Link Mode



Link Mode, known in Japan as Communication, is the multiplayer feature of Magical Vacation. It allows players to connect their own copies of the game via the Game Boy Advance's Game Link Cable accessory. To use Link Mode, both players must select it on the title screen, and the first player to do so chooses which activity will be done. Magical Starsign reintroduces this multiplayer functionality in the form of Amigo Mode (also called Communication in Japanese). In canon, Link Mode is the party reaching out and obtaining power from parallel universes.

Let's Amigo
By selecting Let's Amigo, both players' protagonists perform a short dance, and register each another to their own amigo lists. Amigos can be equipped to characters on their Profile page under the "mojo" (極意 essence) tab. Equipping mojo lets the assigned character use spells learned by the equipped amigo, though its magic level cannot be increased beyond what it was prior to linking up. However, the protagonist is able to gain magic levels in that amigo's element with repeated use, and permanently learn new spells. Registering amigos also makes healing pots appear in Garam Masala.

Up to 100 amigos can be registered on the list at a time. It is also possible to preserve the list when starting a new game.

Through Let's Amigo, new features get unlocked:
 * By registering 5 amigos whose elements are the same as the player's protagonist, they learn call Charity.
 * By registering 100 amigos, the protagonist learns call Inky and they receive dark magic clothing. The entrance to the Tuoekat bonus dungeon in Garam Masala also becomes accessible.
 * By leveling all sixteen elements to magic level 18, the protagonist learns call Holy and they receive light magic clothing. The other bonus dungeon, Yekrut, opens up as well.

Let's Onsen
Let's Onsen is only useable if both players have used the Ricebird Springs at least once during their playthrough. Linking up each others' onsen will boost the protagonist's stats, the rate of which is determined by what version of the onsen is being used. The Ricebird Springs can be upgraded with frequent link-ups between amigos, and the type of onsen varies based on the player's report card grade and rank.

Let's Battle
Let's Battle puts players' parties against one another, though there are a few rules that distinguish it from normal combat:
 * Before fighting, both players can adjust their characters, such as using items or changing equipment and stickers.
 * The battle begins with all characters' MP reduced to 0, meaning they must naturally recover it.
 * At the start of each turn, three spirits of random elements pop onto the field. Any spirits that have not been used in a Spirit Combo will vanish the next turn, and a new set appears immediately after. Additionally, any spirits that have been summoned with call/double spells vanish alongside the randomly summoned spirits.

Once a battle is over, a tally will be added to the players' report cards to record their win/loss. This affects the rank of their characters, which is determined by their win/loss percentage, and how many total battles they have won through Let's Battle. Also, characters' ranks affect their stat growth as they level up. With upgrades in ranks, the player is able to improve the design of Ricebird Springs, providing additional stat increases based on their current rank.

Wii U Virtual Console version
In the Wii U Virtual Console port of Magical Vacation, it is impossible to use the multiplayer features present in the original Game Boy Advance version. To remedy this, selecting Communication/Link Mode on the title screen grants the protagonist magic levels for all elements except light, each at magic level 1, and instantly gives the protagonist dark magic. Amigo mojo and upgrades to Ricebird Springs are absent from the Wii U version as a result.

Trivia

 * Sword of Mana, a game codeveloped by Square Enix and Brownie Brown, utilizes an amigo system called Communication that works similarly to Magical Vacation. Aside from having the same name, registering 100 amigos has significant benefits too, rewarding players with powerful summon cards.