A fresh coat of paint on a worn franchise
With each new iteration of the Legend of Zelda, it becomes easier to criticize the franchise’s inherent sameness and reliance on nostalgia. There are outliers, like Majora’s Mask or the recently HD-ified Windwaker – both introducing some different mechanics – but even in those examples, the core game remains the same: acquire the tools, solve the dungeons, and defeat some great evil.
A Link Between Worlds does not reinvent the franchise, but it certainly delivers some fresh concepts and ideas, painting over its aged tropes with a coat of nostalgia.
As a sequel to the SNES title A Link to the Past, ALBW takes place in the same world, though several generations later. Our latest Hero of Time, Link, (or xXxGanonKilla69xXx, depending on the player’s choice of name) works for a local blacksmith and after sleeping in late one day, is awoken by Gulley, his friend.
The two rush to the blacksmith’s house and as punishment for sleeping in, Link is sent to deliver a sword to the Captain of the Guards at Hyrule Castle. Once at the Castle, he finds that the Captain has left for the Sanctuary and sets off to find him.
Upon arriving at the Sanctuary, Link is confronted by a devilish man named Yuga, who has imprisoned the Captain in a painting on the wall using dark magic. Link wakes in his home before receiving a telepathic message from Princess Zelda, asking for his help. With this, Link’s newest adventure has begun proper and the game opens up, allowing for the open world gameplay we have come to expect.
A Link Between Worlds features a solid story with some great throwbacks to previous titles. While the twists are not quite on par with the Sheik reveal in Ocarina of Time, the game does a good job of keeping the player oblivious until its final moments.
Taking cues from A Link to the Past, the game sends Link through dungeons with the aim of solving puzzles and defeating bosses to save the Sages locked within.
Unlike its predecessor, however, A Link Between Worlds allows players to acquire the gear needed to traverse these dungeons by renting (and later, purchasing) the tools from Ravio, a merchant that has decided to set up shop in Link’s house. With this system in place, players have access to the hookshot, bow, bombs, and other items providing they have the rupees to pay for them. This convenience comes at a price though, and if Link falls in battle, Ravio’s bird scoops up the goods and returns them, requiring another rental.
While some items, such as the running shoes or Titan Mitt, are acquired outside of the merchant system, this feature shows a certain level of experimentation on Nintendo’s part and (hopefully) future plans to change up the formula more.
Another nice change in A Link Between Worlds is the order in which dungeons are completed – specifically, that they can be finished in any order, thanks to the required items being sold rather than found.
Gameplay is as we have come to expect in the franchise. The player can map tools to the X and Y buttons, swing the sword, pick up and throw rocks and pots, and block with the shield.
A new feature is introduced with the ability to transform into a painting and move along smooth surfaces. This idea opens up a new level of puzzle-solving as Link can slip through cracks to move between Hyrule and an alternate universe, akin to the Dark World of A Link to the Past. Rupees and hearts painted onto the walls can only be acquired in this form, creating new strategies in boss fights and the overworld.
Link’s newfound ability has its limits, however, and a magic meter quickly depletes while the painting form is in use. All of the items purchased through Ravio utilize the same bar as well, leading to careful magic management lest Link falls out of the painting and off the wall. Thankfully, the meter refills on its own and I never ran into serious trouble due to it being depleted.
A Link Between Worlds utilizes the same visual style as A Link to the Past, featuring a 2D overhead view centered on Link. Moving between areas switches screens, repopulating baddies and sliced grass, creating an endless supply of enemies to chop up for rupees.
Nintendo has crafted a beautiful world to explore in A Link Between Worlds, utilizing 3D in the most impressive and unobtrusive fashion yet. While it retains the general look of its predecessor, the game flaunts its own style and charm with every character, dungeon, and environment.
Those who have played A Link to the Past are in for an auditory treat here. Updated orchestral versions of all the classic songs including the title screen are present and sound better than ever.
The game features a ton of minigames and sidequests for players to engage in, from cucco-dodging to a thirty-second race to acquire rupees. One of the most involving sidequests tasks Link with locating 100 missing Maiamai babies for Mother Maiamai. For every ten found, Link is given the ability to power up one of his tools, giving further reach, more power, or stun capabilities. The Maiamais are hidden throughout the overworld and by listening for their chirping and using a map overlay, some sleuthing will reveal them to the player.
It is hard to take issue with A Link Between Worlds. In my fifteen hours of play time, I found no glitches, bugs, or major points of complaint. The game’s greatest downfall is – unsurprisingly – its adherence to the formula of previous entries, which is somewhat outweighed by Nintendo’s experimentation.
A Link Between Worlds is a fantastic experience. Whether having played A Link to the Past or not, the player is sure to be delighted with the lovingly recreated world, the solid combat, and the clever dungeon design. While the game is by no means a complete departure from previous iterations, it is certainly a step in the right direction. If Nintendo continues down this path, The Legend of Zelda may be able to reclaim its throne as the premier title it once was – A Link Between Worlds has certainly begun the process.
