The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

A Link Between Worlds

Related	A Link to the Past A Link to the Past (GBA) Tri Force Heroes
Release
Platform	Date
Nintendo 3DS	November 22, 2013 November 22, 2013 November 23, 2013 December 26, 2013 June 21, 2014 October 16, 2015 (Nintendo Selects)
Credits
Developer	Nintendo EAD
Publisher	Nintendo
Producer	Eiji Aonuma
Guides
Walkthrough	Text Walkthrough
Bosses Bottles Characters Enemies Maiamais Master Ore Pieces of Heart Upgrades

In-depth guide: A Link Between Worlds Walkthrough

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds (ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース2 — The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods 2) is a new game for the Nintendo 3DS in the style of A Link to the Past. Development started in early 2011, and the game was released on November 22nd, 2013, just one month after The Wind Waker HD. The game was also released in the A Link Between Worlds 3DS XL Limited Edition Bundle that included a limited edition gold Nintendo 3DS XL system with a Triforce on the top and a Black Triforce on the bottom, included with the purchase was a digital copy of A Link Between Worlds. The 3DS Streetpass feature was used to its full potential in this game. If Link happens to walk by someone who has played the game, a version of their character will be sent over to Link's game and turn into a Shadow Link. Link can then fight this Shadow Link for a bounty, which is essentially a bag of rupees determined by the player when the 3DS Streetpass was being set up.

The game uses a top-down perspective and an art style similar to A Link to the Past. It takes advantage of the 3DS to add vertical motion as an important element of the gameplay. In contrast, it also allows Link to become a flat image on a wall to travel in a 2D space a la Flatland. The bracelet seen on Link's wrist in artwork for A Link Between Worlds has been confirmed to tie into the image-on-a-wall ability. The game also changes up the requirement to complete dungeons in specific order, removes helpful companions (instead it features a hint system a la Skyward Sword), and introduces the ability to rent or purchase an item.

As of March 31st, 2014, A Link Between Worlds has sold more than two million copies. On October 16, 2015, the game was re-released in Europe as a Nintendo Selects title.

Prologue

“There is a legend oft told in Hyrule Kingdom. It is the legend of the Triforce, once kept within Hyrule itself. Said to be a gift of the gods, the Triforce could grant a wish of all those who touched it. So of course, many wanted to get their hands on it. Wars were fought for the Triforce. The Royal Family summoned the Seven Sages, who sealed the Triforce in the Sacred Realm. But a thief of notorious repute broke into the Sacred Realm and claimed the Triforce. With its power, he became the Demon King Ganon who sought to dominate all Hyrule.

But, just as Ganon had the kingdom in his evil clutches..a legendary hero answered the call of Hyrule's princess. And this hero, wielding the Master Sword, took up a quest to challenge Ganon's might. He joined with the descendents of the Seven Sages to seal the Demon King in darkness. The Triforce was divided into three – its tempting power out of any one person's reach. One part stayed with the Royal Family, while another slipped into Ganon's possession. Legend says that the third part found its home in the heart of the hero eternal. And while legends come to us from the distant past, others have yet to be written..”

(Later on in the game, the prologue is expanded)

“This gift from the gods, Hyrule's greatest treasure, will grant the wish of any mortal who touches it. The Triforce once stoked greed in the hearts of men. A legendary war was fought to keep it out of evil hands.

To end the war for the Triforce, the royal family decided to hide it in the Sacred Realm. They summoned the Seven Sages of legend, who used their power to seal the Triforce away.

The Demon King Ganon was once just a thief – until the man broke into the Sacred Realm. There he stole the Triforce and transformed himself. Then he took his evil campaign back to Hyrule.

A hero of legend arose from humble beginnings, awoken to his purpose by a princess of Hyrule. With the Master Sword, the blade of evil's bane, he sought the descendents of the Seven Sages. Together they defeated the Demon King Ganon – and sealed him away in darkness.

The Triforce was split into three pieces, separated forever. One piece remains with the royal family. Another piece has fallen into the hands of Ganon, sealed away with him. The third piece of the Triforce has vanished, though legend says it is hidden in the spirit of a true hero. It slumbers now somewhere in Hyrule – waiting for the time when the world needs a new hero.”

Gameplay

A Link Between Worlds added a brand new gameplay mechanic to the Legend of Zelda series with the wall merging mechanic. This combines top down and side scrolling gameplay, creating never before puzzle opportunities. This makes it so that Link can get to areas in dungeons and the overworld that are seemingly impossible to reach, by merging into a wall and safely crossing hazards below.

Setting

Using the same overworld as A Link to the Past, this game presents a new story that occurs hundreds of years after the events of the SNES title, telling what happens to the characters from that game.^{[citation needed]} It takes place in both Hyrule as well as the kingdom of Lorule, a realm that is new to the Zelda franchise, though based on the corrupted Dark World from A Link to the Past.

Development

Early version of artwork from A Link Between Worlds.

At the 25th Anniversary Symphony Concert in London, Aonuma told the Portuguese e-zine MyGames that he was currently working on a new Zelda title for the 3DS, and that it would be an original title, not a remake. Shigeru Miyamoto mentioned a "new Zelda" he was producing in April 2011. Shortly afterward, he expressed interest in seeing the world of A Link to the past with a layered 3D effect, which suggests that the idea existed at that time but hadn't yet found its way into the development of Zelda 3DS. However, this likely happened shortly afterward, since Eiji Aonuma was able to give a specific hint that "having 3D will mean something," showing that a solid vision of the game was in place. Miyamoto further teased A Link to the Past as a base for a new game in 2012:

"I think the answer would be the same if we're talking about just porting, but I think I'd be even more interested in creating something new maybe based on, or starting from, A Link To The Past. I think it's important to bring some really new software."

— Miyamoto

Dungeons

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds features a total of 12 dungeons throughout both Hyrule and Lorule. There are also a number of side dungeons. A Link Between Worlds also has a brand new mechanic to the Zelda series, it allows the player to tackle the Lorule dungeons in nearly any order they chose. However, the Thieves' Hideout must be completed before the Desert Palace, as the Sand Rod is required to gain entrance to the Desert Palace.

Items

A Link Between Worlds introduced a new mechanic where instead of earning each item by going through dungeons, Link has to either rent or buy each item from a "wandering merchant" named Ravio. Nearly every one of Ravio's items is available to Link from almost the beginning of the game, with the exclusion of the Sand Rod, which is accessible after rescuing Osfala from the Thieves' Hideout.

Bosses and Mini-Bosses

A Link Between Worlds has bosses that are very similar in appearance and name to the bosses in A Link to the Past.

Gallery

Main article: Gallery:A Link Between Worlds

See also: Gallery:A Link Between Worlds Characters

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  Artwork of Hyrule and Lorule

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  The Master Sword

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  Link dungeon crawling

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  Link fighting Yuga

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  Link

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  Hilda

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  Princess Zelda

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  Ravio

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  Yuga

Alternate box art

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  Alternate box art

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  European Nintendo Selects box art

Screenshots

Main article: Category:A Link Between Worlds Screenshot Files

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Videos

E3 2013 Reveal Trailer

Nintendo Direct announcement featuring
both 3D and 2D platforming

August Nintendo Direct

Zelda Dungeon: "Let's Play A Link Between Worlds"

References

1. ↑ ^{1.1 1.2} Nintendo of America Tweet
2. ↑ ^{2.1 2.2} Nintendo of America Game Page
3. ↑ A Link Between Worlds UK Official Site
4. ↑ A Link Between Worlds Australia Official Site
5. ↑ Triforce of the Gods 2 Official Site (Japan)
6. ↑ Triforce of the Gods 2 Official Site (Korea)
7. ↑ Nintendo UK
8. ↑ "『ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース2』を、ニンテンドー3DS向けに開発中。2014年初頭発売予定。 (The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods 2 under development for the Nintendo 3DS. Will be released early 2014.)", Nintendo Japan tweet
9. ↑ Japanese E3 page
10. ↑ MyGames, March 11th, 2011
11. ↑ ^{11.1 11.2} "I am currently very busy producing a new Zelda, a new Mario and a new Mario Kart on 3DS and a new Pikmin." — Shigeru Miyamoto, Gameblog.fr, April 21, 2011
12. ↑ Eiji Aonuma Interview
13. ↑ Nintendo Financial Report, https://www.nintendo.co.jp/ir/pdf/2014/140507e.pdf
14. ↑ "From a story perspective there are connections, so it does fall after A Link to the Past. And it's set in the same world[..." — Bill Trinen, Joystiq, April 17, 2013.
15. ↑ MyGames, March 11th, 2011
16. ↑ "The Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past could be one [adaptation of an older Nintendo game for the 3DS console]. I think it would be good to see that world with a layered 3D effect.", The Observer, April 30th, 2011
17. ↑ "I'll give you one hint, but maybe you won't understand it. It will be a game in which having 3D will mean something." — Eiji Aonuma, Game Informer, October 2011
18. ↑ Edge, April 12th, 2012