Publisher: Nintendo

Developer: Monolith Soft

Release Date: 11/22/2013

Available Exclusively On

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So here I was thinking this game was going to be something completely new and exciting when I realized it was pretty much a port of A Link to the Past. That’s not really a bad thing, since many younger gamers have never played that game before. What I also didn’t like was just how easy and short the game was. The dungeons themselves aren’t really all that hard, but they are more confusing, and some puzzles are really hard to figure out. With that said, the game is enjoyable, but some may not like it.

It all comes down to feeling like every other Zelda game out there. There’s not much to set this apart, and when you’re done with it, you will just shrug and move on to the next game. The dungeon layout and the bosses are clever and fun, but I just wish there was more to this game. One thing I also didn’t like was having to buy the equipment to keep it. If you rent equipment and die, it will be sent back to Rovio’s shop, where you have to go back to your house, rent it again, and return to the dungeon you were in. At least there are warp spots, which are a serious lifesaver. In all honesty, if these weren’t here, I doubt most people would be able to stomach getting around.

Most dungeons involve a certain element or weapon. The boss in each dungeon also requires this weapon to defeat it. The sand rod, fire rod, ice rod, bomb, and various other weapons from past Zelda games make an appearance. However, the story involves sages being turned into paintings, and that’s where the whole “Link Between Worlds” thing comes in. This feature is actually quite gimmicky, and the game would have been fine without it. It’s used as a segue between puzzles or just briefly to get around. Flattening against a wall and shuffling side to side isn’t exactly a game-selling feature, and I felt it was poorly used here.

The game’s 8 dungeons may actually be enough for most people, especially Zelda fans. The most frustrating part was how to get to each dungeon since you can easily get lost or spend hours just wandering around aimlessly. The lack of direction has been abundant in the Zelda series, and I feel it needs to change. However, once again, some fans may be happy with this, and that’s fine.

Overall, A Link Between Worlds is one of the best games available on 3DS and a fine Zelda game. It’s the only issue that it’s the same type of Zelda we have played numerous times, not the revolutionary Zelda we have come to expect from games like Phantom Hourglass. The 3D effects don’t really do much for the overall experience (like 99% of 3DS games) and can be just as enjoyable with the 3D turned off.