When I learned that this game was going to be a game that was like my favorite Zelda game, "Link to the Past" I just knew I had to play it. It is not only like that game, it is actually a sequel to that said game. Once I learned this when I started playing I was ecstatic as a couple of people that I had talked to made it sound like this was sort of a remake of that game and that there were only going to be a few new places and a new power. So, suffice to say, this is one of the better Zelda games I have played in a while. Do not get me wrong, there has yet to be a Zelda game that I disliked, but all the ones that I have played that have come after this one all have parts about them that I find disappointing. Ocarina of Time was really fun, but at times those dungeons were too much as I needed a strategy guide to traverse them. Windwaker's dungeons were not too bad, but the problem with it was the world was so covered with water. Twilight Princess had the same problems as Ocarina. Once again, all these games were fun, but this one defeats them with its simple charms and the fact that it is not so short that it is over before you know it and it is not too long that it overstays its welcome. The two worlds are also fun to explore.
The story is set in Hyrule, where many years have passed since the previous hero defeated the vile Ganon and sealed away his awful powers. Unfortunately, a new threat has arisen in the form of a person named Yuga, who is obsessed with capturing beauty in paintings. His powers turn people into portraits. It is not long before he is invading Hyrule castle and turning Zelda herself into a painting. Link must go from being a lazy apprentice at a blacksmith's shop to the hero we all know he is. He must, of course, seize the master sword from its resting place once again and find the sages across two worlds as another princess seems in need of a hero of her own.
The game play is standard Zelda with a few twists to it. In this one, you do find some items in dungeons, but a lot of items you can purchase in a shop run by a strange man named Ravio. You also do not have to worry about buying bombs constantly or arrows as when you use these items it simply takes away some magic. I can see people not liking this feature as it does take away from some of the challenge, and it also makes buying stuff not all that central to the game once you have purchased all the items there are to buy. The combat is standard and dungeon exploration is much easier here than in the more 3D games as the ones mentioned above. The dungeons are challenging, but they do not take forever! As for the 3D part of the game, it really just adds depth to the world. I find it strange that a game that was converted (Ocarina) had more in your face 3D than this game that was made for the 3DS.
So, yes, this game is very fun. I still prefer Link to the Past, but this is due to the fact that this game was essentially placed in that world. If there were more new places it would have been a bit more fun, or if the world was expanded just a bit more. Sure, Lorule, was sort of different than the Golden Realm of Past, but it also kind of mirrored it a bit to well too. The story is really good, but I wish there were a few more character interactions in certain areas too. I like talking with people and learning about areas and locales and there is a bit of that in here, but not enough for my tastes. Overall though, the game is great so enough talking about its faults. I wish more gaming companies would make games in this simpler format for release as this is the type of game I prefer than the same game being released everywhere with just a few tweaks to it.
