History VideoGame / TheLegendOfZeldaALinkToThePast

** The boss of Dark Palace, the Helmasaur King. The bosses of the Ligt World, Agahnim included, were pretty straightfoward and required only to do one thing. The Helmasaur King, on the other hand, is a bit more complex: you need to break his armor first with either the magic hammer or the bombs, and once its weak point is exposed, hit it with the sword or preferably arrows. All of it, while trying to dodge its brutal attacks. This is to show that bosses from this point onwards can't be just beaten with a single trick, or have more than one phase that requires different tools and/or tactics.

''The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past'' is the third game in [[Franchise/TheLegendOfZelda the series]], released for the [[UsefulNotes/SuperNintendoEntertainmentSystem SNES]] in UsefulNotes/{{Japan}} on November 2, 1991, in North America on April 13, 1992, and Europe in September 1992.

A {{prequel}} to the [[UsefulNotes/NintendoEntertainmentSystem NES]] installments, ''A Link to the Past'' (''Triforce of the Gods'' in Japanese) returned to the top-down adventure format of the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaI first game]]. Unlike the previous games, which were almost purely focused on combat and exploration, ''A Link to the Past'' introduces a puzzle-solving element to the series, requiring players to use items in complex ways in order to make progress. The game also contains the first in-depth (yet still simple compared to later games) story in the series, giving the game more than just an ExcusePlot. These puzzle and story elements, along with the established constituents of combat and exploration, eventually became a part of the greater ''Zelda'' experience because of ''A Link to the Past'', and this unique combination of elements would be solidified by later games.

The game would receive a sequel in 1993 in the shape of ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaLinksAwakening Link's Awakening]]'' for the UsefulNotes/GameBoy. ''Link to the Past'' was re-released on December 2, 2002 for the UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance, sharing a cartridge with the multiplayer-only ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords Four Swords.]]'' A direct sequel for UsefulNotes/Nintendo3DS, ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaALinkBetweenWorlds A Link Between Worlds,]]'' was released in 2013. It has the general look and feel of the original except with 3D graphics (though still top-down) and features the same version of Hyrule with completely new dungeons.

* MirrorMatch: The {{Superboss}} in the {{UsefulNotes/GBA}} port of the game is actually four Links that represent the colored Links you played as in the [[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaFourSwords multiplayer game]]. Not only do they possess the Golden Sword and the Mirror Shield, along with basic sword slashes, but each color you fight can do everything the last one did and gains a new move. [[note]]In order: Green can use the Pegasus Boots, Red can use the Hurricane Spin, Blue has the Magic Cape and Roc's Cape, and Purple can shoot fireballs from the tip of his swords (doesn't quite mimic Link's energy attack from his sword when his life meter is at full, but the concept is the same) and takes twice as much damage.[[/note]]

* UpdatedRerelease: The UsefulNotes/GameBoyAdvance version released in 2002 added voice bits for Link (taken from Young Link in ''Ocarina of Time,'') and a BonusDungeon unlocked after beating ''Four Swords.'' Also a new riddle sidequest for the Hurricane Spin.

* GoWaitOutside: The Level 3 Sword. If you leave the building and immediately return, the smiths won't be finished, but all you have to do to trigger the flag is leave the larger map screen where the shop is located. A faster way is to get there in the DarkWorld, whip out the mirror, go to the Light World, drop the thing off, then step in your mirror portal and immediately warp back. All done!

* {{Bookends}}: Both the Light and Dark World begin and end at Hyrule Castle and the Pyramid of Power respectively.

!!This game provides examples of:

* LegendFadesToMyth: Retroactively, the game makes the events of ''Ocarina of Time'' this since due to Ganon defeating Link, the story of how Ganon found the Triforce in the first place was that he rediscovered the way to enter the Scared Realm and murdered his followers so only he can obtain it. Justified, since it was years that anyone remembers that Ganon tricked Link into opening the door by obtaining the Master Sword.

* PsychicLink: It is implied that Link and Zelda may have a kind of Psychic Link between them. In this game, Zelda telepathically calls Link to help her.

* ClearMyName: After Agahnim does away with Princess Zelda, his minions get the word out (with surprising speed) that Link has kidnapped her. Signs are posted in his hometown and if they spot him, his neighbors will yell for the palace guards to come and kill him.

* CompanyCrossReferences: A portrait of [[Franchise/SuperMarioBros Mario]] appears at one point in the game, and there are also two Chain Chomps that appear in Turtle Rock.

* MissionPackSequel: The [[NoExportForYou BS Satellaview Japan-only sequel]], for the Super Famicom add-on. [=ALttP=]'s Link is gone, and you are controlling a hero who must complete 8 dungeons to regain tablets needed to reseal Ganon. Also, you'll have to complete the game [[TimedMission in under 4 hours]]. It featured a [[ScoringPoints score counter]], full voice acting for Zelda and Sahasrahla[[note]]lost forever in the backup ROMs[[/note]], guided you throughout the game with gameplay advice, sometimes triggered the medallion spells you couldn't use yourself, and rendered your bomb/arrow/heart count to be infinite for a couple of minutes.

* EndOfTheWorldSpecial: [[spoiler:Link gets the full Triforce at the end of the game, which he uses to reverse all the evil that Ganon / Agahnim have done throughout Hyrule.]]

* InterfaceSpoiler: By the time you've acquired the Master Sword and head back to Hyrule Castle to save Zelda you've probably explored almost the entire map and saw that there are no other spots of interests left to check, and the game makes a good job making you believe that the final confrontation draws near. However...
** Such a big inventory screen, with such huge spaces for items and equipment, should tell you that even after you get all three Pendants and the Master Sword, there's still a ton of game left.
** And if ''that'' didn't clue you in, if you checked the map during the brief time you had to cross the Dark World in order to reach the Tower of Hera, you'll see that it's completely different from the Light World, with ''many'' spots of interest. There's no way all that land is going unused.

** [[http://zeldawiki.org/images/thumb/9/9c/Master_Sword.png/146px-Master_Sword.png Artwork]] and the logo show the Master Sword with a red grip, a yellow guard, and a different design from the iconic appearance introduced in ''[[VideoGame/TheLegendOfZeldaOcarinaOfTime Ocarina of Time]]''.

* WhamEpisode: Zelda is kidnapped (after you already saved her once) and transported into the Dark World right before your eyes. [[HijackedByGanon Agahnim is actually Ganon]], and Link ''loses'' the confrontation in which this is revealed. For a happy version of the trope, the King of Hyrule and several other dead/lost characters are [[StatusQuoIsGod brought back]] after Link successfully acquires the Triforce.

** Ganon spews out fire at Link during his final phase of the battle.

* BladeOnAStick: The soldiers who are summoned if Link talks to the wrong people in Kakariko Village (before retrieving the Master Sword) carry spears and shields, which gives them a little extra reach over the regular green soldiers.