WORDS Emily Taylor

With a series as long-standing as The Legend of Zelda, it can be hard to switch up the formula in a way that keeps things interesting while staying true to the series’ roots. However, Nintendo’s latest instalment in the Zelda franchise, A Link Between Worlds, makes a valiant effort at finding that balance.

The game is immediately set apart from its handheld predecessors by its arrival on the 3DS, and while the 3D effects can be a headache after a while — as well as the bane of the player’s existence in a boss fight — the revamped graphics make the game utterly charming to look at. Veterans of the series will find fun nods to previous games — mostly in the world map and music — while newcomers to the series will be easily won over. This is mainly due to major departures from the series’ tried and true formula, a decision that gives the game an element of freshness.

While past Zelda titles follow a specific pattern of item fetch-quests in order to gain access to specific dungeons, in A Link Between Worlds, most items are available to rent from the beginning of the game. This allows the player to take on any of the dungeons in any order they please, giving the game a massive sense of freedom. The dungeons themselves provide enough of a challenge to keep things interesting and fun, but not so challenging as to cause one to rage quit.

Also new to the Zelda series, and central to the game’s mechanics, is Link’s newfound ability to transform into a painting in order to travel across walls; this painting theme also carries across the game’s art-style beautifully, adding another layer of visual charm to the world. While in the first few hours of the game, this world might feel incredibly small, after the first three dungeons, Hyrule is opened up to its parallel dark world, Lorule, between which Link can travel as he sees fit. Among these two worlds sidequests abound with plenty of options, whether one wants games of skill, brains or luck. Or they can be ignored altogether if the player just wants to get on with the main story. And as for that story? Typical of a Zelda title, it is compelling, exciting and endlessly enjoyable.

For fans of Zelda and/or the 3DS, A Link Between Worlds should be a definite title on their holiday wish list.