Ever since I did the review of Zelda II last month, I’ve been thinking of giving a
similar treatment to its follow up. To be honest, the thought of doing such a thing
is actually slightly intimidating. We’re only talking about my FAVORITE Super
Nintendo game of all time here. To be perfectly honest, this review hasn’t exactly
written itself. I’ve already tried to re-write it three or four times. Not to mention
losing a save file better than three-quarters through the game and having to
start over from scratch, at least the second time I recorded my full play through.
Which I hope explains why this took a little longer than planned to complete.
Without any further ado, let’s do this:
It seems to me there are two separate factions of Zelda fans. Those who prefer
the 2D Zelda games and those who prefer the 3D games. I think it may be kind
of obvious which side of the fence I’m on. I’ve tried, and I really have to admit,
I have a hell of a time getting into the more story-driven 3D titles. I much prefer
the simpler exploration-based 2D games. Sometimes I feel as if I haven’t given
them a fair shake, so maybe I’ll be giving Ocarina another go sometime in the
near future, but that’s for another time. Right now, we’re here to talk about A
Link to the Past.
Not unlike Super Mario Bros. 3 was a return to form of sorts for that series, A
Link to the Past was one for the Zelda series. Nintendo decided to leave the 2D
side scrolling behind with Adventure of Link and go back to the overhead view of
the original game. Just like Zelda 1, it has selectable sub weapons, dungeon
exploring, secrets, blowing up walls, heart containers, all of those things and then
some are here for your enjoyment; now in beautiful 16-bit glory with orchestrated
MIDI sound.
In this installment, we meet different incarnations of Link and Zelda. This game
is considered a prequel set many generations prior to the events of Zelda 1.
If you’ve seen my Zelda II review, you already know my take on the mythology,
so I won’t trouble you with any of that. Regardless, Zelda games should be
judged on their own, not how the fit into some continuity. They’re legends,
not some serialized adventures.
The story of this game is summarized something like this: There once was an
all-powerful force known as the Golden Power, what we all know as the Triforce,
hidden away in a Golden Land, which many had sought to obtain, but all had
failed. One day evil forces came through from the Golden Land, so it was sealed
away by seven sages. The seal was thought to be permanent, after many years
later when an evil wizard known as Agahnim set into motion his plan to break the
seal, killing the King of Hyrule and kidnapping seven maidens who had
descended from the sages who closed the gate to the Golden Land, now
corrupted by evil and known as the Dark World. Among those maidens was
the Princess Zelda.
Here’s a little weird side note, that name Aganihm. Back when this game first
came out, I was studying German in school and there’s a word in German
meaning “pleasant”, angenehm. Learning the villain’s name and this word
around the same time, I confused the two. Looking back I find kinda amusing.
That of course being where the story of this game starts. Link helps Zelda
escape the palace and then sets out to obtain the means necessary to wield
the Master Sword. Before doing so, he must find three magic pendants. Upon
achieving the Master Sword, Link finds that Zelda has yet again been kidnapped.
Link confronts Agahinm, and finds himself cast into the Dark World. In the Dark
World Link discovers the locations of where the seven maidens are being held
captive and rescues them discovering the true identity of Agahnim in the process.
(Spoilers it’s Ganon.)
While this game doesn’t have the hugely spread out map of Zelda II, it still
has an epic feel to to its design. Hyrule’s over world and the Dark World
are parallel dimensions with many similarities and differences. There are
a few instances where an event in one world will trigger something in the
other, and there are plenty of puzzles and obstacles to traverse in both
worlds.
While it’s possible to tackle some of the dungeons out of order in this game,
this game is more linear than the original. There are a few items you will
need to further your journey that are found in dungeons like the hammer,
the hookshoot, and the cane of Somaria. I’d actually compare this to Zelda
II in this way. It’s not always wise to attempt some dungeons out of their
intended order, despite it being possible.
This game introduces a number of items and features which I don’t think
the Zelda series would be the same without. A favorite of mine is the
hookshot, a weapon that helps you in your travels which would be just
as fitting in Batman’s utility belt as it is in a Zelda game. Also, even though
potions first appeared in Zelda 1, requiring an empty bottle to use one, first
came to be here. I love how you can hold a fairy in a bottle and it will revive
you if you fall. Think of it as life insurance.
Another thing I love about this game is the music. Every bit of music is ever
so memorable. It really showed off what the Super Nintendo was capable
of in the sound department. To this day, A Link to the Past features some of
my favorite music in all of the Zelda series. I’m venturing off topic by
mentioning it, but I was so happy when I first heard how many of the songs
from this game were re-arranged for A Link Between Worlds, but that’s
another story for another time.
Visually, this game is a treat as well. The Super Nintendo had some other
games with similar overhead views that came later, but for it’s time. Link to
the Past stood out. Games like Secret of Mana may look a little better now,
but in 1992, this wowed a number of us. Little things like seeing the trees
down below when you’re atop Death Mountain are still pretty striking. I
love the effect of Link standing in the waterfall after you emerge from the
Waterfall of Wishing, complete with lapping sound effect. It’s not exactly
Bioshock water effects, but just being able to go in the water without dying
was a big freaking deal back then. The animations of many of the enemies,
especially bosses still really stand out to me too.
In speaking of those bosses, you know how some people say Zelda games
lack in creativity in how you always need a certain weapon to beat them, so
no arrows, you’re screwed. No bombs, you’re screwed… and so on. One
nice thing here is that frequently even though an enemy might be weak to a
specific weapon, there are usually alternate methods. While these alternate
methods work, they usually take considerably longer. However, if you know
the weaknesses, the bosses seem kind of easy compared to the dungeons
they reside in.
And some of those dungeons, especially the later ones can be brutal. Almost
to the point of controller throwing. The Ice Palace seems to be something a
number of gamers complain about, but I felt like the platform riding in Turtle Rock
was the bane of my existence, that got to me worse to the ice palace ever did.
But it’s the kind of difficulty where once you’re past it, you get that feeling of
accomplishment that usually only retro games can give you. So in the end,
it’s still worthwhile even if you find yourself nearly ready to throw your controller.
Now if you’ve never played it, should you? Abso-freaking-lutely. To me, this is
one of the essential Super Nintendo titles out there. So I think you’re missing
out if you haven’t. It’s easy to find yourself a copy of the game. It was the
number-five best selling Super Nintendo game of all time, moving over 4.6
million copies worldwide. It was later issued on the Game Boy Advance, which
was a faithful port, however the addition of some voice effects lifted from Ocarina
of time every time Link attacks does get rather annoying. You can also find the
game on Virtual Console for the Wii and Wii U, so the game is pretty easy to get
a hold of.
Even though I think it’s kind of common knowledge, I still think it’s worth noting
that the 3DS saw a follow up to A Link to the Past in the form of A Link Between
Worlds, which was actually called “Triforce of the Gods 2” in Japan. I can’t really
call it a direct sequel, but it’s set in the same incarnation of Hyrule, generations
after the events of Link to the Past. It draws a lot of inspiration from the Super
Nintendo game, enough that some almost consider it a re-make or re-imagining.
No surprise here, but I’m quite fond of it.
In closing, like with the original Zelda, this one gets my highest recommendation.
I really can’t say it any better than that. I’d love to hear from you: what are your
favorite memories of Link to the Past? What do you love about the game?
What do you hate? Do you prefer the 3D or 2D Zelda games? Leave a comment
down below. Hope you’ve enjoyed this review, thank you for watching. I’ll see
you next time. Take care.
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