I saw it behind the glass pane at Walmart. I couldn't believe there was a new generation of Zelda on SNES. I don't even think anybody was using the term "generation" to describe such a thing at the time. I just assumed that Zelda would only ever be the golden games I played on the NES when my brothers would bring it home. I don't think we ever actually owned the first two, but even if we did, they were forever lost to time once they were loaned out to a friend by my brother...

But there it was, so full of mystery. I never dreamed I would actually get to play it, much less own it. Truth be told, I don't fully remember how I finally bought it from Walmart, but I believe it involved a decent amount of chores and allowances. At the time, $20 felt like an impossible number to reach. Now I can't believe that brand new games were only $20 at that age.

The Journey Begins

Once I had earned enough to buy it, the journey was all I wanted to do. I remember playing the opening sequence and rescuing Princess Zelda from the castle dungeon after getting a sword and shield from Link's uncle. It wasn't long before I was off to the first dungeon, getting stuck trying to open the final boss room. I remember asking my babysitter's boyfriend for tips, and him saying, "You gotta light the four candles." My brothers and I were using the lantern to try to light the candles on the wall, not realizing that what he was referring to were the big "candles" on the ground.

The boss fights were so hard back then. Each triumph felt like such an achievement. I found myself eager to collect more tools that would allow Link to traverse new terrain and get into new kinds of trouble. I remember a kid at recess telling me I'm supposed to take a monkey down underneath a bridge to get a jar from a guy sleeping under it. That was only kind of true, and he wanted to spice up the story by adding in the monkey, but that didn't matter. It was so cool to me that there were things I hadn't figured out, and hearing his tale about finding a jar felt like magic.

Triumphant Battle Cries

That summer, I spent a lot of time in my room while my babysitter folded laundry and did... honestly, I don't remember what she did aside from that. I have no doubt that she was likely giggling as I stood up out of my bed and shouted "YEESSS!!!!" as I received the Pendant of Power after defeating the serpents in the Desert Palace.

I genuinely miss how attached I was to the outcome at that age. This was before the giant world of games that we know today existed. Most experiences were totally new to me at that age, and most gaming experiences were new to the world during that time. The SNES opened the doors for game developers to start creating more advanced experiences, and games like A Link to the Past were compelling and gripping. I couldn't wait to unravel the mystery behind each puzzle and learn where we headed next.

The Dark Forest

One memory that sticks out to me with this game is the night I played through Skull Woods with a friend. I think I was playing in a t-ball game that got rained out. I was so happy about the canceled plan. Some things never change. I remember being under a tornado watch, and that being one of the eeriest things back then, but it didn't take long once we were back home to be completely immersed in finding our way through Skull Woods.

Dungeons like Skull Woods tend to leave me feeling like something was left unexplored. It's so scattered about the woods, and it's easy to get lost. Once you find the flame rod, none of that really matters anymore. It's just fun to shoot it at stuff, and you make progress when you, in fact, shoot it at stuff. So what's stopping you?

Shiny Things

A Link to the Past does not fail to deliver when it comes to the tools you gain access to as Link. From the boomerang all the way to the mirror shield, you'll find yourself anticipating what each dungeon's big chest holds. I remember arriving in The Dark World and thinking, "I'm going straight to Kakariko village," only to learn that I didn't have the tools to do it yet.

I figured I would find enough tools to get there quickly since reaching Kakariko seemed like it would be a trivial task, and that's precisely how Nintendo wants you to feel in that moment. What was once familiar is now a mystery again. All the friends you gained in The Light World are gone, and The Dark World feels cold and lonely. There are a few dungeons and trinkets between you and Kakariko, but you will eventually make your way there.

A Legendary Sword

A Link to the Past introduces us to the Master Sword, and maybe that explains my love for swords in any game. If a sword is an option, I'm likely to choose it over most other options, whether it makes sense or not. The moment you use all three pendants to rip the sword from the stone feels triumphant. All of your hard work so far is paying off in the form of a magic blade created to dispel all forms of evil. There's nothing quite like that moment. Then, in the dark world, a little frog turns it into a red lightsaber, and that kinda throws you off a bit. I'm not even gonna talk about the butter sword.

A True Classic

A Link to the Past is truly a huge stepping stone in The Legend of Zelda franchise. Both Zelda I and Zelda II are amazing in their own right, and this game appropriately picks up the baton and keeps running. If you are a fan of the series and you haven't played this game then you must add it to your list.