The GBA port of the game includes Four Swords on the same cartridge and makes several changes and additions that are exclusive to this version of the game, which are listed here. This version of the game has not been ported further, so it can only be played on a GBA or DS or through an emulator. All later ports such as the Nintendo Switch Online version and the (now unavalible) Wii and WiiU ports are an almost identical copy of the SNES version.
Most of these changes are minor, though I will note the major changes in my walkthrough as they become relevant.
Title Screen Changes:
There is a screen after the file select to choose between A Link to the Past and Four Swords.
The design of logo and sword on the title screen has been altered, including the colors of the text.
A "Press Start" prompt was added.
The layout is more compact, to account for the more narrow aspect ratio of the GBA.
The overall color palette is lighter.
If it is not a new file, the player can skip the Triforce sequence before the title screen, which was previously only possible in the Japanese and European versions of the game.
The intro plays and cannot be skipped when starting a new game.
UI and Inventory Changes:
The secondary item is now on the opposite side of the screen, next to the Heart Meter.
The "- Life -" text above the Heart Meter has been removed.
When you reach the maximum amount of rupees, arrows, and bombs, the digits change to yellow. For bombs and arrows this only occurs at the maximum upgraded amount.
The digits for rupees, arrows, and bombs are no longer italicized, which was originally only the case in the French version of the game.
The inventory screen has been compacted, to the point that there is no longer a space between the different menu blocks.
A single font in used for all text in the inventory, while three different fonts were used in the original.
Each bottle appears individually on the inventory screen. In the SNES version, the four bottles appear as one icon which brings up a sub-menu.
In the SNES version, the shovel is replaced after you dug up the flute. In the GBA version, you keep both the shovel and the flute in your inventory.
The green circle cursor in the inventory has been changed into green parentheses.
Text Differences:
There are some dialouge changes, mostly fixing poor translations in the original. Most noticeably, there is a change to Link's conversation with his uncle before you acquire the shield and sword.
When you enter a dungeon the name (and number in the case of dark world dungeons) will appear. In the SNES version dungeon names were unofficial. Some of these unofficial dungeon names have been changed. The Tower of Hera is now Hera's Tower, the Watergate Dungeon is now Swamp Palace, and Blind's Hideout is now Thieves' Town.
The Maidens' text is now presented like it was in the original Japanese version: each paragraph gets deleted before the next appears instead of scrolling. The text can also be sped up.
The good bee is now the golden bee.
Faerie is now fairy.
The pegasus shoes are pegasus boots.
In the end credits "Smithery" was changed to "Smithy".
Every instance of the "wise men" is now "sages".
The Essence of the Triforce does not say that Ganon was "totally destroyed" at the end of the game.
Audio Changes:
Link now has a voice, taken from young Link in Ocarina of Time.
A sound effect now plays when the save menu appears and disappears.
A sound effect now plays when a bomb or cane of somaria block falls down a pit.
The sound Link makes when walking through Misery Mire has changed. In the original it was a heavier, deeper sound. In the GBA version it is the same sound he makes walking through any water.
Whenever a great fairy appears, the four harp chords will only play the first time. In the original version, the chords play every time the fairy shows up.
The GBA version has lower quality audio samples.
Visual Changes:
Several instances of flashing colors have been removed. Notably, when enemies and bosses are hit they flash white and shake instead of flashing multiple colors. Additionally when the sword drops down on the title screen, the screen flashes white once. In the original English version, the screen flashes multiple colors.
The witch's assistant was changed to look like Maple from Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons.
In the original game, Link's hands changed color when you got the Power Glove and Titan's Mitt. This is absent in the GBA version.
The in original Japanese version there is a tile in the Eastern Palace that has the Star of David on it. This was altered in releases outside of Japan. In the GBA version there is a new design for the tile which is different from any previous version.
In the Palace of Darkness, there is a dark room with fire-breathing enemies. In the original version, you could see the enemies' fire in the darkness of the room. In the GBA version you can only see their fire when it's within the cone of light from your lantern.
The big bomb now has a pulsating animation as you drag it along, and its timer has a new font.
Some items have slightly different color palettes, such as the regular arrows, magic powder, magic hammer, golden sword, and pegasus boots.
After throwing an item in a Great Fairy's Fountain, the item will float up and down next to the fairy. In the original version, the item was stationary.
A small, broken bridge has been added to the spot where you have to use the hookshot in order to reach the northwest area of the dark world. In the original version, there was only a patch of grass in the shape of an arrow pointing at the opening where you had to use the hookshot to get across.
During the prologue sequence, the blue soldiers hold spears rather than swords. Originally, this was only the case in the Japanese version of the game.
When you bombed down a wall, dust would fall in the original version. It no longer does so in the GBA version.
In the original version, when hit with a bunny beam, the bunny sprite would have green clothes regardless of whether you have the blue or red mail. In the GBA version, the color of your clothes remains.
In the original version, when an enemy was defeated in water and dropped a bomb, the bomb would have water ripples around it. This effect is gone in the GBA version.
Gameplay Changes:
Link can cut down signs using the Master Sword, Tempered Sword, or Golden Sword.
With the Golden Sword, Link can smash pots.
Link can also shoot an arrow to break pots. Regular arrows can only break one pot, but silver arrows can go through a whole row of pots.
The hammer can break small, light-colored rocks and bushes.
The flames from the lantern can now damage enemies.
The fire rod can go through a row of bushes (stopping only at enemies).
The red boomerang can cut down signs, grass and bushes.
Magic powder can now break pots.
The Magic Meter gets filled when an item that requires magic is obtained.
Link can dig in all four directions with the shovel instead of just left or right.
You can now pick up items such as rupees with your sword.
Small white rocks in the overworld have a chance of becoming enchanted. These enchanted rocks will sparkle and when you slash it with your sword rupees will come out. Once you reach the maximum amount from the rock it will throw green bombs which will explode.
Link can dive for a moment with the Zora flippers.
A ninth warp point for the Ocarina/Flute is added once the Dark World portal on Turtle Rock is uncovered.
There is a cave in the light world that can be accessed by using the magic mirror on a ledge outside Turtle Rock. In the original it contained Goriyas, in the GBA version it contains eyegores, as originally intended.
A particularly difficult puzzle in the Ice Palace was altered.
There's a new shop in the Village of Outcasts that sells bees, fairies, and golden bees. To purchase the golden bee, Link must first obtain one from the light world and show it to the shopkeeper.
In the original version, a shop located to the west of the Pyramid sold a red shield, a bee, and 10 arrows. This shop has now been changed into a shield shop which sells the fighter's shield, the red shield, and the mirror shield once Link obtains it in Turtle Rock. This is because Link can now lose the mirror shield from a new enemy (see below).
A new Like Like was introduced, which is more similar in appearance to the ones seen in The Legend of Zelda. It appears in the Palace of the Four Sword and near the shield shop to the west of the Pyramid. They will eat Link's shield, including the mirror shield, and also run away and fly into the sky to stop him from getting it back.
A third lumberjack called Q. Bumpkin offers a new riddle sidequest once the player has obtained ten Medals of Courage in Four Swords and defeated Agahnim for the first time in ALTTP. After completing the riddle quest, a new ability- the Hurricane Spin, is obtained. Completing the quest also caused statues of Link, Zelda, and a cucco to be added in Link's house.
A new dungeon known as the Palace of the Four Sword, can be found on the eastern side of the Pyramid. You can access it once you both complete ALTTP once and defeat Vaati once in Four Swords on the same save file. Beating the dungeon gives a different end credits showing the levels and Dark World bosses, and includes a new Quest Record that displays how many times Link has used certain items.
Bugs:
A bug in the original game that made the boss Mothula immune to the golden sword and the spin attack from the tempered sword has been fixed.
A bug that caused Mothula to not take any damage at all if hit into a spike has been fixed.
A bug where it was possible to throw bombs onto the clouds of Death Mountain from a bridge and the clouds would act like shallow water is fixed.
When you are walking up the stairs to Ganon's Tower in the original version, there is a point where Link seems to jump a part of the stairs when he's under the overhanging balcony. Link now walks under it normally.
Many other glitches were fixed or work differently.
Other:
When loading a file in the Light World, the Mountain Cave is no longer an option. However, the choice to start in the last saved location replaces this option.
Saving and quitting no longer adds a number next to the save file, it only counts if the player saves after death. The message in the end credits was also changed from "Total Games Played" to "Total Lives Used".
In the original version, if you did a spin slash on a 3x3 grid of grass, Link would cut all the grass around him, but the grass he was standing on would remain uncut. In the GBA version, the grass Link is standing on is cut.
The Chris Houlihan room has been removed. While it's still in the game's code, it is inaccsessable since there is no need for a fail safe like it.
