Hyperbole swings both ways.

I finished it today. I'm a really big Zelda fan, but I never finished Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, or Spirit Tracks, for context.

The game is fantastic. It's not linear. Like, at all. And the puzzles and bosses are challenging, but not frustrating, and the "get all the items at a shop" thing actually serves the game really well. It allows the dungeons to have much more interesting puzzle design,and when you always have a suite of tools at your disposal, you feel much smarter solving them, too.

The game rewards you for exploring, and trying new things. Any time you think you're going to do something that you think will break sequence in a dungeon or get you somewhere you're not supposed to go, you're met with a reward. The new merging mechanic is also really cool.

I agree with the high praise, and I'm someone that would've given Skyward Sword a 7 (based on how far I got into it.)

It's a mega super cool game.

Well yeah, a lot of games aped OOT but very few aped ALTTP, the way it handles things hasn't worn thin. In the same way FF7 isnt a bad game it just set too many precedents that people copied until everyone was sick of it. OOT was getting that way too cus every third person thing now has something like z targeting and vague RPG elements. ALTTP was more of a puzzle and had a sense of discovery that the later games lost when any divergence from the path only netted you a heart piece, a scarab, or a nice rupee. Secrets feel significant again.

@fattony12000: Is the inside also gold?

I've wanted a great Zelda handheld for a while now. Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks disappointed me. Having to only use the touch screen drove me insane and it seemed like the dungeons were dumbed down due to the design. There were parts I enjoyed but those touch controls, man. Buttons or no thank you.

This game is absolutely fantastic though. I have four dungeons left and I can't decide which to go to first. Still haven't found those dang Pegasus Boots yet.

@fattony12000: I was just admiring mine today. Then I realized the golden Triforce on the top and the black Triforce on the bottom of the 3DS represent Hyrule and Lorule.

It sure is!

@galacticpunt said:

@fattony12000: I was just admiring mine today. Then I realized the golden Triforce on the top and the black Triforce on the bottom of the 3DS represent Hyrule and Lorule.

FREED.

MY.

MIND.