GC->GBA Zelda

[matthew986]

Does anyone know how it will work? I don't have a subscription to IGN.com and cant get the story.

[Warlock]

E3 2002: Zelda GameCube-to-GBA Link Revealed
We know now how the Nintendo portable will be integrated into The Legend of Zelda GameCube.





May 23, 2002 - It's been a mystery until now. Just how will the Game Boy Advance be used in the upcoming The Legend of Zelda adventure for the GameCube? Text at the bottom of the game menu of the GameCube E3 demo stating "GBA Connect" seemed to indicate that it's implemented...and during a roundtable on Wednesday, Shigeru Miyamoto informed us that there was one Zelda kiosk with a Game Boy Advance attached. With persistence, we set out to track down this set-up.
And that we did. In fact, we were given a complete walk through of the function with the person at Nintendo responsible for this mode. Right from the horse's mouth.

In one of the E3 demo levels of the GameCube The Legend of Zelda, Link can equip a GBA as an item. Activate this item during the adventure, and a window will pop up: "Summon Tingle?" By selecting "Yes", a file will be sent to the Game Boy Advance connected via the Game Boy Advance GameCube cable to the second GameCube port...no cartridge needed.

In a few seconds, the file will execute on the GBA: a same resolution representation of the map that's in the corner of the GameCube screen. Here, players can move a square on the GBA map that maneuvers completely independent from the action on the console. On the GBA map, players can see Link (represented by an arrow), as well as enemies (represented as dots). The amount of Rupees that Link carries is also represented in the corner of the GBA screen.

The square is actually graphically represented on the GameCube as a square in the area that Link is in. Players can control this square on the GBA and equip bombs, blasting doors and vases without the need for Link to exert himself. Since Link can move independent of this on-screen square, the player operating the Tingle cursor can equip a Megaphone...by hitting the button, you'll hear Tingle shout "HEY!" The GameCube screen will automatically letterbox and rotate the viewpoint to look in the direction of the Tingle cursor. If the GBA player gets completely lost, he can hit a button to center the Tingle cursor right back under Link's feet for better orientation.

Once the GBA item in Link's inventory has been unequipped, the connection to the actual Game Boy Advance is lost.

This Game Boy Advance function will be better integrated in the final Legend of Zelda GameCube adventure, since having this ability right from the get-go might be too advantageous. Players will most likely have to buy the GBA item from a store within the adventure.

This function definitely gives a second player the opportunity to join Link in his adventure...or lets a single person have additional capabilities during his quest.


-- Craig Harris