StreetPass

StreetPass is a feature for the Nintendo 3DS. It allows players to automatically exchange data for use in 3DS games and apps.

Overview
StreetPass is used in many games and applications for the Nintendo 3DS, as indicated by a symbol on the back cover of game boxes or in their electronic manuals. To use StreetPass, two or more Nintendo 3DS systems with wireless communications enabled simply need to pass nearby one another, allowing the systems to electronically "tag" and exchange data. If the players involved have any StreetPass-enabled games in common, their systems will indicate a successful tag by turning their status lights a bright green and adding a notice to their Notifications menus. StreetPass is commonly used as a way to transmit characters or miis to another player's game to lend support, trade exclusive in-game items, exchange messages, or engage in battles. Each Nintendo 3DS system can have StreetPass enabled for up to 12 titles at a time, and will still perform StreetPasses even when none of them are running. After two systems have tagged, they must wait eight hours before the same two can tag each other again. The maximum number of StreetPasses that the 3DS can store in its queue differs between games and is shown in the Notifications menu.

StreetPass was featured in many early titles for the Nintendo 3DS, but was gradually used in fewer new titles as the system's lifespan went on. The most commonly-used StreetPass title is a pre-installed collection of mini-games called StreetPass Mii Plaza. In it, miis are exchanged between systems to aid other players in completing the mini-games. These miis can be dressed in a variety of unlockable hats and outfits, and can communicate using themed speech balloons, including several based on. One of the mini-Games, Puzzle Swap, allows players exchange individual pieces of large images based on various game series, including several based on. These images become animated dioramas once all pieces are collected.

An earlier iteration of StreetPass existed in, known as Tag Mode. As tagging was not a system-wide function on the Nintendo DS, all players involved must have running and their systems set to Sleep Mode for tagging to occur.

In, StreetPass allows the player to fight two extra bosses not available without it. Should the player speak to Gramps, located in the StreetPass Meadow in Kakariko Village, he explains to the player how StreetPass works. With the help of Gramps, the player can create their own personal Shadow Link that serves as a substitute to the player's favorite Mii. If a person playing StreetPasses someone else doing the same, their Shadow Links are sent to each others' games where they are fought as a kind of "secret" boss. The Shadow Links are customizable, with different gear depending on the player's choosing. Once the player's first Shadow Link is created, Gramps plants the StreetPass Tree next to Link's House. One apple grows on the Tree for each Shadow Link defeated by Link, and for each apple the player gains a Challenge Medal. After obtaining 50 Challenge Medals, Gramps challenges Link to a duel, where he fights as arguably the game's most difficult boss.

Trivia

 * Shadow Link in is tied with Gramps for the highest damage output of any vulnerable enemy in the series. In Hero Mode, he is able to deal 32 hearts of damage with a single use of the Purple Potion.