Ah, retro gaming - while many of you may do it to revisit fond gaming memories, I do it because I missed a lot of good games from yesteryears. Well, and because I like keeping my distance from new game hype.
Having played all the notable console Zelda titles from N64 and beyond, it was time to take another step backward to the SNES. When it comes to sword fighting, we’re quite spoiled these days with our full, arc-shaped range of swing, as compared to the more grid-like single direction attacking capabilities of our pink-haired hero, Link (unless you use the spin attack… which I typically didn’t). And while some naysayers will lament the number of buttons on modern controllers, I was yearning for more as I paused every couple of minutes during the final showdown to switch between auxiliary items.
But, hardware and software issues aside, Link to the Past still offered an enjoyable and rewarding gaming experience. Gameplay is fun, and between the original Zelda - where I’m hopelessly lost half the time - and modern Zeldas - where a chirpy sidekick is directing you from dawn til dusk - LttP feels like a good balance between the two extremes of zero direction and persistent hand-holding. Story-wise, this is a strictly by the numbers affair offering no real surprises aside from Link’s alter ego as a fluffy pink bunny. In fact, why is it even called “Link to the Past”? … Ah, politically correct translatory name change, thanks Wikipedia!
There are certain game series you can trust for consistently good titles, and Zelda has proven itself to be one of them. … No, I’ve not played Zelda II.
