It’s fitting that Link’s first two items function so ‘rigidly’ since the Boomerang represents the practicality of ALttP’s design as a whole. The Lamp places an immediate emphasis on exploration while stressing the importance of Link’s sub-equipment (arguably necessary since Zelda II kept Link’s tool mostly passive.) Compare the Lamp directly to the Sword, and they’re almost distilled versions of TLoZ & AOL respectively. Unlike Zelda 1’s Candle which lit any room the players used it in, the Lamp can only light specific torches– both as a means of casting out darkness and solving puzzles. The Lamp brings back Zelda II’s magic system while filling a purely navigational role. The very first item Link can get his hands on isn’t a weapon, but a puzzle tool.
Battles aren’t framed around up & down movements, of course, but swordplay is fast-paced, enemies always deal a reasonable amount of damage, and Link’s item loadout goes so far to combine the versatility of Zelda II’s magic with Zelda 1’s equipment variety. Combat is never as demanding as it was on Zelda II, but A Link to the Past’s action is driven by the same conventions. Players need to be mindful of where they’re attacking from, reacting to enemy movements & attacking accordingly. Soldiers are quick to attack Link, and striking head-on can often result in blades clashing.
Link begins his adventure swordless ala The Legend of Zelda, but breaking into Hyrule Castle in the middle of the night speaks to how Zelda II peppered progression with grand gameplay events (think to scale Death Mountain.)Ĭombat plays off Zelda II’s reflex-based swordplay.
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The game’s opener– Link awakening in the middle of a downpour to sneak into Hyrule Castle– is more dramatic than anything the series has seen up to this point, but the entire sequence is driven by concepts the first two games already established. Where the original Legend of Zelda is best defined by an emphasis on freedom & exploration, and Zelda II by its combat & penchant for memorable setpieces, A Link to the Past carves its identity by blending together the NES duology’s strongest qualities.
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