Editing The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

{{Short description|1991 video game}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Infobox video game
|title = The Legend of Zelda: {{nowrap|A Link to the Past}}
|image = The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past SNES Game Cover.jpg
|caption = North American box art
|developer = [[Nintendo Entertainment Analysis & Development|Nintendo EAD]]
|publisher = [[Nintendo]]
|director = [[Takashi Tezuka]]
|producer = [[Shigeru Miyamoto]]
|programmer = {{plainlist|
* Yasunari Soejima
* Toshihiko Nakago
}}
|artist = {{plainlist|
* Masanao Arimoto
* Tsuyoshi Watanabe
}}
|composer = [[Koji Kondo]]
|writer = {{plainlist|
* [[Kensuke Tanabe]]
}}
|series = ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''
|platforms = [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]
|released = {{vgrelease|JP|November 21, 1991|NA|April 13, 1992|EU|September 24, 1992}}
|genre = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
|modes = [[Single-player]]
}}
{{nihongo foot|'''''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'''''|ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース|Zeruda no Densetsu Kamigami no Toraifōsu|lit. '''''The Legend of Zelda: Triforce of the Gods'''''|lead=yes|group=lower-alpha}} is a 1991 [[action-adventure game]] developed and published by [[Nintendo]] for the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]. It is the third game in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe.

The story is set many years before the events of the first two ''Zelda'' games. The player assumes the role of [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]] as he journeys to save [[Hyrule]], defeat the demon king [[Ganon]], and rescue the descendants of the Seven Sages. It returns to a [[top-down perspective]] similar to the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', dropping the [[Side-scrolling video game|side-scrolling]] gameplay of ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]''. It introduced series staples such as parallel worlds and items including the [[Master Sword]].

''A Link to the Past'' is considered among the [[greatest video games ever made]], with particular praise for its presentation and innovative gameplay. It was [[Porting#Porting in gaming|ported]] to the [[Game Boy Advance]] as ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords|A Link to the Past and Four Swords]]'' in 2002, and sold 6.5 million copies across both platforms by 2004. It was subsequently re-released on the [[Wii]], [[Wii U]], and [[New Nintendo 3DS]] via the [[Virtual Console]], the [[Nintendo Switch]] via the [[Nintendo Classics]] service, and the [[Super NES Classic Edition]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic|title=Super NES Classic Edition|publisher=[[Nintendo of America, Inc.]]|date=September 29, 2017|access-date=September 29, 2017|archive-date=September 28, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170928025849/https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic|url-status=live}}</ref> A sequel, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds|A Link Between Worlds]]'', was released for the Nintendo 3DS in 2013.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McWhertor |first1=Michael |date=April 17, 2013 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past sequel coming to Nintendo 3DS this holiday |url=http://www.polygon.com/2013/4/17/4234398/the-legend-of-zelda-link-to-the-past-sequel-coming-to-nintendo-3ds |access-date=December 31, 2014 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date=January 30, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160130221857/http://www.polygon.com/2013/4/17/4234398/the-legend-of-zelda-link-to-the-past-sequel-coming-to-nintendo-3ds |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Schreier |first1=Jason |author-link1=Jason Schreier |date=June 11, 2013 |title=The New 3DS Zelda Is Called A Link Between Worlds |url=http://kotaku.com/the-new-3ds-zelda-is-called-a-link-between-worlds-512588193 |access-date=December 31, 2014 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-date=January 26, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126050644/https://kotaku.com/the-new-3ds-zelda-is-called-a-link-between-worlds-512588193 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Gameplay==
[[Image: Legend of Zelda a Link to the Past Screen02.png|right|thumb|upright|Link can travel between two worlds, which have similar layouts but different aesthetics. Shown is the same location in the Light World (top) and the Dark World (bottom), a dilapidated parallel Hyrule.]]

''A Link to the Past'' puts the player in control of its protagonist, [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]], and is viewed and controlled from an overhead perspective, much like the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]''. This contrasts its predecessor, ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'', which had a side-scrolling perspective.<ref name="zeldaii">{{cite video game|title=Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|developer=[[Nintendo]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=December 1, 1988|platform=[[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]]}}</ref> Where Link could only move in four directions in the original ''The Legend of Zelda'', Link can now move diagonally as well.<ref name="primaguide">{{cite book |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2002 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords - Prima's Official Strategy Guide |location= Roseville, California, USA|publisher=Prima Games}}</ref> The player explores the [[overworld]] of Hyrule while entering dungeons in order to defeat bosses and receive [[Item (game terminology)|item]]s necessary for completing Link's quest. These dungeons are often multi-[[Level (video games)|level]], requiring Link to ascend and descend stairs or fall into holes to progress.<ref name="primaguide" /> Link is able to use a variety of weapons and items, with his two main items being his sword and shield, both of which are acquired early and can be upgraded multiple times. Certain items, such as the Lantern, use magic points when used. Link acquires items at various point in his journey, sometimes in the overworld. Each dungeon has a large chest, which grants a piece of equipment that is typically necessary to complete the game. As the player explores the overworld, they can find optional [[Health (game terminology)|health]] upgrades called Heart Pieces; when four are collected, they form a Heart Container, which increases Link's health by one.<ref name="primaguide" />

''A Link to the Past'' features two separate but similar overworlds: the Light World and the Dark World. Link starts in the Light World. By traveling through portals, he can enter the Dark World, a parallel version of the Light World. The Dark World has different enemies, [[non-playable character]]s, and dungeons, and the player will often have to travel back and forth between the two worlds to progress. The Dark World's locations and geography often line up with the Light World's, such as Kakariko Village and the Village of Outcasts. While Link can enter the Dark World via portals, he can only exit the Dark World using an item called the Magic Mirror. This leaves a special portal behind that allows him to return through it, though it is erased if Link uses the Magic Mirror in the Dark World. At times, this allows Link to reach areas otherwise inaccessible.<ref name="player's guide">{{cite book|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Nintendo Player's Strategy Guide|author=Arakawa, M.|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|year=1992|asin=B000AMPXNM}}</ref>
{{Page needed|date=November 2024}}
<ref name="official guide">{{cite book|title=The Legend of Zelda — A Link to the Past|author=Stratton, Bryan|publisher=[[Prima Games]]|date=December 10, 2002|isbn=0-7615-4118-7|url-access=registration|url=https://archive.org/details/legendofzeldal00brya}}</ref>
{{Page needed|date=November 2024}}
<ref>{{cite magazine|url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200611/N06.1120.1626.27181.htm|title=A Link To Link's Past: The History Of Zelda|magazine=[[Game Informer]]|date=November 20, 2006|access-date=March 14, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071012132115/http://gameinformer.com/News/Story/200611/N06.1120.1626.27181.htm |archive-date = October 12, 2007}}</ref><ref name="link to the past">{{cite video game|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|developer=[[Nintendo]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=April 13, 1992|platform=[[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]]}}</ref><ref name="four swords">{{cite video game|title=[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords]]|developer=[[Nintendo]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=December 2, 2002|platform=[[Game Boy Advance]]}}</ref>

==Plot==

=== Setting ===
{{Further|The Legend of Zelda#Fictional chronology|label1=Fictional chronology of ''The Legend of Zelda''}}
''A Link to the Past'' is a distant prequel to the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' and ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'',<ref>{{cite web |date=November 21, 1991 |title=Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce – Back Cover |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,51140/ |access-date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Nintendo (via [[MobyGames]]) |language=ja |quote=今度の舞台はリンクが活躍した頃よりも遥か昔、ハイラルが、まだ一つの王国であった時代。(This time, the stage is set a long time before Link's exploits, an era when Hyrule was still one kingdom.) |archive-date=January 11, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120111044754/http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,51140/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 13, 1992 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – Back Cover |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,13522/ |access-date=June 10, 2010 |publisher=Nintendo of America, Inc. (via [[MobyGames]]) |quote=The predecessors of Link and Zelda face monsters on the march when a menacing magician takes over the kingdom. |archive-date=August 13, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090813141938/http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art/gameCoverId,13522/ |url-status=live }}</ref><ref name="miyamoto99timeline">{{cite magazine |date=January 1999 |title=Interview |magazine=Dengeki Nintendo 64 |publisher=MediaWorks, Inc. |quote='''Shigeru Miyamoto:''' (時オカ→神トラ)それから初代ときてリンクの冒険という順番になる。 / ''Ocarina of Time'', ''A Link to the Past'', then comes the original one and ''The Adventure of Link'' in turn.}}</ref> and, within the official chronology, is the first game in the "Defeated Hero" timeline that connects to an alternate reality scenario where the Hero of Time does not succeed in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''. This results in Ganon being imprisoned in the Sacred Realm in his Dark Beast form out of desperation. Having successfully gathered all three pieces of the Triforce, Ganon's evil desires have transformed the realm into the Dark World.<ref name=":0">{{Cite book |title=The Legend of Zelda Encyclopedia |publisher=Dark Horse |year=2018 |isbn=978-1-50670-638-2 |pages=10, 11}}</ref> The game is set in Hyrule, also known as the Light World, which parallels the Dark World.<ref name="primaguide" /> Before the events of the game, the descendants of the Seven Sages who imprisoned Ganon are captured, [[Princess Zelda]] included, and, one by one, sent to the Dark World. The King of Hyrule is murdered, and the wizard, Agahnim, takes over.<ref name="primaguide" />

=== Story ===
The game begins with series protagonist [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]], the last descendant of the Knights of Hyrule, and his uncle being awakened by a [[Telepathy|telepathic]] message from Zelda, who says that she has been locked in Hyrule Castle's dungeon by Agahnim and requires rescue. Link's uncle goes to rescue her first, and Link follows, despite his uncle's orders to remain home. His uncle is mortally wounded and, before succumbing, Link receives a sword and shield from him. He infiltrates Hyrule Castle and successfully hides Zelda in the Sanctuary as his uncle's last wish.<ref name="manual">{{cite book |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past instruction manual |publisher=[[Nintendo]] |year=1992 |editor=Nintendo |editor-link=Nintendo}}</ref> Zelda remains in the Sanctuary with the priest, who tells Link that Agahnim is a powerful wizard planning to free Ganon from the Dark World, after he was imprisoned for attempting to use the [[Triforce]] for evil purposes. Agahnim's weak point is the [[Master Sword]], a relic weapon only the chosen hero can wield; to do so, the hero must obtain the three pendants.<ref name="primaguide" />

Link journeys to find the three pendants, aided by Sahasrahla along the way, and eventually obtaining the Master Sword. Zelda communicates her peril to Link telepathically and, upon returning to the Sanctuary, finds the priest dying, who tells him to rescue Zelda. He attempts to rescue Zelda, but to no avail, as Agahnim sends her to the Dark World. After defeating Agahnim, the wizard sends Link to the Dark World, where he must rescue the descendants of the Seven Sages. He once again battles Agahnim and, upon defeat, Ganon appears from Agahnim's corpse and flies to the Pyramid of Power. Upon defeating Ganon, Link retrieves the Triforce and is given the chance to make a wish. In the ending, his uncle, the priest, and the King of Hyrule are all resurrected, everyone trapped in the Dark World comes home, and Link later puts the Master Sword back into its pedestal.<ref name="primaguide" />

==Development==
In 1988, development of a new [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] ''The Legend of Zelda'' video game began, but one year later, the project was brought to [[Nintendo]]'s next console; the Super Famicom (known as the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] in other regions).<ref>{{cite web |author=Schneider |first=Peer |date=April 21, 2006 |title=Retrospective: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past |url=http://www.ign.com/blogs/hyrule-times/2006/04/21/retrospective-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120819021646/http://www.ign.com/blogs/hyrule-times/2006/04/21/retrospective-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past |archive-date=August 19, 2012 |access-date=March 14, 2007 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> Due to the success of previous ''Zelda'' games, Nintendo was able to invest a large budget and ample development time and resources into the game's production.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://ludogo.linda-errol.com/games/zelda.htm|title=Legend of Zelda—A link to the Past|access-date=March 29, 2008|publisher=Ludogo|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080405225555/http://ludogo.linda-errol.com/games/zelda.htm|archive-date=April 5, 2008}}</ref> At the time, most Super NES game cartridges had 4 [[MBit|Mbit]] (512 KB) of storage space. This game broke the trend by using 8 Mbit (1 MB), allowing the Nintendo development team to create a remarkably expansive world for Link to inhabit.<ref name="greatest">{{cite web|last=Gouskos|first=Carrie|url=http://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/1100-6145817/|title=The Greatest Games of All-Time: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|website=[[GameSpot]]|date=March 14, 2006|access-date=March 7, 2007|archive-date=June 7, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190607084504/https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-greatest-games-of-all-time-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/1100-6145817/|url-status=live}}</ref> Like ''[[Super Mario World]]'', this game used a simple graphic [[Data compression|compression]] method on the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|Super NES]] by limiting the color depth of many tiles to eight colors instead of the Super NES's native 16-color tiles. The tiles were decompressed at runtime by adding a leading bit to each pixel's color index. Storage space was also saved by eliminating duplication: The Light World and the Dark World are almost identical in layout (though using differing texture tiles), and the Dark World exists in the ROM only as an "overlay" of the Light World.  Producer [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] originally intended the game to feature a [[Party (role-playing games)|party]], "one that consists of the protagonist, ... a magic user, and a girl".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/miyamoto-horii-discussion/|title=Discussion Between Miyamoto & Horii|date=December 20, 2011|access-date=January 25, 2021|website=GlitterBerri's Game Translations|archive-date=February 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210206101024/https://www.glitterberri.com/developer-interviews/miyamoto-horii-discussion/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="superplay"/> The script was written by series newcomer [[Kensuke Tanabe]],<ref name="superplay">{{cite magazine |date=March 2003 |title=Shigeru Miyamoto Interview |magazine=Super PLAY |publisher=Medströms Dataförlag AB |language=sv |issue=4/03 |url=http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/230403.shtml |access-date=September 24, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040623204151/http://www.miyamotoshrine.com/theman/interviews/230403.shtml|archive-date=June 23, 2004}}</ref> while [[Yoshiaki Koizumi]] was responsible for the background story explained in the instruction manual.<ref name="koizumi">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/12/interview-super/ |title=Interview: Super Mario Galaxy Director On Sneaking Stories Past Miyamoto |first=Chris |last=Kohler |date=December 4, 2007 |magazine=Wired: GameLife |publisher=Condé Nast Digital |access-date=June 10, 2010 |quote='''Yoshiaki Koizumi:''' My first assignment was to do the art and layout and eventually the writing for the manual for ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past''. What was funny was that at the time, it didn't seem like they'd really figured out what most of the game elements meant. So it was up to me to come up with story and things while I was working on the manual. So, for example, the design of the goddesses as well as the star sign associated with them. |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104235100/http://www.wired.com/gamelife/2007/12/interview-super/ |url-status=live }}</ref> Due to time constraints, certain features were cut from the final release, such as the ability to cause [[wildfire]]s in grassy areas (which would later be incorporated into ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures|Four Swords Adventures]]'').<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.glitterberri.com/a-link-to-the-past/development-interview/|title=The Development of A Link to the Past|website=GlitterBerri's Game Translations|date=April 23, 2012|access-date=January 25, 2021|archive-date=May 6, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190506134916/https://www.glitterberri.com/a-link-to-the-past/development-interview/|url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="primaguide" /><!--the comment on four swords is from the website, not the interview, so I added a citation on the wildfire thing being in four swords--> The player was able to freely choose which weapons to hold and would be able to swap and combine items such as using both bombs and arrows at the same time. According to Tezuka, this did not come to pass as Miyamoto requested that Link always have the sword equipped.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Retro Gamer]]|title=The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past|last=Thorpe|first=Nick|issue=165|page=24}}</ref>

===Music===
The score was composed, arranged, and produced by [[Koji Kondo]]. The overworld theme of ''The Legend of Zelda'' ("Hyrule Overture") returns in ''A Link to the Past'', redone in [[Nintendo S-SMP|S-SMP]] style. The theme is also featured in "Light World Overworld" and in "End Credits". ''A Link to the Past'' helped to establish the musical core of the ''Zelda'' series. While the first game originated the "Hyrule Overture", many recurring motifs of the ''Zelda'' scores come from ''A Link to the Past'', including "Zelda's Lullaby" (Princess Zelda's Theme), "Ganondorf's Theme", "Hyrule Castle" (Royal Family Theme), "Kakariko Village" and "Select Screen/Fairy Cave". These themes have been used in subsequent ''The Legend of Zelda'' games.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=March 29, 2008|url=http://nerdmentality.com/article/5167/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/2/|title=The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|publisher=N-Philes|date=February 24, 2007|author=Thomas, Jared|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120320093013/http://nerdmentality.com/article/5167/the-legend-of-zelda-twilight-princess/2/|archive-date=March 20, 2012|df=mdy-all}}</ref>{{rs|date=November 2024}} A soundtrack to ''Kamigami no Triforce'', entitled ''The Legend of Zelda: Sound and Drama'', was released by [[Sony Records]] in Japan on June 22, 1994. The first disc is 44 minutes long and features rearranged versions of a selection of the game's themes, along with a bonus drama track. The second disc features 54 minutes of the original arrangements for the game and those of the [[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|original NES game]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.soundtrackcentral.com/cds/legendzelda_sad.htm|title=The Legend of Zelda: Sound and Drama reviews|publisher=SoundtrackCentral.com|access-date=March 7, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music24_list.html|title=Full Song List with Secret Songs|publisher=Smashbros|access-date=April 9, 2008|archive-date=August 8, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130808071026/http://www.smashbros.com/wii/en_us/music/music24_list.html|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Localization ===
The English-language [[Software localization|localization]] included changes to the original Japanese game. The most common change was the removal of religious references to conform with Nintendo of America's content guidelines. The most obvious change was made to the subtitle, which was renamed from ''Kamigami no Triforce'' ("Triforce of the Gods") to ''A Link to the Past''. The font used to represent an unreadable language, [[Universe of The Legend of Zelda#Hylian|Hylian]], was based on [[Egyptian hieroglyphs]], which carry religious meanings, and it was altered in the English version. The priest Agahnim became a [[Wizard (fantasy)|wizard]].<ref>{{cite web |year=2007 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past |url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_8.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071202212626/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2007/ign_top_game_8.html |archive-date=December 2, 2007 |access-date=March 31, 2008 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref>

===Easter egg===
In 1990, ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' held a contest, requiring players to take a photo of the "WarMECH", a powerful and rare enemy in ''[[Final Fantasy (video game)|Final Fantasy]]''. As a prize, one of the successful entrants was to be selected at random to appear in an upcoming game, though it was not revealed which game it would be.<ref name="tedium">{{cite web|url=http://tedium.co/2017/03/13/zelda-chris-houlihan-secret-room/|title=Chris Houlihan Room: The Legend of Zelda's Best Easter Egg|last=Smith|first=Ernie|date=March 13, 2017|work=Tedium|access-date=June 25, 2017|archive-date=July 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726140650/http://tedium.co/2017/03/13/zelda-chris-houlihan-secret-room/|url-status=live}}</ref> As a result, a hidden room exists in ''A Link to the Past'' containing 45 blue rupees and a greeting from Chris Houlihan, the winner of the contest, reading "My name is Chris Houlihan. This is my top secret room. Keep it between us, okay?"<ref name="1up">{{cite web |title=25 Things You Didn't Know About The Legend of Zelda |url=http://www.1up.com/news/25-things-you-did-not-know-about-zelda |work=[[1UP.com]] |last=Winterhalter |first=Ryan |date=February 20, 2011 |access-date=January 28, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160305021644/http://www.1up.com/news/25-things-you-did-not-know-about-zelda |archive-date=March 5, 2016 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}</ref>

The room was intended as a crash prevention measure; the game would send players to this room if it could not determine where Link was going when he goes to another area, and has been found through five different methods.<ref name="gr">{{cite web |title=The 100 best Easter Eggs of all time |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/100-best-easter-eggs-all-time/ |work=[[GamesRadar]] |last1=Taljonick |first1=Ryan |last2=Gilbert |first2=Henry |date=April 18, 2014 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=May 6, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140506212641/http://www.gamesradar.com/100-best-easter-eggs-all-time/ |url-status=live }}</ref> There was no wide awareness of the room until the 2000s, more than a decade after the release of ''A Link to the Past'' with the increased popularity of the Internet and Super NES emulators.<ref name="palgn">{{cite web |title=PALGN's Easter Egg Hunt |url=http://palgn.com.au/6610/palgns-easter-egg-hunt/ |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140504160557/http://palgn.com.au/6610/palgns-easter-egg-hunt/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=May 4, 2014 |work=PALGN |last=Leigh |first=Chris |date=April 8, 2007 |access-date=May 4, 2014}}</ref>

The [[Game Boy Advance]] re-release, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords]]'', removed the ability to access the room; however, it could still be found in the game's code.<ref name="gr3">{{cite web |title=The Top 7... secret rooms in video games |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-secret-rooms-in-video-games/?page=3 |work=[[GamesRadar]] |last=Towell |first=Justin |date=June 23, 2012 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=August 18, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120818153551/http://www.gamesradar.com/the-top-7-secret-rooms-in-video-games/?page=3 |url-status=live }}</ref> The [[Virtual Console]] and [[Nintendo Classics]] versions contain the room, being emulations of the original game.<ref name="palgn"/>

== Reception ==
{{Expand section|with=More early reception. Currently it is all just "Best-of" listings|talk=Reception|small=no|date=January 2024}}
{{Video game reviews
|SNES = true
|GBA = true
|GR_SNES = 93%<ref name="gamerankings" />
|GR_GBA = 92%<ref name="gamerankingsGBA">{{cite web | publisher = [[GameRankings]] | url = http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html | title = The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Reviews | access-date=April 30, 2007 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20191209015848/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html | archive-date = December 9, 2019 | url-status = dead}}</ref>
|MC_GBA = 95/100<ref name="alltime"/>
|Allgame_SNES = 5/5<ref name="allgame">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=326&tab=review|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – Review|publisher=[[AllGame]]|access-date=June 17, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114125014/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=326&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|last=Reges|first=Julia}}</ref>
|Allgame_GBA = 4.5/5<ref name="allgame-ga">{{cite web|url=http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39599&tab=review|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past – Review|publisher=AllGame|access-date=March 3, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141114212405/http://www.allgame.com/game.php?id=39599&tab=review|archive-date=November 14, 2014|last=Marriott|first=Scott Alan}}</ref>
|Dragon_SNES = 5/5<ref name="Dragon198"/>
|EGM_SNES = {{plainlist|*8/10
*9/10
*9/10
*9/10<ref>{{cite magazine | magazine=[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]] | issue=32 | date=March 1992 | first1=Steve | last1=Harris | first2=Ed | last2=Semrad | first3=Martin | last3=Alessi | author4=Sushi X | page=22 | title=Review Crew: Zelda III | url=https://archive.org/details/Electronic_Gaming_Monthly_32/page/n23/mode/1up}}</ref>}}
|Fam_SNES = {{plainlist|*9/10
*10/10
*10/10
*10/10<ref name="famitsu-rev" />}}
|GamePro_SNES = 5/5<ref>{{cite magazine |magazine=GamePro |publisher=IDG Communications |title=ProReviews: The Legends of Zelda: A Link to the Past |issue=37 |date=August 1992}}</ref>
|GamePro_GBA = 5/5<ref name="gamepro" />
|GSpot_GBA = 9.2/10<ref name="GameSpot FS review" />
|IGN_GBA = 9.7/10<ref name="IGN FS review" />
|MM_SNES = 95%<ref>{{cite magazine|author1=[[Julian Rignall]]|author2=Richard Leadbetter|url=https://archive.org/details/mean-machines-20/page/84/mode/2up|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|magazine=[[Mean Machines]]|issue=20|date=May 1992|pages=84–86|access-date=December 9, 2024}}</ref>
|rev1 = ''[[SNES Force]]''
|rev1_SNES = 93%<ref>{{cite magazine |title=The Super League |magazine=[[SNES Force]] |date=23 December 1993 |issue=8 (January 1994) |page=30 |url=https://archive.org/details/SNESForce04Oct93/SNESForce08-Jan94/page/n29}}</ref>
|award1Pub = ''[[Chicago Tribune]]''
|award1 = [[List of Game of the Year awards|Best Game of the Year]] (1992)<ref name="Chicago">{{cite news |last1=Carter |first1=Chip |last2=Carter |first2=Jonathan |title=The Best of '92 That Kept You Playing and Playing... |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-12-25-9204270261-story.html |access-date=15 September 2021 |work=[[Chicago Tribune]] |date=December 25, 1992 |archive-date=January 14, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220114155533/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1992-12-25-9204270261-story.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
|award2Pub = ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''
|award2 = Best Video Game Sequel (1992)<ref name="egmbuyersguide1993"/>
|award3Pub = ''[[Nintendo Power]]''
|award3=SNES Game of the Year (runner-up), <br /> Graphics and Sound (SNES), <br /> Challenge (SNES), Best Hero (Link)<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Nintendo Power Awards '92: The NESTERS |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |date=May 1993 |issue=48 |pages=36–9 |url=https://archive.org/details/NintendoPower1988-2004/Nintendo%20Power%20Issue%20048%20%28May%201993%29/page/n37/mode/2up}}</ref>
|award4Pub = ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'',<ref name="EW"/> ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]'',<ref name="NextGen1999">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]|title=The Fifty Best Games of All Time|date=February 1999|issue=50|pages=72–81 (81)|url=https://archive.org/details/NEXT_Generation_50/page/n81/mode/2up}}</ref> <br /> ''[[Popular Mechanics]]''<ref name="PopularMechanics2019">{{cite magazine |url=https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g134/the-100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/ |magazine=[[Popular Mechanics]] |title=The 100 Greatest Video Games of All Time |last1=Moore |first1=Bo |last2=Schuback |first2=Adam |date=March 21, 2019 |access-date=May 27, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190527230757/https://www.popularmechanics.com/culture/gaming/g134/the-100-greatest-video-games-of-all-time/ |archive-date=May 27, 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|award4 = Best Game of All Time
|award5Pub = ''[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]]'',<ref name="G4"/> ''[[Gamereactor]]'',<ref name="Gamereactor">{{cite web |url=https://www.gamereactor.no/topp100 |title=Gamereactor Kårer Tidenes 100 Beste Spill! |date=August 31, 2011 |website=[[Gamereactor]] |access-date=October 27, 2019 |archive-date=July 8, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200708095943/https://www.gamereactor.no/topp100 |url-status=live}}</ref> ''[[IGN]]''<ref name="IGN2015">{{cite web|title=Top 100 Video Games of All Time|url=http://ca.ign.com/lists/top-100-games/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171210124028/http://ign.com/lists/top-100-games/|archive-date=December 10, 2017|website=IGN|access-date=October 28, 2017|date=June 1, 2015}}</ref><ref name="IGN2019">{{cite web|title=Top 100 Video Games of All Time|url=http://ign.com/lists/top-100-games|website=IGN|access-date=June 15, 2018|date=2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201224133217/http://ign.com/lists/top-100-games |archive-date=December 24, 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref>
|award5 = Best Game of All Time (runner-up)
|award6Pub = ''[[GamePro]]'',<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Noble |first1=McKinley |title=Feature: The 30 Greatest 16-Bit Games |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/211455/the-30-greatest-16-bit-games-page-5/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090805060143/http://www.gamepro.com/article/features/211455/the-30-greatest-16-bit-games-page-5/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=2009-08-05 |access-date=15 September 2021 |magazine=[[GamePro]] |date=July 29, 2009}}</ref> ''[[Kotaku]]''<ref>{{cite news |last1=Serrels |first1=Mark |title=Games Of The Generation, For Every Generation |url=https://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/02/games-of-the-generation-for-every-generation/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140306084114/http://www.kotaku.com.au/2014/02/games-of-the-generation-for-every-generation/ |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 6, 2014 |access-date=15 September 2021 |work=[[Kotaku Australia]] |date=26 February 2014 |language=en-AU}}</ref>
|award6 = Best Game of the Generation
}}
''A Link to the Past'' was critically acclaimed upon release for its graphics and gameplay, and has since been recognized by critics as one of the greatest video games of all time.<ref name="gamerankings">{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past reviews |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588436-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |access-date=March 7, 2007 |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191209012423/http://www.gamerankings.com/snes/588436-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |archive-date=December 9, 2019 |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |author=Thomas |first=Lucas M. |date=January 23, 2007 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past VC Review |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/23/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-vc-review |access-date=March 20, 2007 |website=[[IGN]] |archive-date=November 4, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121104071513/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/01/23/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-vc-review |url-status=live }}</ref> 
''[[Famitsu]]''{{'}}s four reviewers Tofuya Famibou, Muzno, Mariko Morishita and Giorgio Nakaji gave the game high scores.<ref name="famitsu-rev" />
The reviewers praised the games story and graphics with Morishita noting that even the smallest gestures of characters were very detailed. Nakaji noted the game may be difficult for players new to the ''Zelda'' games, but declared it a game that will remind players "how much fun games can be."<ref name="famitsu-rev">{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Famitsu]]|title=New Games Cross Review|language=Japanese|last1=Famibou|first1=Tofuya|last2=Mizuno|first2=Manager|last3=Morishita|first3=Mariko|last4=Makaji|first4=Giorgio|page=37|issue=156|date=December 13, 1991}}</ref>

It was the first game to receive a near-perfect score of 39 out of 40 from ''[[Famitsu]]'' magazine.<ref name="Famitsu">''スーパーファミコン SUPER FAMICOM - ゼルダの伝説 -神々のトライフォース-''. Weekly Famicom Tsushin. No.225. Pg.90. April 9, 1993.</ref> It was awarded Best Sequel of 1992 by ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''.<ref name="egmbuyersguide1993">{{cite magazine |year=1993 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's Buyer's Guide}}</ref> ''[[Chicago Tribune]]'' selected it as [[List of Game of the Year awards|Best Game of the Year]], tied with ''[[Street Fighter II]]''.<ref name="Chicago" /> ''A Link to the Past'' was reviewed in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' magazine by [[Sandy Petersen]] in 1993, giving it 5 out of 5 stars.<ref name="Dragon198">{{cite magazine |author=Petersen, Sandy |author-link=Sandy Petersen |date=October 1993 |title=Eye of the Monitor |magazine=[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]] |issue=198 |pages=57–60}}</ref>

In 1995, ''[[Total!]]'' listed the game 2nd on its "Top 100 SNES Games".<ref>{{Cite magazine |date=July 1995 |title=Top 100 SNES Games |url=https://archive.org/details/total-43/page/n37/mode/2up |magazine=Total! |issue=43 |pages=38}}</ref> In 1996, ''[[GamesMaster (magazine)|GamesMaster]]'' rated the game 80th on their "Top 100 Games of All Time".<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=July 1996 |title=Top 100 Games of All Time |url=https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cf/GamesMaster_UK_044.pdf |url-status=live |magazine=GamesMaster |issue=44 |pages=75 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211211224737/https://retrocdn.net/images/c/cf/GamesMaster_UK_044.pdf |archive-date=December 11, 2021}}</ref> In 2005, ''[[IGN]]'' editors placed it 11th in its "Top 100 Games",<ref>{{cite web |title=IGN's Top 100 Games: 11–20 |url=http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050716045647/http://top100.ign.com/2005/011-020.html |archive-date=July 16, 2005 |access-date=November 17, 2006 |website=IGN}}</ref> while readers voted it to 5th place,<ref>{{cite web |title=Reader's Picks Top 10 games: 1–10 |url=http://uk.top100.ign.com/2006/001-010.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131103141811/http://uk.top100.ign.com/2006/001-010.html |archive-date=November 3, 2013 |access-date=November 17, 2006 |website=IGN}}</ref> before ''IGN'' later ranked it the second best game of all time in 2015<ref name="IGN2015" /> and 2019.<ref name="IGN2019" /> In 2006, ''[[Entertainment Weekly]]'' chose it as the best game of all-time and it was inducted into ''[[GameSpot]]''{{'}}s list of the greatest games of all time.<ref name="EW">{{cite magazine |date=January 1, 2006 |title=The 100 greatest video games |url=http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0,6115,448924_8_0_,00.html |url-status=dead |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060918170240/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/commentary/0%2C6115%2C448924_8_0_%2C00.html |archive-date=September 18, 2006 |access-date=November 17, 2006}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Greatest Games of All Time: ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' |url=http://www.gamespot.com/features/6145817/index.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071018060523/http://www.gamespot.com/features/6145817/index.html |archive-date=October 18, 2007 |website=[[GameSpot]]}}</ref> It has also been listed as the best game of all time by ''[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]]''<ref name="NextGen1999" /> and ''[[Popular Mechanics]]'' magazines,<ref name="PopularMechanics2019" /> and as the second best game of all time by ''[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]]''<ref name="G4">{{cite web|title=G4TV's Top 100 Games|date=October 6, 2012|url=http://www.g4tv.com/top-100|website=[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141123063703/http://www.g4tv.com/top-100|archive-date=November 23, 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref> and ''[[Gamereactor]]''.<ref name="Gamereactor"/> Members of [[GameFAQs]] ranked it the 4th best,<ref>{{cite web |title=Fall 2005: 10-Year Anniversary Contest – The 10 Best Games Ever |url=http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150716111618/http://www.gamefaqs.com/features/contest/top10 |archive-date=July 16, 2015 |access-date=November 17, 2006 |website=[[GameFAQs]]}}</ref> and readers of Japanese magazine ''[[Famitsu]]'' ranked it 31st in a 2006 poll.<ref>{{cite web |author=Campbell, Colin |date=January 1, 2006 |title=Japan Votes on All-Time Top 100 |url=http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100/ |access-date=March 11, 2006 |publisher=Next Generation |archive-date=July 3, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140703200432/http://www.edge-online.com/features/japan-votes-all-time-top-100/ |url-status=live }}</ref> It also placed 3rd in ''[[Electronic Gaming Monthly]]''{{'}}s list,<ref>{{cite web |date=January 1, 2001 |title=Electronic Gaming Monthly's 100 Best Games of All-Time |url=http://gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20030611191341/http://gamers.com/feature/egmtop100/index.jsp |archive-date=June 11, 2003 |access-date=November 17, 2006 |work=gamers.com}}</ref> 23rd in ''[[Game Informer]]''{{'}}s,<ref>{{cite magazine |date=August 2001 |title=Top 100 Games of All-Time |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |volume=100 |pages=34}}</ref> and 3rd in a best 200 Nintendo games list by ''[[Nintendo Power]]''.<ref>{{cite magazine |date=February 2006 |title=NP Top 200 |magazine=[[Nintendo Power]] |volume=200 |pages=58–66}}</ref> In July 2007, readers of the magazine ''[[Edge (magazine)|Edge]]'' voted it sixth in a poll of the 100 best games of all time.<ref>{{cite news |date=July 1, 2007 |title=Zelda game named 'greatest ever' |publisher=BBC |url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6261546.stm |access-date=February 1, 2008 |archive-date=August 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100801054421/http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/6261546.stm |url-status=live }}</ref> ''[[ScrewAttack]]'' placed it 2nd on their list of [[ScrewAttack's Top 10|top 20 Super Nintendo games]].<ref>{{cite web |date=April 7, 2008 |title=ScrewAttack Top 20 SNES Games (10–1) |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/glx474/screwattack-s-top-ten-top-20-snes-games--10-1- |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130308025830/http://www.gametrailers.com/videos/glx474/screwattack-s-top-ten-top-20-snes-games--10-1- |archive-date=March 8, 2013 |access-date=April 12, 2008 |series=''[[ScrewAttack's Top 10]]'' |publisher=[[ScrewAttack]]}}</ref> ''[[GamesRadar]]'' named ''A Link to the Past'' the third best Super NES game of all time, losing only to ''[[Chrono Trigger]]'' (2nd) and ''[[Super Metroid]]'' (1st).<ref>{{cite web |author=GamesRadar staff |date=April 17, 2012 |title=Best Super Nintendo games of all time |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/best-snes-games-all-time/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502231234/http://www.gamesradar.com/best-snes-games-all-time/ |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |access-date=February 2, 2013 |publisher=[[GamesRadar]]}}</ref> It placed eighth (the second-highest ''Zelda'' game on the list) in ''[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]''{{'}}s "100 greatest Nintendo games of all time" list.<ref name="100-ONM">{{cite web |last=East |first=Tom |title=100 Best Nintendo Games – Part Six |url=http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7327/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-6/ |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20110220232113/http://www.officialnintendomagazine.co.uk/7327/features/100-best-nintendo-games-part-6 |archive-date=February 20, 2011 |access-date=March 2, 2009 |work=[[Official Nintendo Magazine]]}}</ref> In 2009, ''Game Informer'' put ''A Link to the Past'' 12th on their list of "The Top 200 Games of All Time", saying that it "remains a blast today".<ref name="gi_best">{{cite magazine |author=The ''Game Informer'' staff |date=December 2009 |title=The Top 200 Games of All Time |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |issue=200 |pages=44–79 |issn=1067-6392 |oclc=27315596}}</ref> This is 11 places ahead of the rank it had back in 2001.<ref>{{cite magazine |last=Cork |first=Jeff |date=November 16, 2009 |title=Game Informer's Top 100 Games Of All Time (Circa Issue 100) |url=https://www.gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20091119071214/http://gameinformer.com/b/features/archive/2009/11/16/game-informer-s-top-100-games-of-all-time-circa-issue-100.aspx |url-status=live |archive-date=November 19, 2009 |magazine=[[Game Informer]] |access-date=December 10, 2013}}</ref> In 2018, ''[[Complex Networks|Complex]]'' listed the game 2nd on its "The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time". They felt the game is "definitely Nintendo's best first-party title for the SNES".<ref>{{Cite web |last=Knight |first=Rich |date=April 30, 2018 |title=The Best Super Nintendo Games of All Time |url=https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/ |access-date=2022-02-17 |website=Complex |language=en |archive-date=January 9, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220109005057/https://www.complex.com/pop-culture/the-100-best-super-nintendo-games/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

''A Link to the Past and Four Swords'' for the Game Boy Advance received positive reviews.<ref>{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past reviews |url=http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |access-date=March 7, 2007 |publisher=[[GameRankings]] |archive-date=April 13, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100413171537/http://www.gamerankings.com/gba/561559-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/index.html |url-status=live }}</ref> ''IGN'' praised it for being a faithful conversion of the original, but noted that the audio did not sound as crisp on the Game Boy Advance, and found the frequent sound effects tiresome. The game holds the top spot of [[Metacritic]]'s all-time high scores for Game Boy Advance games with a score of 95.<ref name="alltime">{{cite web |title=Legend Of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The |url=https://www.metacritic.com/game/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-four-swords/critic-reviews/?platform=game-boy-advance |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080604051634/http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/gba/legendofzeldaalinktothepast |archive-date=June 4, 2008 |access-date=April 6, 2008 |website=[[Metacritic]]}}</ref> In 2007, ''IGN'' named ''A Link to the Past and Four Swords'' the third best Game Boy Advance game of all time.<ref>{{cite web |author=Harris, Craig |date=March 16, 2007 |title=Top 25 Game Boy Advance Games of All Time |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/03/17/top-25-game-boy-advance-games-of-all-time?page=5 |access-date=March 18, 2007 |website=IGN |archive-date=August 28, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120828203007/http://www.ign.com/articles/2007/03/17/top-25-game-boy-advance-games-of-all-time?page=5 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past reviews |url=http://www.metacritic.com/redirectcritic?p=gba&g=legendofzeldaalinktothepast |access-date=March 7, 2007 |website=[[Metacritic]] |archive-date=July 14, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150714211837/http://www.metacritic.com/redirectcritic?p=gba&g=legendofzeldaalinktothepast |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[GamePro]]''{{'}}s Star Dingo called it a "masterpiece", as well as an "important part of the Grand Renaissance of the Second Dimension". He also praised the overworld for its secrets and "quirky random characters", adding that playing it required patience and exploring.<ref name="gamepro">{{cite magazine |last=Dingo |first=Star |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Review from |url=http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/27432/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/ |magazine=GamePro |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100815233032/http://www.gamepro.com/article/reviews/27432/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/ |archive-date=August 15, 2010 |access-date=October 1, 2011}}</ref> Star Dingo praised the port of ''A Link to the Past''{{'}}s ability to retain its visuals. He specifically praises its "clean sprites", calling its overworld a "colorful, happy place", sarcastically calling it kiddy. He also questioned how the series' cartoon style was abnormal for the series.<ref name="gamepro" /> Star Dingo called the sound effects "indelible", though he noted that they were "a little dated".<ref name="gamepro" /> ''[[UGO Networks]]'' compared ''Four Swords'' to [[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages|''Oracle of Ages'' and ''Oracle of Seasons'']], calling it "similarly gimmicky". They commented that the best ''Four Swords'' brought was its sequel, ''[[The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap|The Minish Cap]]''.<ref>{{cite web |last=Rosenberg |first=Adam |date=October 26, 2007 |title=Legend of Zelda: Four Swords, Minish Cap, Four Swords Adventures |url=http://www.ugo.com/games/legend-of-zelda-retrospective-small-hyrule |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110615175858/http://www.ugo.com/games/legend-of-zelda-retrospective-small-hyrule |archive-date=June 15, 2011 |access-date=October 1, 2011 |publisher=UGO.com}}</ref> ''[[CNET]]'' praised both the original ''A Link to the Past'' release as well as the ''Four Swords'' multiplayer mode, calling the former a "great handheld port of one of the greatest games ever released for Nintendo's 16-bit system", while describing the latter as "an exciting, replayable multiplayer experience".<ref>{{cite web |author= |date=March 13, 2012 |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Overview & Specs |url=http://reviews.cnet.com/game-boy-advance-games/the-legend-of-zelda/4505-9975_7-30982211.html |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121013060937/http://reviews.cnet.com/game-boy-advance-games/the-legend-of-zelda/4505-9975_7-30982211.html |archive-date=October 13, 2012 |access-date=July 31, 2024 |website=CNET Reviews |publisher=}}</ref> ''Nintendo Power'' had a positive review for the GBA version, praising the level design and puzzles.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=[[Nintendo Power]]|title=Now Playing|page=222|date=December 2002|volume=163}}</ref>

===Sales===
''A Link to the Past'' was set for release in March 1991. Additional staff were hired to complete the game by adding further elements to the game such more enemies and a scenario. According to Miyamoto, these elements took an additional eight months to develop.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Retro Gamer|title=The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past|last=Thorpe|first=Nick|issue=165|page=25}}</ref> It was released in Japan on November 21, 1991. Releases in North America and Europe followed on April 13, 1992 and September 24, 1992 respectively.<ref>{{cite magazine|magazine=Retro Gamer|title=The Legend of Zelda A Link to the Past|last=Thorpe|first=Nick|issue=165|page=26}}</ref> The game was a commercial success upon release. In Japan, it topped the ''[[Famitsu]]'' sales charts during November–December 1991<ref name="Famitsu1991">{{cite web |title=1991 Weekly |url=https://sites.google.com/site/gamedatalibrary/games-by-year/1991-weekly |website=Game Data Library |publisher=[[Famitsu]] |access-date=8 September 2021}}</ref><ref name="December">{{cite magazine|date=27 December 1991|title=Weekly Top 30 (12月13日)|url=https://archive.org/details/weekly-famitsu-no.-158-december-27th-1991-600DPI/Weekly%20Famitsu%20No.%20158%20December%20%2027th%201991/page/14/mode/2up|magazine=[[Famicom Tsūshin]]|issue=158|pages=14–5|lang=ja}}</ref> and [[1992 in video games|January 1992]],<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Weekly Top 30 (1月31日) |magazine=[[Famicom Tsūshin]] |date=14 February 1992 |issue=165 |pages=14–5 |url=https://archive.org/details/weekly-famitsu-no.-165-february-14th-1992-600DPI/Weekly%20Famitsu%20-%20No.%20165%20February%2014th%201992/page/14/mode/2up |lang=ja}}</ref> becoming the best-selling [[1991 in video games|1991 release]].<ref>{{cite magazine |title=Famicom Journal Weekly Top 30 and Others: Count Down Hot 100 |magazine=[[Famicom Tsūshin]] |date=16 April 1993 |issue=226 |pages=77–92 |lang=ja |url=https://archive.org/details/famitsu-issue-226-apr-1993/page/77}}</ref> In the United States, it became the third best-selling [[1992 in video games|game of 1992]] (below ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' and ''[[Street Fighter II]]'') with one million units sold.<ref name="BW">{{cite magazine |title=Video Hits: 1992's top video-game sellers |magazine=[[Business Week]] |date=1993 |issue=3335–3338 |page=6 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lXopAQAAIAAJ |publisher=McGraw-Hill |quote=1992's top video-game sellers <br /> Rank {{nbsp}} Company/Game {{nbsp}} Millions sold <br /> 1 {{nbsp}} Sega ''/ Sonic The Hedgehog 2'' {{nbsp}} 2.0 <br /> 2 {{nbsp}} Capcom ''/ Street Fighter II'' {{nbsp}} 1.0 <br /> 3 {{nbsp}} Nintendo ''/ The Legend of Zelda'' {{nbsp}} 1.0 <br /> Data: Company Reports}}</ref> It had an exceptionally long stay on ''[[Nintendo Power]]''{{'}}s top games list (ranking number 2 in ''Nintendo Power''{{'}}s last issue in December 2012): when the Super NES list was retired, ''A Link to the Past'' had more than five consecutive years in the number one spot. It was later re-released as a [[Player's Choice]] title in North America, indicating that it had sold a minimum of one million copies there.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past&nbsp;— Cover Art|publisher=[[MobyGames]]|date=January 1, 2007|access-date=March 17, 2007|archive-date=July 27, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070727075451/http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cover-art|url-status=dead}}</ref> Worldwide, it was one of the [[List of best-selling Super Nintendo Entertainment System video games|best-selling Super NES games]], with 4.61 million units sold as of 2004.<ref name="4mil">{{cite web | url=http://www.optigamer.com/news/?id=733 | title=Zelda sales charts and sequel announced | date=March 28, 2004 | publisher=OptiGamer | author=Tenchi | access-date=December 3, 2005 | url-status=usurped | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050223002315/http://www.optigamer.com/news/?id=733 | archive-date=February 23, 2005}}</ref>

The later [[Game Boy Advance]] version in the United States alone sold 1.4 million copies and earned $41 million by August 2006. During the period between January 2000 and August 2006, it was the 8th highest-selling game launched for the [[Game Boy Advance]], [[Nintendo DS]], or [[PlayStation Portable]] in that country.<ref name=nextgensales>{{cite web|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071010052300/http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3557&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0 |url=http://www.next-gen.biz/index2.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3557&Itemid=2&pop=1&page=0 |title=The Century's Top 50 Handheld Games |author=Keiser, Joe |date=August 2, 2006 |work=[[Next Generation (magazine)|Next Generation]] |archive-date=October 10, 2007 |url-status=dead}}</ref> The Game Boy Advance version sold 1.89 million units worldwide by 2004, bringing total sales to 6.5 million units as of 2004.<ref name="4mil" />

==Legacy==
===Chris Houlihan Room===
''[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]'', ''[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4TV]]'', ''[[GameSpy]]'', ''[[Good Game (television series)|Good Game]]'', ''[[IGN]]'', ''[[Nintendo Life]]'', and ''PALGN'' referenced the Chris Houlihan room in articles which discuss video game [[easter egg (media)|easter eggs and secrets]].<ref name="palgn"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Main |first=Brendan |date=January 18, 2011 |title=The Minus Touch |url=http://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_289/8551-The-Minus-Touch.2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170403200939/https://www.escapistmagazine.com/articles/view/video-games/issues/issue_289/8551-The-Minus-Touch.2 |archive-date=April 3, 2017 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |work=[[The Escapist (magazine)|The Escapist]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |date=April 25, 2012 |title=7 Insane Video Game Secrets And Easter Eggs |url=http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723175/7-insane-video-game-secrets-and-easter-eggs/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130113220024/http://www.g4tv.com/thefeed/blog/post/723175/7-insane-video-game-secrets-and-easter-eggs/ |archive-date=January 13, 2013 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |work=[[G4 (U.S. TV channel)|G4TV]]}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=10 Ridiculous Old-School Video Game Rumors (That Were Actually True) |url=http://www.gamespy.com/articles/115/1157331p3.html |work=[[GameSpy]] |last=Hoovler |first=Evan |date=March 24, 2011 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=November 24, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131124005836/http://www.gamespy.com/articles/115/1157331p3.html |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Easter Eggs |url=http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2540272.htm |work=[[Australian Broadcasting Company]] |date=April 13, 2009 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=April 25, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090425134127/http://www.abc.net.au/tv/goodgame/stories/s2540272.htm |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |title=Gaming's Top 10 Easter Eggs |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/09/gamings-top-10-easter-eggs |work=[[IGN]] |date=April 9, 2009 |access-date=May 4, 2014 |archive-date=October 10, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121010232614/http://www.ign.com/articles/2009/04/09/gamings-top-10-easter-eggs |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Whitehead |first=Thomas |date=March 31, 2013 |title=Feature: The Nintendo Easter Egg Hunt |url=http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/03/feature_the_nintendo_easter_egg_hunt |access-date=May 4, 2014 |work=[[Nintendo Life]] |archive-date=August 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140819131625/http://www.nintendolife.com/news/2013/03/feature_the_nintendo_easter_egg_hunt |url-status=live }}</ref>{{Excessive citations inline|date=November 2024}}

''[[GamesRadar]]'' included it in its lists of the greatest video game Easter eggs and the thirteen "video game secrets that were almost never found".<ref name="gr"/><ref name="gr2">{{cite web |title=13 video game secrets that were almost never found |url=http://www.gamesradar.com/game-secrets-almost-never-found/ |work=[[GamesRadar]] |last=Fanelli |first=Jason |date=April 13, 2017 |access-date=January 22, 2021 |archive-date=April 25, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140425060820/http://www.gamesradar.com/game-secrets-almost-never-found/ |url-status=live }}</ref> ''GamesRadar''{{'}}s Jason Fanelli called it "one of the ''Zelda'' franchise's biggest mysteries".<ref name="gr2"/> ''GamesRadar'''s Justin Towell included it in his list of the top seven secret rooms in video games at number two. He felt that the contest prize was exciting, and called it "one of the coolest and most exclusive secrets in the ''Zelda'' universe".<ref name="gr3"/> ''[[1UP.com]]'' featured it in its list of "25 things you didn't know about ''The Legend of Zelda''".<ref name="1up"/>

===Comics===
{{See also|The Legend of Zelda (manga)}}
A comic book adaptation of ''A Link to the Past'' illustrated by [[Shotaro Ishinomori]] was published in ''[[Nintendo Power]]'' that was serialized for 12 issues from January to December 1992. The comic was then re-released as a trade paperback in 1993. The comic is a loose adaptation of the original game's story, featuring several plot changes and new characters.<ref>{{cite web|access-date=April 10, 2025 |url=https://zeldacentral.com/games/a-link-to-the-past/comics/ |title=Comics |date=April 10, 2025 |publisher=Zelda Central}}</ref> Two other manga were released in Japan: a manga by Ataru Cagiva from 1995 to 1996 that was serialized in [[Enix|Enix Corporation's]] ''[[Gangan Comics|Monthly GFantasy]]'' and later collected into three volumes<ref name="manga 1">{{cite web|url=http://www.mcloz.net/manga.shtml|title=The Legend of Zelda manga|publisher=McLoz|access-date=March 7, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070228144451/http://www.mcloz.net/manga.shtml |archive-date=February 28, 2007}}</ref>{{rs|date=November 2024}} and a one-volume manga by the duo [[Akira Himekawa]] released in 2005 corresponding with the release of Game Boy Advance version.<ref name="manga 2">{{cite web|url=http://seeckritzartwork.free.fr/manga2zelda/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=36|title=A link to the past: kamigami no triforce manga|publisher=The Hyrule Bookshop|access-date=March 14, 2007|language=fr|archive-date=July 20, 2011|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110720225128/http://seeckritzartwork.free.fr/manga2zelda/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=36|url-status=live}}</ref>{{rs|date=November 2024}} Both follow the game's plot more closely, and the latter introduced a new character called "Ghanti", a thief with a single devil's horn and a star under her eye.<ref name="manga 1" /><ref name="manga 2" />

===Related games===
A French version of this game was released in Canada, making it the only French-only release in North America for the Super NES. This version had the same case as the English release in North America, but the whole game was translated into French. The next ''Zelda'' game, [[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening|''Link's Awakening'']] was released in 1993 for the Nintendo [[Game Boy]]. It retained many of ''A Link to the Past''{{'s}} gameplay mechanics, including the top-down perspective, as well as an overworld which resembled that of ''A Link to the Past''. After traveling to train abroad, Link is shipwrecked and awakens on an island called Koholint.<ref name="link's awakening">{{cite video game|title=[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening]]|developer=[[Nintendo]]|publisher=[[Nintendo]]|date=December 31, 1993|platform=[[Game Boy]]}}</ref> Beginning on March 2, 1997, a simple unaltered re-release of the original Japanese version of ''A Link to the Past'' was broadcast via Satellaview. The game was rebroadcast more often than any other ''Zelda'' game on the Satellaview, and was the only ''Zelda'' title broadcast by [[St.GIGA]] after ties with Nintendo were broken in April 1999. Unlike other two Satellaview ''Zelda'' games, ''Kamigami no Triforce'' lacked SoundLink support.<ref>{{cite web | author=Kameb | url=http://www.f3.dion.ne.jp/~kameb/satella/st_prg/st_prg.htm | title=スーパーファミコンアワー番組表 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401183851/http://www.f3.dion.ne.jp/~kameb/satella/st_prg/st_prg.htm | archive-date=April 1, 2012 | website=The Satellaview History Museum | date=February 12, 2008}}</ref>

Apart from official sequels and re-releases made or licensed by Nintendo, ''A Link to the Past'' has proven to be very popular within the [[Mod (video gaming)|game-modding community]], inspiring the development of numerous [[fangame]]s, such as the unofficial 2007 sequel ''The Legend of Zelda: Parallel Worlds''.<ref>{{cite web|title=A New SNES Zelda|url=http://www.ugo.com/games/a-new-snes-zelda|website=[[UGO Networks|UGO]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111224004027/http://www.ugo.com/games/a-new-snes-zelda|archive-date=December 24, 2011|date=January 9, 2007|access-date=August 30, 2015}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Luke |first=Plunkett |date=January 10, 2007 |title=LttP Remade As Zelda: Parallel Worlds |url=http://kotaku.com/227585/lttp-remade-as-zelda-parallel-worlds |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120123233651/http://kotaku.com/227585/lttp-remade-as-zelda-parallel-worlds |archive-date=January 23, 2012 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |work=[[Kotaku]]}}</ref><ref name="2007-03 Retro Gamer">{{cite magazine|title=Hacking is Cool: Shame They Don't Teach It at School |magazine=[[Retro Gamer]] |issue=3 |page=99 |date=March 2007 |issn=1742-3155}}</ref> In 2023, ''A Link to the Past'' was [[reverse-engineered]], making unofficial ports possible on a broad range of platforms.<ref>{{cite web |last1=McFerran |first1=Damien |title=Zelda: Link To The Past Reverse-Engineer Project Could Bring It To More Systems |url=https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/01/zelda-link-to-the-past-reverse-engineer-project-could-bring-it-to-more-systems |website=Time Extension |publisher=Hookshot Media |access-date=31 January 2023 |date=31 January 2023 |archive-date=January 31, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230131220821/https://www.timeextension.com/news/2023/01/zelda-link-to-the-past-reverse-engineer-project-could-bring-it-to-more-systems |url-status=live }}</ref>

====''Inishie no Sekiban''====
{{main|BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban{{!}}''BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban''}}
In 1997,<ref name="ignretrospective">{{cite web |date=June 8, 2006 |title=Retrospective: BS Zelda |url=http://www.ign.com/blogs/hyrule-times/2006/06/08/retrospective-bs-zelda |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120524090624/http://www.ign.com/blogs/hyrule-times/2006/06/08/retrospective-bs-zelda |archive-date=May 24, 2012 |access-date=April 5, 2008 |website=[[IGN]]}}</ref> a follow-up, {{Nihongo|''[[BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban]]''|lit. "BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets" or "Stone Tablets of Antiquity"}}, was released in Japan. Designed exclusively for the Super Famicom's [[Satellaview]] peripheral, ''BS Zelda'' made use of a voice broadcast system, [[SoundLink]], to provide voice-acting for several characters.<ref>{{Cite web |title=BS The Legend of Zelda: The Ancient Stone Panel |url=https://www.ign.com/games/bs-the-legend-of-zelda-inishie-no-sekiban |access-date=2023-05-17 |website=[[IGN]] |language=en |archive-date=May 17, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230517121720/https://www.ign.com/games/bs-the-legend-of-zelda-inishie-no-sekiban |url-status=live }}</ref> The game takes place six years after the events in ''A Link to the Past'' and is set in Hyrule's Light World.<ref>{{cite video game |title = BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban |developer = [[Nintendo]] |publisher = [[St.GIGA]] |date = March 30, 1997 |platform = [[Satellaview]] |version = Apr 97 |language = ja |isolang = ja |quote='''Narrator''': 6年前、勇者リンクが魔王ガノンを倒してから、このハイラルの地には平穏な日々が流れていた。/ 6 years ago, the Hero Link threw down the King of Evil, Ganon. Since then, the land of Hyrule has basked in a time of peace.}}</ref> It lacks a Link character, and instead the player character is known as the Hero of Light.<ref>{{cite video game |title = BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban |developer = [[Nintendo]] |publisher = [[St.GIGA]] |date = March 30, 1997 |platform = [[Satellaview]] |version = Apr 97 |language = ja |isolang = ja |quote='''Zelda''': あなたは　光の勇者だって / You are the Hero of Light}}</ref> The available player-characters are actually the male and female [[BS-X]] avatars that also featured in ''[[BS Zelda no Densetsu]]''. The game was divided into four weekly episodes. These episodes were played live, and a voice-acted soundtrack simultaneously ran on the satellite network, sometimes containing suggestions, clues, and plot development for the game currently being broadcast. Each week, the player could only access certain portions of the [[overworld]]. Areas shrouded in clouds were unreachable. Two dungeons were accessible per week, but the episode ended only when time expired and not when the player had completed all the objectives for that week. The game could only be played during the set hours because the SoundLink content was central to gameplay (and not stored on the base unit or flash-RAM cartridge in any way), and the timer was based on a real-time clock set by the satellite itself.<ref name=ignretrospective/>

====''A Link to the Past'' and ''Four Swords''====
{{main|The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords{{!}}''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' and ''Four Swords''}}
''A Link to the Past'' was re-released for the [[Game Boy Advance]] in 2002 in North America and 2003 in other territories as part of ''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' and ''Four Swords'', a collaborative development effort between [[Nintendo]] and [[Capcom]].<ref>{{cite video game |title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords |developer=[[Nintendo]]|developer2=[[Capcom Co., Ltd.]] |publisher=[[Nintendo of America, Inc.]] |date=December 2, 2002 |scene=startup screen}}</ref> The port of ''A Link to the Past'' contains minor changes from the original, including the addition of voice clips and other sound effects taken from ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]''.<ref name="IGN FS review">{{cite web |author=Harris |first=Craig |date=December 3, 2002 |title=Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past |url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/03/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past |access-date=March 19, 2007 |website=[[IGN]] |archive-date=March 19, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170319082230/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/12/03/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past |url-status=live }}</ref> ''Four Swords'' is a multiplayer adventure that interacts with the single-player adventure. Accomplishments can be transferred between the two; for example, if the player learns a new sword technique, it is made available in both modes. By completing ''Four Swords'', a new dungeon called the Palace of the Four Sword is unlocked in ''A Link to the Past''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ign.com/wikis/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past| title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past guide|author=Moriarty, Colin|page=21|website=IGN|access-date=March 19, 2007}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.gamespot.com/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past/cheats/|title=The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Cheats For Game Boy Advance|website=[[GameSpot]]|access-date=March 19, 2007}}</ref> In ''Four Swords'', dungeons are randomly generated and are affected by the number of players.<ref name="GameSpot FS review">{{cite web | website = [[GameSpot]] | url = http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-review/1900-2901300/ | title = The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past GBA review | last = Gerstmann | first = Jeff | date = December 9, 2002 | access-date = June 19, 2007 | archive-date = October 30, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20161030060147/http://www.gamespot.com/reviews/the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-review/1900-2901300/ | url-status = live }}</ref> If only two players are active, the game ensures that all puzzles generated do not require a third or fourth player to solve.<ref name="GameSpot FS review" /> The plot of ''Four Swords'' revolves around the wind mage [[Vaati]], who escapes from the Four Sword he is sealed in and captures Princess Zelda to marry her. Link uses the Four Sword to create three copies of himself and rescues Zelda, trapping Vaati in the sword once again. At the time of its release, the story of ''Four Swords'' was considered the earliest point in the series' timeline.<ref>{{cite magazine |author=Berghammer |first=Billy |date=May 17, 2004 |title=A Legend Of Zelda: The Eiji Aonuma Interview |url=http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200405/N04.0517.1915.59084.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080507222207/http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200405/N04.0517.1915.59084.htm |archive-date=May 7, 2008 |access-date=November 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |magazine=[[Game Informer]]}}</ref>

====''A Link Between Worlds''====
{{main|The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds{{!}}''The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds''}}
In 2011, [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] expressed desire to have ''A Link to the Past'' remade for the [[Nintendo 3DS]], stating how attractive the two layers would look.<ref>{{cite web |author=Nathan Brown |date=April 22, 2011 |title=Miyamoto: 'We'll Focus More On Gaming' |url=http://www.edge-online.com/news/miyamoto-well-focus-more-gaming/ |access-date=April 22, 2011 |website=[[Edge Magazine]] |archive-date=April 15, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120415194352/http://www.edge-online.com/news/miyamoto-well-focus-more-gaming |url-status=live }}</ref> Planning for this successor actually began after the completion of ''Spirit Tracks'' in 2009, though full development did not begin until 2012. In April 2013, Nintendo revealed in its [[Nintendo Direct]] presentation a new game based on the same world as ''A Link to the Past'' for Nintendo 3DS, featuring new 3D visuals, completely new dungeons, new gameplay mechanics, and an original story.<ref>{{cite web |author=Brian Ashcraft |date=April 17, 2013 |title=The Next 3DS Zelda Is Set In The World Of Link To The Past |url=http://kotaku.com/nintendo-is-making-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-p-474844199 |work=[[Kotaku]] |access-date=April 17, 2013 |archive-date=April 20, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130420011808/http://kotaku.com/nintendo-is-making-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-p-474844199 |url-status=live }}</ref> On November 22, Nintendo released ''A Link Between Worlds'', which takes place in the same world, but features a new storyline, new puzzles and original dungeons. Height and depth play a large role by taking advantage of the 3D feature of the 3DS, while maintaining the traditional top-down perspective.<ref>{{cite web |author=O'Rourke |first=Patrick |date=April 17, 2013 |title=Nintendo announces The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past 2 |url=http://o.canada.com/2013/04/17/nintendo-announces-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-2/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130421021502/https://o.canada.com/2013/04/17/nintendo-announces-the-legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past-2/ |archive-date=April 21, 2013 |access-date=April 17, 2013 |website=O.Canada.com}}</ref>

===In other media===
''A Link to the Past'' has been prominently represented in other ''Zelda''-related media since its original release, chiefly the ''[[Super Smash Bros.]]'' series. Several music tracks from the game appear in the game on ''Zelda''-themed stages. Finally, Princess Zelda's design in ''[[Super Smash Bros. Ultimate]]'' is partially based on her incarnation from ''A Link to the Past'' and ''A Link Between Worlds'', replacing her previous incarnations from ''Ocarina of Time'' and ''Twilight Princess''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Dino |first=Oni |date=January 26, 2019 |title=Sakurai on Smash Bros. Ultimate - why Decidueye wasn't chosen, Piranha Plant, character changes, online, much more |url=https://nintendoeverything.com/sakurai-on-smash-bros-ultimate-why-decidueye-wasnt-chosen-piranha-plant-character-changes-online-much-more/3/ |website=Nintendo Everything |access-date=January 8, 2021 |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817180211/https://nintendoeverything.com/sakurai-on-smash-bros-ultimate-why-decidueye-wasnt-chosen-piranha-plant-character-changes-online-much-more/3/ |url-status=live }}</ref>

===Speedrunning===
''A Link to the Past'' is a popular game for [[speedrunning]]. It had the fourth highest number of players of all games listed on Speedrun.com in 2019,<ref>{{cite web |last=Good |first=Owen |date=January 12, 2019 |title=Awesome Games Done Quick 2019: what to watch on the last day |url=https://www.polygon.com/gaming/2019/1/12/18179743/awesome-games-done-quick-2019-day-7-agdq-schedule |access-date=April 27, 2021 |website=[[Polygon (website)|Polygon]] |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817190224/https://www.polygon.com/gaming/2019/1/12/18179743/awesome-games-done-quick-2019-day-7-agdq-schedule |url-status=live }}</ref> though it has since fallen to a lower position.<ref>{{cite web |title=Games (sort by most players) |url=https://www.speedrun.com/games#platform=&orderby=mostplayers |access-date=April 27, 2001 |website=Speedrun.com |archive-date=August 17, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817180214/https://www.speedrun.com/games#platform=&orderby=mostplayers |url-status=live }}</ref> It is commonly run at the [[Games Done Quick]] charity marathon, where it is often considered one of the highlights of the event.<ref>{{cite web |last=Beck |first=Kellen |date=January 6, 2017 |title=Here are 25 speedruns worth watching this week |url=https://mashable.com/2017/01/06/agdq-2017-speedruns/?europe=true#nXPps3om0kqp |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[Mashable]] |archive-date=November 11, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111212314/https://mashable.com/2017/01/06/agdq-2017-speedruns/?europe=true#nXPps3om0kqp |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.gamecrate.com/10-best-speedruns-agdq-2018/17886 |title=The 10 Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2018 |website=GameCrate |date=January 16, 2018 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |first=Angelo |last=D'Argenio}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Schreier |date=July 10, 2017 |title=The Best Speedruns From SGDQ 2017 |url=https://kotaku.com/the-best-speedruns-from-sgdq-2017-1796773628 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-date=February 18, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180218115954/https://kotaku.com/the-best-speedruns-from-sgdq-2017-1796773628 |url-status=live }}</ref> Many speedrunners also play using ''A Link to the Past: Randomizer'', a [[mod (video gaming)|mod]] that randomizes the locations of most of the items, in an attempt to evoke the uncertainty and excitement of playing the game for the first time.<ref>{{cite web |last=Schreier |first=Jason |author-link=Jason Schreier |date=July 20, 2016 |title=People Are Doing Remarkable Things With Zelda: A Link to the Past |url=https://kotaku.com/people-are-doing-remarkable-things-with-zelda-a-link-t-1783990961 |access-date=January 13, 2019 |website=[[Kotaku]] |archive-date=October 7, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181007000401/https://kotaku.com/people-are-doing-remarkable-things-with-zelda-a-link-t-1783990961 |url-status=live }}</ref>

==Notes==
{{Notelist}}

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{Wikiquote}}
* {{official website|http://zelda.com/universe/game/past/}}
* {{moby game|/legend-of-zelda-a-link-to-the-past}}

{{The Legend of Zelda|state=expanded}}
{{Portal bar|Video games|1990s|Japan}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, The}}
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