The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Reviews
A Link Between Worlds is one of the 3DS’s best games and a new highlight in one of Nintendo’s most storied franchises.
'A Link Between Worlds' blends old and new by combining a classic feel with an innovative and game-changing new feature.
Without a doubt, this is the best Zelda game in a decade, and maybe even the best one since Link to the Past was released 22 years ago.
More than just fan service, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a modern approach to the world established by the 1991 SNES adventure, A Link to the Past. Traverse the same overworld to uncover a brand new system of delightful dungeons — a familiar formula injected with fresh abilities and mechanics. This homage to a classic is itself an instant classic on the Nintendo 3DS.
A Link Between Worlds is familiar but fabulous, offering the leanest version yet of Nintendo’s long-standing adventure. Tom Hoggins returns to Hyrule
It looks great in 3D but there's no getting around the fact that the new Zelda adventure is very much like all of the others
Zelda: A Link Between Worlds, has nothing to envy to its elders. A real episode of the 3DS, Nintendo's bet is successful.
Review in French | Read full review
I truly enjoyed my experience with The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds and consider this a must buy for any Zelda fan or 3DS owner. It brings some interesting, perhaps not always welcome, changes to the traditional gameplay, but the new 2D wall walking mechanic offers a refreshing twist on the puzzles that Zelda games are well known for. Despite lacking the challenge of other titles in the series, fans will appreciate the nostalgic music and graphics, and enjoy playing through the new dungeons and boss battles that can be easily tackled on the go. This is a fantastic game, nearly perfect, taking it’s place as one of the greatest in the franchise, and it is no doubt one of the best handheld games ever made.
The Zelda series returns to its roots on 3DS, but uses the opportunity to introduce some fascinating new ideas. Classic gameplay, infused with fresh concepts and graced with stellar graphics and sound, make A Link Between Worlds one of the best games in the Zelda series and a must-own title this holiday.
For those who never played A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds is simply an exceptional game. For those like me who have fond memories of the original though, it feels like a carefully crafted love letter. Being able to explore an old world with a new twist was an absolute treat, and I loved visiting places and characters that I remembered from before, as well as discovering new ones. From the first musical notes of the opening to the last boss fight, the game is classic Zelda, and as soon as I finished it I was ready to start all over again. Simply put it’s one of the best games available on the 3DS or anywhere else, and it’s a must play.
Painting over any cracks that were starting to appear in the Zelda series, A Link Between Worlds is a refreshing experience and another Nintendo 3DS masterpiece.
A Link Between Worlds does do just enough to stand on its own merits.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a sentimental game that skates off its predecessor's successes, but is so good at doing so one hardly minds. A few neat new tricks and a beautiful visual style help make up for the game's more frustrating hurdles.
A Link Between Worlds is truly a bridge that unites two worlds. Not only those within the game, which represent light and shadow, good and evil, the continuity of life and the inevitability of death. The new Zelda also traces a connection between two very distant videogame universes: it strives in an exemplary way to make old and modern coexist, old and new.
Review in Italian | Read full review
No sequel, no remake, no anthem of A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds borrows everything from the game released on Super Famicom in 1991. But he does it in a beautiful way, with respect and accuracy, by proposing a gripping adventure and ingenious dungeons, without exceeding his model. It cannot be held against it, as any Zelda game cannot constitute a revolution in video games. And then this Zelda 3DS offers more, even if it plays security by being modeled on Zelda 3, a small upheaval welcome in the formula, thanks to a progression less dirigiste. Nostalgic and newcomers will find their account, despite different perceptions. This new Zelda is an excellent title, a must of the 3DS.
Review in French | Read full review
[P]ossibly the most impressive thing A Link Between Worlds achieves is constant surprise.
A Link Between Worlds boasts excellent characterisation and spacial design. Even a too-shallow difficulty curve can't hold this long awaited entry back.
A Link Between Worlds blends nostalgic familiarity with newfangled fantasy, introducing innovation with sacrificng any of what made its forebear great. It's an incredible adventure for fans old and new.
For 26 years, I’ve been waiting for a true follow-up to the first Legend of Zelda, a game that captured my imagination and catapulted me into becoming a lifelong fan of action-adventures and role-playing games. A Link Between Worlds recognizes that it’s not tacked-on stealth segments or waggling a controller to roll bombs that makes Zelda tick—it’s the unbounded exploration and freedom found in the NES original, and it’s finally back in full force here. Every Zelda fan needs to play this game.
A Link Between Worlds is close to perfection. It hearkens back to the old days of Zelda, encouraging players to explore Hyrule to their heart’s content. It has a charming art style and some of the best dungeon designs in the series to date. And yet, it only succeeds; It never soars. Link’s latest adventure makes nearly every right choice from a mechanical front, but it never goes beyond that. The result is a product that could have been the next Ocarina of Time, but settles for Twilight Princess.