New footage shows Eastern Palace, Tornado Rod and Overworld

The good folks at GameXplain have uploaded a series of new A Link Between Worlds videos, including a guide to using the game’s new Tornado Rod item. Also included in the mix is some new new dungeon and overworld footage.

All three videos are available after the jump.

A Link Between Worlds has been pegged as both a homage to the nostalgic locations of A Link to the Past, as well as an original title in the series with new story and gameplay elements. The footage GameXplain has released shows that the game is trying to deliver on both fronts, new and old.

First off is a video that features Link running through the first floor dungeon chambers of the “Eastern Palace”. If this name sounds familiar to you, there is a good reason. It is, in fact, one of several A Link to the Past dungeons being refurbished for the new 3DS Zelda adventure. Although subtle alterations have been made to keep it from feeling like a simple rehash, the updated dungeon still borrows heavily from the original’s layout. From the light purple color of its floor tiles to the tentacled monsters roaming its halls, the dungeon is a faithful re-imaging of the classic 16-bit location.  It even has an identical giant rolling ball trap; hardly a challenge for players familiar with dodging it in the old game.

Up next we have a video documenting a completely brand-new feature in A Link Between Worlds. This is the Tornado Rod, a helicopter-like item that allows Link to briefly propel himself upward into the air. Link uses this trusty item in the video to reach air currents blasting high above his head. These allow him to reach otherwise inaccessible platforms, carrying him across the room on gust of continuous air. He also uses the Tornado Rod to leap over a rolling spike trap at one point.

Although many of A Link Between World’s trappings are borrowed wholeheartedly from A Link to the Past, the Tornado Rod will undoubtedly open up many new gameplay elements not seen in the SNES classic.

Video number three briefly explores the eastern side of A Link Between World’s overworld. Link is shown visiting a Great Fairy in her dark cavernous fountain, and slaying a variety of familiar monsters as he travels north through cliff-side ruins. Near the end of video, Link comes upon four pedestals arranged in front of a sealed door. Although the bomb and bow symbols carved on the pedestals hint at how to open it, for now we’ll have to wait and see how Link is to get past this massive stone slab blocking his path.

What do you think of the A Link Between Worlds footage we’ve seen so far? Do you think the game is offering enough new content to balance the copying of locations and enemies from A Link to the Past? Feel free to discuss your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: GameXplain