The WhatsNext verdict
If you want compact 2D Zelda dungeons, clever spatial puzzles, and freedom to choose your route, this is a particularly strong fit. Players seeking a demanding adventure or the surprise of a wholly new world may find it too easy and too familiar.
What it does best
Puzzles that make familiar spaces feel newly dimensional
A small mechanic with consequences across the whole game
A classic adventure with unusually open dungeon choices
What might put you off
The rental system replaces a beloved Zelda progression rhythm
Its familiarity can limit surprise
The setup
What you are walking into
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the first Zelda game made exclusively for the Nintendo 3DS. It is an indirect sequel to A Link to the Past with the same version of Hyrule but with new characters and gameplay elements. Unlike the series' tradition, many areas of the world are accessible from the beginning of the game and the dungeons can be visited in any order. Puzzles are encountered not only in dungeons but also in the open world, a part of them revolves around the game's 3D visual effect. The 3DS touch-screen display shows the world, dungeon or map depending on where you are.
Where it lives
Genre
Vibe
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