The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

 Game Boy Advance
User Score
9.0

Universal acclaim- based on 727 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 651 out of 727
  2. Mixed: 47 out of 727
  3. Negative: 29 out of 727
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  1. Focaccia
    Jun 12, 2017
    7
    A Link to the Past hasn't aged very well. This is still a good game, except that it is too outdated to compete with other newer Zelda games such as Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, or even Ocarina of Time. It's soundtrack although having some nice tracks, is hard to listen to due to the technical limitations of the SNES and GBA. There are also way too many caves, in which it is veryA Link to the Past hasn't aged very well. This is still a good game, except that it is too outdated to compete with other newer Zelda games such as Skyward Sword and Breath of the Wild, or even Ocarina of Time. It's soundtrack although having some nice tracks, is hard to listen to due to the technical limitations of the SNES and GBA. There are also way too many caves, in which it is very easy to get lost and can become tedious and frustrating. The overworld is good and has many hidden secrets. Most of the dungeons are still pretty good, such as Swamp Palace or Misery Mire. However some dungeons are just awful, such as the Ice Palace, I have raged so much while playing through this dungeon, there are enemies everywhere and the slippery floor doesn't help the game's controls, definitely in my top 3 worst Zelda dungeons of all time. Turtle Rock and Eastern Palace are also pretty tedious and outdated. Overall this game is still a good game and hasn't aged as bad as Super Mario Bros 3, but it is not one of the best games out there anymore unfortunately. This is a game I can only recommend to hardcore Zelda or Retro gaming fans. I also recommend playing this game casually rather than intensely.… Expand
  2. BlazikenGod
    Jun 4, 2014
    5
    The most overrated game ever made after the greatness of Zelda 1 and 2 I don't get why this game is so loved by the fans sure, it brought in great graphics for it's time the master sword and various other staples but I don't understand why this game so loved 5.3/10
  3. AnonY.Mous
    Jun 11, 2009
    6
    Okay, this is an overrated, but still pretty good, game. It was probably the best thing out there in the SNES era, but let's face it: it doesn't hold up well enough to be considered a timeless classic. These days, there are games that do the same thing, but better, which nobody seems to understand due to nostalgia. A remake should have fixed this by adding major gameplay changes Okay, this is an overrated, but still pretty good, game. It was probably the best thing out there in the SNES era, but let's face it: it doesn't hold up well enough to be considered a timeless classic. These days, there are games that do the same thing, but better, which nobody seems to understand due to nostalgia. A remake should have fixed this by adding major gameplay changes and not just parroting the original, and that's where it truly falls: it needs more added to keep up with the rest of the gaming world.… Expand
  4. ColeB.
    Mar 6, 2004
    7
    I couldn't figure out where to go...
  5. Babydoll
    Apr 17, 2005
    5
    I voted 5 because i think you could of done a whole lot better on the gameboy advance zelda games like cmon mario cart has heaps better graphics and in the game cube for the legend of zelda the four swords is like a cartoon character.
  6. SteveP.
    Nov 19, 2005
    5
    OK sorry to all the Zelda fans out there but I don't like this game. It was good for about 2 maybe 3 weeks, then it got hard, to hard. I understand makeing a game challenging but I hated killing 500 whatevers then being killed by some boss, that i didn't even know why i was fighting it, then start all over again. And when i finallly bet it, it gives me so dum ring, or sword, or OK sorry to all the Zelda fans out there but I don't like this game. It was good for about 2 maybe 3 weeks, then it got hard, to hard. I understand makeing a game challenging but I hated killing 500 whatevers then being killed by some boss, that i didn't even know why i was fighting it, then start all over again. And when i finallly bet it, it gives me so dum ring, or sword, or par of underware, that gives me some lame power I never use. Oh and the story is real creative, a princes gets kidnapped by an evil wizard who wants to take over the world. That kinda sound like the story to ever Cheap Excuse For An RPG. But if your a Hard Core RPG fan this game will be fantastic.… Expand
  7. SonicT22
    Mar 27, 2017
    7
    I say the GBA Remake of Link To The Past is one huge improvement over the SNES Version and here is why i think that: The Legend Of Zelda A Link To The Past is not a game i say is 10/10 best game ever because every game has its flaws Sonic 06 is well Sonic 06 or how Metroid Fusion suffers from long intro the SNES original has more than a few it has around a dozen i will only name a coupleI say the GBA Remake of Link To The Past is one huge improvement over the SNES Version and here is why i think that: The Legend Of Zelda A Link To The Past is not a game i say is 10/10 best game ever because every game has its flaws Sonic 06 is well Sonic 06 or how Metroid Fusion suffers from long intro the SNES original has more than a few it has around a dozen i will only name a couple so this doesn't drag on and on but i do think i should get on with it so first off one major problem is, Music the music on the original is good but adding sound effects of link talking is not needed it makes the game harder to play if your ears are THAT sensitive it doesn't affect the gameplay just wanted to point that out but i always see lots of people bashing this Remake for that reason its been in the series SINCE OCARINA OF TIME BUT NO ONE SAID THAT WAS A BAD THING just blah blah blah this isn't as grand as every makes it out to be… Expand
  8. damaso7
    Jan 10, 2018
    7
    Una ambientación genial, un mundo bien planteado, diseño de niveles muy inteligente. Sin embargo cojea un poco la historia, que intenta ser épica pero resulta algo enrevesada.
  9. Archvile-UT
    Mar 20, 2022
    5
    Приключение в компактном открытом мире с достаточно удобной навигацией и отполированным геймплеем. Сложность нарастает постепенно, навыков множество и все потребуется использовать в нужных местах. Есть даже моменты, где можно схитрить и проявить нестандартный подход – вот что значит грамотный геймдизайн.
    Понятно почему игра стала культовой у фанатов Нинтендо, но минималистичная картинка,    Приключение в компактном открытом мире с достаточно удобной навигацией и отполированным геймплеем. Сложность нарастает постепенно, навыков множество и все потребуется использовать в нужных местах. Есть даже моменты, где можно схитрить и проявить нестандартный подход – вот что значит грамотный геймдизайн.
    Понятно почему игра стала культовой у фанатов Нинтендо, но минималистичная картинка, музыка и история не дают поставить высокую оценку - поэтому 5/10    … Expand
  10. JustinForgueims
    Apr 4, 2023
    6
    A super complete Zelda game with everything you expect: open world, lots of dungeons, lots if items and mechanics, lots of puzzles, lots of NPCs and side quests.
    Difficulty slightly higher than in other Zeldas.
    The main issue, and it's a BIG one, is the randomness of everything. There are almost no clues, no indications. You need to guess all the time. The items are super hidden, even    A super complete Zelda game with everything you expect: open world, lots of dungeons, lots if items and mechanics, lots of puzzles, lots of NPCs and side quests.
    Difficulty slightly higher than in other Zeldas.

    The main issue, and it's a BIG one, is the randomness of everything. There are almost no clues, no indications. You need to guess all the time. The items are super hidden, even the key ones.
    How are you supposed to know that for access a dungeon or beat a boss you need an special item you never seen, that's in the opoosite side of the map, in a hidden cave, under a random rock if nobody is pointing you there.

    This happens all the time and results in making the game harder if you don't find something useful or simply frustrating if you NEED something that you have no way to know where is.

    Same happens with many enemies that you need to test every single weapon/magic you have to guess how to kill it. In case it's not inmortal or you need something you didn't find yet.

    The combat is greatly affected by the non responsive directional controls, terrible hit box and annoying knockback.    … Expand
  11. stupidopinion
    Jun 21, 2022
    7
    This game is good, but it is very dated. The game design is solid, with clever puzzles, solid (if not simple) combat, and a pretty pixel-art world to discover. Secrets are abundant and make you feel like a genius every time you prod at something suspicious or engage in a bit of outside-of-the box thinking. However, there are progression points that are incredibly unintuitive, and I feelThis game is good, but it is very dated. The game design is solid, with clever puzzles, solid (if not simple) combat, and a pretty pixel-art world to discover. Secrets are abundant and make you feel like a genius every time you prod at something suspicious or engage in a bit of outside-of-the box thinking. However, there are progression points that are incredibly unintuitive, and I feel demand outside help or previous knowledge of the game. The game has a hint system using fortune tellers, but it is terrible and almost never provides you the information actually necessary to progress. This happened to me on 4 occasions, and I wasted hours of my time trying to figure them out on my own, only to defeatedly look it up and find a solution that I never would have found. An example of this is the part of the game where you buy the flippers. The hint in game says something along the lines of "go to lake area and find a Zora". I do this and scour the entire area multiple times, only finding dead ends and look it up online. Turns out in one of the dead ends you have to stand in front of a waterfall in a specific place for the Zora to appear. Design like this is fine for 2002, today its just annoying. The music in this game is decent, but is sorely lacking for a Zelda game. If the hint system actually worked my score would probably be at an 8-9, but a game that requires you to look things up to beat it is a flawed game.… Expand

Awards & Rankings

1
#1 Best Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
1
#1 Most Discussed Game Boy Advance Game of 2002
2
#2 Most Shared Game Boy Advance Game of 2002

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
95

Universal acclaim - based on 30 Critic Reviews

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 29 out of 30
  2. Mixed: 1 out of 30
  3. Negative: 0 out of 30
  1. Eurogamer
    100
    An indispensable game, combining arguably the finest RPG/adventure the 16-bit era ever produced (even compared to the likes of Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy VI) with an expertly realised multiplayer rendition of Zelda.
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  2. GBA Central
    100
    The adventure is long, involving, challenging and presented to perfection with beautiful graphics and a stunning soundtrack.
    Read full review
  3. GMR Magazine
    90
    Not having to dig out the SNES and clean out the cartridge port is nice enough, but to play this classic game on the bus? Pure Nirvana. [Feb 2003, p.74]
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