The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Reviews
Same old, Same old. Bring back Moosh and implement some new ideas. Zelda is a wearing franchise.
In fact, the only real legacy it leaves behind beyond being a serviceable Zelda game is its welcome streamlining, which I hope is carried over to future iterations. It's a great way to return to the world of Link to the Past, but outside of some welcome streamlining, it doesn't surpass it, or even meet it.
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.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds has the difficult task of respectfully building on an old game while doing a lot of new. The game mixes the Old and New in a great way. You'll feel right at home in A Link Between Worlds.
Review in Dutch | Read full review
Surprisingly, despite all its whimsy, 'A Link Between World's' final evaluation becomes mostly academic. There are ones and zeroes to consider here, and my emotions on the subject should really take a back seat. This is the most personalized game in the franchise to date, and yet the story is among the most sterile. The dungeons are phenomenal, but the overworld is drab, if intelligently designed and easy to, within it, lose yourself in exploration.
It's not even the best Zelda game in the last five years
Changes to traditional structure make this the most interesting Zelda game in years.
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
A Link Between Worlds does do just enough to stand on its own merits.
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
'A Link Between Worlds' blends old and new by combining a classic feel with an innovative and game-changing new feature.
A Link Between Worlds takes some much-needed strides to shake things up. But it does so within a pair of worlds most fans know maybe a little too well, and you know what they say about familiarity. This is a good first step in Nintendo's journey to revitalize Zelda, but the next leg of the trip needs to be considerably bolder.
A tale endlessly retold, wrongs endlessly righted, a map endlessly tweaked and embellished and folded back on itself. If, heaven forbid, this was the last Zelda ever, I couldn't think of a more fitting tribute to the series' strange ritualistic preoccupations than this cheerful, slight, and ultimately rather strange game.
A Link Between Worlds is an excellent adventure that experiments with new ideas that not everyone will love.
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
A Link Between Worlds captures plenty of that old Zelda magic with its excellent dungeon design and gameplay-first formula. Series fans will not be disappointed, although it may not deviate from formula quite enough for some. In my estimation, the developers stuck to the right parts of series formula while innovating in important areas, such as non-linearity and user-friendly interface decisions. This is yet another entry in a string of great 3DS games this year, making that device one of the best gaming investments out there.
A Link Between Worlds addresses that history head-on, but somehow creates an identity that’s more fulfilling and surprising than any Zelda since Wind Waker. It might have the same map as A Link to the Past, the same overhead perspective, and the same weapons and archetypes that appear in every Zelda. It’s not the same as any Zelda you’ve played before, though, because even this reliably good series is rarely as elegantly designed as A Link Between Worlds.
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.
It is a grand game in its own right and deserves its place alongside the best in its franchise.