Just finished it. I didn't collect every heart piece (I think I missed 5) and I didn't find every upgrade. I will try that the next time I play. It's a great game even if its a little on the short side but that's normal considering the size of the world. The freedom is a breath of fresh air but with that freedom, the difficulty curve can change big time. I swear the last two dungeons I did were a lot easier then the middle ones. The benefit of having a direction can help prepare you better. I guess it all depends but with this size of world, it worked very well. I wonder what ZWU will be like.

So I bought this game from the Best Buy b1g150%off sale and... it's amazing.

I just beat the first dungeon and the game hits me with nostalgia and a sense of new discovery at the same time.

Also the 3D effect is perfect. Much better than Majora's Mask. It adds so much to the game and makes the charm just pop.

I really want to play this game again. It's so good. But, I haven't finished Majora's Mask 3D, Wind Waker, or Skyward Sword (which I've never beaten). I'd feel guilty playing that again before, any of those other games.

Embarassing side note: I was wondering who wrote the review for this game as I was about to click on this thread. As soon as I open the thread, I see my review on the page. I was like, "Oh right. That was me." I haven't reviewed anything in a while. I really need to get back on that horse but, life just gets in the way.

@cusideabelincoln Agreed, loved this game and the 3D effect is still my favorite on the system. I really really hope we get another LBW-styled game, for 3DS or Wii U.

Well I haven't quite finished the game yet. I still have to defeat Yuga. But this game is... fucking perfect.

I really enjoy the freedom. Renting the weapons until you can buy them is a brilliant way to make the entire game world accessible to the player right off the bat. Also being able to complete the dungeons in random order is a nice touch as well. Any time I replay A Link to the Past I always upgrade the Master Sword as soon as I get the hammer. I don't even finish the first dungeon I just leave it, go rescue the blacksmith, and then upgrade. ALBW takes this concept to the next level, and I frickin' love it. Of course you might have more trouble completing the "harder/later" dungeons if you go into them prematurely, but it's still entirely doable. (note: I can't really imaging completing Turtle Rock without the upgraded Ice Rod. That is almost a necessity IMO.)

This game just opened my eyes to the possibilities of sustaining the Zelda formula. It's not done yet! I'm really looking forward to Zelda on WiiU or the next console. If they polish this formula and translate it into a fully 3D open world environment then the game will be masterful.

Edit:
I guess on the weaker side the story does take a hit. I mean it's fine for a handheld game because I just want to play the game. While the dungeons and overall game is shorter than ALttP, I think it makes since as I can play them in small chunks on the go. I think most dungeons took 30 minutes or less, except for the Ice Ruins which took me close to an hour (It was my second dungeon and didn't have the upgraded fire rod).

But back to the story, that is probably also a function of the freedom the game allows. The more linear design of Ocarina of Time, which I think still has the best story, narrative, and cutscenes allows for a more dramatic game.

Just completed the game, I loved everything about it. Really happy to have finally given this game the time it deserves. Everything felt right to me, it felt like a great nostalgia trip while having enough new elements to make it feel fresh.

Really looking forward to Triforce Heroes now but I would love a complete new adventure using this engine.

Very tempted to give the game a runthrough in Hero Mode given how short it is.

@warerare

Congrats! And yeah, the game is short enough to warrant a second play through rather quickly. Maybe I could do the same....I only played through it once (so far).

I hope Tri Force Heroes has a cool last-boss, though. I was a little disappointed with the one in A Link Between Worlds. Of course, I was also disappointed with the final boss in A Link To The Past, so I guess not much has changed, ha ha.

But seriously, the final bosses in the DS Legend of Zelda games had more epic final showdowns.

warerare said:

Really looking forward to Triforce Heroes now but I would love a complete new adventure using this engine.

Right? I suppose it's still possible, but the announcement of Triforce Heroes has really stolen most of my hope. It's being directed by Hiromasa Shikata, who also directed ALBW, so chances seem slim that they will be able to pump out another singleplayer adventure in the remaining life of the 3DS.

But hey, maybe there will be another 2D Zelda with an even better engine on the next handheld. I'd just hate to lose the stereoscopic 3D effect.

@GameDadGrant

I quite enjoyed the last boss but it turns out I missed some pretty cool upgrades like the Master Ore and Red Tunic so it was actually pretty difficult. It came down to about 2 hearts in the end.

@Hinph

I feel the same way, we can always dream can't we.

Hero Mode: engaged.
Pain Level: harsh
Advice: bottled fairies, patience, more bottled fairies.

I am not sure what is possessing me, but I feel like this masterpiece needs to be played again.

After sitting at the final boss for about a year, I brought my 3DS with me on vacation last week and ended up beating the game at 30,000 ft in the air. Does that make me a member of the mile high triforce club? :)

Great game, the 3D, while not necessary, does add something to this because of the way the levels were designed, especially certain dungeons.

Scrawnton said:

I am not sure what is possessing me, but I feel like this masterpiece needs to be played again.

I gave it another run-through a few months ago, this time with 100% (Streetpass medals and all). It was great. Go for it!

@TriforceBun

You even completed the Cucoo challenge?

@VofEscaflowne

Welllll...not the 999 second one or whatever for the Big Cucco. I guess that counts! But to heck with that business...!

@TriforceBun I remember trying that a couple years ago when the game came out; I quickly put it down. Not my idea of fun!

cooliocuneo said:

I brought my 3DS with me on vacation last week and ended up beating the game at 30,000 ft in the air. Does that make me a member of the mile high triforce club? :)

Yes.

Inspired by my revisiting of Zero Mission and SirMasterSephiroth's Oracle thread, I took some time the past couple days to revisit some of the 2D Zeldas.

I booted up Oracle of Ages to see if it would click with my harder than Seasons; its attempt at epic fantasy storytelling did not.

I played up through the first dungeon of Link's Awakening to verify its place as one of the best games in the series, and my preference held true. So much snappier and mysterious than the Oracle games.

I did the same for A Link to the Past. To the extent I appreciate this game for solidifying the Zelda formula, I hate it for solidifying the Zelda formula. Ocarina of Time is more epic, Link's Awakening is the better 2D game in every other regard, and what remains is a betrayal of the NES original's freedom.

Having played and enjoyed Minish Cap last year, the only game left was A Link Between Worlds, which I remember being pretty forgettable. So I booted it up, started playing, and...

...it's fantastic.

There are NPCs and dialogue, yes, but the text speed is so fast that you don't feel them. Link's movement speed is equally speedy, and between that and the map on the bottom screen, it feels like the world of ALttP has finally been freed from SNES jank. There is no barrier between idea and execution in this game, just instantaneous zippy item-wielding and puzzle-solving. The wall mechanic is a seriously innovative gimmick, not just for Zelda, but for games as a whole, and the item rental system is a great change of pace that opens up the world even further.

I'm one dungeon in, and aside from Link's Awakening (which holds a truly special place in my heart), I'm already ready to call this the best 2D Zelda game. In hindsight, it really is the start of Nintendo's new era in design that lead to Breath of the Wild.

Yep, it's still my favorite top-down Zelda adventure.
(Because we haven't had any new ones since...)

I feel like this game is horribly underrated. I think it smokes the two DS game. I think I played through it twice, and still, some of those dungeons really stump me. I would buy a Switch or Switch 2 remaster in a heartbeat.