This game is a bastardization of what I consider the greatest Zelda game.
Graphically:
A link between worlds looks like animal crossing. I can't impress just how ugly the art style is. The pixelated, bright, blocky, overhead view pales in comparison to the initial 2D design. The push on the 3DS to create a 3D experience results in a less artistic, less immersing style. Maybe I just don't have an eye for newer generation art, but the Nintendo 64 style graphics look terrible and age even worse. LTTP is still a pleasure to look at after all these years, I sure we won't be saying the same for ALBW.
Look at these LTTP screens:
Now look at this ALBW screen:
Gameplay:
NPCs in this game are incredibly annoying. Starting in Ocarina of time, and progressively getting more controlling and overbearing, this game follows the path of WW or Skyward sword with long, annoying, pointless NPC interactions. For the love of god Nintendo, please stop wasting my time with all this worthless dialogue.
3D aspects of play are gimmicky, often difficult to physically see. New item system is cumbersome, switching items is difficult. Dungeons and puzzles are incredibly fast and easy. Without getting items from a dungeon, instead just "renting" them, makes dungeons seem more like a chore and less like a chance to upgrade your character. Overworld is exactly the same structure of aLTTP. 2D "painting on wall" mechanic is not enjoyable.
Impression:
If Nintendo wanted to make a port of LTTP, they could have kept the art style and 2D aspect, resulting in a rehash of an excellent game. If they wanted to make a new 3DS game, they should have made a new game. Instead, they formed some mutant bastard child of aLTTP and the newer, shitty zeldas. This mutant excels in no areas. It looks like garbage, has mediocre gameplay, repetitive mechanics, and sullies my LTTP nostalgia. I honestly enjoyed my LTTP re-playthrough a year back significantly more than aLBW.
If you enjoy the newer Zeldas, this game may appeal to you. But as an advocate for the original game, the resulting aLBW is a cluttered yet gameplay simplified, overbearing, ugly semi-remake of a once excellent game.