[Nintendo Wii] The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past ROM Download

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past ROM Screenshots

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past ROM Description

There are about 7 or 8 billion people on this planet, no matter what the exact number is. Because for all its hues and creeds, humanity is fundamentally divided into two categories: those who love Ocarina of Time and those who love A Link to the Past.

To be honest, I’ve always been an Ocarina of Time person. But there’s no denying that for all its genre-defining mechanics, timeless design, and impeccable pacing, Ocarina of Time is essentially a 3D version of A Link to the Past. And in that sense, the popular debate about which Legend of Zelda is the best misses the point. They’re both clearly excellent, both are the best games of all time. It doesn’t matter which is better.

But even for an Ocarina lover, it’s important to note that for all the bushes Ocarina of Time chops down, it does so with a forged blade from A Link to the Past. And as great as the game was, its timing was even better.

When Nintendo released the second Zelda for the NES in 1988, they shot themselves in the foot. Because that game changed the mechanics of the first game more than some fans, myself included, were willing to accept. And as Ray notes in his review of Zelda 2, it didn’t feel like a Zelda game, at least not completely. So when it came time for the third Zelda, Nintendo not only returned to the template of the groundbreaking first game, but they refined it. In fact, one could reasonably argue that they perfected it.

A Link to the Past not only pushed Zelda back to the top of the company’s game, but it also cemented the franchise as one of the industry’s top titles. There are many things that make A Link to the Past a classic, but the most notable is that it takes the open-world feel of the original Zelda and turns it into something more linear. This isn’t a Mario game or anything, you don’t play from level 1-1 to level 1-2. But there’s a sense of direction to this epic adventure. You’re free to explore Hyrule as you please, and you really want to because it’s a living world. But there’s also a clear structure. There’s always somewhere you need to go, even if you’re going elsewhere.

What’s become a standard for the series, and what really sets A Link to the Past apart from other Zelda games, is the number of shrines you explore. Unlike later entries, A Link to the Past throws you into a cave almost immediately. There are more caves to explore in this Zelda than any other Zelda. In that respect, A Link to the Past feels like the ultimate Zelda dungeon-crawling experience.

But for me, what’s most impressive about A Link to the Past is how incredibly fresh it feels today. The game doesn’t look dated, still smooth and intuitive controls, great music, gorgeous graphics. Still an immersive world. Great design for any Zelda, but with one exception, I don’t think there’s a game as satisfying and engaging as The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.