The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

If I were to write a list of the best Zelda games, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds would be in the top ten, maybe even top five. This is a truly awesome game and probably my favorite game that was released for the Nintendo 3DS. How this has not been ported to the Nintendo Switch is something that legit blows my mind. I like how it pays homage to the classic games in the series, all the while adding in some interesting new features of its own.

Saving The Seven Sages

One of the things that got me excited about The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was the fact it was being marketed as a spiritual successor to A Link to the Past which is one of my all time favorite video games, not just Zelda games. We have a dastardly villain called Yuga that has kidnaped Zelda along with the Seven Sages and he plans on bringing back Ganon! Of course, our heroic badass Link is not going to allow this to go down!

Two Become One

Just like the Light and Dark World system that A Link to the Past had. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds has a similar system where you can explore Hyrule and Lorule. They are mirror worlds that are similar, but also quite different. I loved this in a Link to the Past and I think Nintendo went that extra mile here to truly fully realize the vision they had on the SNES.

Can I Rent A Bow From You?

One of the biggest departures from the standard Zelda formula was how you get new weapons. In past Zelda games, you would head into a dungeon and get a new weapon that would be needed to get through the dungeon and defeat the boss. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds handled new weapons very differently, all that you need can be gotten at the start of the game. The twist is that you have to rent the items from a merchant called Ravio and you lose the items if you die!

Like A Portrait

The big “gimmick” of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is that pretty early in the game, Link gets the ability to go into the wall kind of like a painting and move along. It is a fun mechanic and one that is used very cleverly for some puzzles. Speaking of puzzles, there are some awesome ones here that will test you, but not to the point of frustration. You are actually free to tackle the game in any way that you want and there are also a decent number of side quests, mini-games, and other things to keep you busy too.

Pros:

• I love the way it follows on from A Link to the Past
• The way you can get any weapon you want right from the start is cool
• I liked the merging into walls mechanic that they introduced here
• This is one of the best Zelda games ever made!

Cons:

• I wish Nintendo would release this on the Switch
• I legit cannot think of anything wrong with this game!

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is an amazing game in the popular Nintendo franchise, where players go on a quest to save the fantasy world of Hyrule. Played from a top-down perspective, the game combines elements of classic and modern games in the series, while adding in a few new elements as well. As a sword-wielding hero set on a dangerous journey, you'll explore a detailed overworld as you delve into themed dungeons, solving puzzles and defeating bosses every step of the way. The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is absolutely one of the best games in the franchise and possibly one of the best 3DS games ever made.

Main Game Features

• Explore a beautiful fantasy land
• Solve puzzles and fight iconic enemies
• Fuse into walls with the new 2D mechanic

Story

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is set in the fantasy world of Hyrule, ruled by the beloved Princess Zelda. At the beginning of the game, a young hero named Link heads to Hyrule Castle to deliver a sword, but runs into the evil sorcerer Yuga, who traps a young girl in a painting before knocking out Link. After awakening from his stupor and reporting to Princess Zelda, Link sets out to recover some ancient relics.

However, Zelda is soon captured by Yuga, forcing Link on a much larger adventure. To defeat Yuga, rescue Princess Zelda, and bring prosperity back to Hyrule, Link must search the lands and rescue seven legendary sages from their captivity. This requires him to brave extremely dangerous environments, including the shadowy realm of Lorule. Along the way, Link meets a variety of characters that help him on his quest as the kingdom fights for victory. Overall, the story in The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is light but enjoyable and adds some good motivation to the adventure. While it might not be the most memorable part of the experience, it's still a step up from most other adventure games.

Gameplay

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a spiritual successor to the Super Nintendo game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past. Unlike other recent games in the franchise, like The Legend Of Zelda: Skyward Sword, the game is not played in third-person, but is presented from a top-down view. The game follows the classic Zelda formula of clearing dungeons and finding important items, but makes several distinct changes. At the beginning of the game, you'll learn how to use your sword as well as other useful items like bombs and arrows. However, after that, you are free to explore Hyrule and take on the game's 12 dungeons in whatever order you choose.

While this is a common feature in other Zelda games, A Link Between Worlds expands it further, as you no longer receive important items from specific dungeons. Instead, Link can buy or rent items like the hookshot from a merchant named Ravio. This gives you full access to most items in the game right from the start, with the only limit being your wallet. However, you will lose any rented items when you die, forcing you to spend more currency or choose a different objective. A few new mechanics have been added to the game, including Link's ability to fuse with walls and other flat surfaces. This ability can be used to find new areas while exploring, solve puzzles, and more.

Conclusion

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds acts as a spiritual sequel to one of the most influential games of all time, but it manages to swing past expectations every step of the way. Not only is this adventure full of interesting enemies and locations, but it also has wonderful music, exciting weapons, and lots of secrets to find.

Pros

• Open-ended gameplay
• Awesome bosses and dungeons
• Exciting combat with fun items

Cons

• Rented items are lost on death
• A few annoying puzzles