The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is the seventeenth Zelda game, developed for the Nintendo 3DS. It is the first Zelda title made specifically for the 3DS. It was developed as an indirect sequel to. It was released on November 22 in North America and Europe, and will be on November 24 in Australia and on December 26 in Japan.

Gameplay
In the announcement, Link was shown exploring the area south of the Lumberjack's House and a dungeon reminiscent of the Tower of Hera. Common enemies from A Link to the Past appear, including Buzz Blobs, Crows, Stalfos and Terrorpins, and Link is shown to use his Bow and Magic Hammer. The 3D capabilities of the console are to be used for the multiple-floored dungeons, with the player able to see far beyond the floor they stand on at any one moment. A purple meter that appears to be a Magic Meter or a Stamina Gauge also appears, acting differently than previous versions of those gauges; it depletes with the use of nearly every item and refills automatically. A new ability was also revealed that allowed Link to become a drawing to cling onto walls and move along them horizontally at the cost of the purple meter. This ability is used to avoid falling off pits, fit through barred windows, and dodge obstacles on an elevator ride.

In addition, the ability to turn into a drawing allows Link to enter special cracks that act as portals through which he can travel between the Light World and another world reminiscent of the Dark World, known as Lorule. Aside from this new technique, Link's Spin Attack and Sword Beam are shown to return.

The top screen shows the main game, while the bottom one shows the map, Rupee count, item buttons (X and Y), and a button labeled "Collect," which allows players to access a twenty-slot inventory. The touch screen has a similar appearance to that of the 3DS remake of Ocarina of Time. Unlike the Nintendo DS Zelda games, A Link Between Worlds is mainly played using the 3DS's face buttons rather than touch screen. The A button controls basic actions like transforming, the B button is dedicated to the sword, and X and Y use items.

Development
Confirmed by Eiji Aonuma on November 3, 2011, this new installment takes elements from previous console Zelda games. Aonuma also stated that it is not a direct sequel to any of the other titles released on the Nintendo DS. Shigeru Miyamoto publicly stated he wished to create something "new, based on, or starting from" in an April 2012 interview. The game was officially revealed on April 17, 2013 during a Nintendo Direct. A playable demo was made available to the press shortly afterwards, showcasing the dungeon from the trailer.

Timeline Placement
A Link Between Worlds is an indirect follow-up to A Link to the Past and its direct sequels, set in the same world as the SNES classic, and features a new storyline and new dungeons. In various interviews, Eiji Aonuma said that the game shows what happened to characters from A Link to the Past after the events of that game, but features different incarnations of Link and Zelda than those of A Link to the Past.

It was then confirmed that A Link Between Worlds takes place centuries after the events of but before  in the "Downfall" split timeline after Ganon successfully defeated Link in Ocarina of Time. It features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, including the descendants of most the characters from Ocarina of Time and A Link to the Past.

Setting
A Link Between Worlds is set to take place in both Hyrule from A Link to the Past and another kingdom that exists within the "Dark World", which was revealed to be Lorule. This parallel world apparently houses a dark counterpart to the Triforce of Hyrule.

Audio
Eiji Aonuma stated in an interview that the game will feature arranged music from A Link to the Past, adding that the aim of the development team is to make the tracks sound as if they are played on real instruments. The sound effects sound just like in A Link to the Past and the some soundtracks sound like Spirit Tracks.