Like so many of the games that shaped me as a kid, my next door neighbor had one of the greatest games ever made. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a game we played, somewhat, often but never actually beat. It was hard as an adult, so imagine a small child trying to do it. Eventually, we (or at least I) just moved on from it to new, easier things. I understand that, but I wish I hadn't waited over twenty years to return to it.
The story is pretty simple, as many games were in 1991. You’re a magically chosen hero boy, made to save the world. You go around the world, finding items, people, and McGuffins in your journey to do so. I don’t know how much is tied between LttP and Legend of Link, so I don’t know how well they're linked. Heh, get it? Since LttP is before LoL in the timeline, I’ll assume none. Regardless, it all works. A young kid can understand it, and an adult can recognize the essential aspects in hindsight. You’re the chosen hero, Link, a mute boy of legendary ancestry. The goal is to free the princess, Zelda, who herself has magical origins, and other young girls of lore. You do this by killing bosses. In the end, you kill a really big bad guy. Not all games need epic storylines. Dark Souls, fighting games, shooters, and MMOs are all pretty lacking in that department, even in these days of massive budget AAA games. You don’t need a 40 hour story if the gameplay is crisp.
And it’s all about the gameplay here. Through two worlds; there are ten dungeons, each having its own intricacies and challenges. They can get a little samey towards the end, but they do try to make everything unique. The combination of traps, enemies, combat, and pathfinding can go a long way. Every enemy has one or two advanced forms. Every trap can be used in a multitude of ways. And all the bosses have their own things that nothing else uses.
The bosses are where LttP really shines. They’re all challenging, nerve racking, and fun. They all require several items you either have had or just obtained in their dungeon. The bow and arrows are used in the dungeon you get them in. The hookshot, fire rod, and bombs follow suit. And they’re used in other dungeons for both regular encounters, bosses, and navigation. Items aren’t just one time uses, and you’re gonna need to swap, often on the fly, between several of them at the same time. Most bosses have unique sprites, attack patterns, and a few even have lore behind them.
I just touched on this, but the items may be the best part of the game. Their use in battle and on the field was a landmark addition at the time. They’re not one time McGuffins, used only once to advance a gap or defeat a boss. Most have uses that some players would never even think of using. The Magic Hammer, for example, can be used to break off the Helmsaur King's mask. I had problems with him in the Dark Palace and really could have used that strategy. And, like the bosses, some have lore around them. The ocarina has a heartbreaking backstory and is used for both fast travel, access to a sealed location, and even carries you like a noble steed to the final battle. Some are even totally optional. I really should have used the Magic Cape and Rod of Byrna more. And I’ll say nothing about how rarely I used the magic medallions. They add the depth that the story can't to the gameplay.
But, ultimately, my favorite part of the game is how community driven it is. I brought this up often towards the end of my writings, but Link is nothing without everyone around him. Zelda and Sahasrahla guided him the whole time. I relied on the Great Fairies to not die for the entire journey, never filling my jars with anything else than small fairies. And so many other characters give you seemingly insignificant items that end up being of utmost importance. The ocarina, the jars, the bug net, the lantern: I used these just as often as my sword, hookshot, or hammer. I love games that make you feel apart of a community. Ys III is my favorite Ys game, by far, because of the smaller cast of characters who grow alongside you and impact the story. Tantalus in FFIX is filled with fun, engaging, and memorable people. If it weren't for the side characters in FFX, we'd all be thinking X was just as bad at XIII. It’s been a long time since I played Ocarina of Time, but I don’t remember it doing this as well as LttP did. It really is masterful, regardless of era.
I’m gonna go out on a limb and call Link to the Past the third best game on the SNES. I’ll go out on a higher limb and say it’s the best Zelda game ever made. Since controller mapping an N64 controller is such a pain, I don’t think I’ll be playing the golden era games anytime soon. Unless I can fix my life and see where it goes from there, of course. I have mixed feelings about my horny teenage Link diary plan, but I’ll say it was a raging success! I have no idea when/if I’ll do it again, but here’s hoping I can.
I have two games I’m mulling over for Tuesday, both of which are from my dark ages period. I could have bought one during the Stram sales, and I kinda wish I had. Regardless, I’m gonna finish the Final Fantasy Music Challenge first. See ya in three days!
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