He and two teammates travel to the Drablands, where they master dungeons by solving puzzles and defeating enemies. After doing so, the three vanquish The Lady, allowing them to lift the princess' curse. Link, King Tuft, Princess Styla, and the people of Hytopia celebrate the heroes' success.

Development

The inspiration for Tri Force Heroes originated in 2009 from a portion of Spirit Tracks in which Princess Zelda is able to possess phantoms. In an interview with Polygon at Electronic Entertainment Expo 2015, Tri Force Heroes director Hiromasa Shikata, who had also worked on Spirit Tracks, explained, "That element [the ability to control phantoms] really intrigued me and brought out the idea that I wanted to try multiplayer as well." Shikata's interest in working on a multiplayer Zelda game "was sort of revitalized and came out of hibernation" during the development of A Link Between Worlds.

Regarding Link's ability to don a dress typically worn by Zelda in other installments in the series, Shikata said, "We consulted with folks here in the U.S. and in Japan, and asked 'Do we think we're going [to get] too much of a negative reaction by having Link wear a dress?'" The development team arrived at the conclusion that having a cross-dressing Link would not be an issue. Shikata expressed the team's hope that having the dress and similar outfits in the game would widen its appeal to young female gamers and remarked, "For us as developers, the more variation we have, and that we can provide to players, the better for everyone."

Reception

Tri Force Heroes received mixed critical reception. While the title's multiplayer gameplay was praised, many reviewers criticized its single-player mode and lack of a two player option. Review aggregator Metacritic gave the game a score of 73/100 based on 73 reviews.

As of March 2016, total worldwide sales are at 1.14 million copies.