Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Review

First released on the FDS (Family Computer Disk System) and later released on the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, Zelda II takes a different approach than its predecessor.


Story

Link is set out on a journey to save Zelda (Who is asleep in the game), and in order to do that he must defeat a series a bosses in many palace's that are located throughout the game.


Gameplay


The Adventure of Link takes on a different view then the Legend of Zelda. The two games hardly have any resemblance at all except for the fact that side scrolling is a common factor in both. This game contains basic elements of an action-RPG, a few of these would be; NPC's, and EXP.


The map is set up so that the player can move in all direction of the map (east, west, south, and north), and every time you move further from the radius than you can see the game side scrolls for you in order to get to the other part of the map. As you walk you'll notice these figures that pop up at you from different direction, these are of course enemy encounters or sometimes even finding a fairy or item. As you have a collision with the mini sprites that are popping up you'll notice that you are in a different kind of view; side scrolling.


Now, if you find a city which is shown as a very blotchy sprite in the game, you will find that it will also put you in a side scrolling mode in which now you can move around the town and talk to NPC's to look for clues or to just recharge your health, magic, and or get new items.


In the game you have the ability to gain EXP in order to strengthen your health, magic or attack. Each of those is important in the game. The game contains bosses that you have to beat inside a series of dungeons that can be found throughout the map.


Sounds

The music in the game features none other than our beloved 8-bit type of music found in old games. As in any other game, new pieces of music pop up in different areas in the game, this ranges from; Palaces, Towns, Enemy encounters, and walking around the map.


Pros

  • There's side scrolling which is way better than birds-eye view in my opinion. This is the part of the game that sets it's apart from its predecessor.

Cons

  • You have to start all over again from the beginning if you die with only your level, items, and keys to keep.
  • You have to literally stay alive through the whole game if you don't want to go back to where you started.
  • The game is overall difficult without practicing over and over again.

Overall

  • Gameplay: 6/10
  • Audio: 8/10
  • Graphics:7/10
  • Overall: 7/10