11/8/2023 0 Comments Alttp linkNintendo clearly knows it created something special with A Link to the Past's "Light World prep / Dark World struggle" formula, because it used the same blueprint for Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess. Huge, mutant apples: A sure sign that all is well in Hyrule. The three you clear on the light side of Hyrule to win the pendants and the right to wield the Master Sword are just a baby-step towards lasting peace – like taking a trip to the hardware store to secure the wrench you need to fix a gushing pipe. While exploring the face of Dark World's Death Mountain as a timid rabbit is overwhelming by itself (especially since you even catch a glimpse of your end goal, Ganon's Tower, looming menacingly on its summit), it's nothing compared to entering the Dark World for keeps and discovering you have eight more dungeons to work through. You're offered a taste of the land's shadowy magic quite early in the game, when Link stumbles into a portal on Death Mountain and is turned into a bunny who's helpless to wield a weapon. Though A Link to the Past never really makes a secret out of the Dark World, entering Hyrule's twisted twin realm for the first time is a bit of a shock. With the Master Sword in-hand, Link cuts down the evil wizard that's plaguing the peaceful land of Hyrule. Link is then instructed to explore Hyrule's overworld and several dungeons to fetch the McGuffins that free the Master Sword from its pedestal. The heaviness of Link's very first task is a notable switch from The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II, which make princess-saving Link's end goal. The aforementioned storm at the beginning of the adventure spurs you towards Princess Zelda, whom you rescue in the first hour of your adventure. There's no trace of the slow start that 3D Zelda games became infamous for (a flaw Breath of the Wild rectified, thankfully). Though later Zelda games offer cooler items, better combat, trickier dungeons, and more imaginative enemies, I've yet to play another title in the series that's as well-paced as A Link to the Past. You're feeling the screams of the tree reverberate up the bandsaw, Keebler. Then it adds layers to its story, gameplay, graphics, and sound until it blossoms into one of the best action-adventure games of all time. The first Zelda game for the NES forms the core of its DNA, which is a great start. Link to the Past is inarguably a near-perfect specimen of game evolution, though. There's always some biting and scratching over the top three spots, which are typically reserved for A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, and Majora's Mask (I'm curious to see where Breath of the Wild falls in the next decade). It's never easy to rank Zelda titles, mind you. And that's the opening minute of the best Legend of Zelda game of all time. Link plops out of bed, grabs the lantern stowed beside the table, and charges into the belly of the storm. Luckily, the old man can't tell you what to do. Link's uncle, likewise sensitive to Zelda's mental pleas, sets out into the monsoon with a final warning to his nephew: Don't leave the house. Zelda's ominous, telepathic message to Link pairs up beautifully with the storm rumbling outside the cabin he shares with his uncle. Whenever I start a new game of Link to the Past, I never rush through its first moments. A quarter of a century – and I've still yet to play another game with an opening scene that's half as intense. It's been over 25 years since The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past came to the Super Nintendo. Join us as we review all the games on the SNES Classic Mini Edition in chronological order! Some content, such as this article, has been migrated to VG247 for posterity after USgamer's closure - but it has not been edited or further vetted by the VG247 team. This article first appeared on USgamer, a partner publication of VG247.
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