The Best 'Legend of Zelda' Game Came Out 34 Years Ago

There are so many The Legend of Zelda games that have come out in the last 40 years that it can be hard to pinpoint which one stands at the top of the hierarchy of Hyrule. One thing's for sure: no title in the series defined everything it stood for more than The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

The game that redefined how to adventure in a top-down, 2D format, this SNES classic came out 34 years ago. Since its April 13, 1992 release in North America, A Link to the Past has been enjoyed and re-enjoyed by gamers of all ages.

The game gave Link all of the tools that Nintendo probably wanted to back in the original Legend of Zelda game, but just couldn't because of the lack of technology. The Super Nintendo hardware allowed the company to fully create the Hyrule that has served as one of gaming's great escapes for decades.

Almost every future 2D release in the series has emulated or taken concepts from A Link to the Past. Heart pieces, the Pegasus Boots, the Master Sword, and so many more items wouldn't exist without this game.

The game has been re-released on various Nintendo consoles since 1992, such as the Game Boy Advance, Wii, Wii U, and Switch. A direct sequel, A Link Between Worlds, came out in 2013 on the 3DS and further showed how much was left to explore in this version of Hyrule.

The series would eventually soar into 3D with Ocarina of Time, but the greatness of A Link to the Past convinced Nintendo to never forget about the 2D origins of Link's story. Most franchises never go back to 2D after going to 3D.

The indie game scene has especially paid an ode to this game in recent years. Blossom Tales, Pipistrello and the Cursed Yo-Yo, Ocean's Heart, Under the Island, Mina the Hollower, and Tunic are just a handful of the independent releases that have come out or are planned to release shortly that will transport gamers right back to 1992.

Just don't forget where that pixelated adventure you're enjoying now got its life force from. It all pays homage to A Link to the Past.