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. LordBaniTV
    Aug 5, 2020
    9
    This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. It's one of my favourite Zelda Games ever. Sometimes a little random and in the later half you're mostly just running from dungeon to dungeon but the dungeons and overall Gameplay are pretty fun regardless. If you haven't yet, you need to experience this game yourself, just give it a it's a classic!… Expand
  2. redsky1205
    Jul 10, 2018
    9
    Though there are occasional annoying sections, well-made leveling and puzzles are really fun. If you love dot graphics, you will not be able to do this badly. The story is fairly poor, but it covers everything with game-play. It seems to be a complete version of shooting + puzzle + RPG.
  3. giannis2001
    Sep 4, 2022
    9
    One of my favorite games of all time. It hasn't aged at all. Play it so you can appreciate all those innovations this game introduced to the series and gaming in general.
  4. jiorl
    Sep 14, 2019
    9
    i have always been on team mario, and had only recently entered the world of Zelda through Breath of the Wild. I loved that game, so when the SNES game application made its way to the switch, i immediately started to play A Link to the Past. I wasn't disappointed. Everything about this games feels just right. The amount of dungeons will keep you satisfied, the gameplay is tight. Thei have always been on team mario, and had only recently entered the world of Zelda through Breath of the Wild. I loved that game, so when the SNES game application made its way to the switch, i immediately started to play A Link to the Past. I wasn't disappointed. Everything about this games feels just right. The amount of dungeons will keep you satisfied, the gameplay is tight. The puzzles which come out of the gameplay and the world keep you engaged, and forces you to use your intuition and curiosity in using newly aquired items and obstacles in your way. The bosses also are good for what they are, and Gannon is a fantasic ending boss. The world is a great, interesting place with unique areas, and the characters and enemies have lots of charm. This game hasn't aged one bit, and visually the game looks stellar. Fantastic, and i recommend it fully… Expand
  5. ChesterField
    May 1, 2020
    9
    My first game in the series and one of the best 2D zeldas next to the Seasons in my opinion. Essential.
  6. illumi3602
    Jul 5, 2020
    9
    It's no surprise that this game has mostly positive reviews since this the game that first develop the legend of zelda formula. i spend 25 hours to finish the game and 100 percent it and it's quite a hard
    game right after you reach the dark world, enemies start doing double or triple the damage and bosses are way harder. i manged to die quite a lot in this game but i will still recommend    It's no surprise that this game has mostly positive reviews since this the game that first develop the legend of zelda formula. i spend 25 hours to finish the game and 100 percent it and it's quite a hard
    game right after you reach the dark world, enemies start doing double or triple the damage and bosses are way harder. i manged to die quite a lot in this game but i will still recommend it to play on the switch or wii shop, i don't know if it's on the wii u.    … Expand
  7. bergcamp101
    Oct 5, 2020
    9
    Even in 2020 it would be a masterpiece. And it was released in 1991! Should I say more...
  8. hector_bcn98
    Oct 31, 2022
    9
    Uno de los videojuegos más importantes de la historia, en portátil. Poco más que añadir, con picos de dificultad algo elevados... y falta de guía sobre el mapa. Hay que buscarse demasiado la vida. Ah, y en inglés.
  9. ylnylmn
    Sep 1, 2021
    9
    I just started the Zelda series, I had a hard time in the first 2 games and couldn't finish it. But I was able to finish this game finally. First of all, it is an incredible quality game for its year. There is a revolutionary improvement compared to the previous 2 games. Excellent pixel art. Musics. Level design. It's a beautiful world to explore. Various characters. Various items andI just started the Zelda series, I had a hard time in the first 2 games and couldn't finish it. But I was able to finish this game finally. First of all, it is an incredible quality game for its year. There is a revolutionary improvement compared to the previous 2 games. Excellent pixel art. Musics. Level design. It's a beautiful world to explore. Various characters. Various items and spells. Nice puzzles. Everything is as it should be. But.. man, this game is so hard. First of all, combat is brutal. If you are playing for the first time like me, you will die a lot. Yes, you will be very angry. I said I finished the game but not alone, stuck in 2-3 places too much. I spent a day trying to find it. I finally gave up and had to look for the solution from the forums. I wish it was a little easier, aside from combat, it is very complicated to find the necessary items.… Expand
  10. BeeSting1
    Nov 26, 2021
    9
    Good

    - The animations and overall graphics detail is amazing - the world is immense for SNES game. - dungeon design is very impressive. Puzzles are deep and reasonably challenging. - controls are crisp. Upgrades are cool and fun to use. Bad - the sword hitbox doesn't exactly match the animation. - moon pearl, a required item should not be missable, but it is. I was    Good

    - The animations and overall graphics detail is amazing

    - the world is immense for SNES game.

    - dungeon design is very impressive. Puzzles are deep and reasonably challenging.

    - controls are crisp. Upgrades are cool and fun to use.

    Bad

    - the sword hitbox doesn't exactly match the animation.

    - moon pearl, a required item should not be missable, but it is. I was going in circles wondering where to find it. Turned out to be in a chest in a previous dungeon.

    - the game doesn't tell me that there are other ways to enter the dark world after beating the dark palace. This causes me to try and enter through the mountain pad entrance and try and find a way off the mountain, which was not possible

    - swamp palace. How am I supposed to know I'm supposed to randomly walk into a waterfall? 6 waterfalls that look identical. I'm supposed to walk through

    - I wish locked doors would be marked. And chests would be marked.

    - no hints were given that i had to use the fire rod to burn the entrance of the dark temple. The skull shows no indication that it could be burned.

    - Titan's mitts is missable in gargoyle palace, which is required to get into ice palace. Meaning I was completely stuck not knowing what I needed, until I refer to a guide.

    - game forces player to explore every nook and cranny to get potentially required items

    - quake medallion is required to reach final dungeon but it's missable. And I have to somehow know the order to hit the pikes to open the warp to dark world for last dungeon.

    - the game forces you to explore and do random quests to acquire required upgrades like silver Arrow to beat Ganon. I don't like how these important things are missable.

    - no price tag for super bomb. How am I supposed to know how much rupees to collect?    … Expand
  11. Nikitosss95
    Feb 13, 2021
    9
    Lovely RPG game, one of the best in the GBA world, I grew up playing it a lot alongside Pokémon, Golden sun, super Mario, sonic etc.
  12. joshSD
    Apr 16, 2021
    9
    very relaxing zelda game. combat is easy so far and it runs smoothly on my switch. very good.
  13. Leviata_Reis
    Jul 20, 2021
    9
    Jogo muito divertido , e com momentos desafiadores . O certo do jogo era pressionar um botão pra correr a qualquer lado , mas aqui so pode correr em linha reta pra cima baixo ou esquerda e direita . Em um mundo tão grande , o Link esta praticamente isolado , porque os npc são apenas dicas . https://www.youtube.com/c/BathesReis/videos
  14. Puptent
    Feb 24, 2022
    9
    Probably the game I played the most on the Game Boy Advance. love playing it play, glad it made it to the switch online.
  15. NathanH.
    Jun 1, 2007
    8
    It's Zelda!! But the graphics are old, the bosses are boring, dungeons easy and short... But it's Zelda!!
  16. AlexA.
    Jun 28, 2004
    8
    It is challenging and it is hard to beat the game and the desert level.
  17. Ztride
    Dec 21, 2011
    8
    I played though this game when I was 9, and since I was much older when I played through al the other zelda games, I guess I would have to say that this one is the best. Keep in min though that this game has aged terribly over the years, and I would not have given the same rating had I played it today.
  18. AugustusCB
    Dec 1, 2013
    8
    (Takes a deep breath...) All right, here we go. I think A Link to the Past is slightly overrated. Not to say I think its bad, but I would consider it a weaker Zelda title today. I don't even think I'd put it in my top 5 list. I've heard many say that ALttP is their favorite Zelda because many of the elements in future installments derive from it. But just because a game possesses elements(Takes a deep breath...) All right, here we go. I think A Link to the Past is slightly overrated. Not to say I think its bad, but I would consider it a weaker Zelda title today. I don't even think I'd put it in my top 5 list. I've heard many say that ALttP is their favorite Zelda because many of the elements in future installments derive from it. But just because a game possesses elements that future games will build upon doesn't mean that it is the best. In fact, such a game should grow worse as the series progresses. Though ALttP has aged considerably well, it falls into this category.

    So what do I not like about ALttP? Well, setting aside my taste in art styles, I can't say I hate anything about the game. Granted, the dungeons don't have much variety in style and the music tends to drone on, but other than that it's a solid game. The combat is fun and exploration is nearly perfect. I suppose the one thing that bugs me the most is how the game establishes itself through its story. The story is considerably basic and still maintains the feeling that it's an 8-bit game, where story wasn't relied heavily on. But with games nowadays, and even back in the 16-bit era with games like Chrono Trigger, story is one of the biggest driving points for the player. Games can't afford to have an uninteresting set of characters or atmosphere now that so much more is expected out of them.

    While this game is a classic in every sense of the word, I can't get over the feeling that I'm playing a dated game every time I play it. While it certainly deserves praise for what it has done for the franchise and will not be forgotten, I simply cannot call it one of the best. The game is pure fun, but don't expect anything more.    … Expand
  19. Syl3nc3
    Nov 17, 2016
    8
    Overall, an enjoyable, challenging experience. I enjoyed my time with this one, but it felt fairly brief and had its shortcomings. While it is still a fantastic game, I spent a fair amount of time grinding for Rupees or playing dungeons over and over on the ludicrous bosses (MOTHULA). While the game itself manages to show a strong adventure of a character, the adventure itself was short,Overall, an enjoyable, challenging experience. I enjoyed my time with this one, but it felt fairly brief and had its shortcomings. While it is still a fantastic game, I spent a fair amount of time grinding for Rupees or playing dungeons over and over on the ludicrous bosses (MOTHULA). While the game itself manages to show a strong adventure of a character, the adventure itself was short, and the final boss fell down easily. All in all, a good way to prepare yourself to the Zelda series, but by no means the greatest entry.… Expand
  20. VwV_Jay
    Oct 17, 2019
    8
    This game is an absolute must play for anybody who is a fan of puzzle and adventure games. It’s one of the best Zelda games out there and it is seriously unforgiving at first. I played it for the first time and died over 250 times but then I replayed it and only died 4 times. The bosses can be annoying at times (Moldorm) but all in all it’s an amazing game and I’d recommend it to anybody.
  21. Okevin212
    Jul 19, 2020
    8
    It's fun. The back and forth thru dark and light worlds reminds me of ovarian of time. The story is basic but gameplay is great.
  22. Frost_Cube
    Mar 21, 2021
    8
    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
  23. CollectorCarter
    Aug 11, 2022
    8
    The best 2D Zelda ever made and the first legend of Zelda game I ever played! There may be some problems but nothing is perfect well except for ocerana of time
  24. Wienerdog5
    Dec 1, 2022
    8
    Its the second best snes game besides earthbound. Its It's nowhere near the pinnacle of the series, but its great. The combat is as complex as it needs to be, the music on display is great here, and its fulfilling in length. Its pretty hard too! It may not be perfect, because some of the bosses are annoying, dungeons can be too convoluted. Bit despite its age, its worth coming back to
  25. Yojimbo2015
    May 6, 2023
    8
    Four Swords is unfortunately a multi-player only game, but the inclusion of SNES classic Link To The Past still makes this a worthy purchase for the single player.
  26. ReviewsAreBS
    Feb 14, 2023
    8
    The game is great. Compared to it’s remake, Link Between Worlds, the dungeons are more challenging (by Zelda standards) but the puzzles are simpler.

    It’s a shame that bonus dungeon is locked behind multiplayer content (Four Swords), which I haven’t played.
  27. ColeB.
    Mar 6, 2004
    7
    I couldn't figure out where to go...
  28. 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
  29. 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
  30. 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.
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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]
See all critic reviews »