Game Boy Advance

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

When all is said and done, A Link to the Past is a lengthy 20 to 30 hour adventure for folks who don't remember every little element from the SNES version. Those with the upper hand with prior knowledge of the classic adventure can probably breeze through it in a dozen. But whether you're a newbie or veteran, you ain't seen nothin' yet.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the GBA port of a classic SNES adventure: Every clean sprite, indelible (if a little dated) sound effect, enduring orchestration, and weird gameplay quirk is reproduced with astounding accuracy. Hyrule is a colorful, happy place with a giant pig for a villain and a main character who, at one point, gets turned into a fluffy pink bunny. It’s unclear where the notion got started that a “cartoon” Link somehow went against the natural order of things but it certainly wasn’t here.

Basically, the game is a direct port of the original game of the same name released on the SNES years ago. It is complete with all of the master sword attacks, creative yet frustrating puzzles and long and complicated dungeons. Players gain access to new areas of the world upon the completion of each dungeon and progressing through the game is just as fun as collecting crazy and inventive items such as a butterfly net, jars for storing ferries, and even the unique hookshot which hurls Link across a number of different obstacles.

Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is definitely one of, if not the finest games released on the GBA this year. While some Zelda fans might be a bit bummed that Nintendo didn't offer Game Boy Advance owners something new to sink their teeth into, they have to realize that the company did do exactly that. Yes, the main package is simply the same Super NES game repackaged for play on the Game Boy Advance, but in all honesty that's only half the package. And offering one of the greatest action adventures in portable form isn't exactly a downside, either.

The manner in which the cooperative gameplay is implemented is all permeating. Aside from aforementioned examples, there are simpler things like rocks that can only be lifted by multiple players and areas that can only be reached by throwing your teammates to them. Throwing in-game tantrums was a favorite activity of mine. I thoroughly enjoyed picking on Christian, our Xbox editor, by picking him up and throwing him down a ledge or knocking him off a platform with my sword or stealing his rupees. That's what he gets for being the new guy.

I have fond memories of this game back on the SNES. Keeping the Nintendo port streak alive, A Link to the Past is an extremely accurate representation of a quality title, and is a must-have for Game Boy Advance. This title is the definition of perfect pacing. The large map unfolds bit by bit, as you pick up various items and abilities to further exploration. The quest itself is lengthy and entertaining, with great dungeons and plenty of puzzles. The extras are even better, as you dig holes for rupees, bash into trees, and hurl chickens. It puts most paper-thin GBA games to shame.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was one of the greatest games to be released for Nintendo's 16-bit SNES. The game brought the classic NES series up to the standards of the day, adding plenty of new gameplay elements while still maintaining the same basic feel of the original action adventure game. In keeping with the recent trend of bringing such classics to the Game Boy Advance, Nintendo has released a port of the game for its handheld system, bringing a fantastic version of A Link to the Past both to new players and those interested in playing through it one more time. Additionally, a new multiplayer game, called The Four Swords, has been added for link-game players.

A Link to the Past comes highly recommended to those who missed out on the 1992 Super NES cartridge. While many owners are awaiting "true" sequels to classic games on their Game Boy Advance, along the lines of the excellent Metroid Fusion, A Link to the Past is nonetheless a must-have title that, if nothing else, represents the missing "link" of Nintendo classics destined to appear on the color handheld.

Bon, pour finir, je crois qu'il est inutile de dire que ce jeu se doit de faire partie de votre ludothèque (si vous ne l'achetez pas, des swat vont arriver chez vous et vous menacer de vous faire écouter le dernier disque de Nolwenn pendant 10 heures d'affilées, je serais vous je coopérerais...), mais comme le jeu parfait n'existe pas, on va enlever deux points pour le nombre de cartouches qu'il faut pour jouer à Four Swords et quelques baisses de rythme dans l'aventure (rien de bien grave cependant), qui aime bien châtie bien, comme on dit...

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is probably one of the greatest games of all time, and this package is maybe one of the greatest GBA carts to be released to date. It really brings into the light why the Zelda series is held among the highest tiers of gaming. Pick it up and enjoy the hell out of it.

Une référence du jeu d'aventure à se procurer de toute urgence pour qui ne connaîtrait pas l'épisode original sur Super Nes. Les autres devront toutefois relativiser l'intérêt de cette cartouche s'ils ne pensent pas pouvoir profiter du mode quatre joueurs de Four Swords qui nécessite tout de même quatre exemplaires du jeu, même si les parties à deux ou trois sont évidemment possibles.

I was recently in a supermarket, deciding which of a selection of GBA games to buy. One in particular caught my eye. Called Hamtaro: Ham Ham Heartbreak, it told the story of a group of hamsters who had to resolve the heartbreak of a fellow rodent. Its quirky storyline and colourful graphics appealed to me, but then something dawned on me as I read through the blurb on the back of the box, "for ages 3+, the ability to read is needed to enjoy the whole game". Ah crap.