The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

Intro

Empowered with the triforce of courage and equipped with your trusty sword & shield you venture once again into the land of hyrule exploring the land and cleansing it from the monstrosity that fuel the impending doom.

Gameplay

Nintendo is one of the oldest video game creators in the business and with age comes experience but also stubbornness at times as they have clanged to some old-design choices without any apparent reason. Link between Worlds holds the best of both worlds as it harness the experience of Nintendo's old-school design while adapting to some new and current mechanics; what this means is keeping the mechanics that make sense and adding to the overall enjoyment of the game and removing some of the inconvenient mechanics.

'If we don't change we might die'. Eiji Aonuma

Expecting a long opening, excessive tutorial, handholding that treats you like an imbecile and waiting to get your sword & shield after at least an hour of play time, Fear not as LOZ: LBW will drop you in game with your sword n’ shield faster than you listing all Mario’s 2013 games.

Major changes have been added to the LOZ formula, all of which I found welcoming as it refreshed and refined the experience. The most notable change is how you acquire items, now almost all items are available from the get go from Rovio's store; this will create more diversity and challenge. This element is complemented with the fact that areas are well connected and constructed making it a puzzle just to make your way through to a new area.

Other newly introduced game mechanics can be found is the saving system, previously done in menu at any time, now it’s more restricted and you can only save through bird statues found in the world map similer to majores mask saving system.

Rupees!, finally rupees hold lots of value this time around  and your wallet can hold up to a four digit amount from the get go. Rupees value come from the fact that almost all the items are available from the get go and you may gain access through renting them and later on buying them.

The renting system isn't restricted with a time period but rather to your death as you will lose all rented items on death and rent them again or buy them; and buying them you must if you wish to upgrade any item available in your arsenal. Upgrading your items doesn't really change the item's effect in concept nor does it build on it but rather it upgrade its effect e.g. the bow will shoot 3 arrows instead of one.

If I were to write about the dungeons design without limit this review would be X3 the length. The amazing design of the dungeon marries many elements of the game perfectly and seamlessly. Every dungeon is themed around an item or two with other items used for secrets here and there. Some of the shiniest moments in LOZ are when the dungeon puzzles, level design and battle complement each other and ending the dungeon with a climax of a great boss battle.

Boss battle design is one of Nintendo’s greatest strengths with previous titles in the series or other IPs.  the same can be said here as Boss battles are an essential part of LOZ as it always been, giving you the climactic feel of overcoming the evil inhabiting the dungeon using all you learned in the dungeon about the items used but with a clever design twist that you need to figure out to defeat the boss.

Puzzles still feel fresh with clever use of the usual Arsenal of items and weapons including the bow, hookshot, bomb, etc. and added to it the new ability to merge into and out of walls, this ability is a bit reminiscent to the usage of the morphball in the Metroid series as you will you use it to reach locations unreachable in your normal form but fused with the fact that the game is a 2D Birds eye view this ability adds a whole new dimension to the puzzle design.

~Some Metroid in my Zelda YES PLEASE!~

You battle using your sword & shield alongside one of your items at first. soon you are allowed to upgraded to two items. Also abilities may be used strategically in battles especially during boss battles. Your sword has three moves, the regular right to left slash, the spin attack and when your health is full your sword can shoots magic making your sword a melee/ranged weapon.

Items in battle have many uses, some may make the enemy dizzy or do damage, others may be enemy specific such as removing an enemy shield using the hookshot. Using items and abilities in battle makes the battle more diverse and fun as you can find your own style and strategy with minimal depth.

Enemy design is one of the most important aspects of battle focused game as it can make or break some games; this was a big issue for me in 'LOZ: Skyward Sword', the issue which is enemy frequency has been remedied here, design and diversity have also been addressed, as it was rarely that you met an enemy that you’d enjoy fighting and if there is one it was never enough. This time around you rarely move without encountering an enemy. The enemies come in variety of classes and formations, this is definitely a great step towards a deeper more sophisticated battle system but still it’s only a step and I hope in the next installment this aspect will be capitalized greatly.

Minor Issues I had in battle is when hit by an enemy you will flash giving  you time to be un-affected by attacks but at that state the enemy can pass through you and when you return to normal and he’s on your back side , you'll get hit again.

Side missions consist mostly of challenges, mini games and running errands all spiced with great game design, colorful characters and beneficial outcome.

Narrative

"It's The Legend of Zelda and it's really rad!, Those creatures from Ganon are pretty bad!, Octoroks, tektites and leevers too, But with your help, our hero pulls through!, Yeah, Go Link, Yeah, Get Zelda! Wikki Wikki Wick!"

The story in LOZ is still the same as it has always been with minor changes to fit gameplay and continuity. More of the story and lore is told through side quests with colorful characters, locations and wall paintings. what have been done in terms of aesthetic is how they have remade the look of the Link to the past to suit this generation seamlessly in terms of world map, characters and even items. what i really like here is that most of the back story and lore that have been told a number of times in past LOZ games is now mostly optional making it faster to get into the main game.

Art style and Graphical fidelity

The Art style is a total throwback to Link to the past from the look of the over world to the characters and dungeons. As it is Nintendo’s way of doing things they try to be highly stylized in everything they do whether it is needed or not, the same can be told here as the attention to details and the style of the smallest things such as how the loading changes with the plot to major things such as the world map is all highly detailed and stylized.

With impressive lighting engine and shadow work Nintendo make use of the engine and the platform unbelievably well making it one of the best looking games on the platform.

Sound

The Soundtrack in LBW is easily one of its strongest points with great use of the previous tracks in the LOZ world remixing them into what i have found even better than the original with the use of diverse line of musical instruments and sounds joined by master musical composition. the soundtrack also goes hand in hand with the aesthetic whether it’s with the ambient music of the dungeons or it’s with the plot. The developers know that they have a great soundtrack here and have given more access to it via the milk bar tow man band duo equipped with an Acoustic guitar and flute you pay them 10 rupees and they will play a random song.

Value / Bottom line

With such great overall quality it’s hard not to recommend this game to anyone as he/she will find great value in such well imagined and well produced product. I see this game as system seller to a system with an already strong library; so if you don't have the game or the system...what are you waiting for?!

Pros	Cons
Great level, dungeon and puzzle design	Link looks ugly
The best of old and new school game design	Battle could use some more spice
Great original sound track

Similar games:

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to The Past

SCORE: 93/100

Developer: Nintendo

Publisher: Nintendo

System reviewed on: 3DS

Release date: 22/11/2013

Price: 39.99 $