The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes

Classic Zelda puzzle-dungeons in a simple, in-and-out format.

Uneven but occasionally inspired, this multiplayer jaunt is ultimately a minor entry in the franchise. [Dec 2015, p.68]

Quotation forthcoming.

Tri Force Heroes is hit-or-miss depending on how you play it, but overall it's an adventure worth experiencing. [Issue #18 – November/December 2015, p.70]

The puzzles are well implemented, but nonetheless it would have worked wonders if Nintendo had given more time to TriForce Heroes in order to polish the gem that’s hiding under the surface.

An enjoyable multiplayer Zelda experience, but one that has trouble holding up too well over the long haul.

There are glimpses of a fantastic game in The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes, but you'll have to play under specific circumstances in order to experience it.

Clearly, The Legend of Zelda: TriForce Heroes isn’t going to stand among the greatest Zelda games. Instead, it will go down as one of the more experimental entries Nintendo’s decades-old series. And without much of a story, franchise fans who opt to skip it really won’t be missing much.

It’s a silly game with an equally-silly concept, but Nintendo somehow does just enough to make it work, if not excel.

Because it is based on co-operative gameplay Tri Force heroes does not stand as a good game if you are playing it on your own, but shines when you have some good company -locally or online.

This 'interlude' between bigger Zelda games can be really engaging at times, but it's not very satisfying when playing solo, and the lack of decent communications system is sometimes a problem.

"One for three, and three for one" looks like a great motto, but the quest of Tri Force Heroes is only accomplished when all those Links align together - physically.

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes follows the footsteps of Four Swords Adventures and brings forth a very well designed multiplayer experience, whether local or online, and a significant degree of challenge, even for experienced players. While it seems odd that a Zelda title dispenses with the eponymous princess and with Link, Tri Force Heroes does its job in an irrepressible manner.

Tri Force Heroes can be a thrill when played with a group of three friends. But try playing it solo or with just one pal, and things might not be so fun.

It may have the character, control and theme down to a tee, but the dungeon design is nowhere near as tight as those from the main franchise.

Fun, but a little shallow.

I would outright suggest that you avoid Tri Force Heroes if you plan on going at it alone. The good news is that the online portion works wonderfully, and with download play, you can get a local three-person game running up in no time. If you don't fit that criteria though, you can probably pass on Link's newest adventure.

A playful co-op experience that shines with mates, but isn’t as precise or polished as a mainline Zelda.

A hard game to dislike, but equally hard to love.

If you’re a stalwart fan with a pair of dedicated friends, you will likely have a pleasant time with the game’s puzzles and combat, but it’s hard to recommend this game to anyone that hasn’t already sought the Triforce for a much more admirable purpose.

Despite its good intentions and ocassional co-op fun, Tri Force Heroes lacks the depth — and charm — we’ve come to expect from the franchise.

We've seen so many of these puzzles before. [Dec 2015, p.121]

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is a disappointing entry in the long-running series.

A game that leaves you wanting more, for better or worse. You want more loot, or at least confirmation that when you go through the same tedious level again, you'll find exactly the item you need waiting at the end. You want more of a balanced challenge, with a single player that feels like it could be handled alone or a multiplayer that performs perfectly under any condition and is worth replaying. Most importantly, you want a real reason to keep returning to the game and not just a prospect of a pretty new look for the Link-alike.

Tri Force Heroes isn't a bad game, but it's not on the same level as its illustrious predecessors.

Tri Force Heroes is a Zelda game in name only. When you dig just past the surface, poor gameplay mechanics and key missing elements for a Zelda title tarnish what is otherwise a serviceable adventure game.

It’s worth a play, but this is a rare Zelda game that will leave most fans underwhelmed.

Caters to hardcore Zelda fans who want to pass the time while waiting for the next full breed Zelda-entry: The Legend of Zelda WiiU. It has moments of fun puzzle experiences, but it requires you to have 1-2 good friends you can go on a local network.

Tri Force Heroes isn't a bad game, but it's not a great one either. It feels more like an apology from Nintendo for delaying Zelda Wii U to 2016. A lack of polish and depth holds the experience back and there's very little reason to replay anything once you're done the first time around.