The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (E) (4 stars)
Nintendo
GameCube
It figures that the best argument for bothering to link the GameCube to the GameBoy would be made by ... well, Link. And Link, and Link, and Link. With the use of four GameBoy Advances with link cables, our Hylian hero splits into four color-coded versions of himself in the first console multiplayer Zelda.
Nintendo has been trying to empty our wallets on the idea of connectivity for awhile now, but Four Swords is the first game that really makes us see the point. One player can battle the minions of Vaati on the big screen, while another explores a nearby cave, the interior of which appears on the GameBoy, so as not to interrupt Player One's swashbuckling.
Most importantly, if you can't afford to dish out hundreds of dollars on hardware to conquer the vast 2D dungeons with your friends, Four Swords (unlike Final Fantasy: Crystal Chronicles) is just as glorious as a single-player quest, with the whole Link quartet under one command. On the down side, the glory does have to be split four ways, not to mention the princess' affections.
Shadow Ops: Red Mercury (T) (3 stars)
Atari
Xbox
Like George W. Bush, the hero of this frantic first-person shooter is out to find weapons of mass destruction. But unlike the president, he might actually succeed. The fast-paced action makes for a decent, if somewhat unmemorable, single-player game, but the sloppy multiplayer is the worst thing to happen to all-out military combat since the invention of guerilla warfare.
Mario Golf: Advance Tour (E) (4 stars)
Nintendo
GameBoy Advance
That Mario's quite the renaissance man. As if being a plumber, hero of the mushroom kingdom, and champion kart racer weren't enough, he's also a golf pro. And if you hone your own skills, you can challenge him on the fairway in this addictive, lighthearted RPG. The intricate game play packs in everything you never knew you loved about golf, while leaving out all the tiresome walking around in funny pants.
McFarlane's Evil Prophecy (M) (1.5 stars)
Konami
PlayStation 2
Here's an evil prophecy: A game shall be made based upon sketches from celebrated comic-book artist Todd McFarlane. Many unfortunate souls shall be lured to the game by the cool box art, unaware of the evil, simplistic graphics within. There shall be much toiling with the stubborn camera and frustration with the unending wolf and lizard-men battles. Great misery shall come to all who buy this game, seeking entertainment. Thou hath been warned.
Matthew Scott Hunter has been known to mumble, "Up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, B, A, start" in his sleep. E-mail him at
[email protected].