I got it while it was on sale as well for $30 on the eShop. Really liking it so far! Didn't think I'd like it all that much based on footage I had seen of it, but it's a pretty great game. I was somehow convinced them using 2D images for monsters (ala Devil Survivor, which I enjoyed, but was "last handheld gen") would lower the enjoyment when I've got a 3D dude running around... Not the case! The battles would certainly feel more lively with 3D models, but it's perfectly fine.

Story seems to be picking up the pace, too! But I'm only about 10 hours in.

@Xbob42

'Only' 10 hours in? How long is this game?

@Tranquilo It's a Shin Megami Tensei turn-based RPG, I'm guessing at LEAST 40-50 hours if you don't do a bunch of side stuff.

Checking How Long To Beat... (Formatting was screwy, here's the link)

PlayStyle (Polled) Average Median Fastest Longest
Main Story (Required) (15) 41h 42m 36h 30m 30h 89h 10m
Main + Extras (41) 63h 33m 62h 02m 32h 50m 115h 43m
Completionists (2) 94h 02m 94h 02m 78h 05m 110h
All PlayStyles (58) 58h 57m 54h 30m 30h 115h 43m

Just finished up. Really enjoyed it.

I started a new game in Hero Mode. I'm uncomfortable with the damage done by little weeny enemies! I gotta get those heart pieces!

So have you guys heard what happens when you complete all 50 of the StreetPass challenges?

Apparently, you get to fight Gramps. And he wields the Master Sword against you, which has started fueling some theories that he might be a past Link.

I just can't get enough of the computer-generated Shadow Links to show up to get any more medals...

@V_s

That is AWESOME!

I'll have to get some more StreetPasses, I've completed only a handful of the challenges, so far....maybe 4 or 5 of them. I've got a long way to go...!

Interesting theory, though. It'd be cool if true. Has there ever been any confirmation on the average lifespan of a Hylian?

Beat the game last night, enjoyed it so much. It really felt like when I first played A Link to the Past. Probably because it had that "been there, seen that" going...but it's one of the few recent Zelda games that just kept me wanting to go forward. Dungeons had some clever puzzles, but weren't bogged down by being incredibly long.

Example, Ocarina of Time and A Link Between Worlds spoilers;

Final fight with Ganondorf in Ocarina of Time requires going back through seven passages to break the seal for the seven Sages. A Link Between Worlds I only have to refight 4 bosses.

Minor, but I feel like the portable nature of the game makes it more enjoyable. I can see myself replaying this game, likely many times, because it is quick. I'm not bogged down by hour long beginnings, I don't have people harping at me every step to do this or look at that...it just feels freeing.

As for the StreetPass thing, I've only had one battle. Got 4 medals out of it, but hopefully when I hit the airport on Wednesday I'll pick up a lot more.

TheOldManFromZelda said:

I started a new game in Hero Mode. I'm uncomfortable with the damage done by little weeny enemies! I gotta get those heart pieces!

Pretty insane right? I'm pretty sure there is an enemy in Lorule that is instant death if it touches you... or at the very least does 8 heart damage.

It gets a lot more manageable as you continue to collect bottles and heart pieces. The blue mail obviously helps a lot as well.

GameDadGrant said:

Interesting theory, though. It'd be cool if true. Has there ever been any confirmation on the average lifespan of a Hylian?

No, in fact the only creature in the Zelda series we've ever received information on regarding their lifespan is the fairy (said to live for "hundreds" of years).

But we've seen Gerudo live for centuries, we've seen at least one Sheikah live for "thousands" of years. And Linebeck, Joanne, and Jolene from Phantom Hourglass apparently lived for centuries (but that was probably due to time moving more quickly in the realm of the Ocean King than it does in the real world). Niko lived to be over 100 years old though. So the human races are apparently able to live for a long time (or at least it seems that the ones who manage to live to be really old, stay really old for a while before they die).

But, yeah, I definitely like the theory, especially considering all of the stuff the Rumor Guy has to say about Gramps. (And the fact that he can summon Shadow Links!)

Spoilers within Link: Whoa, cool.

@VofEscaflowne That's probably because he plays identically to the shadow links, who also have Master Swords.

@VofEscaflowne

The Rumor Guy is a guy who lives in the northernmost section of the Lost Woods (you have to enter the Lost Woods through the area near Rosso's house to find the cave where he lives, I think), and he tells you rumors about three characters in the games.

As for two Master Swords - we do know that Link got a Master Sword in Oracle of Seasons/Ages that wasn't the same Master Sword as the one from ALttP. In fact, if you played Seasons first (which is the "proper" order according to the instruction booklets and Hyrule Historia), then the Master Sword you get is forged from a broken sword whose pieces were found by an Old Zora several hundreds of years in the past. So I like to believe that this Master Sword is the Master Sword from TWW which eventually snapped and was removed from Ganondorf-statue's head.

Oh, and another thing I forgot to mention that the theory has going for it: Gramps is dressed in a green tunic.

EDIT: Also, I finally found the last two Heart Pieces I was missing! I have now officially 100%'d the game (excluding getting all 50 challenge medals and beating the Endless Cucco game with 999 seconds).

Is there any point to buying the tool shop items instead of renting them? Or is it just like the owner said, "Now you can keel over as many times as you want!"? If that's the only reason, then I don't see much point in it, as the game has been pretty easy and I don't think I'll have to worry about that.

@Mop it up

There's something in the game that you can only take advantage of with the bought version of the item.

I won't say anything more than that though

@Mop it up

When do we get the option to even do this? I'm at my first Lorule dungeon and have not seen this yet.

@DrFinkelstein You'll get it soon, just check back at the shop every dungeon or so, it'll be very soon.

And you'll be missing out on a very big part of the game if you don't buy your items outright. :p

@DrFinkelstein

I remember them becoming available to buy either right before Lorule or right after my first Lorule dungeon. I forget which.

@V_s

You can buy them before Lorule's first dungeon.

Well I have lots of rupees so I've been buying all the items anyway, since there doesn't seem to be anything else to spend money on. Minigames hardly cost anything compared to how much money is shoveled at me. Plus they look better without the little purple thing attached to them, so that's worth paying for.