The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is the SNES sequel to the 8-bit action-RPG series. It came out in 1992, and a new version was released in 1998. This review is based on the 1992 version.

The third Zelda game featured a similar play-style to the original, and forgot the side-scrolling gameplay of Zelda II. Zelda 3 has fairly original ideas and was the start of a lot of things that appeared in later Zelda games (i.e, chickens, certain names, certain items etc).

The background story is really nice and Link's mission is to win the "Master Sword", rescue seven maidens and Princess Zelda, overthrow the wizard Agahnim and finally destroy Ganon. On your way you have to fight many an evil, get clues from villagers and outcasts, find many items etc. However this game is a bit cute for its own good. Link looks like a little kid and so do most of the characters, even Agahnim! (Compare Agahnim to the magician boss of Zelda II). Or maybe it's just too cartooney. Whatever the reason it does help create the unique and sometimes enchanting mood of the game.

Zelda 3 is long. There are more than a dozen palaces to complete, which is great. But the exploration of Zelda 1 isn't there, which is a shame. It makes the game feel a little limited.

GRAPHICS: 87%

Zelda 3's graphics are good. The Light World is colorful and so are the dungeons (Blind's Dungeon is really cool!). The characters, though too cute are OK. The Dark World however got on my nerves. There are some places that are just plain dull. But you have to forgive 'em since this is a first-generation SNES game. The bosses are well done too. The animation is also good. Link's sword swinging is smooth, The bosses move realistically etc.

CONTROL: 93%

Controls are precise. There's nothing really wrong with them. Sometimes though, it gets annoying when you are stuck between enemies. Link's also too bulky when he walks. The subscreen appears very quickly but I wish I could use more than one item at a time. There is a little slowdown sometimes. It's nothing much at all, however.

SOUND/MUSIC: 89%

The overworld Zelda theme is great in this game, like a super-charged version of the original. The palaces and dungeons have two different themes. The boss music, though not as haunting as Zelda II, is better because it's more intense. The Dark World theme is OK too. My favorite is the Dark World Death Mountain music. Also in the latter part of the ending you get to listen to a beautiful version of Zelda 1's intro music.

The sounds are good. Link's sword makes a different sound depending on what level it is. The magic medallions sound nice when executed. In short the sound effects are pretty appropriate.

STORYLINE: 96%

The background story is really good especially if you read the one in the manual. However during the game there are little to no plot-twists. All you have to do is beat the palaces, win the Master Sword, beat the dungeons and destroy Agahnim and Ganon. It gets repetitive if you think about it. But these levels are done very well so that it doesn't seem to bother you much.

GAMEPLAY: 95%

One of the best features of this game is that you don't really need the manual. Everything is explained very well during the game, which is very helpful. There are much more items that Zelda 1, ranging from the Hookshot to the staff of Somaria to the "Good Bee". Also now you can gain a total of 999 rupees and 20 heart containers. This game does have a fair amount of exploration but it isn't enough. What's the fun of discovering obvious secrets? Now you can see a crack in the rock or wall when you have to bomb it. Also I wish I could've pounded some of those stakes down and dived into a river but it can't be done. As I said before it makes the game feel limited. However some of the new items are pretty good. The fight with Ganon is cool and the ending is worth it.

OVERALL: 94%

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is a great sequel and a great game. It has fairly original ideas, and utilizes them well, if not well enough. More exploration and less cuteness would've made it even better. Also it's not the game I thought it would be like, before playing it. It turned out to be much different. (which is good, in a sense). It's also one of the more original games in the series (along with Zelda 1 & II). This game is a "million-seller" and there are some very good reasons for it. It has even set the standard for the action-RPGs of today. I know that anyone wouldn't want to miss out on a game like this!