Zelda: A Link to the Past
Graphics
This was the last 2D Zelda game released on a console system, and it really looks excellent. The quality of these graphics are especially remarkable, when you consider that this was one of the first games released for the Super Nintendo. Many of the earlier games had somewhat plain graphics, but that's not true of this one. The basic style is similar to the original Zelda on the NES. You see all areas from an overhead view. It was great to see that this game went back to it's roots rather than trying something very different like Zelda 2 on the NES. You see a lot of variety in the areas, especially once you start moving back and forth between the Light and Dark worlds. The enemies are very detailed, especially the bosses. The special effects the game has are also pretty impressive.
As I was saying, eventually you begin to move back and forth between the Light and Dark worlds. While both worlds have a similar layout, but the enemies and areas are different. The Dark world is designed to be a scary, warped land full of evil. While the Light World, as you would imagine, is designed much more pleasantly. The Dark World is, obviously, darker and dying, and the Light World is more colorful with green grass and life, etc. The effect is really good.
The dungeons are designed very well, and you really have to pay a lot of attention to details to solve some of the puzzles. The dungeons also look much like the original Zelda, and have similar traps and enemies. The ones in this game however, are much larger and more detailed, and some of them have distinct designs that are unique to that particular dungeon.
Gameplay
As in the original, Link's life is represented by heart containers. When you start the game, you have 3, but as you progress and beat more enemies, and solve puzzles, you will find more. The more you have, the longer it takes for link to be killed. For example, some enemies make drain one heart every time they hit you. Once you run out, you lose.
The dungeons in this game get progressively more difficult as the game goes on. The first one, which doesn't really count as one of the game's true dungeons, is easy enough for a novice player to solve without much difficulty. As you progress through the game, and especially once you reach the Dark World, the puzzles and enemies get progressively more difficult. But you learn as you go on, and the game never really feels overwhelming. That doesn't mean you're not likely to lose many times, though.
For people that like to have optional things to do, this game has plenty of stuff to offer. One of the main things you can try is to find every heart container piece hidden throughout the world. It's also a challenge to find all the bottles, and other hidden items. There's definitely replay value with this game. Since there isn't any leveling up, it's pretty easy to just pick up and play without being bored or frustrated. And there are the optional items to find just mentioned above.
Story
Unlike many menu-based RPG's, there isn't a very elaborate story to go along with this game. However, there is significantly more plot than previous games in the series. I won't spoil anything, but if you're interested in plot, you should watch the introduction and read the story in the manual. This will give you the background, and make what you see more interesting. There are a couple points in the game where something will surprise you. And there are some townspeople to talk to. Don't expect to see a lot of dialogue. There is more action and puzzle solving than anything else. I just wanted to comment that the game isn't completely plot-less.
Music
The game's music is also very impressive. You'll hear many different songs as you go through the game, and you're almost certain to find yourself really liking some of them. From the classic Zelda theme to the Dark World music, there's a lot of great sounds here. Sound effects are excellent, as well, as you can tell almost right from the start. The sound of Link's sword clashing against one of an enemy soldier, or something simple like the smashing of a clay pot all add to the overall feel of the game and make it more fun to play.
Conclusion
This is one of the finest games ever made for any system. Fans of the original Zelda that haven't played this one yet should try it out as soon as possible. It takes everything that was good about that game and improves upon it immensely. If you haven't played anything in the Zelda series before, I suggest you try this one first. I do think it's the best in the series, even surpassing Zelda: Ocarina of Time. It's a true classic that any SNES fan should try.
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