Ladies, gentlemen, start your emulators! It is time for another episode of RetrOS, the show where we give you your recommended dose of nostalgia by reviewing games from your childhood.
In this episode, we turn the clocks back to the year 1991 by revisiting a classic from the SNES game library. Is this game worthy of remembrance? Or should this game be lost forever in the pages of gaming history?
Let's find out!
This review is dedicated to Ted, who saved GBA game reviews on this channel. Back in October, when I took my first epileptic seizure in over a year, my DS Lite got broken during the seizure itself. When I told him what happened, he banded together a few of his friends, Alix and Nathan to put a little money together to purchase me a replacement console. Kid you not, guys, kid you not!
With that being said, let's get on with this review!
In the veins of gaming history, there are a select few franchises that truly stood the test of time. Nintendo's Legend of Zelda is one of them. This franchise started in 1986, when the first game of the series was released for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), or Famicom in Japan.
The title is the forerunner of the modern role-playing action game genre. In 1991, this classic was released on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). This title is the third entry of the Legend of Zelda series, and is set before the events of the first two games. You play as Link, the last descendant of the Knights of Hyrule.
The kingdom of Hyrule has been taken over by an evil wizard, Agahnim, and the King of Hyrule has been slain. To make matters worse, the descendants of the seven sages are captured. It is up to you to journey through the kingdom, navigate through dungeons, and defeat dangerous bosses on the quest to save Hyrule!
The accessibility scores are as follows-
Visibility 8
Due to the game's age, there are no colourblind modes, but there is very little need for one. In certain dungeons, enemy types are distinguished by colour. This is not a major issue, as both are defeated similarly.
So, apart from that, a player with a visual impairment will have little to no issues playing this game.
Audibility 10
Due to the game's age and size limitations, there is no spoken dialogue in this game. All dialogue is text-based. Back in the day, imagination had to fill in the blanks!
Mobility 8
In the GBA version, which was used to test it, the button layouts can't be changed. However, as par for the course, you can assign any item in your inventory, for example, boomerangs and various other items, to the A button. Although this resembles redefinable controls, as Dr.Evil would put it, "just one calorie, not even enough!".The right trigger is your use button. You can use it to pick up objects, such as pots, grass. The B button is to attack enemies with your sword.
Apart from the shortfalls, this game is quite accessible for a player with a mobility impairment.
Gameplay 10
I admit it, this is the first time I played a 2-D Zelda game since before my accident. In terms of overall challenge, the game will push you out of your comfort zone.
It seems as though everyone is out to kill you! However, the game rewards you for being thorough with your exploration. The Overworld map is littered with secrets. Uncovering the secrets does make the game a lot easier to play.
These range from heart containers, which increase your health by one heart, to basic items such as extra rupees, the currency used in the Legend of Zelda games. In terms of lifespan, the game can be completed in 15 hours.
For SNES game standards, this is pretty darn long. In my case, particularly even longer if you want to thoroughly explore.
In summary, Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is an excellent game. At a push, it is one of the very few "must-own" titles from the SNES library. As I said, the difficulty of this game pushes you out of your comfort zone. The game is even more difficult on your first playthrough. I was able to make solid progress before this review was due to be published because I was guided by a walk-through online.
This game is well worth digging out your old SNES, Game Boy Advance, or Nintendo DS Lite, due to the console's capability to play GBA games from your attic to enjoy this absolute masterpiece!
OVERALL SCORE 90%
See you guys in the next review!
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