Box Art
Game: Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
First Released: November 21, 1991, Super Famicom
Developers: Nintendo EAD
Platforms: SNES, GameBoy Advance, Virtual Console
Rated: E, for Mild Violence
First Released: November 21, 1991, Super Famicom
Developers: Nintendo EAD
Platforms: SNES, GameBoy Advance, Virtual Console
Rated: E, for Mild Violence
How I Came To Play This Game
Chris Houlihan's Secret Room
Okay, so maybe the first Legend of Zelda game I played through to the end and actually got interested in was Twilight Princess, but I actually played another one before. I own the GameBoy Advance copy of A Link to the Past, it was given to me by a friend. I didn't really play it much, I just really liked the music for the Hyrule Castle stage in Super Smash Brothers and wanted to know if the music was in the game. I played up to the first visit to Hyrule Castle, then turned it off for many years. I lent it to another friend, and he took the second file and got really far in the game. After seeing the gear his character had, I wanted to beat the game and see if it was anything like Twilight Princess or Ocarina of Time. It turned out that it was.
Story
Fight With Ganon
A Link to the Past is a prequel to the original The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. At the beginning of the game, a young boy named Link is awakened by a telepathic message from Princess Zelda, who says that she is locked in the dungeon of nearby Hyrule Castle. As the message closes, Link finds his uncle ready for battle, telling Link to remain in bed. After his uncle leaves, however, Link ignores his uncle's command and follows him to the dungeons under Hyrule Castle. When he arrives, he finds his uncle mortally wounded. Link's uncle tells Link to rescue Princess Zelda from her prison, giving him his sword and shield. Link navigates the castle and rescues Zelda from her cell, and the two escape into a secret passage through the sewers that leads to a sanctuary. Link is told by a man in the sanctuary that Agahnim, a wizard who has usurped the throne, is planning to break a seal made hundreds of years ago by the Seven Sages. The seal was placed to imprison a dark wizard named Ganon in the Dark World, a near-mirror of Hyrule which was once known as the Sacred Realm before Ganon invaded it, obtained the legendary Triforce held there, and used its power to turn the realm into a land of darkness. Agahnim intends to break the seal by sending the descendants of the Seven Sages who made the seal into the Dark World. The only thing that can defeat Agahnim is the Master Sword, a sword forged to combat evil. To prove that he is worthy to wield it, Link needs three magic pendants, hidden in dungeons guarded by mythical defenders. On his way to retrieve the first, he meets an elder, Sahasrahla, who becomes Link's mentor offering hints and advice at key stages of the journey. After retrieving the pendants, Link takes them to the resting place of the Master Sword. As Link draws the sword from its pedestal, Zelda telepathically calls him to the Sanctuary, informing him that soldiers of Hyrule Castle have arrived. Link arrives at the Sanctuary moments after the soldiers have vacated, where he learns from the dying Sanctuary keeper that Zelda has been taken to Hyrule Castle. Link goes to rescue her but arrives too late; Agahnim sends Zelda to the Dark World. Link then faces Agahnim in battle and defeats him, but Agahnim's last act is to send Link to the Dark World as well. To save Hyrule, Link is required to rescue the seven descendants of the Seven Sages from dungeons scattered across the Dark World. Once the seven maidens are freed, they use their power to break the barrier around Ganon's Tower, where Link faces Agahnim, who creates two ghostly specters each as powerful as he is. After Link defeats Agahnim for a second time, Ganon rises up from Agahnim's body, turns into a bat, and flies away. Link chases him, finally confronting him inside the Pyramid of Power at the center of the Dark World. After a battle resulting in Ganon's demise, Link touches the Triforce and restores both the Dark World and Hyrule to their state before Ganon intervened.
Pros And Cons
Story
Backstory
After playing through Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time, I had gotten used to accepting the stories of Legend of Zelda. In order to do so, you need to experience the universe and laws that govern the reality. Anything with alternate dimensions in it is cool in my book.
Characters
Obtaining the Master Sword
There are many characters in the game, but the ones that stand out are Link, Zelda, and Ganon. These characters are all you need to make a Zelda game. It doesn't matter where it takes place or what the story is, these characters make a sacred trinity and always work. Other prominent characters include the dark wizard Agahnim. It is one of the biggest surprises in gaming history when you find out he is really a puppet controlled by Ganon. Also, there is the village elder named Sahasrahla. He is a descendant of the Sages from Ocarina of Time who gives you advice throughout your journey with telepathic wall tiles.
Gameplay
Overworld Combat
You control the character Link from an overhead perspective and explore the land of Hyrule. You have a sword and many other items in order to defeat enemies or solve puzzles. One of the main parts of the game is to go through all of the dungeons. The gameplay is very similar to that of the original Legend of Zelda, but it has been refined. You are no longer limited to moving in four directions, and can now move in eight directions wherever you want. This makes it easier to maneuver around enemies and fight them. Also the concept of Z-axis is introduced, as in if you are on a higher platform, then you won't be able to hit an enemy that is on a floor below you. The Z-axis can be a bit selective though, as in some instances you can attack something that is flying over your head. Many new items make appearances for their first time such as the Hookshot, Pegasus Boots, Cane of Somaria, Magic Powder, Mirror Shield, and the Power Glove. This is the first game in the series where the goals of going into dungeons change over the time of playing. First your going after pendants and then you are rescuing the seven maidens. I think that I would put this gameplay style in the same group as Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword, the only difference between them being the quality of graphics.
Graphics
Dark World
This was a Super Nintendo game, so the graphics were 2D. However, the Super Nintendo had many neat tricks that could make 3D effects. The Map Screen used the famous Mode & where it looks somewhat 3D. The Triforce pieces in the intro move in 3D, and at the end of the game you see Link from the side instead of above. The graphics are just as good as the GameBoy Advance if not better.
Music
The music is just as good as usual. It uses a remix of the original Overworld theme for the overworld. Music doesn't really play a part in this game. All you have in the ways of instruments is a Flute that you can use to call a bird to fly you to different places. The Super Nintendo had very good sound quality.
Releases
A Link to the Past was first released for the SNES on April 13, 1992. Then on December 2, 2002, it was re-released on the GameBoy Advance along with a new multiplayer game called Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. Then it was released for the Virtual Console for Wii in 2007, and the Wii U in 2014.
My Version's Extras
GBA Box Art
I own the GameBoy Advance version of the game, so I also got Four Swords as part of the deal. I never actually played Four Swords on the original since I never had a second player to play with. I eventually got to play Four Swords on when the anniversary edition came out on the 3DS. Many sound effects from Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask were taken over to this version, such as the voice of swinging the sword. By completing Four Swords, a new dungeon called Palace of the Four Sword is unlocked for you to explore, where you can fight Dark Links.
My Rating
I give this game a 10/10. Everything about it was perfect. Definitely one of the greatest games of all time. It really captures what a Zelda game is all about.