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Legend Of Zelda, The: A Link to the Past
Game Code: ZL / ZF Genre: RPG/ Action
US Title: Legend Of Zelda, The: A Link to the Past US Publisher: Nintendo
Japan Title: Zelda No Densetsu Japan Publisher: Nintendo
Title in Kanji: Title in Kana:
European Title: Legend Of Zelda, The: A Link to the Past Europe Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo Players: 1
Accessories: none Special Chips: none
Save: Battery

This was the best selling game on the SNES, and for a good reason. The graphics are smooth and were quite good for a game released in 1992. There are lots of secrets, and some are so well hidden that it can take several playthroughs to find them. The play control was excelent. The level designs are second to none.


Prototypes

Region Cart/PCB scan Dump Status State of Completion Source Notes Details
USA yes undumped Final prototype cartridge Though undumped, this prototype is almost certainly identical to final. link
Japan no undumped beta Magazine screenshots Screenshots that were apparently given out by Nintendo at the 1991 Shoshinkai link

Cartridge label information

Region Country Serial Code notes Scan
Americas Brazil Gradiente Brazillian Gradiente release - Portuguese title: A Lenda De Zelda: Um Elo Com O Passado scan needed
Americas Brazil Playtronic Brazillian Playtronic release - Portuguese title: A Lenda De Zelda: Um Elo Com O Passado scan needed
Americas Canada SNS-ZF-CAN Canadian French language version link
Americas Canada SNS-ZF-CAN-1 Canadian French language version, first revision link
Americas Canada SNS-ZL-CAN regular release link
Americas USA M/SNS-ZL-USA-1 Player's Choice Million Seller - Made in Mexico variant - "K-A" Rating scan needed
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA regular release link
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA-1 Player's Choice Million Seller - "K-A" Rating link
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA-2 Player's Choice Million Seller - "E" Rating scan needed
Asia Japan SHVC-ZL regular release link
PAL Australia SNSP-ZL-AUS Mattel Release link
PAL Australia SNSP-ZL-AUS-1 Nintendo Release link
PAL Germany (Nintendo of Europe) SNSP-ZL-NOE/SFRG German language version link
PAL Netherlands SNSP-ZL-HOL regular release link
PAL United Kingdom SNSP-ZL-UKV regular release link

Do you have a label variant that is not listed above or a better quality copy? Read the Submission guidelines for cartridge label scans.

PCB Information

ROM Chip ID Region Known Man. Dates PCB Type CIC SRAM Decoder/ Logic Circuit Special Chips
SFRG-ZL-0 (front) (back) Germany 9241 SHVC-1A3B-13 D413A 64k MB74LS139 -
SHVC-ZL-0 (front) Japan 9146 SHVC-1A3B-12 D411 64k SN74LS139N -
SHVC-ZL-0 (front) Japan 9149 SHVC-1A3B-12 D411 64k MB74LS139 -
SHVC-ZL-1 (front) Japan 9204 SHVC-1A3B-12 D411 64k SN74LS139N -
SHVC-ZL-2 (front) Japan 9241 SHVC-1A3B-13 D411A 64k SN74LS139N -
SPAL-ZL-0 (front) PAL 9231 SHVC-1A3B-13 D413 64k SN74LS139N -
SPAL-ZL-0 (front) PAL 9232 SHVC-1A3B-13 D413 64k SN74LS139N -
SPAL-ZL-0 (front) PAL 9349 SHVC-1A3M-10 D413A 64k MAD-1 -
Prototype (front) USA - SHVC-2P3B-01 D411 64k MC74LS139N -
SNS-ZF-0 (front) USA 9352 SHVC-1A3M-20 D411A 64k MAD-1 -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) USA 9209 SHVC-1A3B-12 D411 64k SN74LS139N -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) USA 9210 SHVC-1A3B-12 D411 64k HD74LS139N -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) USA 9214 SHVC-1A3B-13 D411 64k HD74LS139N -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) USA 9214 SHVC-1A3B-13 D411 64k SN74LS139N -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) USA 9219 SHVC-1A3B-13 D411 64k MB74LS139P -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) (back) USA 9233 SHVC-1A3B-12 D411 64k SN74LS139N -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) USA 9237 SHVC-1A3B-13 D411A 64k SN74LS139N -
SNS-ZL-0 (front) (back) USA 9711 SHVC-1A3M-30 D411B 64k MAD-1 -

Do you have a PCB with a different ROM chip ID, PCB type or manufacturing date? Read the Submission guidelines for PCB scans.

Box information

Region Country Serial Code notes Front scan Back scan
Americas Brazil - Brazillian release by Playtronic (A Lende De Zelda - Um Elo Com O Passado) link link
Americas Canada SNS-ZL-CAN regular release link link
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA regular release release link link
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA-2 Player's Choice Million Seller verison - "E" rating link link

Do you have a box variant that is not listed above or a better quality copy? Read the Submission guidelines for box scans.

Manual information

Region Country Serial Code Notes external link
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA regular release scan not available
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA-2 second revision scan not available
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA-3 third revision Vimm's Lair
Americas USA U/SNS-ZL-USA-3 third revision - comes with the "Made in Mexico" release scan not available
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA-4 fourth revision scan not available

Other insert information

Region Country Serial Code notes Scan
Americas USA SNS-ZL-USA "Top Secrets - Messages from Sahasrahla" - hint guide that came packaged with early versions of this game. scan needed
PAL United Kingdom G-SNSP-ZL-UKV-1 "Top Secrets - Messages from Sahasrahla" - hint guide scan needed

Reviews

MD Pontiac - 92%

Published Review Scores

Nintendo Power (George) Publication date:
March 1992
Issue: 34 Page: 105
Graphics and Sound: 5.0/5 Play Control: 4.5/5 Challenge: 4.0/5 Theme and Fun: 5.0/5
Nintendo Power (Rob) Publication date:
March 1992
Issue: 34 Page: 105
Graphics and Sound: 4.5/5 Play Control: 4.0/5 Challenge: 4.5/5 Theme and Fun: /5
Nintendo Power Publication date:
March 1992
Issue: 34 Page: 105
Graphics and Sound: 4.7/5 Play Control: 4.3/5 Challenge: 4.8/5 Theme and Fun: 4.9/5

Bibliography

  • Nintendo Power, NES Journal - Super Famicom Announced in Japan (mentions the game is in development - no official name at that point), Publication date: September-October 1990, Volume: 16, Pages: 86
  • Nintendo Power, In the works for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (as Zelda III) (a poster showing games released or in development for the Super Famicom), Publication date: July 1991, Volume: 26, Pages: 50
  • Nintendo Power, Super Nintendo Entertainment System Development Dispatch (Preview -shows the beta screenshots also seen on the poster that came with the system), Publication date: August 1991, Volume: 27, Pages: 96
  • Nintendo Power, Preview, Publication date: January 1992, Volume: 32, Pages: 83-87
  • Nintendo Power, Game overview and hint guide, Publication date: March 1992, Volume: 34, Pages: 83-97
  • Nintendo Power, George and Rob's Now Playing (short review of the game), Publication date: March 1992, Volume: 34, Pages: 105
  • Nintendo Power, Review, Publication date: March 1992, Volume: 34, Pages: 105
  • Nintendo Power, Councelors' Corner! (Where are the shoes?; How do I enter secret rooms?), Publication date: May 1992, Volume: 36, Pages: 70
  • Nintendo Power, Pak Watch - Japan Watch (mentioned as a top selling game in Japan), Publication date: June 1992, Volume: 37, Pages: 113
  • Nintendo Power, Classified Information (free green potion trick), Publication date: August 1992, Volume: 38, Pages: 28-29
  • Nintendo Power, Councelors' Corner! (How do I get the big key in the Swamp Palace?; How do I defeat Trinexx?; Where is the Staff of Byrna?; how do I enter the Waterfall of Wishing?), Publication date: September 1992, Volume: 40, Pages: 72-73
  • Nintendo Power, Counselors' Corner! (Where are the Super Bombs?; How do I get the Fourth Magic Bottle?; Where is the Cape?), Publication date: October 1992, Volume: 41, Pages: 71
  • Nintendo Power, Counselors' Corner! (How do I get the Flute?; How do I reach Misery Mire?; How do I open the door in the Ice Palace?), Publication date: November 1992, Volume: 42, Pages: 69
  • Nintendo Power, Counselors' Corner! (How do I get the flippers?; What does the magic powder do?), Publication date: December 1992, Volume: 43, Pages: 68
  • Gamepro, 16-Bit Gamer's Survival Guide (Map of the Dark World and cheat device codes), Publication date: June 1997, Volume: 105, Pages: 80-81

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