A Link to the Past Version Guide

Version Differences

The SNES version of the game had three different versions: v1.0, v1.1, and v1.2.
Japan had v1.0 and v1.1. USA and PAL copies may have been built off of v1.1 while fixing some more glitches making it v1.2.

Gameboy has only one version released, and it's just a v1.0 for all JPN, PAL, and USA copies.

Glitch Header Key

1.0 is version 1.0 on the SNES. (JPN)
1.1 is version 1.1 on the SNES. (JPN)
1.2 is version 1.2 on the SNES. (USA/PAL)
GBA is the GBA version.

General Differences

Here's a list of general in-game differences between the SNES and GBA versions of "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past".

GENERAL DIFFERENCES	SNES	GBA
Screen Resolution	256 × 224	240 × 160
Sleep Option	Not present	Present: press L + R + Select to wake up
Triforce opening	May not skip: Screen flashes many colors	May skip: Screen flashes white
Introductory Story	Plays during attract mode: May skip	Plays during a new game: May not skip
Dungeon Names	Not displayed	Displayed upon entry
Item Menu	Every Bottle shares one position Bottle contents displayed in sub-menu Items highlight by a green circle	Each Bottle has its own position The Shovel takes the Bottle's old position Items highlighted by a green parenthesis
Secondary Item Indicator	Next to Magic Meter	Next to Heart Meter
Maiden text	Scrolls	Erases
Starting a saved game	May start in the Mountain Cave May not start where you last saved	May not start in the Mountain Cave May start from the last save location
Stones and Skulls	Only the normal variety	Sparkling stones and skulls can be found Striking sparkling stones will create Rupees and supplies Striking sparkling skulls will create lit bombs
Spin Slash	Destroys 8 tiles around the center, but not the center	Destroys 9 tiles, including the center
Diving	Unavailable	May now dive underwater briefly
Ending Triforce Speech	May not speed up text	Text may be sped up
Pyramid of Power	No hole on the east side	A new hole on the east side leads to a new dungeon if properly unlocked
Riddle Quest	Unavailable	A third lumberjack, Q. Bumpkin, has been added A "?" can be found in the Item Menu, next to the Piece of Heart chart

AUDIBLE/VISUAL CHANGES	SNES	GBA
Link's voice	Unavailable	The voice of Young Link from Ocarina of Time can be heard during certain actions
Chopping down a sign	Unavailable	Newly added sound and graphics
Dropped Bombs and Blocks	Silent	Bombs and Blocks make noise if they fall down a hole
Walking through Misery Mire	Unique footsteps sound	Same as water footsteps sound
Selection Screen	Link is inanimate	Link is running
Super Bomb	No animation	The bomb pulsates while being dragged or set
Maximum Rupee/Bombs/Arrow	Text remains white	Text turns yellow
Faerie Queens	Items thrown in remains stationary	Items thrown in bob up and down
Health Meter	The text "- Life -" is visible above the hearts	No text is present above the hearts
West of the Dark Palace	Grass is formed in the shape of an arrow pointing to the skulls where you must use your Hookshot	A small broken bridge extends across the water to help you see the skulls on the other side
Witch's assistant	Assistant wears a hooded cloak	Looks like Maple from Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
Struck enemies	Flash a variety of colors	Flash gray

WEAPON/ITEM CHANGES	SNES	GBA
Swords	May not pick up any items May not chop down signs	May pick up items by swinging your sword Master Sword and above may chop down signs
Swords	May not break pots/skulls	Only a Level 4 sword may break pots/skulls
Lamp	May not damage an enemy	May damage an enemy
Boomerang	May not cut down signs, grass, or bushes	The Boomerang may cut down signs The Magic Boomerang will cut down signs, grass, and bushes
Arrows	May not break anything	Wooden arrows can break one pot/skull Silver arrows can break an entire row
Magic Powder	No effect on pots/skulls	Destroys pots/skulls
Magic Hammer	May not destroy stones, skulls, or bushes	May destroy bushes, as well as light colored stones and skulls
Shovel	May only shovel left or right Replaced by the Flute once you find it	May shovel up or down as well You keep the Shovel after you find the Flute
Flute	No new landing points may be added	After opening the warp to Turtle Rock, you may choose to land there
Fire Rod	Does not burn bushes	May burn an entire row of bushes
Collecting Magic Items	No effect	Refills your magic meter

DUNGEON/ENEMY CHANGES	SNES	GBA
Desert of Mystery	Original frequency and speed	More numerous and faster
Dark Palace	Kodongos' fire is visible in the darkness	Kodongos' fire is only visible in the light of your lamp.
Ice Palace	You may collect the Cane of Somaria early, and use it to complete the Ice Palace puzzle quickly	You may not use the Cane of Somaria to complete the Ice Palace puzzle as the rooms have been changed
Turtle Rock Heart Piece	The enemies in the cave are Goriyas	The enemies in the cave are Eyegores
Like-Likes	Not present	Present near the Dark World Shield Shop

NAMING CHANGES	SNES	GBA
Special bee	Good Bee	Golden Bee
Fairies	Faerie	Fairy
Dash item	Pegasus Boots	Pegasus Shoes

MISCELLANEOUS CHANGES	SNES	GBA
Faerie music	First four chords play every time the Faerie appears	First four chords only play the first time the Faerie appears
Lamp light cone	Cone is visible until one torch is lit	Cone is visible even after a torch is lit
Land Mines	Dashing over a mine detonates them	Dashing over a mine does not detonate them
Bunny beams	When turned into a bunny, you have a green tunic regardless of armor color	When turned into a bunny, the color of your tunic matches your armor.
Bombing walls	After the bomb explodes, dust falls from the hole	No dust falls from the hole
Red Rupee giving trees	You may collect the Rupee every time you save, reset, and continue	You may only collect the Rupee once per save file
Golden Bee	Must be captured from the Ice Cave east of Lake Hylia	May also be purchased from a brand new shop in the Village of Outcasts
Dark World Shop	The shop west of the Pyramid of Power sells a Red Shield, a Bee, and 10 Arrows	The shop west of the Pyramid of Power sells a Blue Shield, a Red Shield, and the Mirror Shield, but only if the Mirror Shield was obtained and lost
Angry Dark World Trees	They spit out a bomb the first time you touch them, then you may talk to them	You may talk to them, and then they spit out a bomb
Defeated Zora items	Bombs from defeated Zoras sink into the water	Bombs from defeated Zoras float above the water
Fairy appearance	Original rate	Increased frequency
Hyrule Cemetery	May not jump down over any stones	May jump down over stones on either side of Magic Cave grave
Treasure Field Heart Piece	Must leave the screen and return to a reset treasure field before trying again	May jump over the fence on the right side, and walk back to try the game again, leaving all of the holes you already tried
Chris Houlihan Room	A telepathic tile tells you about the room Various methods to reach it	The telepathic tile is removed and the room is called "Top Secret Room" No available way to reach it without using an emulator/GameShark

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Sources: Strategy Wiki