100
An indispensable game, combining arguably the finest RPG/adventure the 16-bit era ever produced (even compared to the likes of Secret of Mana and Final Fantasy VI) with an expertly realised multiplayer rendition of Zelda.
100
The adventure is long, involving, challenging and presented to perfection with beautiful graphics and a stunning soundtrack.
90
Not having to dig out the SNES and clean out the cartridge port is nice enough, but to play this classic game on the bus? Pure Nirvana. [Feb 2003, p.74]
10
[SPOILER ALERT: This review contains spoilers.]
8
8- Excellent
I often find myself at a crossroads when I try to judge an old game, with two paths before me: review the game as an artifact of its time, or review it by holding it up to modern technical scrutiny. Video games, being an amalgamation of artistic forms closely tied to technical advancement, are difficult to judge on any one front. I subscribe to games being art, but unlike cave paintings capturing the essence of an era on stone in monochrome, games are an interactive medium. Imagine if paintings were experienced through another human sense, like taste. If you had to lick the canvas to understand the art, would cave paintings hold up as well? In this imaginary scenario I’m sure modern pieces would have all manner of tastes and textures to titillate the tongue as it glides across the canvas. And, conversely, grinding your palate across a rough, earthy stone surface would be an experience you couldn’t pay people to do. Have I completely lost you yet…? Though not a perfect comparison, this is the dilema old video games face. It’s why, barring my admiration for them, I don’t review games from the 8-bit era or prior even if I’ve played them. The technology of that time is too different as to be realistically compared to video games of today. This, the 16-bit catalog of games, ride that line between modernity and obsolescence. Returning to the object of my review, parts of A Link to the Past are fully realized within its limited technical scope maintaining a timeless quality, while other parts are clearly arrested by technical limitations. Those timeless aspects- the music, sprite work, and puzzle box dungeons are bursting with creativity and passion that are just as poignant today as in 1991. The achievements made in spite of the limitations is the artistry of this game. As an artifact of its time: the game is a masterpiece and a pinnacle of the medium. As a modern experience: a Link to the Past rejects its own age & remains the premier 2D action-adventure.
9
Sehr bedeutend für die gesamte Zelda Reihe.
Abwechslungsreiche Dungeons und coole Items.
Mir gefiel das schnelle Pacing des Spiels und die Ernsthaftigkeit das ganze Spiel über.
Bestes 2D Zelda für mich.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past / Four Swords
Game Boy Advance
Released On:
Dec 3, 2002
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
95
User score
Generally Favorable
8.8
My Score
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All Platforms
Metascore
Universal Acclaim
95
97% Positive
29 Reviews
29 Reviews
3% Mixed
1 Review
1 Review
0% Negative
0 Reviews
0 Reviews
100
The puzzles are still clever, the dungeons are still brilliantly laid out, the control is spot-on, and the graphics still look sweet. [Jan 2003, p.64]
100
"Four Swords" is the perfect multiplayer Zelda game. It combines amazing cooperative gameplay with competitive gameplay at the same time. The end result is a multiplayer game like no other.
User score
Generally Favorable
8.8
88% Positive
902 Ratings
902 Ratings
8% Mixed
83 Ratings
83 Ratings
4% Negative
40 Ratings
40 Ratings
Jun 28, 2026
10
A Link to the Past ist mit DAS beste Top Down Zelda was ich je gespielt habe. Wenn man sich mal vor Augen führt was man zu damaliger Zeit aus diesem Spiel rausgeholt hat, dann bemerkt man erstmal wie grandios dieses Spiel geworden ist. Das Prinzip mit der Schattenwelt finde ich dabei ebenso genial. Die OST von diesem Spiel war Groundbreaking für die gesammte Reihe. Aufgrund des alters des Spiels wird einem nicht viel zwischen den Dungeons gesagt, also ist man auf die gute alte Art dazu gezwungen einfach ein bisschen zu erkunden um eigenständig sich in der Welt zurecht zu finden. Aber genau das macht das Spiel so gut meiner Ansicht nach. Ein Must-Play für jeden Zelda Fan
97
While Zelda Advance is really two games on one cartridge, each is brilliant and very solid in its own right.
95
"Four Swords" is the most fun I've ever had with a four-player GBA game. [Jan 2003, p.212]
92
A great handheld port of one of the greatest games ever released for Nintendo's 16-bit system.
90
To the untrained eye, the Link To The Past cartridge may well appear to be nothing more than another videogame for kids and others who refuse to grow out of childhood. However, it is much more than that, being as worthy a narrative as many popular books out there can be.
74
The control of the game is where this really shines.
Jun 21, 2026
10
Just perfect, i really can't Name a single bad Thing about the game. It's Just a perfect 2D Zelda, the SMW of Zelda
Feb 24, 2026
7
Undoubtedly a classic, but the amount of content you’d have to repeat from dying without using save states would be really awful and the difficulty as a whole feels a little too high in general. Also the side quests and side content don’t feel super entertaining or rewarding especially compared to later entires.
Jan 1, 2025
7
It wasnt bad, but i expected more, the other 2d zelda games are much better in my opinion
Sep 18, 2021
4
Definitely has not aged well. The first half of the game is pretty ok, nothing too special however. The dungeons are pretty simple, but inoffensive, I was waiting for the more interesting dungeons to come later. However what I got later was the Ice Palace, and Turtle rock. Not bad dungeons puzzle wise, in fact the Ice Palace in particular has a very nice puzzle near to the end. However what makes this dungeon unbearable is the ice physics, mixed with enemy spam. That's this ganes idea of difficulty, just putting too many enemies on screen. Both of these dungeons have boss rooms you can't leave, and you need magic to defeat them. If you're out of magic, you're out of luck. Its simply a frustrating mess in the endgame, and an inoffensive, but nothing special early and mid game. Links Awakening on the GameBoy is better than this.
Jul 23, 2020
4
terrible hit box, you only swing on one side of your body, if enemies are circling you you have to wait for them to get to the right side of your body. You can die real quick, and save spots are very far and few between. Disappointing uninspired boss fights as well. Its just frustrating. The whole dark world thing is super overrated as well, oh boy! You turned into a pink rabbit! Isn't that trippy? Its soooo cheesy and uninspired, and does not belong in Zelda.
SummaryNow you have a link to one of the greatest adventures in The Legend of Zelda series. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past revives the classic SNES game on the Game Boy Advance and adds a new multiplayer mode. In a Link to the Past, Link travels between the light world and the dark world, conquering fierce monsters and uncovering Hyr... Read More
Rated Efor Everyone
