The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds Reviews
One of the best Zelda games of all time and one which manages to quietly rewrite the series’ usual formula in some surprising, and surprisingly successful, ways.
A Link Between Worlds is one of the 3DS’s best games and a new highlight in one of Nintendo’s most storied franchises.
What could have been an easy sequel that traded on past glories is instead a compelling argument for digging up the foundations of Zelda and seeing what happens - rather like Wind Waker did 10 years ago. A Link Between Words is not a total revolution, but it may very well be the start of one. I haven’t been so challenged by a Zelda since Ocarina of Time, and rarely have I been so consistently surprised by one.
Since it follows the roadmap so closely, it’s not quite as fresh as the SNES classic was in 1992, but that doesn’t make it any less of an amazing experience. A Link Between Worlds is a delightful adventure that hits every high note a 2D Zelda game has ever produced while creating many new hallmarks of its own. In a year filled with quality 3DS games, A Link Between Worlds is another fantastic entry on a system that is quickly becoming home to a number of instant classics.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a daring step forward for the franchise, and the best Zelda game in a decade.
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.
A Link Between Worlds is the sequel I never knew I wanted
A stellar game all the way around. A Link Between Worlds maximizes the concept of depth, from the 3D, to the 2D mechanic, to the characters. This game certainly fits well in the pantheon of amazing Zelda games.
A new Zelda that will set the standard for years to come.
It’s incredibly difficult for me to talk about A Link Between World without sounding like the complete Zelda fanatic that I am, but it really is a magnificent game. This is the Zelda title I've waited a decade for, and not only is it by far the best game since The Wind Waker it is also better than the GameCube classic in every area of the series I enjoy the most.
It is, after all, an amalgam of the franchise's nearly 3 decades of history. I long ago remember comparing Zelda to Mount Fuji, one of the favorite studio objects of the painter Hokusai, who drew hundreds of variations of the mountain without exhausting its complexity. At the end of A Link Between Worlds,I fondly imagined the Nintendo EAD Group No. 3 rehearsing different perspectives on that beloved object we call Zelda. The result is nostalgia and novelty, a charming contradiction, the rewriting of an unmissable myth.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
Despite being a relatively short game (between 18 and 20 hours) I consider A Link Between Worlds one of the best games of the saga.
Review in Spanish | Read full review
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.
The Legend of Zelda A Link Between Worlds takes Link into a fully functional 3D world that not only pays homage to the games of yesterday but modernises the franchise into something thoroughly enjoyable and challenging to the gamer.
Zelda fans will continue to be spoilt by a spectacular ride through Link’s first 3D adventure. With a top-notch soundtrack, lovely visuals and addictive gameplay, you can’t ask for much more.
[P]ossibly the most impressive thing A Link Between Worlds achieves is constant surprise.
Without a doubt, The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is currently the greatest game you can experience on the 3DS. Much like the legendary Master Sword that features throughout the series, this game is beautifully crafted and offers a superbly streamlined and timeless gameplay experience. Through Link’s new transformation ability Nintendo has instilled a magical amount of innovation into the dungeons, boss battles and even the wider exploration of both Hyrule and Lorule; it’s a small feature which makes a world of difference and continuously wows you throughout the entirety of your playthrough. In other areas, Nintendo has made all the right changes to the gameplay formula, resulting in a game that is always incredibly good fun to play. Long-time fans will certainly get a kick out of its nostalgic presentation, while all players will appreciate its impeccable design and superb usage of the 3DS's touch screen.Eiji Aonuma and his team at Nintendo set themselves the unenviable challenge of creating the perfect Legend of Zelda game; with A Link Between Worlds, they may well have achieved just that.
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.