The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

[Odin'sLaw]

did anyone else get the feeling this was Pre LttP? no idea why but i just felt it was set before and not after (since its not a Sequel to LttP)

[Krandor]

Yeah sure, ignoring the fact that it's obviously a sequel and you're tasked with rescuing the descendants of the sages from LttP.

[Serra]

Well.. there are problems are at least a few problems. For instance, why did Ganon have a piece of the Triforce? And why was the Triforce split up for that matter..

[Kirin]

Yeah sure, ignoring the fact that it's obviously a sequel and you're tasked with rescuing the descendants of the sages from LttP.

But the Master Sword has control over time! Surely with the power of the MS and the Triforce you could wish that a hero would come back from beyond time to save the kingdom you saved to make the wish to come back from the past to recover the triforce to save the kingdom you just saved to come back from the past....

Finished the game a little while ago. I honestly got a little choked up when they started to play "Into The Golden Sunset" at the end, but then a little disappointed when they didn't finish it and transitioned into a medley.

Very few gripes with the title. Lots of positives. I kinda feel this was a "safe" way to test any new ideas or concepts for the next Wii U title by providing cover, in case anything went horrible wrong, with the nostalgia of LttP.

Pros:

Nice intuitive puzzle design: Lot of new elements introduced like using Wallmasters to solve puzzles and the whole becoming a painting thing.
Really showed off what the 3D on the 3DS can do: Granted Pokemon was my first exposure to using it, but it seemed they used the 3D to great effect via corners and incorporating it into design somewhat.
Fresh way to obtain items: Self explanatory with the renting -> purchasing.
The soundtrack: My god the soundtrack. Beautiful.
Story pacing: They did well, it wasn't the normal cut and paste "Save Zelda, Save Hyrule" schtick, and Hilda/Ravio/Lorule was a nice addition.
New Characters and concepts: I agree, I think a Lorule centered story would have merit. What if Lorule had 3 different goddesses aside from Din/Nayru/Farore? What if Hilda has a Sheik persona as well? What if in one of the timelines Hyrule is destroyed completely and Lorule slowly seeps in to take its place?
Light/Dark and Torches: I thought was executed brilliantly. I hope they do that more often. Imagine a shadow temple design where it is JUST that. Hello water temple 2.0.
Framerate: Smooth as silk, keep that up. Who needs 1080p on a handheld when you've got art direction and presentation that runs that smooth?

Middle ground:

Stamina Meter: 50/50 on this. Was a neat concept, but I hardly ever found myself short on it unless walking long distances as a painting. Could be refined. I do miss the ammo limits on bombs/arrows though.

Cons:

The renting could have used an additional layer. Like mentioned before, use more monster parts a-la Skyward Sword to upgrade certain equipment pieces. Make it so finding the maiamai's unlocked certain rentals inside the shop. Limit available inventory slots so you could only take 3-4 items with you into a dungeon. Rupees were also EVERYWHERE in GOBS. I understand limiting the ability to ger rupees would have made the system a hassle and not real "difficulty", they could have approached it another way.

Dungeons: Design dungeons around a concept where you NEED certain items to progress, but that NEED could be filled 2-3 differet ways. Would also not be against being only to progress a certain ways into a dungeon before needing to leave and try another dungeon or come back to 100% it after clearing another dungeon. They also were pretty easy.

Another way to try this would be to Majoras Mask the dungeon design. Yeah you only have 4 really big puzzle dungeons, but then you get like 10-12 "mini dungeons" along the way that flesh out story and item acquisition.

Speaking of Majoras Mask, I thought the developers said this would answer some questions about why Majoras Mask was in game. Is anything else discovered in Hero mode?

8.5/10 for sure. It might not age as well as LttP has, but there is a lot of good here and just enough nostalgia to put it over the top. There is a level of detail here that I havn't seen since Twilight Princess (which honestly, had TOO much detail), and I like it when you can sense a developer put their heart into something.

Side observation: I like how the color inversion went when switching between worlds: Green Tunic -> Dark Link. Blue Tunic-> Red Link. Red Tunic->Green Link.

[Genosync]

I give it a 8/10. Puzzles didn't require that much thought and nothing was really difficult.

The non-linear exploration coming back in to the series was needed.

Just literally finished the game and watching the end now.

[Not Kuno]

Dungeons were too short/easy. Getting rid of dungeon maps takes away from the difficulty and sense of exploration by making it linear.

Other than that, its a great game. I wish getting monster parts had any real meaning. Also no shovel sucks. And fuck that baseball game.

[theshun]

Well.. there are problems are at least a few problems. For instance, why did Ganon have a piece of the Triforce? And why was the Triforce split up for that matter..

The Triforce splits after the wish in your heart comes true, no(Dragonballs) or by Zelda in some cases? It's always been split up in other games. The first game was finding just the Triforce of Wisdom that was shattered into eight pieces (by Zelda). Wind Waker is eight pieces for Courage (can't remember why it was split).

Spoiler: show

Ganon had a piece because the Lorule Princess gave it to him thinking she could control him to give it back (Power). She took the one from Zelda(Wisdom) and then tried to take Link's (Courage - summoned by descendants of the Seven Sages). Those are also the same for the pendants.

Edit: The maimai was a nice nod to Link's Awakening.

[Serra]

Some of this doesn't need to be spoilered, but not gonna bother with figuring out which parts do and don't..

Spoiler: show

Wind Waker it's split because when Link was returned to being a child at the end of OoT, it broke apart in the adult timeline since it had no host. And no, it's never been said that the Triforce splits when a wish is made. If anything, when a wish is made, the entirety departs for the Sacred Realm (see the end of Wind Waker). The reason the three parts were split the first time was because when Ganondorf touched it in OoT, he believed more in power.

Ignoring my problems with the official timeline, at the end of LttP, Ganon is defeated, and Link wishes on the Triforce to restore Hyrule and the Sacred Realm. The Triforce should have still been intact (look at the oracle games where they are intact) and not with their respective holders. Unless there's a game between LttP and LBW where Ganon is revived and then goes after the Triforce again, I don't see how he had the Triforce of Power, how Zelda had Wisdom, and how Courage was MIA. And where are you getting that Hilda gave Ganon a piece..? Yuga resurrected Ganon to claim his piece, meaning he still had it. That was part of Hilda's plan to reunite the three pieces, but she had no part in giving it to Ganon. And again, that goes to my issue -- if Hilda wanted the Triforce, it should have been in the Sacred Realm, not with its hosts.

[Damane]

Some of this doesn't need to be spoilered, but not gonna bother with figuring out which parts do and don't..

Spoiler: show

Wind Waker it's split because when Link was returned to being a child at the end of OoT, it broke apart in the adult timeline since it had no host. And no, it's never been said that the Triforce splits when a wish is made. If anything, when a wish is made, the entirety departs for the Sacred Realm (see the end of Wind Waker). The reason the three parts were split the first time was because when Ganondorf touched it in OoT, he believed more in power.

Ignoring my problems with the official timeline, at the end of LttP, Ganon is defeated, and Link wishes on the Triforce to restore Hyrule and the Sacred Realm. The Triforce should have still been intact (look at the oracle games where they are intact) and not with their respective holders. Unless there's a game between LttP and LBW where Ganon is revived and then goes after the Triforce again, I don't see how he had the Triforce of Power, how Zelda had Wisdom, and how Courage was MIA. And where are you getting that Hilda gave Ganon a piece..? Yuga resurrected Ganon to claim his piece, meaning he still had it. That was part of Hilda's plan to reunite the three pieces, but she had no part in giving it to Ganon. And again, that goes to my issue -- if Hilda wanted the Triforce, it should have been in the Sacred Realm, not with its hosts.

i do think that the triforce was complete and intact in the sacred realm. Hilda had maybe no way to enter the sacred realm of hyrule or didnt know how and only zelda knew (but she wouldnt give that secret away. obviously they found out about ganon and thought by resurrecting him he would claim his piece of the triforce back automaticly rhus enforceing the other 2 pieces on the other 2 holders. she prolly knows this because the reversed triforce acted predestruction in the same way. by forceing the pieces to go to their hosts she was able to drag the teiforce via the hosts into her realm enabling her to put it into Lorules sacred realm.

besides the 7 sages in Alttp maybe sealef ganon away and he wasnt destroyed?

[Denmork]

Wikia so take it as you will, but this is what they have for the post alttp triforce

"According to the Hyrule Historia, the Triforce, after Link used it to wish for the evil Ganon caused to be undone, was relocated into Hyrule from the Golden Realm, where it would frequently be used by various monarchs in Hyrule until the tragedy of Zelda."

[Serra]

That actually does match up with the original Legend of Zelda and Link's Adventure -- In that the Triforce was in Hyrule and available for Ganon to steal. And since Link made his wish in the Sacred Realm, it wouldn't really have anywhere to go. By the time the original Legend of Zelda occurred, it's possible that no one (except Ganon), knew that the Triforce could grant wishes and the Hylian monarchy simply used it as a source of power.

Assuming that reviving Ganon forced the Triforce of Power to him doesn't work because it's basically relies on something that has never been part of the Triforce. And if it just found its way to him, why didn't it do that when he was revived for the original Zelda? In that one, he had to go and steal the Triforce before the events of the game. And, Ganon was destroyed completely at the end of LttP -- which is why they were trying to revive him in the oracle games.

Edit: just to expand on this point..
If the Triforce pieces sought out their hosts, essentially whenever they are present, why did the pieces not just return to their hosts at the end of Wind Waker? All three hosts were present (in Ganondorf's case temporarily..), but the Triforce clearly leaves Hyrule and returns to the Sacred Realm.

[Damane]

That actually does match up with the original Legend of Zelda and Link's Adventure -- In that the Triforce was in Hyrule and available for Ganon to steal. And since Link made his wish in the Sacred Realm, it wouldn't really have anywhere to go. By the time the original Legend of Zelda occurred, it's possible that no one (except Ganon), knew that the Triforce could grant wishes and the Hylian monarchy simply used it as a source of power.

Assuming that reviving Ganon forced the Triforce of Power to him doesn't work because it's basically relies on something that has never been part of the Triforce. And if it just found its way to him, why didn't it do that when he was revived for the original Zelda? In that one, he had to go and steal the Triforce before the events of the game. And, Ganon was destroyed completely at the end of LttP -- which is why they were trying to revive him in the oracle games.

Edit: just to expand on this point..
If the Triforce pieces sought out their hosts, essentially whenever they are present, why did the pieces not just return to their hosts at the end of Wind Waker? All three hosts were present (in Ganondorf's case temporarily..), but the Triforce clearly leaves Hyrule and returns to the Sacred Realm.

I am not saying that they sought their hosts, I am saying that when gannon was revived he CLAIMED his piece back. maybe he attached it with a spell to himself (this is just theory crafting), by claiming his piece back the other 2 pieces automaticly seek out for their hosts. At this point I wouldnt be surprised if gannon could/was able manipulated the power-piece to this kind of beheviour, linking it to him as long as he exists or so.

[Serra]

My point is though, you're saying the Triforce did something it hasn't done since then. Why didn't such a spell or ability work when he was brought back during the Oracle games, or when he returned for the original Zelda. From the original Zelda:

One day, an evil army attacked this peaceful little kingdom and stole the Triforce of Power. This army was led by Ganon, the powerful Prince of Darkness who sought to plunge the World into fear and darkness under his rule.

Source:

Spoiler: show

http://zs.ffshrine.org/album/legend-...nual-03-04.jpg

[Damane]

My point is though, you're saying the Triforce did something it hasn't done since then. Why didn't such a spell or ability work when he was brought back during the Oracle games, or when he returned for the original Zelda. From the original Zelda:


Source:

Spoiler: show

http://zs.ffshrine.org/album/legend-...nual-03-04.jpg

again all theory crafting, maybe the hosts just have a special connection to their triforce part, enabling to draw the respectiv piece out of them? I mean you could also ask how the Triforce split in Ocarina of Time, not Link and nor Zelda ever touched the Triforce only gannon did, yet both Link and Zelda had their power of the respectiv part, even tough the Triforce remained in the sacred realm. the Zelda wiki never claims that the Triforce split in OoT.

Lets go this through:
OoT: Ganon claims the Triforce, the Triforce remains in the Sacred Realm
OoT: Link fails to defeat Ganon, Ganon is sealed by the 7 Sages into the Sacred Realm where the Triforce resides.
AlttP: Link defeats Ganon, (apeareantly! reclaims the Triforce and brings it to Hyrule)
Oracles: Ganon is revived again (as a raging machine or so), no word of the Triforce being in Hyrule and gannon is defeated again

Either between AlttP and Oracles, or after Oracles, AlbW is set, according to the official timeline the Triforce however doesnt reside in that time in hyrul but still in the sacred realm:
http://img.gawkerassets.com/img/18j0.../ku-xlarge.jpg
As you can see we are in the Era of Dark and Light, while the Triforce useing Monarchy happens in the Gold Era.

This is confuseing, maybe after AlbW actually brings the Triforce now back to hyrule (I have no idea if that is the sacred realm in the end, but I assumed so) and the Wish of Zelda and Link in A link between Worlds actually started the the Gold Era.

For my Sanity I will just say that ganon was never fully destroyed, only sealed away constantly and allways was in check of the Triforce of Power until it was drawn out of him via Yuga in "A Link between worlds", by drawing out the respective pieces out of Zelda and Link the triforce is again complete and resides in Hyrule. Those games are to olde to incorporate much of their story into this -_- How can gannon be revived 5 fucking times in one timeline ¬.¬


Another try:
I have no fucking idea why in each Zelda game the pieces are allways split between ganon link and zelda!? The only thing I hope I remember correctly from playing OoT was (and I hope I am not mistaken), that the Triforce split after ganondorf touched it and made his wish. (at least I think thats what he or Zelda said in a cutscene). This splitting attached the pieces maybe forever to Zelda Link and Ganondorf.
Ganondorf defeats Link and possibly Zelda too (timeline of failed hero) and reclaims the full Triforce, but is sealed away by the Sages into the Sacred Realm (now Dark World) together with the Triforce.
Link defeats Ganon in AltP, makes a wish and Link and Zelda decide to split the Triforce for safety. Piece of Power remaining with no true holder in the sacred realm and is staying attached to his old holder (dead Ganon), because noone else touched it yet. Wisdom and Courage piece remain with Link and Zelda.
Ganon is revived in Oracles and defated or sealed again. Piece of Power still attached to ganon.
"A Link between worlds": The Power Piece gets drawn out from the revived Ganon Via Yuga. The Wisdom Piece gets drawn from Zelda via Hilda. Links Piece of Courage Activates. Link destroys Yuga and stops Hilda, the Triforce is finally reunited again and resides in Hyrule where "The Gold Era" starts and the Monarchy starts to use the Triforce. Since the Triforce was drawn out form Zelda Link and Ganon, they are no longer attached to those 3.

I have no other explenation that would make sense

[Serra]

Ok, well, first off, if the Zelda wiki doesn't say that the Triforce split in Oot, it's wrong, because in the game, Sheik (right before she reveals that she's Zelda) LITERALLY says that the Triforce split and went to Zelda and Link because Ganon believed most in power. I'm honestly thinking of grabbing a copy of Oot for the exact words cause I'm pretty sure I've got a save in each of my copies at the Temple of Time when Zelda says that. Zelda and Link had their pieces because the pieces sought out suitable hosts. Unless someone touched the Triforce between LttP and LBW, it should not have split and gone to Ganon.

To correct your timeline,
Fallen Timeline
OoT: Ganon touches the Triforce, he gets Power, the other two go to their hosts.
Ganon beats Link, claims the Triforce of Courage and Wisdom, and the Sages seal him and the Triforce in the Sacred Realm.

If Ganon had kept his piece after being defeated in LttP, Link would not have been able to make his wish to restore everything that Ganon had corrupted in OoT.

[Damane]

Ok, well, first off, if the Zelda wiki doesn't say that the Triforce split in Oot, it's wrong, because in the game, Sheik (right before she reveals that she's Zelda) LITERALLY says that the Triforce split and went to Zelda and Link because Ganon believed most in power. I'm honestly thinking of grabbing a copy of Oot for the exact words cause I'm pretty sure I've got a save in each of my copies at the Temple of Time when Zelda says that. Zelda and Link had their pieces because the pieces sought out suitable hosts. Unless someone touched the Triforce between LttP and LBW, it should not have split and gone to Ganon.

To correct your timeline,
Fallen Timeline
OoT: Ganon touches the Triforce, he gets Power, the other two go to their hosts.
Ganon beats Link, claims the Triforce of Courage and Wisdom, and the Sages seal him and the Triforce in the Sacred Realm.

If Ganon had kept his piece after being defeated in LttP, Link would not have been able to make his wish to restore everything that Ganon had corrupted in OoT.

I edited my post quiet a bit below.

[Bregor]

Lets go this through:
OoT: Ganon claims the Triforce, the Triforce remains in the Sacred Realm
OoT: Link fails to defeat Ganon, Ganon is sealed by the 7 Sages into the Sacred Realm where the Triforce resides.
AlttP: Link defeats Ganon, (apeareantly! reclaims the Triforce and brings it to Hyrule)
Oracles: Ganon is revived again (as a raging machine or so), no word of the Triforce being in Hyrule and gannon is defeated again

Either between AlttP and Oracles, or after Oracles, AlbW is set, according to the official timeline the Triforce however doesnt reside in that time in hyrul but still in the sacred realm:

Small detail here but I'm pretty sure that after Oracles, Link immediately sets sail for Hyrule and that's when Link's Awakening happens. So A Link Between Worlds would either have to be before Oracles, or after Link's Awakening. I think.

[Serra]

Prior to this game, the pieces being split is always explained (except for TP, but I always just went with the explanation that Link and Zelda's meddling with time led to Ganondorf receiving the Triforce in that game..).
OoT - The Triforce splits when Ganondorf touches it, before he can make his wish.
Wind Waker - Ganondorf still had the Triforce of Power from when he was sealed at the end of OoT in the adult timeline, the Triforce of Wisdom was passed down through the royal family, and the Triforce of Courage broke apart when Link returned to being a child.
LoZ and AoL - Ganon stole the Triforce of Power, Zelda had the Triforce of Wisdom which she broke up, and the Triforce of Courage was lost/hidden.

Again, the pieces were together at the start of the Oracle games, so at that point, Ganon was dead and did not possess the Triforce of Power (and Zelda and Link didn't possess their respective pieces either). I don't have my copies of the Oracle games with me atm, but I'm pretty sure the Triforce is what sends Link to Holodrum/Labrynna.

Small detail here but I'm pretty sure that after Oracles, Link immediately sets sail for Hyrule and that's when Link's Awakening happens. So A Link Between Worlds would either have to be before Oracles, or after Link's Awakening. I think.

Wait, why? This is a new Link, not the same as LttP.

[Bregor]

Wait, why? This is a new Link, not the same as LttP.

Okay then it has to be the latter. As I understand it, LttP Link is the same as Oracles and Link's Awakening Link, so LBW Link must come after LA. Or I'm just bad at reading wikis and timelines.

[Ratatapa]

Edit : nvm guess not

From Wiki

A Link Between Worlds is the first title since the Oracle series to be set in the "Sealing War" timeline since the split that occurred following the release of Ocarina of Time. The game chronologically takes place between Link's Awakening and The Legend of Zelda, six generations after the events of A Link to the Past.[16][17][18] According to the Nintendo Direct presentation on August 7, 2013, the incarnation of the player character Link in this game is not the same as in A Link to the Past.[19]