The Year of Zelda, Part 3: A Link to Zelda's Future

For many Zelda fanboys, the one game that managed to capture them for life was the third installment of the series: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. The ironic use of the word "Link" here may not be all that subtle, but that doesn't stop this title from being one of the most beloved and well known of the series. In todays generation of gamers, just about every person who has owned a Nintendo system from the SNES on has ventured through this game. As a matter of fact, it saw a rebirth just in 2002, when Nintendo re-released a version of the game on the GameBoy Advance system, arriving ten years after the original.

Upon beating the game, I am filled with a supreme sense of nostalgia. And yet, although I've made my way through this game many times, it is just as fresh and fun as ever. After the negative reaction to the stylized changes in The Adventure of Link, the creators went back into the overhead adventure mode, and it works as well or better here than in any game I've played. And so, although there are many new innovations in sight, this game takes us back to what we loved about the original. There are so many parts of this game that I want to point out, but I don't want to turn this into a novella... So let me begin!

First, I want to break down the stylistic ingredients of what makes a Zelda game, well, a Zelda game. Being the first (and only) SNES game of the franchise, the graphics and details have excelled significantly. However, we still have most of the familiar enemies and weapons from part one. We're running around, sword slashing, bombing, and puzzling our way through multiple dungeons all over the land of Hyrule. Link, our little elfish hero, makes his way through many diverse dangers, collecting heart pieces and weapons that will help him to reach his final goal: saving the Princess Zelda and defeating the Dark Lord Ganon!

Many of the things aforementioned would be expected to be present by any fan of the series. However, what I did notice this time around is that many of these iconic characteristics that we hold dear didn't start with the original, but right here! For example: many of the coined musical numbers that Zelda fans would recognize anywhere were first composed in this game. Zelda's lullaby, the Fairy theme, the music in Kakariko Town (or Village), not to mention many different sound effects and the like. The soundtrack for this game paved the way for its predecessors.

Beyond that, we saw the invention of many items that will appear in each game to come: the hookshot, the Pegasus boots, the Magic Jars, the Flute (which looks strangely like an ocarina...), the Mirror Shield... and the MASTER SWORD! Now, you may say we saw some iterations of this in the first game, which is true. We did find the "Magic Sword" in the graveyard, but here we have our first view of Link, pulling the Master Sword from it's stone sheath, proving that he is indeed the legendary hero of Hyrule! (Let the Awesomeness consume you for a moment... Okay, now back to business.)

However, if there is one great leap that is the Most notable in this game, it is the grounding and introduction of the Legend of Zelda storyline. If you ever owned an NES (like me) and read through the game instruction guides (as I did), then you would have seen some great original art describing characters and monsters, along with a detailed introduction to the plot of the games, then you may have had a decent understanding of the basic Zelda mythology prior to these games. However, it is probable that many people did not. And so, Link to the Past gives us our first true in-game rendition of the mythos. You have your little elven hero, who shortly gains his sword and shield, and ensues on a journey to rescue the princess Zelda. But wait, there's more! Link is ACTUALLY the reincarnated/prophesied Hero of Hyrule (or Time???), of the bloodline of the Knights of Hyrule, who is destined to restore peace to the land by defeating the Dark Wizard Aganhim (Who is actually, you guessed it, Ganon in disguise!). It's also worth noting that Ganandorf is first mentioned in this game as well, as the thief who brought Ganon back to power!

Not only does LttP create a mold for many games to come, but it also went way outside the box from previous games. For one, we get to save the game on command from the menu. And not only that, but we can actually choose where we start off after a save! Awesome huh? But even more notable is the incorporation of two dimensions of gameplay: the Light world and the Dark world. About 1/4 through the game, Link gains the ability to traverse between these two dimensions, which opens up a new realm of possibilities for not only new locations, but new enemies and adventures.

All in all, Link's third adventure A Link to the Past is a fantastic ride. This is truly a picture of what makes this franchise so beloved. A compelling adventure, one could find them selves swept into this world for the first time, or brought back again for a nostalgic reminder of what makes this game one of the best ever created.

And now, for my usual reward ceremony! Feel free to agree or disagree, or even comment with your own choices, but these were the items/peoples/monsters that stand out above the rest!

*It's necessary to note that this was a tough decision... so I split the item reward into two categories. So I cheated, so what, it's my review...

Most Useful Weapon - The Hook Shot

To be honest, there were so many weapons that I used so often in the game, this was a tough choice. However, the one I longed for during most of my adventure, and the one that stayed as my active weapon the majority of the time thereafter, was the hook shot. This thing allows me to reach new places, as well as defeat many small enemies, or paralyze them momentarily. I know it doesn't sound amazing, but trust me, the invention of the hook shot has changed Zelda games for the better.

Most Useful Accessory - Pegasus Boots

Ah, there are few things in life more satisfying than that tick, tick, tick, GO of Link dashing forward from one screen to the next. For one thing, it really speeds up travel. For another, few enemies can resist that dashing stab of his sword! And I won't lie, I do get a sense of enjoyment out of running Link into unmovable objects and watching him bounce backward. Oh come on, it's funny!

Most Annoying Enemy - Wallmaster

This is another tough category, but since the Wallmaster has been frightening Zelda players for years, it was only fair that they get there moment in the spotlight. These baddies showed up first in the original, but I ran into more trouble with them in this game than ever before. Just in case you don't know, these fools show their shadow over you, then drop down on your head. If you don't manage to avoid their grasp, they take you back to the entrance of the dungeon... Which can be a real pain in the keester.

Most Difficult Boss - Mothula

First off, this award is not entirely true. However, I can't give Ganon the win in every game, or this will be boring. Trust me, Ganon will get his spotlight! For this battle however, the trouble is less with the moth itself, and more with the moving floor. As you can see in the picture above, the walls are lined with spikes, and the floor is covered in moving tiles. And so, while being scooted all around the floor, and into the spikes (which begin to move AWAY from the wall as the battle progresses), Link has to blast this fool bug with your Fire Rod, or use your Sword. Two out of three faeries used, and I finally got this fool down. Scoff if you'd like, but this fight was rigged.

Most Iconic Moment - The Master Sword

I have to admit, there are MANY iconic moments in A Link to the Past, many of which have been mimicked or repeated over many titles. However, easily the most iconic and precious to the franchise is the drawing of the Master Sword. Sure, we've seen the Magic Sword in the original, and sword upgrades in Link, but seeing the hero of Hyrule walk his way up to the stone and prove his destiny by pulling that sword out still makes me tingle all over. Yes, that may sound a bit creepy, but I'm just being honest! When Link holds that sword aloft and claims it for his own, and the music plays, the stars align in heaven, and we know that THIS is what we've been waiting for! And the Legend is brought to life.

Well, there you have it! My kind of long (and yet still too short to cover it) review of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. This game set in motion many of the most beloved characters and plot modes of all Zelda games to come. Without this one, where would we be?

* Check back soon for my take on The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening, which I've just completed. And by the way, if you're taking this adventure with me, or have any Other way of celebrating the Year of Zelda, comment on here, let me know!

The Year of Zelda, Part 2: Link's Excruciating Escapade

In case you're just now tuning in, this is the second episode of my Zelda Adventure, on which I am venturing in honor of the 25th Anniversary of the Legend of Zelda! This episode entails my journey through the first sequel, named Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

For many Zelda fans (myself included), this game is widely considered the "black sheep" of the franchise, for many different reasons. Ironically, this direct sequel to the original is the only game in the official franchise that is lacking the title The Legend of Zelda. Link takes off right where the original left off, with our hero of Hyrule on a mission to save the princess Zelda. Her handmaiden, Impa, informs Link that she has been placed under an enchanted slumber, and she will only awaken once the 6 stones are set in the 6 palaces, and he has obtained the Triforce of Courage.

And so with our mission in check, we venture out into… Hyrule? Don’t get me wrong, this game definitely bears its resemblance to the original, but the world and gameplay is a whole new world. Instead of our overhead action/adventure style, we have a very RPG-ish setup, with a small Link wandering around the overworld, occasionally colliding with enemies that pull us into Action sequences, where we put our sword fighting to the test.

I don’t want to overwhelm you with a lot of technical details, but if you’ve ever played a Zelda game, you would know exactly what I mean when I say this game separates itself from all others in its gameplay. The side scrolling, hoping, and stabbing Link makes for a very different experience for us. I’m more than willing to suspend any preconceived notions I might have, but if there is one issue I have, it is that this style makes the game extremely difficult. I consider myself to be an advanced game player, since I've spent most of my life being a gamer. And yet, as I made my way to the Second Palace, through Death Mountain, I realized that this game could bring Any experienced gamer to their knees. There came a point when I began to wonder if it was worth it!

I realize I'm making it sound as though I did not enjoy this game, but it's quite the opposite. Growing up, I made time to defeat each mainstream Zelda game that was released, EXCEPT for this one. This was the one game that I never managed to beat as a child growing up! And so, there is quite a bit to say about it, since this is a bit of a monument for me. I played this game as a kid, but never achieved victory: until now. And so, to make sure I don't go on and on too long, I'll break this review into a few short pros and cons for you.

Pros:

The Leveling Up. While any gamer has become quite familiar with the gain experience to level up model, it's a bit different to find it in a Zelda game. Personally, I found it to be a nice way to progress your magic, defense, and attack. Without the level-up system, this game would be IMPOSSIBLE to beat. It'd be interesting to see this model make a comeback in a new game perhaps...

The Magic. We get plenty of magic use in later games, like Ocarina of Time, but this was its first appearance. In the first game, magic wasn't present, but we had lots of useful items. In this game, none of the items that we gain are actually used in battle, etc. Instead, it's the use of our spells that make the gameplay more diverse. I'd like to see more of this in future Zelda's perhaps.

New Monsters. Actually, this is the first appearance of many monsters we've seen throughout the newer games, such as the Armored Stalfos (as opposed to the really easy ones from the original), and even more notorious, the Lizalfos, which have found their way in some of the best games in the series. And not least, Shadow (Dark) Link! That definitely deserves kudos.

Cons:

HARD AS CRAP. The fact is, many of the Zelda fans in the world are young players, and many of them would probably give up half way through this. I felt the temptation myself a couple of times, after dying more than 6 times against a certain boss. While it does need to be a challenge, it doesn't need to be this difficult...

Doesn't Always Feel Like Zelda. This may be more of a con to us now, over 20 years later, after the Zelda m-o has been better established, but the fact is it just doesn't feel the same. There's Link, Zelda, and some of the usual monsters, but even the music feels different. Actually, it feels much more like a Castlevania game sometimes, with the enemies flying around, and the jump-slash you have to incorporate throughout the game.

Lives System. While I'm okay with some variation, like the level-ups and even the side view at times, the 3 life system is just flat out annoying. There are a few Link Dolls to be found, which give an extra life, but once you find them, they're gone! You can only get them once? That's just ridiculous. Bugs me.

So you can see, it's up and down, but it's still a great game. Although many fans had their issues, this is still one of the highest rated NES games ever made. And so, here are the awards from my experience with The Adventure of Link!

Most Useful Spell - Jump

I know it seems simple, but WITH THIS YOU CAN JUMP VERY HIGH (lol). Jumping around high may seem trivial, but this is one thing we don't often get to do on Zelda games! Also, the jumping makes it much easier to defeat many monsters, not to mention you can dodge better! And I like to jump high.

Most Annoying Monster - Red Daira

This Red Daira is one of the most difficult monsters you face in this game, and they are really only present between the 1st and 3rd Palace! These guys stand between you and progressing to even the half point, and they were the source of my repeated demise... I hate them.

Most Difficult Boss - Thunderbird

This boss is the second-to-last boss in the game. You beat this fool, then you immediately go on to fight the most iconic boss in the game, Shadow Link. While Shadow Link is a challenge (unless you take the easy way out), this "bird" is ridiculously difficult. He can only be harmed after you exhaust half your magic using the spell Thunder, thereby turning him from red to blue and making him vulnerable to sword slashes, which only work against his Face. It took me 7 exhausted lives until I finally beat this moron. I'm just glad it's over.

Most Iconic Moment - Final Battle with Shadow Link

It may be cliché to choose the final battle as the most iconic moment, but it really is in this case. Shadow Link, in my opinion, is one of the coolest villains in any Zelda game. His mirror attacks of yours make this all the more difficult, so when it's finally over, it leaves us with a great sense of achievement. And with the Triforce of Courage in tow, we restore Zelda to health and become the official hero of Hyrule!

And so, with the second installment behind me, I move forward to one of the most beloved games of the series, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Check back in a couple of weeks to find the next review!

The Year of Zelda: The Adventure Begins

25 years ago, the world was introduced to one of the most Legendary and iconic gaming franchises to ever be established: The Legend of Zelda. It has been said, even by creator Shigeru Miyamoto, that they had absolutely no idea that their new adventure game would evolve into the beloved franchise that it is today.

While many people may have never played through a Zelda game,

practically everyone knows the name, and can easily recognize our elfish Hero, Link. As for myself, I remember playing through the Legend of Zelda as a 4 year old boy, loving every moment of it. Zelda is, in essence, responsible for any and all video gaming I have completed over the years, being the title that officially ensnared me into the virtual world of Action/Adventure.

And so, in celebration of the Year of Zelda, I have embarked on a journey to complete all of the Zelda titles from start to finish, in chronological order. Which in essence is the purpose of this posting! I am going to play through each game, leading up to the eminent release of The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword for Wii this year, which will determinately conclude my own adventure.

As for now, here is my review (and afterthoughts) of the first installment, for NES, aptly titled

The Legend of Zelda

Many players today might consider this game primitive, with basic graphics, and even a simple gameplay. For it's time, however, this game revolutionized many things. It gave us the use of saving your progress, which is INVALUABLE for this type of game, as well as an overworld that you are free to traverse and discover at your own pace. In theory, a person could have gone straight to the hardest portions of the world and start from there. It was a revolutionary concept, and even today many of its inventions are brought out in games as fundamentals.

I've played this game many times before, but this year was the first time in at least 5 years. I happened to own the Gamecube Collector's Edition of Zelda, containing both of the NES installments, as well as the two N64 installments. And so, using my Wii, I played through Zelda 1. Even without the nostalgia, this game was a really fun ride. There's few more satisfying feelings from a game than seeing Link hold aloft another shard of the Triforce, filling his health and playing that little victory tune.

Which brings me to another point, the music! Few games have such iconic tunes as this game. After a few hours, even my wife was walking around the place humming the overworld theme. If anything, the Legend of Zelda provides for us a look back at what made video gaming so popular in the first place. Even after beating the adventure, and putting the evil Ganon in his place, you'll find a second adventure to go through, where all of the dungeons and items have been swapped around, making this round through a brand new challenge!

So here are some noteworthy aspects of the game, which I will most likely mirror throughout all of my reviews:

Most Useful Item - The Super Boomerang.

Being the second dungeon item, you wouldn't think it'd be so far on the list, but there's nothing more valuable than stunning your enemies, and being able to reach rupees and hearts from far away.

Most Annoying Enemy - Wizzrobes.

The Iron Knuckles may be tough, but there is nothing more annoying than a room full of Wizzrobes gliding around shooting beams. AAARGH!!

Worst Dungeon Boss - Manhandla.

Maybe it's due to its common reappearance throughout the series, this stupid monster is fast and powerful. If you're lucky you can kill it with one Bomb, but that's a rarity. Usually you'll leave it with one claw left, and it'll zip around blasting you.

Coolest Puzzle - Whistling for Dungeon 7: The Demon

Without any guidance, it would have taken me ages to figure this one out... This whistle serves as a warp, UNLESS it's used here! Cool stuff.

So the LoZ is a masterpiece. Plain and simple, it's the epitome of what makes people like me tick and tock, the kind of unbridled nerdiness that resonates throughout time, and can't be replaced. It's lovely. If you've never played this game, go buy a wii and download it. Or find the Gameboy Advance copy and play that, or (God forbid) an emulator! Whatever is necessary. It's the Year of Zelda people. Get on board.

If you'd like a deeper look at all of the heroes, enemies, and gameplay, run over to IGN and check out their own tribute to this game, at http://wii.ign.com/articles/115/1150966p1.html.