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One of the few classic NES games worth the twenty bucks

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 43 / 46
Date: October 19, 2004
Author: Amazon User

Zelda II: The Adventures Of Link (1988.) The second game in the Legend of Zelda series.

The original Legend of Zelda for the NES is often revered as a video gaming classic. It's not surprising that it has become one of Nintendo's best-selling and most beloved video games of all time. The first Super Nintendo Zelda, A Link To The Past, was equally loved. Because it came between these two extremes and was a wildly different game, Zelda II is the most overlooked game in the series. Are people right to overlook Zelda II, or is it an underrated masterpiece that no one appreciates? Read on for my review.

PROS:
-UNIQUENESS IS THE GREATEST FEATURE OF THIS GAME. Most other Zelda games use the same "top-scrolling" format, but this game took the series one step further. Rather than going with that game style, the game has a top-scrolling overworld map, with side-scrolling battle venues.
-THE TITLE USES AN RPG LEVEL-UP ELEMENT! Here's another something other titles in the Zelda series lack. This is my favorite feature of the game, and I'm disappointed to see it didn't get used in later games.
-YOU CAN USE MAGIC SPELLS! This is something else unique to this game that is an excellent point in its own right. You can get a spell to recover lost life, one to improve defense, one to improve your jumping height, and even one to turn into a fairy! Other Zelda games had mild magic systems, but never anything else as cool as this.
-ALTHOUGH THE GAME DOESN'T REALLY STRESS IT, THIS GAME HAS ONE OF THE BEST PLOTLINES IN THE SERIES. A wizard casts a sleeping spell on Zelda when she refuses to reveal the secrets of the Triforce to him. Link must hunt down this wizard before he is able to revive the fallen Ganon. On a similar note, it's a rare example of a Zelda game where Ganon isn't the final boss.

CONS:
-TWENTY DOLLARS IS A PRETTY HIGH ASKING PRICE FOR AN NES GAME. Admittingly though, this is one of the few Classic NES reissues that might actually be worth the cash.
-THE GAME DOESN'T STRESS THE STORYLINE ENOUGH! This is a real shame, because as I stated above, this game has what is arguably the best storyline in the series.
-NOT A LOT OF ITEM USAGE. Many of the secondary items/weapons in this game don't get used very often - in fact, you can't even set one to a button due to this! For example, you'll only use the Flute twice in the whole game, and the Raft once! Most of the weapons/items are just status enhancers. Likewise, there is only one sword.
-YOUR SWORD IS RIDICULOUSLY SHORT! When you're fighting bad guys in close quarters, you're quickly going to realize this flaw. I don't mind it so much, though, because it adds to the challenge.

OVERALL:
Overall this is an excellent game. If you like the Zelda series and you never got a chance to play this game before, it's going to be well worth your twenty bucks. Don't pass it by - you'll be making the mistake of a lifetime if you do!

AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED, IMPA TOLD LINK...

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 54 / 60
Date: November 05, 2004
Author: Amazon User

**WARNING: CONTAINS SPOILERS**

I just finished 'The Adventure of Link'. I just can't help but to be amazed by this timeless classic more and more I think about it. This 'amazement' does not come from the personal fact that it happened to be my favorite Nintendo game back in '80s, but comes from the way I was mesmerized and sucked into this old, outdated game, which happened to be 17 years old since it came out. Link doesn't have any flashy special attacks or special effect-filled magic like games these days, but does have something they don't; amazing gameplay.

Frankly I bought this game as a collection since I bought the first one for GBA(and yes, for nostalgia sake as well). However, I couldn't believe myself for keep coming back to this game again and again...and finished it in couple days. May be I happen to like old school/simple games,

BUT THIS SIMPLICITY WITH DEPTH SHINES AMONG COUNTLESS COMPLICATED YET SHALLOW GAMES OUT THERE, PERIOD.

From the moment I found out how to get into the house of old wizard through the chimney, and to the moment of finding out that you have to fight your self at the end, was one heck of adventure in the eyes of thirteen years old teenager 17 years ago AND thirty years old man 17 years after.

I just want to dedicate this review to those who created this incredible, incredible game, which made my confused part of teenager life more worthwhile and memorable.

Thank you =)

There is nothing greater. NOTHING.

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 4 / 9
Date: January 18, 2005
Author: Amazon User

I had a whole review, but all it would've said is everything everybody else has said, with more adjectives. Instead, let me just put it this way:

I bought this game instead of food.

Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link - all the fun and none of the carbs! :)

Enjoyable, but not the best in the series.

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 4 / 4
Date: February 22, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is often considered the worst game in the history of The Legend of Zelda. It's not difficult to understand why, considering it's a break from the familiar mold that made Zelda popular in the first place. Nintendo abandoned the attributes from the 1st Zelda game, and turned Zelda II into a RPG, and that didn't turn out too well.

Zelda II doesn't play like a normal Zelda game. The most notable difference is that it's side-scrolling. If you're a fan of the top-down approach in various Zelda games, you may find this a little hard to get used to. The game also requires you to engage in countless battles simply to level up, which is a common RPG element, but not entirely suitable for a Zelda game. It adds to the length of the game, but Zelda to me is always more about solving puzzles than building up Link's powers. Some of these battles are also very tough, and many times, they are also forced. But hey, no one say waking Zelda from her slumber is an easy job. In any case, you need them to level up, so it could be quite a long and tedious prospect getting Link to be ready for stronger opponents.

Fans of the additional weapons that are so popular in the Zelda series, like the boomerang and arrows, will also find the sword/ shield combination in Zelda II a little disappointing. Yes, you've no other weapons throughout the game, and yes, it bothers me after a few minutes. To improve Link's attacks, magical spells are included instead. You need learn these magics, and collect magic points to make them work though, and the range is pretty impressive. Link can improve his shield's defensive power, jump higher and even cast a spell to unlock a blocked path with these magic points. While they are fun while they last, somehow they fall flat on hindsight. Give me a boomerang anyday.

Graphics and audios are basic 1980s stuff. I'm inclined to be more forgiving when it comes to these, since it'd be unfair to compare them with modern standards. The screen fits well into a GBA, and doesn't appear as cramped as The Legend of Zelda. The music is quite soothing, but it's still more or less a remix of the classic Zelda tune, with some extensions. The fact that it mirrors the original game is good enough for me. At $20 a pop, however, the game is perhaps a tad overpriced.

Overall, Zelda II on the GBA is an ok game, but fans may find more fun in other titles from the series. This is a good try from Nintendo to offer something different from its first instalment, but it just fell short of being a truly great Zelda game.

The world's most frustrating game.

2 Rating: 2, Useful: 3 / 12
Date: March 09, 2005
Author: Amazon User

When I was a kid, whenever I went to my uncle's house, one of the first things I would look forward to doing was playing The Legend Of Zelda on his NES, since I didn't own the game myself. One Christmas I was looking for the first Zelda game to get as a Christmas present (since my parents never knew what to get me, they always let me pick out what presents I wanted), but couldn't find it anywhere. Instead, I found a game called "Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link." Out of curiosity, I decided to buy this game instead, although now I wish I hadn't bothered with it (but I did eventually managed to buy a copy of the original Zelda). What I didn't like about this game wasn't the weird side-scrolling battles instead of the traditional over-head Zelda action, but it was because it was impossible to beat. I've beaten many video games over the years, but if there's one game I've never been able to accomplish, it was Zelda 2. I couldn't even get past the first palace because it was too hard! There were abosuletly zero clues, so you had no clue where to go next and the monsters were always so frustrating to destroy! It didn't help that your sword was so short, either.

This past Christmas I was planning on getting Zelda for the GBA, but like what happened many years ago, I couldn't find it anywhere and instead, ended up buying Zelda 2 for the GBA. Why did I do this? I have no idea, but perhaps it was out of nostalgia of playing the world's most difficult (and annoying) video game. It's almost like history is repeating itself and wouldn't you know it? Even after all the years I've been playing video games, Zelda 2 is still impossible to beat. I still can't get past the first palace and the monsters still annoy me. There must be some sort of world record for being the world's most annoying video game, and if there is, Zelda 2 would surely win it. It's such a shame too, because this game had a lot of potential. Although the game itself doesn't do anything with it, the storyline described in the instruction manual has always been very interesting, and I thought the side-scrolling battles was a unique change. I also liked the inclusion of the HP/MP points as it helped make this game feel more like an RPG. In fact, I wish the other Zelda games continued to use this feature, but Nintendo probably decided to scrap it after this game's failure. If only Nintendo hadn't made this game so difficult, it would be more enjoyable, but it's hard to have fun playing a game when you can't even make it past the first palace. At least it's safe to say you won't be disappointed with this game if you want an impossible challenge to attempt tackling. To anyone who tries to beat this game, I wish you good luck and envy you for your patience.

Cool Zelda Game :P

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 1 / 2
Date: April 16, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game is great! The only side-scrolling game in the series. I'm a huge fan of Zelda games, but I get frusterated from all the aimless running around. This game is perfect for those who just wants a Zelda game that HAS LEVELS WITH ENDING! Seriosly, all Zelda fans should get it :p.

PS: This game is also for new guys to the series :p.

spell

5 Rating: 5, Useful: 0 / 7
Date: May 24, 2005
Author: Amazon User

i liked the part in the game where u cast the spell spell and the building appears it was cool
later

This game is not for Zelda fans

1 Rating: 1, Useful: 4 / 20
Date: May 27, 2005
Author: Amazon User

If you liked The Legend of Zelda Link's Awakening and you want more of the same, do not buy this game. I've had it for one day and I am trading it in. It is nothing like the other Zelda games; the graphics are different and it is side scrolling instead of overhead view. There are no clues. I didn't get past the first level - and I didn't want to continue. It is not fun or interesting. I felt like I was playing something like Ms. Pac Man.

Black sheep of the Zelda series.

3 Rating: 3, Useful: 5 / 9
Date: August 13, 2005
Author: Amazon User

This game was all the hype when it was released way back when in the late 80's, and for good reason. It was the sequel to one of the best games ever, the original Zelda. But the only thing those two games have in common are their titles.

This game is a side scrolling action title which is a giant departure from the Zelda series. The overhead view of the majority of the Zelda games is missing here. And i cant say its a good thing.

You pretty much run from one left to right and battle numerous baddies, all of which are insanely difficult. Just thinking of the path to the last palace and the fight against Thunderbird gives me nightmares. Plus, it doesnt help that Link has a sword that is as long as his ear. Also, when you have full life your sword only shoots a beam that reaches like 1/10 across the screen. The days of sniping enemies from a long distance are over my poor Link...

Still, this game has plenty of solid things to it like its numerous and unique spells, like Fairy for example, and its level up and experience system. I thought those were handled very well. And for those whoe like a little challenge in their games, you will get it in spades here.

Overall it is a decent adventure/action title but is easily the worst Zelda game ever created. But thats not such a bad thing when the other games are just about masterpieces. Still, this game will offer some fun for the price, but it will likely give you more headaches than anything thanks to its extreme difficulty.

A side-scrolling blast from the past

4 Rating: 4, Useful: 1 / 1
Date: August 20, 2005
Author: Amazon User

Back in the NES days, Zelda II was unarguably my favorite game. This is actually the first game that I beat, despite its high difficulty level. I was satisfied enough that Nintendo had decided to release a 'Classic NES Series' featuring the original Zelda, though I did not expect there to be more releases afterwards -- especially not Zelda II. (In light of its criticism.) Still, Zelda II did sell a lot of copies, and was, in fact, a very popular game.

Most Zelda veterans are familiar with the overhead hack-and-slash / puzzle-solving style that made the game so popular to begin with. However, when Nintendo released the first sequel, they decided to go a different route, as side-scrolling Action / Adventure was rather popular at the time of the game's release. Unfortunately, this did not go well with many fans, as they had formed expectations based on the elements of the first game. This isn't to say, however, that the game is bad -- it is just aimed toward targeting a different audience.

Personally, I really enjoy Zelda II, as well as the rest of the series. The side-scrolling factor of the game really affected the difficulty, requiring that you have a stronger sense of skill, strategy and quick-thinking, rather than the ability to simply solve puzzles. One of the neat features about Zelda II is that Link now has access to a (limited) selection of magic spells, which can augment his abilities, destroy enemies or help him to discover key items. Another great feature was the level-up system. This allows Link to grow stronger as he destroys foes and procures experience. Of course, there are still 'Heart Containers' abound, which is the only way to increase Link's Life gauge.

Overall, I think the game is great. However, I feel that it was a bit too early for its time, and is therefore unappreciated.

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