The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past - Four Swords (GBA)

Despite the all-encompassing excellence of Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker, many fans consider A Link to the Past to be the best Zelda game ever. Originally released in 1991 for the SNES, this, despite a few sound effect additions and the curious dumbing down of a couple of puzzles and snippets of dialogue, is a perfect conversion of that game.

Anyone who hasn't played this before will be surprised at just how similar it is to the newer Zelda games. It's got nearly all the same weapons and items, and the puzzles and gameplay are just as complex and interesting. In fact, lesser games are stilling ripping off the inspired fiendishness of the light/dark world and the various head-scratching puzzles it creates. Of course the graphics are rubbish–-they were pretty lame even back in 1991--but for once that really doesn't matter.

Clearly not wanting to be accused of releasing another "lazy" port, Nintendo have included a brand new multiplayer mode in the form of Four Swords. Entirely separate from the single-player adventure, it allows you and up to three friends to battle through one of three smallish dungeons cooperating on puzzles and mercilessly stealing each other's treasures. Although short-lived it's great fun and the perfect accompaniment to the magnificence of A Link to the Past. --David Jenkins