The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Review (3DS)

In 2013, Nintendo unexpectedly announced and released a new Zelda game that used the classic top-down perspective. Not only that, but it was made as a distant sequel to A Link to the Past, set in the same version of Hyrule several generations later. And thanks to the innovations and mechanics this title introduced, it's the best Zelda game so far.

Story 

Though the Zelda franchise doesn't put an heavy emphasis on story like RPGs, the story that it does have tends to have an interesting premise or twist. This time, Link is tasked with saving Seven Sages, as well as Princess Zelda, from a new villain named Yuga. Link eventually gains the power to move between two worlds: his home kingdom of Hyrule, and the desolate land of Lorule. The plot twists that happen by the end of the story show that the series' storytelling has been gradually improving as new games come out. But obviously, the real meat of the game comes from exploring the lands of Hyrule and Lorule.

Gameplay

Truly a work of art.

Like A Link to the Past, you're tasked with exploring two worlds to find upgrades to your equipment, complete dungeons, and eventually save the world. Unique to this title is the non-linear structure that's implemented. Early in the game, Link will meet an odd fellow who goes by the name "Ravio". Ravio will eventually set up shop in Link's house, and will allow our hero to rent any tool he wishes. While past Zelda games had you find a specific tool in each dungeon and use it to progress in a linear fashion, this new system allows you to do the dungeons in almost any order you want. And once you rack up enough rupees to rent out or buy all of Ravio's tools, you can pretty much visit any place you wish. This gives A Link Between Worlds a huge degree of exploration. Furthermore, Link gains a new ability that allows him to merge with walls and move along them. This lets him slip through cracks to discover hidden treasures like rupees and Pieces of Heart, as well as move between Hyrule and Lorule. The ability helps keep the game fresh, even for veterans who have played A Link to the Past.

He messes up your house and then makes you pay for his stuff.

Dungeon puzzles are noticeably more creative this time around; with multiple different tools at your disposal, there's several ways to tackle the game's many challenges. As a tradeoff, they're generally easier to solve than in previous Zelda games, but (thankfully) that doesn't mean they're a walk in the park. Some of the dungeons also contain optional upgrades as well, making it a nice incentive to revisit them if you missed the upgrade on your first visit. There are also various minigames and sidequests scattered throughout the two worlds.

Graphics and Other Technical Aspects

A sample of the worlds you'll explore.

A Link Between Worlds is a very nice looking 3DS game, and always runs at a smooth 60 frames per second, even with the 3D turned on! The game's artstyle is a bit of a departure from recent titles, as it returns to the classic designs used prior to Ocarina of Time. It helps make Hyrule look lush and colorful, and emphasizes the desolation of Lorule.

Link controls VERY smoothly with the 3DS's Circle Pad, and the game as a whole has the most comfortable control out of the recent entries. The bottom screen also displays an incredibly helpful map that allows you to zoom in and place markers to remind yourself to revisit a particular spot. Early in the game, Link will also come across a being known as "Mother Maiamai", who asks him to help find her missing children. One of the map's most useful features is to show you how many Maiamais are left for you to find in a particular area. Overall, this title's features make it very friendly to play in short bursts (despite its usage of save points) as you can turn the game on and complete a dungeon or find a few treasures before stopping for the day.

Soundtrack

This game has a very nice soundtrack. The overworld themes are catchy and exude a sense of adventure, while the dungeon themes are more atmospheric pieces that fit their setting. Music is one of the aspects that can help bring a game to life and make it much more immersive, and this game succeeds in doing so.

Length 

By the end of the game, I had a majority of the Heart Containers and Pieces of Heart, as well as most of Link's gear upgrades. But compared to the likes of Twilight Princess, which took me roughly 45 hours to complete, this game only took me 15. Achieving 100% completion and playing through Hero mode (which is a hard mode unlocked by finishing the game) is sure to add a lot more time. But on a standard playthrough, A Link Between Worlds is a short, but very sweet game.

Final Verdict: 10/10

Pros

• Shop rental system allows for a ton of exploration, and encourages you to do any dungeon in whatever order you want
• A bright and colorful artstyle helps bring the game to life on the 3DS
• The game runs at a very smooth framerate throughout the entire journey
• Soundtrack helps immerse players into the game
• Lots of treasures and upgrades to find, and non-linear dungeon structure can help keep multiple playthroughs fresh
• This entry has the smoothest control in the series by far

Cons

• A standard playthrough is a bit shorter than previous Zelda games
• Puzzles and enemies are a little bit easier than in previous games

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a game that I can recommend to a wide audience. Newcomers to the franchise will love the game's more beginner-friendly nature and convenient features, while veterans who have played previous titles will enjoy the larger amount of exploration this game allows you to do. This entry is one of the best in the franchise, and one that's certainly worth picking up if you own a 3DS.