Game: The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past
Console: Super Nintendo Entertainment System
Developer: Nintendo
Release Date: 4th September 1992
The last of the 2D Zelda games for home console, A Link to the Past expands the experience from the original "The Legend Of Zelda" on the NES to give an experience truly worthy of the increased power of the SNES. Like most if not all Zelda games, the story follows Link on a quest to first obtain the Master Sword and then defeat Ganon to stop him from using the power of the triforce to send the world into darkness. To do this, the player must guide Link through various dungeons which are filled with enemies and puzzles.
Although the game was one of the best selling SNES games and had quite a following, the Zelda series wasn't quite as popular as it is today. Players of the SNES era were used to Zelda games being fairly difficult both in gameplay and puzzles. As there was no internet they'd have to use their initiative, tips from friends or a strategy guide for help when they got stuck. Around midway through the game, I decided that it'd be a good idea to use a strategy guide to aid me, rather than getting completely lost in huge dungeons.
Players are given a fairly good idea of what needs doing in the game; there's numbered points on the map to signify the location of dungeons, important characters often give hints as to useful locations, and there are plaques located in temples which also give advice. Each dungeon is accessed through the overworld; there are 3 in the Light World, and 8 in the Dark World, although the game requires you to constantly switch between the two worlds which feature the same basic map with changes to the locations and landscape in various places.
In the overworld there are shops, NPC's and creatures which roam around and can either be ignored or damaged by whatever weapons Link is carrying. Usually between each dungeon there are a few Heart Pieces (which increase health for every 4 found), or weapon upgrades to be found, so it pays to explore. Some of these upgrades however are pretty much mandatory, which means that exploration also is, unless you're aware of everything that needs to be done (or following a guide).
The dungeons themselves range from being short and fairly straightforward at the beginning of the game to long and complex at the end, which makes for a decent difficulty curve that goes perhaps a little too far upwards towards the end. I found myself referring to the strategy guide quite a lot nearer the end, as the way forward was unclear and the dungeon was already filled with advanced enemies which could deal a lot of damage to Link.
The problem with this is that is makes the game difficult for those unfamiliar with the series to pick up and play, especially without a strategy guide. The amount of item pickups and upgrades, combined with navigation of the dungeons, general strategy and "Zelda logic" means firstly that all players must take pretty much the same route through the game, or face being significantly underpowered, and secondly that without having previously completed the game, you'll need a strategy guide or tons of patience after getting lost.
Link acquires various weapons in his travels, most of which are staples of the Zelda series such as the Master Sword, Hookshot, Bow and Arrow. There's also the Hammer, Boomerang, Cane Of Somaria, Magic Cape and Mirror Shield which have various uses in the dungeons. With the large amount of collectible items comes the expectation that you'll know when to use them, and I must admit that there were times when I had to refer to the guide for a particularly inventive use of them.
At the end of each dungeon is a boss which has a weakness that Link must exploit to beat it. Most of the bosses in A Link to the Past are pretty easy, especially the last 3 or 4, which is a disappointment. I don't necessarily think that ultra-hard boss battles would be any better, but after a hard trek through a long dungeon, defeating the boss in 2 minutes flat is an anticlimax.
The world of A Link to the Past is well fleshed out and interesting, with plenty to do and find. It's especially impressive when you consider when the game was released, and the Light World/Dark World idea also works well. When combined with the story, these factors give the game a unique charm and appeal which can't be found in later (or earlier) instalments.
Graphically the game has its own style which fits well with the game and features vivid colours in both the Light and Dark overworlds as well as the dungeons. While it's far more simplistic than any Zelda games that came later, it takes the 2D instalments of the series almost as far as they can possibly go in terms of graphics. The music of the game is also impressive, featuring one of the most memorable versions of the theme tune, as well as many other classic pieces.
Overall A Link to the Past is well remembered by gamers, who hail it as one of the best SNES games ever released. I would agree with this, but add that since then its appeal to gamers who are new to the series may have declined slightly. The controls and puzzles of dungeons are still as good as ever, but the difficulty of later levels and the patience needed to find each item and upgrade necessary for completing the game can be offputting, especially with easier 3D instalments of the series out for all but the WiiU.
In short this is a good game if you have the time and effort to put into completing it, and don't mind referring to a guide every now and then. It's definitely not a good starting point for gamers new to the series, or even something I'd recommend to those who haven't played it before, unless they're well versed in Zelda games already and it's because of this that the game will be fondly remembered by most who have played it, and fairly unappealing to those who haven't.
Rating: 87/100
Grade: B
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