For my penultimate playthrough of SNES Online's launch library, I have the pleasure of replaying one of my all-time favorites. Join me as I gush about A Link to the Past for the 512th time. BACKGROUND:
Zelda was a franchise I didn't get into until I was older, but once I did, there was no going back. This very game was what got me into playing the first Zelda and checking out some of the 3D games. I don't quite remember when I first played it, but the most recent time I beat the game was around two years ago (when I picked it up for the Wii U), and even then, it felt like an otherworldly experience. I knew I wouldn't be able to resist playing it all over again, so I did my best to save it for the very end of this series and try out the other SNES games first. SUMMARY: In this iteration of Hyrule, the evil wizard Agahnim has kidnapped seven maidens who are descendants of the wise men. With the maidens' ancestral connection, Agahnim intends to break the seal that imprisons Ganon, the King of Evil. Ganon, on the other hand, plans to take the Triforce, a power that grants wishes to whoever possesses it. Considering that Ganon is an asshole, you know nothing good will come from this. After getting captured herself, Princess Zelda beseeches Link to aid her and go on a quest to save Hyrule. That means clearing out dungeons, getting all the items, finding the Master Sword, and shoving it up Ganon's ass. It's a tale as old as time, but hey, these games are still selling millions in 2019, so it must be doing something right. While the whole Ganon-Link-Zelda dynamic and the Triforce quest was established all the way back in the first game, a lot of things that are now Zelda staples came from this game. Items like the Master Sword, locations like Kakariko Village, and even music like what's now known as Zelda's Lullaby all originated in some form here. A Link to the Past is an incredibly important game to the series, and not just because it was the first Zelda outside of the NES. Gameplay-wise, A Link to the Past is much like the first game: top-down perspective, kill shit with your sword, go into dungeons and get all the shit in them. One main difference is that instead of being thrown into the world and left to figure shit out, the story takes center stage and drives you forward, almost to a fault. You get heaps of dialog boxes that dump exposition onto your lap, and while some of the information is useful, you'll soon find yourself going "yeah, I get it, now let me play." While this game is decidedly more wordy than its predecessor, it still retains the sense of blind exploration of the first game, allowing you to wander most of Hyrule once you've gotten past the tutorial dungeon. The difference is unlike Zelda 1, the game does a better job of nudging you in the right direction, thanks to helpful NPCs, a better, more informative map, and dungeon layouts that rarely ever get confusing. Whereas I required walkthroughs to beat Zelda 1, I beat A Link to the Past pretty much on my own. Link still has a sword and shield, but he now has an expanded arsenal of tools to help him solve puzzles and dispatch enemies. You have returning items such as the bow and boomerang, but you also have a whole bunch of all-new items to play with. These range from the Pegasus Boots (which give you a dash), the Hookshot (AKA the greatest, most fun item in the entire game), the Magic Cape (which grants you invincibility), and more. Most of these items are mostly to help you progress and access previously blocked areas, but a few have some other applications, like in combat, with solving specific puzzles, and even a few clever mechanics. Though minuscule compared to the GTA Vs and Breath of the Wilds of present day, the Hyrule of this game is still quite the vast world, and it's teeming with secrets to find and all sorts of nooks and crannies to find yourself in. Unlike the first game, exploring through this Hyrule isn't as cumbersome thanks to the improved map, and secrets in the environment are hinted at smartly without reaching into "hey, look over here, stupid" territory. It feels incredibly rewarding to find a secret entrance, acquire an out-of-the-way Heart Piece, and stumble upon a special item. Best of all, very few of these secrets ever make you go "how the fuck was I supposed to know that was there," which can be a problem in games like this. What makes this Hyrule special (or what made it special back then, at least) is the Dark World, which is this alternate version of Hyrule with different geography. Once you hit the midway point of the game, you will gain the ability to move between the regular Light World and the Dark World, allowing you to access seemingly inaccessible areas in either world. It's essentially two worlds to explore for the price of one, and it's satisfying to know your way around both worlds. The overworld is full of exciting things, but the bread and butter of Zelda is its dungeons. You go through 11 main dungeons (plus 2 trips to Hyrule Castle), and each feature unique aesthetics, mechanics, enemies, and puzzles for you to navigate through. Going into a new dungeon was always a thrill, because you knew you'd be getting a cool new item and fighting a completely different boss every single time. And while certain dungeons do have a few annoying gimmicks or layouts (fuck you, Ice Palace), the journey is just as rewarding as the treasure for the most part. Combat isn't too challenging, as it's mostly "swing your sword", and you also have access to a bunch of items that help even the odds. Often, the challenge is taking down multiple enemies at once, or defeating enemies while deftly avoiding hazards like moving spikes or projectiles. You only ever encounter situations like these in dungeons, so depending on what kind of player you are, it's either a relief or a disappointment that the overworld isn't as perilous to navigate. 16-bit graphics tend to age well, and A Link to the Past is no exception to the rule. I still love how this game looks, and combined with a fantastic soundtrack (featuring my favorite version of the iconic Zelda theme), this game is still a treat in terms of presentation even nearly 30 years later. VERDICT: Even in a world where sequels like Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild exist, A Link to the Past is still held in the highest regard as one of the best Zelda games, and it isn't without reason. It's the cream of the crop when it comes to 2D Zeldas, with many aspects of the game (exploration, special items, dungeon layouts) feeling remarkably satisfying. Adventure games have come a long way since 1992, but A Link to the Past is still one of the best there is. I absolutely adore this game, and I can't recommend it enough. If you're looking to get into the Zelda series, this is the place to start. It's much easier to get into than the first Zelda, but I think it'll still pose a decent challenge for newcomers. - end -
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July 2024
Derryck
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