Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

As you may have seen in Friday’s post, I recently bought The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for Nintendo 3DS. This is a description of my first half hour or so with the game.

lbw-titleLink has overslept and has to hurry to the workplace of a blacksmith. Before leaving the house, I noticed that Majora’s Mask is hanging on Link’s wall! What’s that all about?

By looking at the overworld map, I can’t help but notice that it looks almost identical to the world of A Link to the Past. I knew A Link Between Worlds was set in the same world as A Link to the Past, but I wasn’t expecting the world to be practically identical!

Anyway, the blacksmith sends me off on an errand to return a sword to a captain who left it behind. On my way, I ran into a Hyrule soldier who commented about vandals painting on all the walls…that’s pretty funny if you know what Link can do later in the game. I was told to go to the sanctuary, but I did a little exploring first. I stopped to take a look at Kakariko Village, with all its familiar sights. The buildings were all locked or closed of course, but it was definitely a nostalgic visit.

lbw-villageI also walked into the Haunted Grove and the animals scattered, just like they did in A Link to the Past. It’s just a joy to revisit these memorable places from A Link to the Past.

I eventually went ahead to the sanctuary, and I was surprised to see Dampe’ from Ocarina of Time outside. But something bad happened inside the sanctuary, and I was unable to go in. Dampe told me there was a secret passage from the graveyard into the sanctuary. So I had to push some gravestones until I found some stairs, which led me down into the sewers. I had to use a lantern to light the way while avoiding rats. It’s a lot like a scene from A Link to the Past. Once I got to the sanctuary, I saw that the captain and a woman named Seres were turned into paintings by a villain named Yuga. It looked like a woman, but the game referred to Yuga as “him.” After a failed attempt at attacking Yuga, I was knocked unconscious and I woke up back in my house.

I was told I had to get to the castle to warn Princess Zelda. Once I reached her, she told me I needed to find the elder, Sahasrahla, in Kakariko Village. I went to see him, and he told me to go ahead to the Eastern Palace. This series of events closely mirrors those of A Link to the Past. A Link Between Worlds was originally going to be a remake of A Link to the Past before it turned into a sequel, and it really shows. The early going is surprisingly similar to the SNES classic. But that’s not a bad thing, as A Link to the Past was a great game (and my favorite Zelda game).

I’m not very far into A Link Between Worlds yet, but I am enjoying what I’ve seen so far. I’m looking forward to getting into a dungeon next time. However, I’m probably going to be focusing my gaming time on Super Mario 3D World for a while. But I will definitely get back to A Link Between Worlds, so keep checking Jeff’s Gaming Blog for updates on both games.

Buy The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds at Amazon

Buy Super Mario 3D World at Amazon

lbw-sanctuary

Super Mario 3D World – First Impressions

Today was a big day for Nintendo games, with a new Mario game and a new Zelda game released on the same day. These are the games I’ve been waiting for, so I picked them both up today: Super Mario 3D World for Wii U and The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for 3DS.

mariozeldaMario and Zelda are two of my favorite game series, but I have to say Mario just slightly edges out Zelda. So Super Mario 3D World is the first of the two games I played, and it will be the focus of this blog entry. Right near the beginning of the first level, there is a bell power-up, which turns you into Cat Mario. Of course the first level is a great place to just explore and learn how to be a cat. Cat Mario can use his claws to scratch enemies and climb up walls.  The game has transparent pipes, which you basically fly through. I had fun just going back and forth through some of them. When you hold the run button, you can see a steam trail behind you. Here, you can see me chasing a rabbit.

sm3dw-rabbitThe game feels surprisingly fresh and innovative. That’s something that couldn’t be said of any Mario game of the past few years, not since the first Super Mario Galaxy on Wii. Most levels have three green stars to collect (so far), which you can grab all in one go–you don’t have to keep restarting the level to collect them one at a time like in some previous games.

sm3dw-purpleSome levels are completely different, including this stage where you must play as Toad. Toad can’t jump in these levels, so you have to cross bridges and platforms to reach ramps that let you ascend the tower.

sm3dw-toadThere was also a racing-type level where you ride a dinosaur named Plessie down a river.

Riding Plessie down a river.I’ve only played the first world, but I’m very impressed with the game so far. If the remaining worlds are as good as the first, this could be the best Mario game in a very long time. Other Mario games have had solid gameplay, but this one seems to have that spark of innovation that’s been lacking from Mario games in recent years. I’ll have more updates in the coming weeks, so check back for more. Here is a video of the first level, World 1-1. I’ll be sure to make more videos of this hot game, so subscribe on Youtube if you want to see more.

Buy Super Mario 3D World at Amazon
Buy Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds at Amazon

Pikmin 3 – Vehemoth Phosbat

I continued my game in Pikmin 3 today. I still needed to find the Captain, so I returned to the Distant Tundra level to resume my search. I made my way to a dark cave where a huge creature could be seen flying overhead. It was late in the day though, so I returned to my ship for the night. I had recovered two new pieces of fruit however, a citrus lump (orange) and dark pustules (grapes). After analyzing the new fruit, I was told that I have now recovered 10 types of fruit, and fruit will now show up on the radar. That will be definitely be helpful.

p3-10fruitWhen I returned to the cave, that big ugly creature was still flying around. I would later find out that it’s called a Vehemoth Phosbat.

p3-phosbatI saw that I needed to use yellow Pikmin to conduct electricity in order to turn on various light bulbs in the cave. The big flying creature did not enjoy the light, and it would temporarily stun it. This was my chance to attack!

p3-uglyIt was a battle, but I eventually beat the Vehemoth Phosbat. With its last bit of life, it tried to fly away…but instead smacked its head on a huge light bulb and fell to the ground. Once it landed, there was a big surprise! Its mouth opened up and our captain, Charlie, came out!

p3-captainHe told me that, based on a data file he found, Olimar (from the first two Pikmin games) must have landed on this planet shortly before we did! And he apparently has our cosmic-drive key, which we’ll need to leave the planet. So it’s clear now that we have to find Olimar! A new signal appeared to be coming from the Tropical Wilds area; could it be Olimar? I’ll have to head that way next time to find out.