THE LEGEND OF ZELDA: A LINK TO THE PAST
And now, for what many consider to be the quintessential 2D Zelda game (not for no good reason), The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the Zelda series' entry for the SNES. The game brought back everything players had loved about the first two games, with better graphics and a much more enhanced plot and structure to the game so that you weren't just thrown in headfirst with no idea where to go. The story follows Link as he is awakened from his sleep by Zelda one night, pleading with him for help as her father's advisor Agahnim has staged a coup and overthrown the royal family. Link rushes to the palace, finds his uncle collapsed against a wall, and rescues Zelda, only for Agahnim to basically put out an APB on their heads.
Link is our main character, naturally, wielding his sword and shield like always, complete with sword beams. Just like all games, he picks up new abilities through items and equipment, including: a bow and arrows, a boomerang, the first instance of the hookshot, bombs, magical powder gained from a witch, magical rods that cast ice and fire spells respectively, medallions that let him set off explosions, strike with lightning, or cause earthquakes, hammers, shovels, whistles, bug nets, the Book of Mudora that lets you read ancient text, two canes that can create blocks or force fields respectively, a cape that makes him intangible, mail that lets him survive both cold and hot temperatures, shoes that let him cross gaps, the Power Glove and its upgrade, the Titan's Mitt, flippers that let him swim, a mirror that lets him teleport between the light and the dark world, and a moon pearl that protects him from the dark world's transformative effects. He can also perform a spin attack with his sword, and this game also marks the first real appearance of the Master Sword.
As for our supporting characters, we have Zelda, a much more active participant this time around, as she is un-captured for the first portion of the game before . . . being captured again. She does demonstrate the ability to speak to people through their dreams and open doors with magic. There are also six other maidens, descended from ancient sages, who act as your level goalposts, so to speak, requiring you to rescue them before you can get to Zelda at the end. They are contained in gems, a recurring trend with Zelda in later games, so I should make a note of that too. Other than that, you have Link's uncle, who . . . dies? Or just passes out, I guess (Every comic adaptation killed him off anyway), and a number of other NPCs wandering about the place, as well as the Great Fairy, and the first appearance of the helpful monkey characters who would pop up several times in the future.
Most notably is the wizard Sahasrahla, who acts as a mentor to Link throughout his journey, and specifically gives him the Pegasus shoes. I'm a little uncertain here and now is probably the best time to bring up a key thought process. There are several different Links in canon, and many of them will be getting unique character slots due to a distinct physical difference and unique abilities of their own, for instance Young Link, Toon Link, Wolf Link, the Four Links of Four Swords and other games, and probably Breath of the Wild Link. However, I do not want to make every single one their own character, as many bear too much of a resemblance to each other to make it worth it, so I will be on the lookout for potential gimmick reps to take on the unique abilities from said game, for instance Fi can take up much of Skyward Sword's unique gimmicks, and Midna is good to take up a lot of Twilight Princess's. Sahasrahla is sort of the best one for this game, but he's not quite as closely involved in the adventure as those two. We'll see in the character sheets how it goes, but I could see an argument for him taking up at least the magical stuff, like the rods, the medallions, and the canes, alongside the Pegasus Boots of course.
Agahnim acts as the villain of the first half of the game, overthrowing the kingdom and turning its soldiers against Link and Zelda. You soon learn that his goal is to resurrect Ganon, who had been locked away by the sages centuries before. In Agahnim's battle, he is seen levitating, teleporting, splitting into three, casting laser spells, shooting lighting, warping through shadow, causing Zelda to vanish, and warping himself and Link into the Dark World. Ganon, on the other hand, spins and throws his trident, teleports, sends out swarms of fiery bats, transforms into a bat himself, creates a circle of fire, and stomps around.
As for the bosses, we have: the Armos Knights, six Armos that just hop around; Lanmolas that dig around underground; Moldora, who just slithers around; the Helmasaur King, a giant Helmasaur that breathes fire and swings its mace tail around; Arrghus, which shoots fireballs; Mothula, a giant moth that creates circles of fire; Blind the Thief, who can shapeshift, spit fire, and separate his head from his body; Kholdstare, that drops ice from above; Vitreous, which attacks with its eyeballs; and Trinexx, a three-headed dragon with ice and fire breath.
Before I get into the enemies fully, I feel I should talk about the Hylian Soldiers, who act as enemies this time around due to the nature of the story. They come in several variants, including soldiers wielding swords, spears, bows, bombs, a boss version that swings around a ball and chain, and several that hide out in clumps of grass.
As for our returning enemies, we have: Ropes, Keese, Octoroks (with Octoballoon variants that float and explode), Armos, Zoras (with flippers and the ability to teleport through whirlpools), Gibdos, Leevers, Kodongos (basically just Dodongo, so I'm including it here), Stalfos (who can now throw their own heads), Moblins with tridents, Goriyas who can breathe fire, Tektites, Zols, Wallmasters, Wizzrobes, and fire-breathing Lynels. Our new enemies include: Rats, Crows, Vultures, Sand Crabs, Buzz Blobs (also basically Chuchus), Geldmen who live in pits of sand, Thieves, Hoarders, Popos (tentacle things), Hardhat Beetles (basically Buzzy Beetles), Eyegors (Cyclopes with laser eyes), Devalants (creatures that live in sand pits), Helmasaurs (dinosaurs with steel plates on their heads), Terrorpins (basically turtles), Snap Dragons (big-mouthed snapping things), Slaroks (dark world Octoroks), Baris (electric jellyfish), Kus (dark world Zoras), Taros (bull enemies with spears), Hinoxes (giant cyclopes that throw bombs), Pikits (living bulbs), Zazaks (lizard warriors), Pengators (basically evil penguins), Hokkubokkus (basically Pokeys), and our first appearance of the ghostly Poe enemies.
Hyrule is much more fleshed out in this game, with a full Hyrule Castle and town around it, with a secret passage leading to a sanctuary where Zelda hides. Other locations also include the nearby Kakariko Village full of NPCs, the Lost Woods with a sacred grove containing the Master Sword, the Eastern Palace where Sahasrahla can be found, Lake Hylia, a Great Swamp, the Desert of Mystery, a waterfall where the Zoras live, and the volcanic Death Mountain, complete with the Tower of Hera. The game is also split between a light world and a dark world, with "twisted versions" of all previously mentioned landmarks: The Pyramid of Power replacing Hyrule Castle, a Palace of Darkness replacing the Eastern Palace, the Plains of Ruin in place of the Great Swamp, Skeleton Forest replacing the Lost Woods, the Village of Outcasts replacing Kakariko Village, the Ice Lake replacing Lake Hylia, the Lake of Ill Omen replacing Zora's Domain, the Swamp of Evil replacing the Desert of Mystery, Turtle Rock where Death Mountain should be, and Ganon's Tower replacing the Tower of Hera. Most of these locations include a dungeon hidden somewhere within them.
Outside of the items used as weapons, you have your potions, fairies in a bottle, and other standard objects seen frequently in the series.
And that's it! Here's what we've got so far:
Link: sword slash, sword beams, shield, bombs, arrows, candles, boomerangs, life potions, magical rod, book of magic, flute, rings, power bracelet, hammer, power glove, raft, boots, cross, shield spell, jump spell, healing spell, fairy spell, fireball spell, reflect spell, opening spell, thunder spell, stab up, stab down, hookshot, magical powder, ice rod, fire rod, bombos medallion, ether medallion, quake medallion, shovel, bug net, Book of Mudora, Cane of Somaria, Cane of Byrna, magical cape, Titan's Mitt, Zora flippers, magic mirror, moon pearl, spin attack
Princess Zelda: Triforce, dreams, open doors, gem containment
Great Fairies: heal, upgrade
Monkey: hop
Ganon: teleport, shoot fireballs, turn invisible, statue fire, spins and throws his trident, teleports, sends out swarms of fiery bats, transforms into a bat, circle of fire, stomp.
Dark Link: sword slash, sword beams, shield, hammer, power glove, raft, boots, cross, shield spell, jump spell, healing spell, fairy spell, fireball spell, reflect spell, opening spell, thunder spell, stab up, stab down.
Agahnim: levitating, teleporting, splitting into three, casting laser spells, shooting lighting, warping through shadow, vanishing, warping into the Dark World
Hylian Soldiers: swords, spears, bows, bombs, ball and chain, hide in grass.
Impa
Sahasrahla: Pegasus Boots, Ice Rod, Fire Rod, Bombos, Ether, and Quake Medallions, Cane of Somaria, Cane of Byrna, magic powder, magic cape, magic mirror (all a maybe)
Old Men/Old Women: swords, life potions, shield spell, jump spell, healing spell, fairy spell, fireball spell, reflect spell, opening spell, thunder spell
Moblins: throw spears, tridents
Octoroks: shoot rocks, Octoballoon
Zoras: swim, spit fireballs, teleport, flippers
Tektites: jump around
Armos: shields, tridents
Lynels: swords, shoot beams, breathe fire
Vire/Acheman: turn into Keese
Moldorms: slither
Stalfos: swords, throw heads
Goriyas: boomerangs, clubs, breathe fire
Darknuts/Iron Knuckles: swords, shields, heavy armor, throw swords
Wizzrobes/Magos: spells, teleport, fire
Gibdos
Eyegor: laser eye
Aquamentus: fireballs
Dodongo: breathes fire
Gleeok: breathe fire
Gohma: energy balls
Dairas: axe
Gerus: tridents, maces, shields, fire from behind cover
Wosus: hop, daggers
Fokka/Fokkeru/Thunderbird: fly, fireballs, jump, mace, shield
Helmasaur: charge, fire breath, mace tail
Hinox: bombs
Poe
Bosses:
Aquamentus
Dodongo
Manhandla
Gleeok
Digdogger
Gohma
Ganon
Horsehead
Jermafenser
Rebonack
Carock
Gooma
Barba
Thunderbird
Armos Knights
Lanmola
Moldora
Helmasaur King
Arrghus
Mothula
Blind the Thief
Kholdstare
Vitreous
Trinexx
Locations:
Overworld-based stage
Dungeon room-based stage
Death Mountain
North Castle
Rauru
Ruto
Saria
Mido
Nabooru
Darunia
Kasuto
Parapa Palace
Midoro Palace
Island Palace
Great Maze Palace
Palace on the Sea
Three-Eye Rock Palace
Great Palace
Hyrule Castle
Kakariko Village
Lost Woods
Eastern Palace
Lake Hylia
Great Swamp
Desert of Mystery
Zora's Domain
Death Mountain
Tower of Hera
Pyramid of Power
Palace of Darkness
Plains of Ruin
Skeleton Forest
Village of Outcasts
Ice Lake
Lake of Ill Omen
Swamp of Evil
Turtle Rock
Ganon's Tower
Items:
Bombs
Bow and Arrows
Candles
Boomerangs
Life potions
Magical rod
Book of magic
Flute
Rings
Power bracelet
Hearts
Heart containers
Triforce pieces
Rupees
Clock
Raft
Step ladder
Hammer
Power glove
Boots
Cross
Magic Container
Trophy
All of Link's items from this game
Thanks for reading! Next up, we get the original version of Link's Awakening!
