Story-
On a dark and stormy night, a young boy named Link is awakened by a telepathic message (...are there voices in my head?) from princess Zelda that she has been imprisoned inside of Hyrule castle by the dark wizard Agahnim. Armed with nothing more than a lantern, the clothes on his back and a heart of courage Link sets off to find the troubled girl and aid her in any way he can. Little does he know, a sinister plot has been set in motion to allow the evil Ganon back into the land of Hyrule and now only Link can stop it.
Overview-
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the third installment in the Zelda franchise and a spiritual successor of sorts to the original Legend of Zelda in terms of gameplay and design. Just as before, you'll take control of Link and set off on an adventure to find and rescue the princess Zelda who has been captured and imprisoned inside of Hyrule castle (this time by the dark wizard Agahnim). The gameplay is similar to previous installments (utilize your sword and different items to defeat enemies, explore Hyrule to progress story, conquer dungeons and bosses, etc.) however this edition adds an all-new "light-world/dark-world" system that sees Link traveling back-and-forth between mirrored but altered versions of Hyrule which changes the layout of the map and opens up new pathways to traverse.
After obtaining the legendary Master Sword, you'll be tasked with rescuing the seven maidens (including Zelda) who have been trapped inside various dungeons within the dark world by Agahnim. As with previous entries in the series, each dungeon is filled with enemies and traps that must be navigated as well as locating the unique item found within. Make your way through both versions of Hyrule and use the power of the rescued maidens to open up the pathway to Ganon's Tower and defeat Ganon in the final encounter to complete the game.
It's Dangerous To Go Alone! Take This Lantern-
"Your not allowed to go outside and play with your friends... you need to play ZELDA for me!!!"
I cannot recall The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past properly without first thinking of my mom. For starters, she freakin' LOVED this game (who doesn't)! The colors, the music, the grand feeling of adventure, this game had it all. One little problem though... she never played a video game in her life (at that point) and had no idea how to manipulate Link into doing what she wanted. ...This should be interesting.
"Go here... stab that guy... move that thing!" Clearly, she had the right idea but not enough patience to learn so she turned to her gamer son to be a conduit for her desire to see this quest through to the end. I didn't mind... I mean it's Zelda! Of course, I wanted to play it too so it wasn't like it was a chore or anything. Plus, it made my mom speak in gamer talk for the first time ever which still makes me smile. We experienced The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past together from start to finish for our first ever playthrough and it still ranks as one of the happiest moments in my gaming life!
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is an action/RPG that returns to the top-down perspective of the original game after experimenting with a side-scrolling style in the second installment. As always, you'll take command of Link and dart off into the land of Hyrule to rescue your ever-distressed damsel, princess Zelda. Is this a sequel? A prequel? Do we care? Not really it turns out as A Link to the Past marked the beginning of my confusion in the timeline of this great series and where I started focusing on one entry at a time instead of trying to tie them together (although technically I'm aware that it's a prequel).
Basically, there's this wizard named Agahnim (HUGE Elton John fan) who plans on unleashing the wildly powerful Ganon from his imprisonment in the dreaded "dark world". This dark world was once a very different place known as The Golden Land and it was essentially an alternate reality of Hyrule where the Triforce was kept safe until Ganon stole it and shrouded the land in darkness. It took a magical seal from seven wise sages to lock Ganon away and thus keep him from the reality that Link, Zelda and co. inhabit- the "light world".
While the story of these alternate worlds is a little convoluted, this dimension-swapping mechanic really permeates the gameplay in A Link to the Past and flipped the already large "normal" world on its end the first time you stumble into the portal on Death Mountain. What once was a lush land full of innocence has warped into a dark and demented world full of storms and cataclysms... ROCK ON!!! Seriously though, in addition to the badass tone that accompanies being in this hellish dimension is the fact that your surroundings change in different areas which allows an entry into previously inaccessible parts of the light world. By using the Magic Mirror , Link can travel back at any point while in the dark world and utilize the warping mechanic to materialize wherever you want and reach areas that seemed impossible to get to before. However, access to the dark world can only be obtained by finding one of a dozen or so hidden portals located throughout Hyrule so discovering these will be vital in your quest.
Besides the fun new inter-dimensional gameplay, most of A Link to the Past feels comfortably similar to previous entries. Link will use his sword, shield and various items to wade his way through a litany of enemies and bosses while solving puzzles and following the story elements to uncover the next objective. The enemy rundown is the deepest yet in a Zelda game and provides Link with plenty of challenge no matter what area he's in such as the Deadrock's on Death Mountain or the Geldmen in the Desert of Mystery just to name a few. The bosses are fun as well and provide a better challenge than the original game but they're not as good as the side-scrolling encounters from The Adventure of Link in my opinion however, the battle with Ganon in A Link to the Past is the best and most satisfying final encounter of the three games and really stamps the ending of this adventure beautifully. All in all, the gameplay is outstanding here (... it's Zelda) and has only added to an already successful formula which made this one of the many "killer apps" on the SNES.
When it comes to the controls, it's hard to find anything that's worthy of criticism as they handle perfectly throughout your quest in every way. Link moves as tightly as ever and responds to your commands quickly while executing stabs and using various items. Even new additions to Link's move-set such as the sword spin or the dash feel completely natural when pulling off and compliment the already deep control scheme with even more addictive maneuvers for you to engage Ganon and his minions with.
The music is very respectable, even great at times though I do feel that the dungeon theme here is not as good as either NES entry which is a small letdown considering you hear it quite often. The sounds are very mesmerizing and they'll always spark familiarity with me instantly (such as the na-na-NA jingle from opening a chest or the fluttery noise when obtaining a piece of heart) to nostalgic days of playing this game with mom during my youth. One thing's for sure, the sheer variety of musical tracks and sound effects heard throughout Link's journey on the SNES is impressive and serves as a good example of the capabilities of Nintendo's super-charged 16-bit heavyweight.
Graphically, the game is gorgeously portrayed with bright colors and detailed sprites that justified the evolution of the 16-bit era. Comparing this game to its NES brethren is a good showcase of the Super Nintendo's awesome power and a convincing argument to buy a new console. In fact, I don't even think my mom would have played this game had it not been for the highly accessible cartoon-like graphics that impressed in every corner of the map. From the lush and vibrant greens of the Lost Woods to the musty browns and blues found in the Swamp of Evil and everything in between, A Link to the Past is pure eye-candy during every second of gameplay and still challenges today as the best looking Zelda game of all time.
When it comes to 'tude, this game couldn't possibly be any more in the middle considering the alteration of a "light" and "dark" world combined with all of Zelda's other contrasting tropes such as melee combat, Valentine's Day looking heart containers, bombs that you can set off pretty much anywhere and of course... FAERIES - the instant 'tude reducer! While I guess I could be more critical in this department overall, it's freaking Zelda man!!! The game is near perfection and I'm not gonna harp on it too much just because winged sprinkle girls dot the playing field as far as the eye can see. At least you can trap them in a bottle this time!
What else can I really say about The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (let's find out)? It has high marks in every category, it's a total system seller and it brought innovative new gameplay mechanics that have become a part of the franchise as a whole. It even got my mom to want to play it which showcases to me more than anything the grand appeal of this game since she never really showed much interest until this appeared and changed everything. Suddenly, video games weren't just an annoying barrage of random noises and brain-rotting visuals but a tried-and-true EXPERIENCE that could be enjoyed together with some of your closest loved ones! It's kind of funny to me that despite the fact that the Zelda franchise is a single-player affair in terms of game design, I've seemed to always play these games playing side-by-side with a loved one which is exactly how I would have wanted it anyways. Now that's playing with super power!
The Scoreboard-
Gameplay: 5 -There's no denying A Link to the Past's contribution to the Zelda franchise as a whole with so many fun new mechanics that became series mainstays (such as collecting pieces of a heart container, throwing bombs, swimming, etc.). While the overall pathway is more linear than the original games adventure, the feeling of freedom to explore your surroundings is as good as it's ever been here especially when you pair it with the very interesting light world/dark world design that literally doubles the size of the map and adds many more potential hiding spots for all the elusive treasure chests lurking around Hyrule. As with most Zelda games, the gameplay in A Link to the Past alone is enough to warrant a must-play and we haven't even touched the other aspects yet but hang on for a sec... let's see what else this game's got in store!
Controls: 5 -The controls feel great in A Link to the Past in every aspect which is nice considering all of the additional new items you'll be using as you plod your way through this dungeon destroying adventure. Whether grappling like Batman with the super-awesome hookshot (BOING!!!), picking off enemies from afar with the old faithful bow or landscaping the infestation of bushes in Hyrule with your trustee sword, the controls execute smoothly and respond in unison to your button presses at the speed of thought. Additionally, Link feels perfectly as you guide him from screen-to-screen and reacts as quickly to your commands as he ever has which means that you can't blame him (or the game) if you wander into any nearby holes.
Music/Sound: 5 -No great Zelda game is complete without an awesome rating in the sound department and A Link to the Past delivers with a beautifully varied musical track combined with some of gaming's most memorable sound effects ever. From the instantly nostalgic overworld theme to the regal sounding riffs in Hyrule castle, the music brings the most variety heard yet in a Zelda game and accompanies Link's adventure like a finely refined wine. The sound effects in A Link to the Past belong in the video game hall of fame (such as the always exciting jingle from finding a hidden object, the happy "sprinkle" sound from touching a fairy or the satisfying "pluck" noise your hammer makes when you pound down a stake just to name a few) and provide even more brain relaxation throughout the game.
Graphics: 5 -Wow does this game look amazing! While every other aspect mentioned previously has been rated at the top of the scale, it's the visuals of A Link to the Past that made the biggest jump when the series made its first release on a new generation console. From the highly-detailed sprites to the amazingly bright colors found in every corner of Hyrule, the graphics are absolutely magnificent and serve the eyes like a steak dinner!
'Tude Meter: Moderate -The 'Tude Meter rides the middle on this one and it's logical considering the light and dark worlds (makes sense I guess) and the differences that they represent. Additionally, the rating reflects the yin and yang of stabbing enemies in the face while also fretting around in a wooded brook with fairies which is always a deterrent from a maximum score. Link may be traveling between light and dark worlds but we're playing in a moderate one (just like in real life... meh).
Final Verdict: 5 -What a tremendous introduction into the 16-bit generation as A Link to the Past provides both a faithful reverence to the NES titles while also bringing innovative mechanics that would become staples in the beloved franchise for years. Pretty much every aspect is perfect or near-perfect and the feeling of quality permeates during every second of gametime. It does feel a little less linear to me than the original and many of the enemies look dumb (cower in fear to the evil jumping sack of french fries) but overall there's simply no denying the masterpiece that is A Link to the Past.
The vast reaching power of this game's mass appeal is beyond measure and I cannot thank it enough for being able to persuade my mom into giving gaming a chance which helped us bond in a special way. Too this day, I can still bring this game up with her and she has the same exact recollection as I do of the both of us being absolutely in awe of this while dedicating as much time as possible as we could to beating it. It's memories like these that have seemed to correspond with my experience playing Zelda games (whether playing with friends or family) and quite frankly, that's awesome! I can't give it much higher praise... just play this game (especially if you haven't)... it's that simple. Til' next time 'tuders, I'm gonna test out more of Zora's whirlpool-transit system... TIME TO GEAR UP!!!
Parting Thoughts-
Pros:
*Absolutely gorgeous graphics
*Innovative light-world/dark-world design adds new layer of depth
*Music and sound quality is top-notch
Cons:
*A little easier challenge from previous entries
*Many enemies look harmless and dumb
*Geez, how many faeries are in this game?
Replay evaluation-
Of course The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past scores high in the replay department and it doesn't even need multiple quests to do it. There's so much to discover in the grandiose 16-bit version of Hyrule that it will keep you searching with joy for every second as you trek about this marvelous looking world. The gameplay is extremely fun and satisfying but I think similarly to the NES editions, what keeps me coming back is the massive nostalgia factor that instantly makes me feel like a kid when I'm stabbing my way through this immersive adventure. Very simply, this is one of the GREATEST video games of all time and also one of the most replayable. Can you find all of the pieces of heart?
Chance of replay: Very high
The Indigo Gamer Says-
"Eyegore ... more like eye-sore am I right?!" =^.^=
Thanks for reading! Question or comment? Feel free to leave below.
