The Desert Colossus

Zelda Games => Link to the Past => Topic started by: Alpha on January 23, 2009, 12:09:13 PM

Title: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Alpha on January 23, 2009, 12:09:13 PM
For those of you who don't check the mainpage very often, I've started up a new series of articles: What Makes Zelda Great. Basically it's a retrospective focusing on one of the Zelda games at a time and looking to see what that game did better than the other titles of the series. Since I doubt my ability to think of every little thing that they did, I've decided to ask you guys why you think the games stand out from each other.

And as you can probably guess, considering which board this is being posted on, the next article focuses on A Link to the Past. So let me ask you: what do you love about the SNES classic? What really stood out to you when you played it, and what did it do better than any other game in the series? What makes ALttP great?
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 12:26:52 PM
The sheer length and epicness of the story. ( Considering the story of LoZ really appeared here.)

The hardcore boss battles.

The Huge amount of Items (especially those Medallions.)

The graphics were actually really good.

The fact that you could still go pretty much everywhere. Sure some place you needed Items but a lot was still open.

In my (and many others) Opinion the best 2D Zelda game. Probably the second if not first greatest game in the LoZ Series.

Did I forget anything?
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Uximadesk on January 23, 2009, 12:46:55 PM
One thing I loved about the game was the length. Spanning more than TEN dungeons (if you count your visits to the castle), it makes for one of the longest Zeldas of them all.
It was also the first Zelda to have a well developed story. It had a fair ammount of secondary characters that made the world feel more fleshed out.
The itmes you had acces to were also among the most epic, like the canes of byrna and somaria and the ice and fire rods, and don't get me started with the medallions.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 12:51:28 PM
Yeah did I mention you got your first well drawn picture of Zelda in the manual. And she was Really hot....

Oh yeah the demon guy was really awesome. But kinda stupid cause he thinks 1/2 magic cost is a curse. :o

I really think I pointed out everything.

Oh except I forgot the huge overworld that had so many people to meet and it introduced someone who would lead to one of my favorite characters.

The great witch Maple! They introduced Syrup in this one.

I forgot the music! What about the ever awesome Darkworld theme!
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Shadow Ganon on January 23, 2009, 01:03:53 PM
Just a great game full stop. It provided more of a challenge for me, I still haven't beaten Ganon, he isn't 'blue' for long enough to shoot him after slashing him. That and the fact that I loved the character Agahnim before I even played it...they need to bring him back...imagine it on the next Wii Title, Agahnim in TP or better graphics...my mouth waters
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 01:06:19 PM
Imagine a direct sequel to it. In 3D. See what happens after Link becomes a knight. I'm not talkin about 4 swords either.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Hi no Seijin on January 23, 2009, 01:11:13 PM
Please try to stick with what you love about ALttP.  If you want to discuss a sequel, start a new topic.

Anywho, what I love about ALttP.  The Dark World Theme, for one.  It's one of my favorite Zelda themes.

I love using the Cane of Somaria to create blocks and throw them around.  Sometimes, I try to use the missiles from breaking the block to defeat enemies.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 01:13:12 PM
I loved turtle rock. Took me forever to find it though.

Sorry bout that HNS.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Shadow Ganon on January 23, 2009, 01:19:13 PM
Sorry as well if it was me that wen't off topic HnS, I did say what I loved about it, then I expanded what I said to involve something new, it just seemed like a good place to say it.. ah well. I also loved all of the bosses, even if some were a pain
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 01:28:40 PM
*Coughmoldormcough* I thought that gleeroc was a great and i really loved helmasuar king.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Shadow Ganon on January 23, 2009, 01:38:21 PM
Yeah, they're all brilliant. Some bosses on the later games can be defeated without a single heart been lost, on this I don't think I would have beaten a single boss without the aid of fairies. They were all a fun challenge.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Hi no Seijin on January 23, 2009, 01:40:46 PM
Quote from: linkdragon0 on January 23, 2009, 01:28:40 PM
*Coughmoldormcough* I thought that gleeroc was a great and i really loved helmasuar king.
Gleerok?  Gleerok is a boss in TMC.  Do you mean Trinexx, the boss of Turtle Rock?

Yeah, Trinexx was awesome.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 01:44:22 PM
I got the names mixed up. Geekrok is Helmasaur kings name in Japan.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Uximadesk on January 23, 2009, 05:50:05 PM
Also, it was the first to introduce the now common 'parallel worlds' scheme, oh how much I love that, but even now, ALttP is the one that does it more fluently.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 05:53:10 PM
Definately had the worlds biggest world.

I mean 2 maps!
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: maxro on January 23, 2009, 07:20:58 PM
There were a couple little aesthetic things I liked about this game.

First, the fact that you turn into a bunny in the dark world is priceless. First time humor is used in Zelda. Second, the Sanctuary was one of my favorite locations- probably one of the first Zelda locations to create a real sense of safety and atmosphere. Third, the fact that you can creatively use the bug net. Fourth, any game with link having pink hair is just incredible. These little details really made the game, or what I remember of it.

Also, epic confession-- in fourth grade, for an art project, I made a kholdstare throw pillow. blue fabric, with yellow lightning sewn in, plus an evil looking eye... it was the only zelda game that has ever motivated me to that extent.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: The Glamour Nazi on January 23, 2009, 07:26:45 PM
um Link didn't really have brown hair. It just got rendered wrong from the brown being so close to green.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: ZeldaFreak on January 25, 2009, 06:40:56 PM
I haven't beat it yet. But somthing that stood out to me is that right when you begin, you already get to start in a dungon(when you go save Zelda). It wasn't a very challenging dungon, but its action right at the start. Compare that to TP, and you'll get what Im saying(herding cattle?). Also, its the first Zelda game that uses a map that you can constantly refer too. Then there's also the fact that the GBA version came with a fourswords bonus. So, yeah, I guess its a pretty fun game. ;D

I just thought of somthing else:
Quote from: maxro on January 23, 2009, 07:20:58 PM
First, the fact that you turn into a bunny in the dark world is priceless. First time humor is used in Zelda.
Actually the first time is at the beginning of the game when Link's uncle give him the sword and says "I'll always cherish the times we had together" and then dies. This is funny because you only knew him for like, not even five minutes, and also since he died he cant cherish stuff, he's dead. ;D
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: MagmarFire on January 27, 2009, 03:08:46 PM
SPOILERS: But then he comes back at the end.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: ZeldaFreak on February 03, 2009, 04:09:58 PM
Still, you only know him for like what? five minutes? ::)
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Hi no Seijin on February 03, 2009, 05:09:01 PM
You, as the player, only knew him for like five minutes.  Link, as the character, knew his uncle for most likely his whole life.
Title: Re: What Makes Zelda Great - ALttP
Post by: Gamefreak on February 05, 2009, 05:38:51 PM
For me, this is when I started playing the Zelda games back in the early-mid 90's.  So it's nolstagic for me.

As for actual reasons, this is when the series evolved out of the generic "The princess is missing, you must find her" cliche.  This is the first Zelda game to feature an actual story between the beginning and end of the game.

Plus, the items are just fun to mess around with, and once you got good, you could try playing the game with the subweapons.

Also, medallions.