The Legend Of Zelda: A Link To The Past [SNES - Beta]

The images on this page are taken from the Beta of Zelda 3, during the second half of 1991, a few months before its official release. The differences from the final version are in fact very small, but very interesting. Nintendo first changed the HEAD-UP DISPLAY of the game: the bar of the magic had a different shape, more similar to a test tube, the icons of object in your inventory were situated on the left of your stock (while in the complete game they are placed on top of your stock), the life meter went from being written as “+ LIFE +” to – “LIFE -”. Nintendo may have changed the symbol to avoid the presence of a symbol similar to a cross (In the 90′s Nintendo often removed religious symbols from games, in order to avoid controversy).

Clicca qui per la versione in Italiano ▼

Beta Version:

Final Version:

Clicca qui per la versione in Italiano ▼

Beta Version:

Final Version:

In the second beta image, the main difference is the presence of 4 enemies, in place of the 2 single ones inserted in the complete game. This greatly lowered the difficulty of the stage.

Clicca qui per la versione in Italiano ▼

Beta Version:

Final Version:

In the third image, the bridge is pretty much the same, but on the right of the river we notice the lack of the trees. Instead of trees, some stones in a strange formation is found. The strange design perhaps indicated the location of the secret cove, which was removed from the final version of the game. The main difference in the beta is in minor graphic changes. We’re currently still looking through old screenshots and sprites to find more changes.

Clicca qui per la versione in Italiano ▼

Beta Version:

Final Version:

[Original intro in italian by monokoma, translation by Sba sb3002]

You can find more info about Zelda: A Link To The Past in the Zelda Wiki!

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1. Zelda II [SNES - Tech Demo]
2. The Legend Of Zelda: Majora’s Mask / Gaiden [N64 - Beta]
3. The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker [GC - Concept / Beta]
4. The Legend Of Zelda: The Wind Waker Beta Test Areas [GC - Beta]
5. The Legend Of Zelda [NES - Beta / Concept]