If Nintendo ever adds the 3DS to its list of virtual consoles, it’d better not forget this underratedLegend of Zeldagem. Nintendo Switch Online, the gaming giant’s official subscription service for virtual console versions of retro games, just keeps growing. Most recently,it added the GameCube to its repertoireof classic consoles, although its library is still limited.
There’s a good chance thatother Nintendo consoles could be addedin the near future: with its fancy new camera, touch-screen functionality, and general portability, the Switch 2 is the perfect platform for a 3DS virtual console. And while its library is rife with excellent inclusions for a Switch 2 retrospective, the 3DS also has claim to an underratedZeldagame that could really thrive on a modern platform.
This Oddball Adventure Didn’t Soar At Launch
Tri Force Heroes Is All But Forgotten
Tri Force Heroeshas some cool concepts for aZeldagame, but unfortunately,it wasn’t too popular when it was first released. The basic idea was to create a multiplayerZeldagame, in which teams of three players would have to work together to completeZelda-style dungeons by solving puzzles and beating bosses.
Each player, controlling a different version of Link, would receive different items, and share a single health bar. The goal was foreach to use their unique talents, splitting up and working togetheras needed, in order to complete dungeons, collect materials, and craft new outfits.
It didn’t havemainlineZelda’s atmosphere or story, butit was a fun little diversion, a great game to enjoy with friends. Unfortunately,Tri Force Heroes' biggest new idea was also its biggest flaw, but an NSO release could help fix that.
Switch 2 Online Play Would Solve The Game’s Biggest Launch Issue
Tri Force Heroes Struggled In Online Mode
The main issue withTri Force Heroeswasa broken, and ultimately underpopulated online matchmaking system. Many players struggled to join and remain connected to multiplayer servers, which was frustrating: nothing kills a co-op game like a sudden disconnection.
To make matters worse,Tri Force Heroeshad an undersizedplayer base, which meant it was incredibly hard to find others to play with. Unless you and two other friends owned the game, you were basically at the tiny fan base’s mercy.
And I do mean you andtwofriends -Tri Force Heroescould only be played as a solo player or a trio. There was no duo mode (which sounds oddly familiar). The single-player mode didn’t have the benefit ofTri Force Heroes' unique gimmick, so it was boring, and it was hard to get a trio together reliably, so although the game sold reasonably well, it ultimately failed to gain a foothold.
Nintendo Switch Online offers the perfect solution.The service supports online multiplayerfor many older games that wouldn’t ordinarily have it - things likeF-Zero,Smash Bros., orTurtles in Timeare excellent when played with friends. With a new-and-improved matchmaking server,Tri Force Heroescould make a similar comeback.
If NSO were to add a 3DS library, there’d be a lot of easy candidates for the service:Animal Crossing New Leaf,Monster Hunter 4U, evenA Link Between Worlds. But I hope it wouldn’t forgetTri Force Heroes, potentially giving this forgottenLegend of Zeldagame another chance at life.
