Zelda: Link to the Past has a lot to answer for. Aside from it being probably the best game released on the SNES, and possibly the best title in the Zelda series, it is also responsible for this reviewer losing track of the summer months in 1993. The GBA re-release of the title merely compounded matters, being compelled to dive back into the classic 2D world of Hyrule once again. The other reason to purchase the title was to indulge in the sublime multiplayer experience Capcom delivered with the Four Swords side quest. It is ironic then that an enhanced Gamecube version of Four Swords takes its inspiration directly from LttP.

Gameplay is very much in the traditional Zelda vein, meaning there are plenty of creatures to kill, puzzles to solve, people to help and treasure to acquire. Within five minutes of kicking off Hyrule Adventure, all the nostalgia and excitement from '93 comes flooding back as it could quite easily be mistaken for a sequel to the classic adventure. The 2D visuals and audio are direct recreations of the SNES title, and in many ways enhance the gameplaying experience. No clutter, no fuss, it is aesthetically perfect in all respects. Just to see the trees, those bushes, the house designs, even the armour clad manic palace guards charging at you, it feels good to be home once more in such a warm and familiar environment. Even the newly introduced aspects to the saga such as the giant knights and villagers have been given the LttP touch of magic in their appearance. The music too is still a joy to listen to, and is just as memorable and dramatic as it ever was. Almost every major piece has been transported over note for note, and evokes the same emotions, the same tingling down the spine as it did before. Link also "speaks" now as he slices, dices, jumps and falls down holes in his quest for herodom once again.

Ah yes, the quest. Zelda and pals have made a severely large boo-boo with their magic, this time accidentally releasing some unidentifiable evil whilst trying to create a portal to a place where a sacred sword is kept. You know something is wrong when a Dark Link turns up out of the doorway. Thankfully the sword is retrievable, but has the unusual property of splitting Link into four identical personas. After that though, it's the traditional storyline of rescue the girl, kill the bad guy and save the world.

The game is laid out in 8 levels of 3 set stages each, culminating in the usual tried-and-trusted boss battle at the end of each level. There are also numerous run-ins with multiple Dark Links. Regardless of the number of players taking part, any stage can be replayed once cleared, enhancing longevity and eliminating the need to start from scratch each time. All levels have numerous hidden areas, side quests and off the track aspects that will not all be discovered first time around. All in all, there's at least 20 hours worth of play first time through with more on top from repeated multiplayer competition.

For those who have played the GBA Four Swords, you have a head start. But it doesn't take long to become accustomed to being in charge of either one or many Links at the same time. Nintendo wisely have allowed solo players to enjoy the adventure, and in some parts have tailored the journey to suit more individual puzzle solving over co-operation. On top of that, some of the puzzles change depending upon how many players are involved, so it will take a number of plays through to fully see all the game has to offer.

The puzzles themselves are fully up to the standard expected from Nintendo and very much in same vein as LttP and the original Four Swords, so look forward to both some blatantly obvious ones staring you in the face, and some requiring the most mind-bending of logic to proceed. There is a healthy balance between individual and co-operative tasks, and almost all of them are a joy to solve for the first time, with a sense of real accomplishment for ones later on in the game.

Nintendo has also made full use of the GBA interface, with the action switching between the main screen for general play, and the GBA screen for individual or cave pursuits. One plane always affects its compatriot; indeed several puzzles require Link to sling or carry something from one screen and have it affect an object on the other. Hats off here to the designers, this is no mere pushover and it takes some serious co-ordination and logic to bust some of the trickier sections.

Remember the tried and tested storyline where the hero and his enemy have to team up to defeat some even worse entity? That's how playing Hyrule Adventure in multiplayer pans out. Co-operation on puzzles, oh yes everyone can do that with a little prompting, although ragging on one member for lagging behind or making a faus pas is de rigueur. As soon as there's the sniff of rupees however, the knives are out and all hell breaks loose trying to siphon up as many as possible, and then keep your greedy mitts on what you've acquired. This game should come with a free pack of "eyes in the back of your head". Seriously however, it is immensely enjoyable backstabbing malarkey, with the emphasis on picking up the Link with the most money and throwing him down a dark hole once in the while type fun. Just expect the same to happen to you with a fire-rod up the backside, okay?

If this was all that was on the disc, then Hyrule Adventure would be money's worth several times over. Even better is the fact there are two other sections to enjoy. Shadow Battle is a Smash Brothers like free-for-all, competing in both 2D and pseudo 3D plains. Very frantic and very chaotic, winning sometimes is more about luck and being in the right place at the right time. It's good for a laugh and as a break from the main game, but not in the same league quality wise.

And then there is Tetra Trackers. Speculatively dismissed when first shown, now that people can get their hands on it and actually give it a whirl, it is surprisingly good fun. True it is more aimed at the younger demographic, but that doesn't mean older players won't find it both amusing and a lot deeper tactically than it first appears. The object is to collect stamps from the pirates around the course in numerical order much like a scavenger hunt. The action takes place on each GBA with the overall level map and progress status appearing on the main screen. Just go up to each designated pirate, pay some rupees acquired along the way and gain the next stamp in the sequence.

Sounds simple doesn't it? There's always a whole bunch of nuances to consider, such as the ability to rack up multiple stamps in one visit, acquiring helpful items to get round quicker, sabotaging your opponents' attempts to collect, and so on. Humour is present in abundance with all your favourites from Wind Waker making an appearance, and the game is as much about enjoying a good laugh as competing. Strategy and planning also play an important part and this separate game is the icing on the overall package cake.

With this, comes the only real hitch regarding the Japanese release; the need for some Japanese language ability. Some of the puzzles are text based which may pass people by if it wasn't for help to be found online. Some of the impact is also lost from the speech within Tetra Trackers as she encourages and berates players during the game. Getting the US version when it arrives would be a sensible option, but on the other hand is likely to be missing Tetra Trackers.

The choice of purchase now lies with you, the gamesplayer. Either way, consider this an essential purchase if you own a Gamecube, as it is a wonderful title with love and magic present in abundance. One sure-fire classic in the making, one surprisingly entertaining competition section and an average battle game. That's called value for money and Nintendo even throw in a GBA to Gamecube lead for free. Go on, treat yourself to a slice of 2D magic and show that once again, some of the best multiplayer experiences don't have to be online.