The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is one of the best games ever made. Four Swords is a cool new multiplayer game. Together they make the bargain of the century.

Despite the all-encompassing excellence of Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker, many fans consider A Link to the Past to be the best Zelda game ever. Originally released in 1991 for the SNES, this, despite a few sound effect additions and the curious dumbing down of a couple of puzzles and snippets of dialogue, is a perfect conversion of that game.

Anyone who hasn't played this before will be surprised at just how similar it is to the newer Zelda games. It's got nearly all the same weapons and items, and the puzzles and gameplay are just as complex and interesting. In fact, lesser games are stilling ripping off the inspired fiendishness of the light/dark world and the various head-scratching puzzles it creates. Of course the graphics are rubbish???-they were pretty lame even back in 1991--but for once that really doesn't matter.

Clearly not wanting to be accused of releasing another "lazy" port, Nintendo have included a brand new multiplayer mode in the form of Four Swords. Entirely separate from the single-player adventure, it allows you and up to three friends to battle through one of three smallish dungeons cooperating on puzzles and mercilessly stealing each other's treasures. Although short-lived it's great fun and the perfect accompaniment to the magnificence of A Link to the Past. --David Jenkins

Upon looking back on the classic games of years gone by, there are a few that can hold up even by todays standards. FF7, Doom2 and certainly Zelda all hold that acclaim of being genius games that, should you get into, you'll find as good as anything around. If you fancy retro gaming of the highest quality d yourself a favor and give zelda a good stab. Should you spend enough time to complete it you'll speak of it as highly as i do.

The third game in the formidable Legend of Zelda series, 'A Link to the Past' is an outstanding RPG (Role-Playing Game)/ Adventure created by Nintendo. Many would argue, it is one of the best RPGs for the 16-bit console generation. This is the first Zelda game for the SNES and remains a brilliantly crafted game, providing plenty of gameplay for all ages. Learn where Link once was to be found before Nintendo evolved the Zelda franchise with later masterpieces such as Ocarina of Time! Before I proceed further, I must state that its not necessary to have played the previous two zelda games, or know their stories, to enjoy this one. Zelda 3 works great as a standalone RPG on the SNES and can be picked up as a title in its own right.

Your ultimate quest is to defeat Ganon but along the way there are plenty of sub-quests, characters to meet, additional accessories to find, secrets to discover and puzzles to solve. Some of these may be essential to your progress whilst others can provide a fun diversion. A much loved & welcomed touch are the variety of mini-games which can yield cash prizes, ammunition or even special items! The spacious inventory allows you to store boomerangs, bows & arrows, bombs, rupees, magic powder, spell-casting rods, magic bottles and many other sundry things. Weapons collected need ammunition or magic powder and items can be kept for later use or given to other characters to complete sub-quests. My only small query is that weapons and items are mixed together in the inventory, both of which could be quicker to access if seperated.

Gameplay is where Zelda stands tall above all! The game is one of the most accessible RPGs and is ideal for those beginners to the RPG genre. This game has an almost perfect combination of combat, puzzle-solving and adventuring. You start in your humble cottage outside the palace with just a lamp to guide your way through the dark, wind and rain outside. But before you know it you'll journey through forests, swamps, deserts and stretching mountain ranges. And that's just in the light world! In the dark world, locations are mirrored in a twist way to the light world where locations can be perceived familiar and strangely together. Nintendo have proven once again that they really are the kings of gameplay.

The game is presented in a top-down 2D map-like perspective with Link moving around on a large, highly detailed gameworld. With simple use of colour and shading, the graphics work very well in presenting the 'light' world and the 'dark' world in good contrast. There are plenty of sparkling visual details and effects, although not as eye-popping as later RPG releases such as Squaresoft's Chrono Trigger or Final Fantasy 3. For today's photo-realistic 3D worlds, Zelda doesn't seem so much outdated as wonderfully nostalgic! In its own way, it is charming to behold. The sound and music are very well executed! With plenty of sword clink-clashes, explosions and rumbles Zelda 3 rocks your world in the best way a 16-bit game can! The sound effects do have that trademark Nintendo quirkiness - cartoonish in a Japanese style but not totally weird! The music features many memorable tunes not least the famous Zelda signature theme! The game is scored with plenty of atmospheric, dramatic or even melodic music setting their locations & scenes seamlessly.

This is the first RPG I've ever played and the first Zelda game I've ever played. Its over a decade old now, but ardent RPG enthusiasts should not sit smug without having this one under their belt (or inventory). It is one the most easily picked up yet difficult to master RPGs of its time and will take away plenty of precious hours, days or even weeks! An absolute unmissable title, Zelda 3 provides an almost flawless precedent to the later 3D world, cinematic, cel-shaded spectular Zelda titles on N64 & NGC. Be a part of the epic (yet conflicting) Zelda mythology and prepare for a wonderful gaming experience.

This was my first Zelda, and I was worried it was just another average but overhyped game. After playing it I can honestly say this game's hype is well-deserved.

The main thing that makes this game brilliant is the amount of thought put into it. It doesn't ever really on cheap tactics like random battles, boring dungeons, or obligatory 'twists'. Instead, progression through the game is genuinely involving, with you getting stronger by acquiring items that actually change the way you can play. It also rewards exploration in the way no other game does, around every corner there is a great surprise, and it sucks you into a totally different experience from other games.

Another thing that is beautiful about this game is the atmosphere, despite the fact it is so old, the music is some of the best I've ever heard in a game, the graphics are always simple but also extremely effective, and the ideas implemented in ever sequence of playing make it very enjoyable and rewarding throughout.

There are no flaws in this game, and I can happily recommend it to anyone.

i love this game, not only because it is one of the best games i have ever played, but also because it has a different feel to it than the other Zelda's. its like the daddyo of the zeldas, the one that was so massive and lasted you years.

Im glad its out for the GBA now because atlast its become portable. if you've never played it, you'll probably love it, and if you have, then youll know how re-playable it is.

Worth buying

The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past was a fantastic game on the SNES and you know something, its just as good on GameBoy! I am so glad they have released this game on the little cart because now you can take this great adventure with you anywhere. I first got the game when the GBA SP was released and I was hooked! I was in London at the time but on the way back home to Newcastle on the train, I played this game none stop! The graphics are superb, the gameplay is smooth and there are loads of things to do, like finding certain clues out, meeting people, there are loads of weapons to use, different enemies and boss's to defeat, secrets to disscover and loads of areas in the game to explore!

The bit I like is going back and forth from the dark side back to the light side! Fantastic! This was always classed as one of the best Zelda titles, and all I can say it is very good and you people out there thinking of buying it should because theres hours of excitement and fun just waiting to be opened!
I havn't played the four swords on it, but it is suppose to be quite good, but down side is you need four people to have a cart of their own, but like I say, this game is fantastic!