Finally checked out this classic in the form of a fan-made ROM hack called A Link to the Past Redux that adds a bunch of quality of life improvements, bug fixes, and general tweaks streamlining the experience - though controversially also changing Link's hair from pink to blonde...
It's good, and I totally get why it's a considered such a gaming keystone (especially for anyone coming from the NES games before it, goddamn what an experience that must've been), but it ultimately falls prey to some of the worst of what I call "retro game bullshit", where solutions are unclear or deliberately obtuse and some common enemies are almost unfairly difficult for no real reason. It's very clear that this is the blueprint for damn near every Zelda that came after it though, I can't deny that.
If I had played it on a device that supported save states instead of an Analogue Pocket FPGA core, maybe I'd feel better about it. Should've considered picking up an old strategy guide too, for maximum nostalgia. Oh well.
It's good, and I totally get why it's a considered such a gaming keystone (especially for anyone coming from the NES games before it, goddamn what an experience that must've been), but it ultimately falls prey to some of the worst of what I call "retro game bullshit", where solutions are unclear or deliberately obtuse and some common enemies are almost unfairly difficult for no real reason. It's very clear that this is the blueprint for damn near every Zelda that came after it though, I can't deny that.
If I had played it on a device that supported save states instead of an Analogue Pocket FPGA core, maybe I'd feel better about it. Should've considered picking up an old strategy guide too, for maximum nostalgia. Oh well.
4 Comments
not talkin about dark souls here boss, this is a review of a link to the past
Before playing through it on Nintendo Switch Online, I had never played ALttP but was swept up in its influence like every other Nintendo fan was. Even with save states/rewind it was a much more janky, imperfect game than I expected.
@tendog I hesitated giving it a 3/5 for that exact "swept up in its influence" reason lol. I've come to realize that ALttP has a case of "had to be there" syndrome for me: it was such a lightning rod of popularity and innovation at the time that it became a source of inspiration (both directly and indirectly) for so many games that followed it. By the time I went back to the source itself, ALttP felt dated since I've seen so many different parts of it in so many different forms already, and lots of them had been more or less perfected in the 30+ years since this one.
And that's not the game's fault - if anything, that's its lasting accomplishment - but in terms of raw enjoyability for me... I get it and respect it, just probably won't be revisiting it. 🤷
And that's not the game's fault - if anything, that's its lasting accomplishment - but in terms of raw enjoyability for me... I get it and respect it, just probably won't be revisiting it. 🤷
Xantha_Page
1 year ago