The Legend of Zelda: The Four Swords+

[martTM]

Am I right in thinking all the items are written in Katakana then? Because I tried to work out my three items using (yes, you guessed it) the Japanese guide on here and all I ended up with was a bunch of gobbledegook. Ka-n-ba-n? What the ****'s that then?

[Commander Marklar]

I don't think they were, although they are common symbols (with some romaji maybe?). I recognised bomb and the signpost but I wasn't 100% about the last. I didn't see the others so it'd need playing through that level to see if they were or not >_<

Maybe this will help too, to visualise the English (if in katakana) or the Japanese word. Cheating maybe, but I don't practice enough to by a ninja with this stuff...

edit: Actually, changed my mind

Example: Grass - kusa (I think), you'd have to check that >_< I have a fairly useful reference I pulled off the Internet at home, has simple words like this in it so I'll see if I can't find the bloody thing...

[The Sheriff of Nottingham]

mart - I might be wrong (in fact I probably am) but I think kanban is Japanese for ticket.

*vaguely remembers learning about Japanese kanban/just-in-time manufacturing techniques in the early 90s*

[MikeF]

Still playing this when I can and progressed onto 4-1 last night. Actually tried the GBA controller this time and was very impressed by it.

So far the language hasn't been a problem although I did struggle a little on 3-2 getting the shovel.

[Commander Marklar]

Aye Sheriff, Kanban is taken from the word for "sign", so that is one thing mart needs

[martTM]

The order isn't just different every time... it also changes if you get it wrong! Gah!

Got the sign right, so only five bits of Japanese still to translate - might take a bit of time (not to mention trial, error and me shouting at the GameCube), but I'll get there. Will also probably put Japanese up here once I work it all out.

[gordon]

only five bits of Japanese still to translate - might take a bit of time (not to mention trial, error and me shouting at the GameCube), but I'll get there. Will also probably put Japanese up here once I work it all out.

That'd be great MartTM -- I don't think I'm the only one relying on that.

[martTM]

Right peeps - here's what I've come up with. Huge forgiveness requested from those of you who can actually read Japanese, mainly because I suspect some of these might be wrong in terms of the translation; I've picked out the symbols I reckon match, but it's been a bit hit and miss on occasion so if the actual pronounciation is wrong... well, balls to ya. Plus there's the problem of four of the items being written in katakana and the other two appearing in hiragana, but that's by the by.

What I've got is a description of the word (or at least some of it, so you can work out which one you've got), followed by the direct translation into syllables (sic) from the Japanese and then finally which object it is. And no, they're not in any particular order, so the numbers don't mean ****. Anyway, hope this helps some of you...

edit: Incidentally, the dark side Deku then gives you a Power Bracelet, not a key - this means you can pick up the trees that were previously in your way. Yay.

edit edit: Whoopsee... forgot the spolier quotes.

1) Description: An inverted V with a gap at the top and two little dashes, two seven-esque symbols and a slanted line with a dot over it.
Sounds like: Ba-ku-da-n
Relates to: A bomb (on the left of the bloke)

2) Description: A seven with a line on the left-hand point, then another with two vertical lines through the two bit.
Sounds like: Ku-sa
Relates to: A bush or some grass, depending on your take on things (so it looks like the Commander was right... )

3) Description: Two horizontal lines with a dot in the middle, a seven with a prop and two small dashes, a square lower-case 'n' with dashes and a slanted line struck through.
Sounds like: Mi-zu-ga-me
Relates to: A blue water-filled pot (in the underground lair surrounded by burnable bushes, with a single Deku nearby)

4) Description: A square lower-case 'n', a slanted line with a dot, an inverted V with a gap at the top and dashes, then another slanted line with a dot.
Sounds like: Ka-n-ba-n
Relates to: A signpost (two screens up... right again, Commander)

5) Description: A complicated one - starts with a strange squiggle, then gets worse from there. It's the only one with five parts, so you can't really miss it.
Sounds like: A-bu-ri-tsu-ho
Relates to: A red flaming pot (same place as the blue water pots)

6) Description: A backwards J with a small line and then a lower-case 'h' with a slash at the back.
Sounds like: I-chi
Relates to: A small white rock (one screen up)

[Commander Marklar]

Heh, nice one mart... I was just gonna head back into the forest too. Don't need to now Ni-zu would be Mi-zu (three slanting lines, bloody GBA), means water. Should get everyone sorted, many thanks!

edit: grab the symbols off the katakana chart, might help... don't have any hiragana though



... Grass

[martTM]

Tried... but I'm obviously either not competent or my PC's being a pain in the arse. If you'd oblige, I'd be grateful - if you have the time, of course.

[Commander Marklar]

Bah, that means I have to go back into the forest and right 'em down...

Almost completed now...

The tower is 90% side-on 2D action... including the boss. Woo!

...which was level 7; I thought we got further than that, but we hadn't (just had 7-3 to do). We're up to the last castle now though, should clock it tonight... unless there are any surprises

[Great King Bowser]

Just got this in the post from Play-Asia, popped it in for a few seconds and got stuck on the first bit with Shadow Link and the Master Sword.

What am I supposed to be doing?

Temporarily have given up to get some work done. But a reply would be appreciated, and feel free to laugh.

[MikeF]

Go up to the master sword and a dialogue will start, select the first option (left hand one) and you will pick up the sword

Then the fun really begins

[Great King Bowser]

Oh, so that was my problem, I hadn't realised that was an option box.

Thanks.

*Walks away shaking head embarassed*

[bowser123]

Don't worry my namesake, I did the exact same thing about an hour ago when my copy arrived. Took me about 5 minutes to realise it's a dialogue box asking, presumably, do you want the sword!

Must say I'm enjoying it tons. Brought a big cheesy grin to my face, so far the flamethrower thingy that sets the grass alight is my favourite.
Just done the 1st boss, heh that was fun

Quick question, towards the end of the level 1-1 I think I collected my 2,000th ruby and my characters went all mental, allowing my sword to shoot sparks. Was it coincidence or do you always get this upgrade when you collect your 2,000th ruby?
Also as you can replay the levels, is there any point to this in the sense of getting a better score? Or is it just so you can replay your favourite bits with different numbers of players as you please?

Few more for the pause screen too. What are the 3 options on the pause screen? Top one is resume game, what are the other two? Also what is the sword on the left about. As I type mine is half full, what does this symbolise?

TBH I'm still grinning at how swish the effects are and how perfectly the GBA link up works. Only playing in 1 player at the moment, but it seems flawless how the action transfers from TV to my SP.
Right, back to the game. Currently stuck on a bit where there is a dude with blue "flames?" around him and a treasure chest that can't currently be accessed because of a chasm.
Don't want to know the solution just yet, gonna work it out...