Game: The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
Genre: Action/Adventure
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo
System: 3DS
Release date: 2013
If I were to boil down this review to a single sentence, it'd probably read something like this: A Link Between Worlds is so magical (yes, magical) that it's singlehandedly rekindled my long-lost interest in the Zelda series as a whole.
This could hardly be considered much of a review if I stopped there, though, so I guess I should get to typing. But where should I start? Here's as good a spot as any, in my humble opinion: A Link Between Worlds, as you may have heard, is a years-in-coming follow-up to The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, aka one of my all-time favorite games.
The thing is, that 1992 release is one of the few Zelda games I've ever enjoyed (with the others being the series' very first game and the original Nintendo 64 version of Ocarina of Time--although I've got to admit I haven't spent enough time with A Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask or The Wind Waker to have formed a solid opinion of them). Even then, I came into A Link Between Worlds with monumentally low expectations. In fact, I nearly decided to pass on the game entirely--that's how disinterested I am in this vaunted series these days.
After putting just over 20 hours into my particular copy of the game, though, I can safely say my initial fears--and my aloof attitude--were unwarranted. One of my main worries, by the way, was that A Link Between Worlds would be little more than an unattractive retread of A Link to the Past. And guess what? That couldn't be further from the truth.
Sure, there are a lot of similarities between the two games--they're both set in the same world (although most locations are different), they both feature the same basic gameplay, they both feature the same music and sound effects (although the former are re-arrangements)--but despite that A Link Between Worlds does an admirable job of presenting itself as an engagingly unique effort.
In large part, that's because of this game's signature "gimmick," which allows Link to turn into a piece of graffiti and scamper along walls and shimmy through cracks, but there are other reasons, too. A couple of them: the open-ended gameplay (you can tackle its dungeons in whatever order you choose, basically) and the ability to rent the game's appealing assortment of both old and new items (yep, you no longer acquire them within each dungeon) nearly right from the start.
It's also worth noting that although there's a story that helps move players along, it's the definition of barebones (while still proving to be at least somewhat interesting, of course) and never gets in the way of the action--which is how I like it in my Zelda games.
All of the above takes a back seat to the most important aspect of A Link Between Worlds' appeal, however; that being how it "feels."
By that, I mean that quite literally everything feels great (and "right," if that makes sense) and is a joy to experience in this game--from moving Link around, to slashing at enemies (who tend to bounce away as if they were made out of rubber) or tall clumps of grass, to smooshing anything and everything with the "magic mallet" (my favorite item), to turning into painting and stuttering along walls.
That, to me, was the thing that most blew me away while traipsing through this particular Zelda adventure, and it's also the thing that's most likely to bring me back for second, third and even more playthroughs in the coming months and years.
Sure, its graphics are surprisingly, even shockingly, charming and its soundtrack is filled with tunes that will prompt even most hardened gamer to hum along, but they really just serve to make A Link Between Worlds look and sound nice. Even without those elements, this game would play like a dream, and that's all that should matter in cases like this, isn't it?
16 comments:
Yeah, A Link Between Worlds is really growing on me, too. Those graphics that look hideous in stills are so much better in motion, and the 3D attempted in ALttP works so much better here, because the system is designed for it. The game's got charm for miles, and is almost dangerously addictive. I took my 3DS to a Chinese restaurant, and got so absorbed in this game that my Orange Chicken nearly got cold!
One minor caveat: Ravio, who's kind of creepy in that grand Tingle tradition. Why is Nintendo so fascinated with annoying and disturbing sidekicks in Zelda games, anyway?
Yes, ALBW is a grower, not a show-er, isn't it, Jess? ;)
I really need to get back to it sometime soon, but now I've got Bravely Default and Weapon Shop de Omasse, so they're likely to keep me busy for some time. Oh, well.
As for Ravio, I agree that he's a bit creepy, but I like him well enough anyway.
Of course, I feel the same way about Tingle. Actually, I think I prefer Tingle to Ravio, not that it matters much...
I'm glad you like it so well, Bryan. I was instantly charmed, which shocked me because the still shots looked pretty ugly to me early on. But...MAN. Having finished it, having not hated any part of it (except maybe disliking a particularly unfair-feeling boss fight (that I still beat on the first try)), I can safely say it's my third favorite Zelda. Link to the Past is still my favorite, followed by Wind Waker and then this one. Skyward Sword got bumped to fourth.
I didn't just like it, Justin, I LOVED it. It really had me grinning from ear to ear from start to finish--something I completely didn't expect coming into it.
Which boss fight bothered you, by the way? I can't remember any annoying me, but that may just be my failing memory.
One thing I should've noted here was that there definitely are times--or there were for me--where the game really means business ... as in, if you don't watch it, you're going to find yourself facing a "Game Over" screen. Which I have to say I really like, as too many games today are like walks in the park in the difficulty department, if you ask me.
I honestly don't know where I'd place this game in my "favorite Zeldas" list, BTW. I have a feeling that right now that list, for me, would be ALttP --> ALBW --> Ocarina --> the first LOZ, but that's just a guess, especially since it's been ages since I've played any of the non-ALBW games mentioned here.
Your love of Wind Waker really makes me want to tackle that one again soon, by the way. I don't know if I've said this before, but I played it for a good few hours way back when but quit when I got stuck somewhere.
It didn't help that I basically watched a friend beat the game around the same time (she lived with us for a year, so I often found myself going into her room on the weekends and watching her play this game).
Anyway, those are poor excuses for never finishing the game, so I'll do my best to pick it up again sometime this year...
I've been running through some of the classic handheld Zeldas over the last year or so, completing Link's Awakening DX, the 2 Oracle games, Phantom Hourglass and am almost through Minish Cap over that span. I got ALBW for Christmas and it's the next on the list. After reading your hearty endorsement, I can't wait to see how this feels in comparison as I've really enjoyed all the previous games (amazing I haven't gotten burnt out playing all 5 of these in a relatively short time span)...
I was also thinking about passing this game up. Not because I'm not a fan of Zelda games, because I am, but the whole top-down view seemed a lot different than the Zelda games I was most recently used to. And I just figured it was something I wouldn't enjoy. But so many people were talking about how great it was, and it got such a good review that I had to try it out. So glad I did, because, as you said, it was magical. Best Zelda game in a long time, in my opinion. :)
Hey there, TruenoGT! Man, I'm impressed that you've been able to play all of those portable Zeldas without getting burned out. Hopefully you'll love this one just as much as the others you've mentioned, if not more.
Other than that, I have to say it's a real shame that i've yet to experience the Oracle games or either of the DS Zeldas. The latter, especially, just didn't appeal to me for various reasons when they were announced/released. Would you recommend them, though?
I have played a bit of Link's Awakening and really liked what I played of it, so I'll have to get back to that one someday. Never played Minish Cap, though. Again, I'm guessing you'd recommend?
Oh, that's awesome to hear, Girly Gamer! How funny/interesting that so many of us initially decided to pass on the game for one reason or another, only to change our minds and discover that it was shockingly good?
Yeah, it's been kind of an unintentional month on, month off pattern... :) They're such well designed games (better than many of the console Zeldas IMO), it's hard not to recommend them all... However, like you perhaps, I didn't expect to really enjoy the DS games from what I had read, but fortunately I picked up both last year and found Phantom Hourglass to be endlessly charming and a big surprise. It was also the freshest Zelda I've played in a long time, such clever and unique design, thanks in part to creative touch screen usage and unique game structure. It's also a great game to play on your eventual DSi XL! :)
Thanks for sharing more thoughts on Phantom Hourglass especially, TruenoGT. Have you had a chance to play Spirit Tracks, by the way? If so, what do you think of that one?
Not yet, though I'll probably tackle it sometime after ALBW. I'm excited to finally play it!
Ah, well, then I look forward to hearing your thoughts on it someday :)
Maybe in the meantime I'll try to at least tackle one of the other portable Zeldas. I think I should start with Link's Awakening, as I've already played a bit of that in the past.
After that, though, I'm not sure if I should go with the Oracle series or Minish Cap or even Phantom Hourglass...
Oh yeah. I got my ass kicked several times just in the overworld. It wasn't quite as tame as LTTP's was.
The boss that gave me trouble was the desert/swamp palace boss. I just BARELY eked out a victory on my first try.
In fact, the only time I got a game over was when I wandered in to fight the last boss with very few hearts and no fairies. Bummer.
Yep, I got my ass kicked in the overworld on more than one occasion, too. And I loved it! Ha ha.
Ah, now I remember that boss. The one that comes out of the quick sand and spits little critters at you? I either lost to him/her/it my first time or barely eked out a victory -- I can't remember which. I do remember sweating more than a bit during the encounter, though.
Finally, did you know you were going to fight the last boss when you saw that Game Over, or were you kind of taken by surprise?
No, I pretty much figured I was at the end of the game. It didn't really surprise me...I just wasn't prepared.
Ha! Well, at least you had no one but yourself to blame, right?
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