A Link Between Worlds is the Truest and Arguably Best Zelda Ever Crafted

I have read several of the reviews out there. I know not every critic or every fan is necessarily sold on A Link Between Worlds. Even those that are may not be bold enough to say it’s the best, let alone talk about what a true Zelda game is. Don’t count me among that crowd.

I had my doubts about A Link Between Worlds. Sure, it was hitting on all the right chords for me heading into launch, but of course when my expectations are raised to a certain level it’s almost certain I will be let down. It happened with Twilight Princess, which is by all accounts a fine Zelda game. It just wasn’t all that it had the potential to be. I always felt that while great, it could have been one of the best games ever crafted. It just didn’t quite get there for me.

Of course, a large part of the reason it doesn’t get there for me, and why heralded games such as Ocarina of Time don’t even crack my top 5 favorite Zelda games list, is because there is something that seems to be lost when Zelda transitioned into 3D. It’s hard to place what exactly it is, but the 3D Zelda games never really felt like the complete package.

Sure, they have since become what is today the standard for what a Zelda game is, but there was a time – say, 20 years ago – when Zelda had some fundamental differences to what we know it as today. One such example would be in pure exploration. Yes, many of us tout that we love the series for its exploration, and truly The Wind Waker is probably the most exploration friendly a 3D Zelda game has ever been – but even that pales in comparison to the level of exploration seen in the first 4 games in the series. If you think you love exploration because of what you got in Ocarina of Time, then you really haven’t

even seen the level of exploration this series was founded on. Ocarina of Time was a huge step back from that level of execution.

There is also a certain charm that was lost over time. Gameplay slowed down, action was much more straight forward, and dungeon design became an exercise in presenting old puzzle concepts in new ways, rather than coming up with inherently new puzzle concepts that didn’t rely on heritage. Combat had really become a joke. Part of that is the fact that I and many others grew up with the series, and we’re simply more skilled gamers these days – but there is some truth in saying that today’s Zelda games are really easy combat-wise. Stupidly so at times. This wasn’t true 20 years back – Zelda was an engaging, action-packed, exploration-filled experience that presented a challenge that catered the series more towards gamers that enjoy the thrill of triumph through challenge rather than triumph through making progress.

I’m now five paragraphs in and I have yet to even talk about what A Link Between Worlds does so well… or have I? In describing everything the series has given up over the last 20 years, I feel like I am describing exactly what A Link Between Worlds brings back. Of course, merely dabbling into the foundations of the series doesn’t make the game reach the top of the massive list of fantastic Zelda titles, but the execution of everything that made Zelda what it once was and then blending it masterfully with some of the changes over the last two decades does. While I fully grasp in many ways this game can’t be at the top if you define Zelda by what it is known for being today, I find the series’ roots to be far more telling for what Zelda was always meant to be.

A Link Between Worlds presents a very straightforward tale – it’s not going to win too many awards for storytelling, but in earnest the story has never been what this series is about. It’s all a catalyst for your actions, rather than your actions being a catalyst for the story. This is how Nintendo designs games. I want a nice deep Zelda story as much as anyone else, but I recognize that’s not what Zelda is about. There are plenty of other games that give that to me as it stands. However, the way the story unfolds really dives you straight into the action; very little tutorial (just enough to get by) and lots of action. This game moves fast, both literally and metaphorically.

As you make your way through all the various dungeons, things begin to become extremely clear. Sure, the game breaks away from traditions like getting major items within the dungeons, but that’s all part of the evolution of the series. In fact, I actually find the way the game goes about items (renting and buying) to be an important change for the series that is a bit revolutionary in general. It’s a game changer – something that I really want to see explored further in a console game heading forward. Still, the openness of the game and its complete honesty with what it is just shines through.

I’m trying to avoid spoilers, so I won’t get into too many details about the game itself, but the way it feels when you play it harkens back to 1986. Many call this a nostalgia trip, but reality is that the reason the game does that is because it actually feels like a natural evolution of what the series was back then. Ocarina of Time did a masterful job transitioning the series to 3D, but the series was never able to maintain all the elements that made it so endearing originally. It lost something – though it arguably gained much more on the other side.

To me, Zelda has always been about engrossing yourself in the world, fast-paced combat, clever puzzles, and true exploration – something A Link Between Worlds delivers in truck loads. It is not the hardest Zelda, most original, or even containing the best boss battles imaginable. However, it is the combination of all of the elements that truly make Zelda special and that make this game stand out. You don’t need to be the best in any individual area to be the best Zelda game – you just need to provide the best collective experience. Folks, A Link Between Worlds is everything Zelda used to be and so much more. It’s better than what Zelda used to be, and it’s far better than what Zelda is today. This should be the shining example of game design heading forward. Forget A Link to the Past or Ocarina of Time – A Link Between Worlds just provided the new blueprint for Zelda moving forward. I can only hope that this time the magic transfers to the big screen with Zelda U.

What do you think? Has A Link Between Worlds truly made a lasting impact?