A Link to the Past is now 30 years old. Whether you played the game when it was originally released on the SNES or for the first time within the past few years through Nintendo Switch Online, it’s a classic adventure full of moments that will stick with you forever. Here are 10 unforgettable moments from the Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.
Escaping the Castle With Zelda
Your very first mission in A Link to the Past is to sneak into Hyrule Castle, rescue Princess Zelda out of a prison cell, and find a way to escape with her. The game throws you into the action immediately with only Zelda’s telepathic voice to guide you.
There are very few times in the Legend of Zelda series in which the princess actually joins you, but in A Link to the Past, you find yourself escorting Zelda to safety in this first segment of the game. She’s never met you before, but she fully trusts you to lead her out of the castle and through dark sewers filled with rats and keese.
Finally, you emerge from the sewers to the sanctuary where Zelda can hide from the evil wizard Agahnim while you start your adventure in Hyrule.
Turning Into a Bunny
When you scale Death Mountain for the first time, an old man gives you a strange mirror. It doesn’t seem to do anything special at first, but then you see a blue portal that warps you to the Dark World for the first time.
If that wasn’t shocking enough, you find that Link’s body has turned into a pink bunny, and your sword and other items don’t work! You learn from some nearby monsters that living things in the Dark World are transformed into whatever is reflected in their hearts.
You’re able to return to the Light World by using the mirror, but until you obtain the Moon Pearl, you retain this bunny form whenever you cross into the Dark World.
Finding the Man Under the Bridge
Hyrule is inhabited by lots of different types of people. While most of them are living in Kakariko Village, some can be found in the most unusual places.
Players who explore each and every corner of the map can discover the man sleeping under the bridge. He’s pretty content there with a tent and a campfire.
If you wake him up, he’ll give you an empty bottle as a reward for finding him there.
Making the Sick Boy Happy
In Kakariko Village, there is a boy laying in bed who is sick from the evil air that has been coming down from Death Mountain. He dreams of being able to go out and catch bugs as he used to.
There’s not much you can do to cure him (besides beat the game and rid Hyrule of evil, of course), but you can make him happy by showing up with an empty bottle. It will remind him of his bug-catching days, and he’ll lend you his net so you can capture things on his behalf.
Not only does it make the boy happy, but it also allows you to catch fairies to keep inside empty bottles.
Obtaining the Master Sword
One of the most iconic moments in any Zelda game is when you are finally able to wield the Master Sword. In A Link to the Past, this is the very first instance of being able to do that.
After collecting the Three Pendants of Virtue in the Light World, you are able to navigate deep into the Lost Woods to take the Master Sword out of its pedestal. It’s a breathtaking cutscene, and you feel on top of the world, ready to take down anything that stands in your way.
Of course, nobody could forget the moment you start exiting the Lost Woods with the legendary blade when you hear Princess Zelda telepathically call out for help…
Watching Agahnim Kidnap Zelda
When you race to the top of Hyrule Castle to confront Agahnim, it’s too late. He has kidnapped her from the Sanctuary, and all you can do is watch helplessly as he lifts Zelda’s body to zap her into the Dark World.
This is an intense moment. We learned in the prologue that this is what Agahnim did to the other six maidens, and now we are too late to save Zelda from the same fate.
After kidnapping her, it’s time to battle Agahnim face to face for the first time by finding the secret room hidden behind the curtains.
Being Banished to the Dark World
After a long fight with Agahnim, he uses his remaining energy to banish you into the Dark World. You’ve been there before briefly as a bunny, but now with the Moon Pearl and Master Sword, you’re ready to take on the next part of your adventure.
This is a huge turning point in the game. For first-time players, it’s a jaw-dropping moment as we realize that the game is just getting started. The Dark World essentially doubles the size of Hyrule, so it’s a brand new, dangerous world to explore.
Meeting the Mad Batter
One of the most peculiar beings you meet in A Link to the Past is the Mad Batter. He can be found deep within the well outside of the Swordsmith’s Shop near Kakariko Village.
At first, you only see an odd bowl held by green stone hands. When Magic Powder is sprinkled into the bowl, the Mad Batter emerges.
In a terrifying moment, the Mad Batter roars that he will get his revenge on you for awakening him from his slumber and send a flurry of lightning bolts at you. However, it’s not truly an attack nor a curse: his spell doubles the amount of magic you can use, making the game much easier.
Getting the Silver Arrows
After trekking through Ganon’s Castle and fighting Agahnim for the second time, you learn that Ganon was inhabiting the body of the wizard the whole time. You follow him to the top of the Great Pyramid, but it’s not time to fight him just yet.
If you played the original Legend of Zelda, you probably knew that you needed a special weapon before heading into battle against Ganon. He can only be defeated with silver arrows.
The method of obtaining these silver arrows is quite memorable: you purchase a super bomb from the bomb shop and use it to crack open a wall in the pyramid where the Cursed Fairy resides. By throwing your bow into the fountain, the Cursed Fairy gives you the silver arrows to use against Ganon.
Defeating Ganon and Entering Triforce Room
There is no greater moment in A Link to the Past than watching Ganon being destroyed with the silver arrows and stepping foot into the Triforce room. It’s a room like no other in the game where you can ascend the steps to take hold of the three pieces of the Triforce.
The long journey is over. You’ve rescued the maidens and Princess Zelda, sealed Ganon, and finally, it is time to use the Triforce to revert Hyrule back to peaceful times. It’s an unforgettable ending to the game, especially since you get to watch the credits and see cutscenes of everyone you saved, along with the Master Sword back on its pedestal where it belongs.
