Link Them Together

During its E3 press briefing Nintendo announced not one but two new Zelda titles for the GameCube, both which are going to take full advantage of GBA connectivity. Firstly there's The Four Swords (the multiplayer game bundled with Zelda: A Link To The Past on GBA) which takes the franchise into a slightly more action orientated direction.

Up to four players have to amass stacks of Rupees, beating the smithereens out of each other as they go. The GBA link (which doesn't even require a GBA cart!) will give enemy players the chance to secretly move around off the main screen as they're sent hidden messages, divulging crucial tactical information. Sounds like a stonking good idea to us.

Secondly comes Tetra's Trackers. This time you'll be collecting stamps from Tetra's pirate island. You need to search the island seeking out certain pirates depending on Tetra's instructions. Again, it's a multiplayer title (up to four players) and, again, it makes superlative use of GBA connectivity (in a very similar way to Four Swords).

It looks as though Nintendo hasgot a great new concept with these multiplayer GBA connected shenanigans, and it is most certainly running with it (Pacman's getting similar treatment). If the gameplay meets its potential, Nintendo could well maintain good GBA sales despite the announcement of the new PSP. This could be underlined further as more and more games claim connectivity: EA's upcoming Sims, Lord of the Rings, Harry Potter and James Bond games are all likely candidates for the same treatment.