NES CLASSIC: The Legend of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Game by Nintendo Reviewed by Philip Wesley Size: If needed or known. Save: Battery 3 Slots Released: 2004 Works with: Game By Advance/SP/Micro & DS/Lite ESRB Rated: E Quick Opinion: Own **************************************************************************** Opening Snide Remarks: In 1987, Nintendo continued the grand adventure set out upon in The Legend of Zelda with THe Legend of Zelda: The Adventure of Link. Many radical changes from the first game were implemented into this second title in the franchise. Due to the extreme nature of the changes, many fans felt that the second game betrayed the first and -to this day- The Adventure of Link gets a lot of criticism from the fans of the series. Diving into this NES Classic release of the game, we will have to see if the criticism leveled against the game is fair or just a lot of overly cynical fan hyperbole. Since we did this for the first game, allow me to transcribe the story synopsis from the title screen for this game! "AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED, IMPA TOLD LINK A SLEEPING SPELL WAS CAST ON PRINCESS ZELDA. SHE WILL WAKE ONLY WITH THE POWER OF THE THIRD TRIFORCE SEALED IN A PALACE IN HYRULE. TO BREAK THE SEAL, CRYSTALS MUST BE PLACED IN STATUES IN 6 WELL GUARDED PALACES. LINK SET OUT ON HIS MOST ADVENTURESOME QUEST YET.." **************************************************************************** Gameplay Description: The original Legend of Zelda game was a top down, open world title that emphasized free form exploration and development of skills via "getting better" at playing the game. The Adventure of Link abandons all of that. No seriously. The game starts up with Link standing next to the sleeping Zelda who has been placed in a palace on the map. The first thing you will notice is that the view of the game is completely different. Instead of being top down, this game is seen from the side ala Super Mario Bros. With this new perspective, you can now jump. The SELECT button uses magic, and you can attack with your sword. Upon exiting the palace, the game takes a top down view of the world. This is an RPG style overworld map. You can find towns, caves, palaces, forests, and more on this area. When you stray off the path, you will sometimes see things pop up in teams of three. These things that pop up are two types of shadows and a fairy. If you touch one, you go to an action sequence that is side scrolling. There are jumping puzzles, lots of enemies and towns with people to talk to and interact with. When you defeat certain enemies, a number, pot, or bag with the word P will pop up. What are these? The Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link has a level up system similar to an RPG. The numbers are experience points, the P bag is for more experience points, and the pot is for refilling your magic. When you level up, you can level up your magic, life, or strength. The strength is how much damage you do to enemies. You can also get magic that allows you to jump higher, use shields, turn into a fairy, or do other neat things. You can also find other items to help you get through the game, like extra lives. Wait. Extra lives? Oh, you start with three lives and when you lose those, it is game over. Yeah, this is a pretty strange game in the Legend of Zelda series. When you enter towns, you get hints about where to go next, items, and other helpful things. This tends to de-emphasize the exploration part of series and makes this game much more linear than the previous title. It has some issues which we will go into in the Game Design section. Liked: This is certainly different! Hated: There are some problems with the game play that have to do with the game DESIGN. **************************************************************************** Graphics Description: This is a step up from the previous game in terms of graphics due to the perspective changes. The towns look different enough from each other and the same can be said about the caves/palaces and other items. Over all, this is a decent looking game and the resolution drop for the NES CLASSICS series does not hurt it at all. Liked: Looks good, easy to see, and it has reasonably detailed backgrounds. Hated: There is a good amount of enemy pallet swapping; but that is a petty complaint. **************************************************************************** Sound/Music Description: From the opening theme on the title screen to the pleasant music of the towns, The Adventure of Link may actually surpass the first games in terms of sheer awesome music. The sound effects are fine too. Liked: THE MUSIC IS SO EPIC. OH YES! Hated: Nothing. **************************************************************************** Play Control/Game Design: The problem with the game is that hit detectoion can be iffy and the amount of grinding needed to level up is tedious. There are a good amount of jumping puzzles and when you fall down a hole, you lose a LIFE. You do not lose a heart or a little bit of energy. You lose an entire LIFE. Also, it is really easy to get hit and enemies NEVER EVER drop anything to refill your life meter. That is a problem. Yes, it would make the game less difficult, less repetitive, and less frustrating for players if those few aspects were changed. Once you get the DOWNSTAB ability, the game gets a bit easier; but then it becomes more about jumping on enemies heads. You may as well be playing a Super Mario Bros. title. Also, there is very little variation in weapons. Other than that, the changes are reasonable; but not polished enough to make for a good, fun game. Liked: Interesting changes to the core gameplay... Hated: ...that are not implemented properly. **************************************************************************** Improve: POLISH! RIYL: The Legend of Zelda Series. **************************************************************************** Final Words: Here is the problem, this is an okay game and it is worth trying out and sticking through to the end. HOwever, it has some very severe game design blemishes. **************************************************************************** Score Gameplay: *** Graphics: **** Sound/Music: ***** Play Control/Game Design: ** Value: *** Star Total: 51% Personal Opinion Merit: 18% Final Score: 69% Letter Grade: C ****************************************************************************