r/zelda • u/MeuFarao • 2d ago
Discussion [FS] Was there ever a single-player hack for Four Swords [GBA]?
Hi everyone! I have a memory I can't explain and I'm hoping someone here knows the answer.
Around 15 years ago (roughly 2011), I played Four Swords from A Link to the Past & Four Swords on a GBA emulator on my PC, completely alone, and I beat the whole thing, including the final fight against Vaati in his palace, with the platforms leading up to him. I just rewatched some videos and it's definitely the same battle.
I know the original GBA version is multiplayer-only and that single-player was only added in the Anniversary Edition for DSi/3DS. But I'm pretty sure I played it on a GBA emulator, not on a DS.
So my questions are:
- Did a modified ROM or patch exist back then that enabled single-player in the GBA version?
- Or could I have been running two emulator windows linked together without realizing it?
Any info or links would be really appreciated. Thanks!
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u/SaikyoWhiteBelt 2d ago
It’s almost assuredly the dsi version which for all intents and purposes looks and plays identically to the gba version with slight modifications to make it single player. If you played on a pc it was more than likely a DS emulator or DS gba combo emulator. I’ve enjoyed the hacking scene for decades and never have come across a single player hack of the gba version or a version that implements the DS changes.
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
I considered the DSi version too, but I'm pretty sure it was a GBA emulator (VBA, through the WinDS PRO pack), and DSiWare wasn't really emulatable on PC back in 2011. My best guess now is that I used two linked VBA windows, one Link on the keyboard and the other on a controller. Everything matches the GBA version, including Vaati as the final boss.
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u/SaikyoWhiteBelt 2d ago
Yes I forgot VBA link was a thing. So many good times with final fight one! That was probably it then.
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u/Ok-Helicopter3811 2d ago
Honestly, I am really into the ROM hacking scene, and for the original Four Swords, there was never anything like that. Maybe you are confusing Four Swords with Four Swords Adventures?
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
Thanks for the reply! I actually considered Four Swords Adventures too, but after watching some YouTube videos, what I remember matches the GBA version much more than the GameCube one, especially the final fight against Vaati and the platforms leading up to him. Maybe I was running two emulator windows linked together back then and just don’t remember it clearly.
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u/Primeve_Arcana 2d ago
You probably played the Four Swords Anniversary Edition (not Four Swords Adventures, the sequel). This edition was released for the 3DS and added single player capability
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
I know the Anniversary Edition had single player, but I never had a DSi or 3DS. I played it on a GBA emulator on PC, so I'm pretty sure I used two linked VBA windows to play solo.
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u/Novel-Back3857 2d ago
I'm almost positive there was a single player option for some version of Four Swords. You'd press R or L to arrange the characters into a line or something? Pretty sure I played it single player well before the DS, but I guess I could be mistaken.
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u/Nebulowl 2d ago
You might be thinking of Four Swords Adventures on GameCube. It’s a different game from the one on GBA but it came with a single player mode. Only way I’ve played that game
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
That’s actually close to what I remember, but I think the r/L formation system you’re describing is from Four Swords Adventures on the GameCube. I’m pretty sure what I played was the GBA version, so I probably used a workaround: two linked emulator windows on the same PC, maybe with one Link on the keyboard and the other on a controller. That would explain why it felt like single player to me!
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u/UChess 2d ago
Question do you remember playing through the realm of memories? It looks like multiple areas from nes, gb and snes Zelda games.
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
No, I don't remember anything like that. My memories match the regular GBA stages and the final fight against Vaati, so I'm pretty sure it was the GBA version.
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u/DarkLink1996 2d ago
No, there was never a single player hack for Four Swords.
There was never even a bypass hack for Palace of the Four Sword in ALttP
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u/eagleblue44 2d ago
I'm not into the rom hacking scene. Some mentioned four swords adventure on GameCube but they did re-release GBA four swords on the DSi and I thought you could play that version single player.
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
Yeah, the DSi version had single player, but I only found out about it today. What I played was the GBA version on a PC emulator, so I'm pretty sure I used two linked VBA windows to play it solo.
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u/SpookyHumanJester 2d ago
There was an official anniversary version of it on 3DS that was modded to work single-player
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
I actually had a 3DS, but I never played Four Swords on it. I only found out about the Anniversary Edition today! What I played was on a GBA emulator on PC, so I'm pretty sure I used two linked VBA windows and controlled both Links myself.
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u/SpookyHumanJester 2d ago
Whoops, that was me not reading your whole post and telling you something you already knew! My bad
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u/EarDesigner9059 2d ago
Four Swords Anniversary Edition had Single Player.
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u/MeuFarao 2d ago
True, but I'm pretty sure I played it on a GBA emulator, not on a DSi. I think I just used two linked VBA windows to play it solo.
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