The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes asks players to dress Link, Zelda and a third hero in costumes built from scraps of cloth found across Hyrule. That premise sounds simple. In practice, it plays like a costume party that never quite dresses itself.
Trailer, via Gaming Reinvented.
Dress Up, Level Up
Costume pieces drop from enemies and chests. Players stitch together outfits that grant stat boosts and new moves. The system is clever. It rewards exploration and punishes players who rush through levels without collecting everything.
Where the game stumbles is in execution. Some costumes look identical to each other, making it hard to tell which character is wearing what. Others offer barely any benefit over the default set. The reward curve feels uneven, and some players will find themselves grinding for upgrades that feel less like progress and more like busywork.
Multiplayer Trouble
Tri Force Heroes is built for three players. Playing alone is possible, but the game pushes players toward cooperative play. The multiplayer mode works best when all three characters are present, since certain puzzles and boss fights require coordination.
Playing alone, though, the game struggles to fill the space left by missing partners. Some stages feel designed for three bodies, leaving a solo player scrambling to cover ground that was meant to be shared. The game also drops hints and items that seem aimed at a full group rather than a single player, which can frustrate anyone trying to complete the game on their own.
What Works
- Costume crafting offers a fresh spin on the series’ usual item-grinding
- Boss designs vary enough to keep fights interesting
- The multiplayer mode holds up better than expected
What Falls Short
- Costumes often look alike, making it hard to tell which character is which
- Some upgrades offer little practical benefit
- Playing alone exposes design choices that assume three players
The game’s biggest problem is pacing. Side areas and fetch quests can drag, and the main quest line doesn’t move fast enough to justify the detours. This is a game that wants to be a spectacle, but its spectacle often arrives late.
The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is a solid, if uneven, addition to the series. Its costume system is inventive, and its multiplayer mode holds up well. But the uneven pacing and the grind of its upgrade system hold it back from greatness. Players looking for a deep, focused adventure might find themselves disappointed. Players looking for a light, occasionally charming diversion will find one here.
Get the Notebook.
The day's best stories and every fresh verdict, in plain English, in your inbox by seven. One email a day, no more.
