It's crazy how much stuff Nintendo got right here, especially considering this is only the 3rd entry on a series that, for some tens of future entries, would follow a formula fundamentally based on this game.
Because of this big influence ALTTP had, though, many other modern titles, and not only Zelda ones, borrowed something from this formula and in many cases improved upon it. Being so, it's hard to dismiss how formulaic and basic some of its systems feel. That, however, is just a consequence of me having played a fair share of "Zelda-likes", so it's not a problem of that game per se, since these nowadays bland parts of it were revolutionary at the time of its release. Some aspects of the gameplay are included in that, but I still like the constant risk/reward situations you get into while using the sword, especially because of the small hitbox its attacks have, and it feels, aside from some hiccups here and there, tightly-knit.
Those nitpicks aside, the brilliance of ALTTP's design is mesmerizing. The dungeons have a great flow, requiring some thinking from the player but always allowing that thought process to be as clear as possible, through scenery hints, simplicity and a linearity that doesn't restrict the player, while stops them to straying too far off the beaten path. The overworld, too, hardly ever had me totally lost like sometimes I was while playing the original LoZ, an improvement already visible in Zelda II, which offered a handful of tips on how to progress, but even more effective in this game. There is also the whole Light/Dark World mechanic, but that is obviously such a great idea that just by saying that it was masterfully implemented by Nintendo is already enough to state how well it fits the game, contributing to the already established by the first game sense of wonder and curiosity that emerge while exploring this Hyrule.
Awesome music, awesome design and ideas, rewarding exploration and good gameplay. It's an all-around excellent title that charmed me and pulled me in even after 30+ years of its initial release.
Because of this big influence ALTTP had, though, many other modern titles, and not only Zelda ones, borrowed something from this formula and in many cases improved upon it. Being so, it's hard to dismiss how formulaic and basic some of its systems feel. That, however, is just a consequence of me having played a fair share of "Zelda-likes", so it's not a problem of that game per se, since these nowadays bland parts of it were revolutionary at the time of its release. Some aspects of the gameplay are included in that, but I still like the constant risk/reward situations you get into while using the sword, especially because of the small hitbox its attacks have, and it feels, aside from some hiccups here and there, tightly-knit.
Those nitpicks aside, the brilliance of ALTTP's design is mesmerizing. The dungeons have a great flow, requiring some thinking from the player but always allowing that thought process to be as clear as possible, through scenery hints, simplicity and a linearity that doesn't restrict the player, while stops them to straying too far off the beaten path. The overworld, too, hardly ever had me totally lost like sometimes I was while playing the original LoZ, an improvement already visible in Zelda II, which offered a handful of tips on how to progress, but even more effective in this game. There is also the whole Light/Dark World mechanic, but that is obviously such a great idea that just by saying that it was masterfully implemented by Nintendo is already enough to state how well it fits the game, contributing to the already established by the first game sense of wonder and curiosity that emerge while exploring this Hyrule.
Awesome music, awesome design and ideas, rewarding exploration and good gameplay. It's an all-around excellent title that charmed me and pulled me in even after 30+ years of its initial release.