Ravio holds all the key items you’ll need to solve the incredible puzzles strewn about the world. He then asks if he can stay for a while, but you kind of owe him one. He then proceeds to set up shop in your house to bleed you dry of rupees. The real twist here is that it’s your home. He drags your unconscious body to what he assumes is an abandoned home. In a story that only someone like Nintendo can brush off so easily, Ravio is a traveling merchant who finds you passed out after a battle with Yuga. One of the more intriguing characters you’re introduced to is Ravio. Most areas that were unexplored had something useful to discover, and once I really needed to get back on track, I knew there were always characters I could go back to for hints. The open nature of the game world, and the quickness with which the game tosses you out into your first missions let me have brief moments of feeling lost and unsure of exactly where I was going, or what I was supposed to be doing. Even without a perfect sense of direction, I was never frustrated. Hyrule and its darker counterpart aren’t very large, but there’s plenty to do. These are also the only places you can safely save your progress. The system of discovering weather vanes throughout the game world and using them as nodes for quick travel drives home this philosophy. This emphasis on convenience and a game world that presents missions in a way that lets you chose the order you complete them in is remarkably liberating. To make this even more effective, most of the infamous items and gadgets at Link’s disposal are also given to you very early on. This is exactly how the game sucked me in. I spent extra time and care combing over the same spots again and again, convinced there was something waiting to be found. I was always worried about making sure I looked at every zone from every angle. Special attention is paid to showing you small gaps, entrances, and treasure chests that are just out of reach. This always made me feel like I had to come back to the same areas once I found the right item, or gained a new ability that could help me reach those hidden goodies. The game gives you easy and immediate access to almost all of the areas in the game. This brings me to my favorite aspects of A Link Between Worlds: the outside areas in Hyrule are a joy to explore. This becomes the key feature of the game as new puzzles and areas of the world are unlocked by your newfound power. You almost become permanent brush strokes on a wall if not for a seemingly ordinary bracelet that holds a secret power. The bracelet lets you merge into walls as a 2D portrait of yourself. He’s obsessed with transforming the descendants of powerful sages into paintings to preserve their beauty and steal their power in hopes of unleashing the evil demon Ganon. The Princess Zelda has been captured and all of Hyrule is in terrible danger unless you do something. The story is introduced quickly and unapologetically (a theme we’ll discuss later), the formula of which hasn’t changed much. As a new incarnation of Link, you’re back to being the silent hero. The land of Hyrule itself is filled with familiar faces and places. The world has a distinct personality despite its simple visuals that don't push the 3DS very far. Cliff faces, bottomless pits, and dark fractures in the over world feel ominous. Having the extra depth and perspective when Link jumps heroically between moving platforms that seem an impossible distance below your character is terribly satisfying. Not only does it bring out the detail and personality in the monsters you face off against, but plays perfectly into the bold new designs of dungeon levels and puzzles. The most obvious example of this is the use of 3D effects. It shares its inspiration, soundtrack, and zones with its predecessor, but in a way that is clearly modern without losing the feel of being instantly recognizable. What we’re given is a sequel to 1991’s beloved Super Nintendo title, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. I mostly appreciate the experiences he’s given to the multitude of fans who adore and defend him with equal and uncompromising vigor. In short, A Link Between Worlds has some big shoes to fill. My fondness of the little guy in green has always been that of distant admiration.
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