Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

First, go beat both quests of The Legend of Zelda. Then go pick up this game. If you are only going to own 20 games for the NES this definitely should be one of them. It combines all the best elements of RPGs, adventure games and sidescrollers to provide one of the most fun experiences on the NES.

It's sad that this game wasn't more loved by players. Had it been, Nintendo might have been more encouraged to inject some originality into their other franchises. But even as the black sheep, The Adventure of Link deserves a place among its brothers, and the same respect.

I found the controls confusing at times, especially when it comes to the magic. Also it doesn't feel quite right to initiate a conversation with a townsfolk by hitting them with your sword. In terms of presentation, the graphics are well defined and the triumphant musical score is classic stuff. The third Zelda (Link to the Past, SNES, 1992) returned the series to the overhead style, giving some the impression that Zelda 2 was a misstep for the series. It was not. Zelda 2: Adventure of Link is immensely captivating and addictively fun. If not for the steep difficulty, I might even prefer this to the original game.

This is the only Zelda game I can think of that used experience points to level-up. Other than that, you’re dealing with a typical (and engrossing) Legend of Zelda experience. The action switches between an overhead map with random monster encounters and side-scrolling fighting with familiar enemies and items putting in appearances.

It may be considered the bastard offspring of the Zelda franchise thanks to its radical departure from the original formula—magic, an experience system and side-scrolling action are the highlights—but Zelda II is, in fact, a great adventure. It’s this combination of unique elements that creates an action-RPG experience unlike any other, and it still holds up well today.

It's little touches like that, along with the game's tight, precise control and incredibly intimidating challenge factor that make this Adventure a hit. Zelda II is just a great game, and playing it again today makes it hard to understand why it's been so chastised for the past 20 years. Nintendo clearly recognizes its worth, selecting it as the standard-bearer to be the 100th game on the Virtual Console. Now you should give it a chance, too. For only 500 Wii Points, it's a spectacular, underappreciated value. Nobody likes Zelda II – but that's not true. And maybe, now, that perspective will change.

I think Zelda 2 was pushed aside simply because it was something that no one expected. In actuality, it was a great game that gave you a nasty challenge while still proving to be entertaining.

It is often called the black sheep of the Zelda series. It is also often called the worst game in the Zelda series. But let me say this; if Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is the worst game in the Zelda series, that is a testament to the high quality of the series as a whole, because it certainly cannot be an insult to this game. Many fans of The Legend of Zelda were outraged by this game, but wrongfully so. This game, as much as any other, deserves to be named as a good entry into the world of gaming.

Adventure of Link the Zelda game that could have been groundbreaking.This game could have been the best nes game ever.Instead this game qualifys under the rank "Good".Now this game would have probaly gotten a even lower score if I wasn't such a hardcore Zelda fan. This game veers away from the traditional overhead view that we have come to expect from our rpg's.

Zelda II is a unique installment in the series. It is also an unusually difficult installment, having many elements to frustrate the player while incorporating harsh punishment. It is not an amazing game, but is a game that should be tried once. For 500 Wii points, it's worth a shot, especially if you like a crazy challenge.

Un jeu rétro qui obtient la note de 15/20 ce n'est pas courant, mais si ça ne tenait qu'à moi, je lui aurais mis beaucoup plus. Zelda 2 est l'exemple type du jeu dans lequel il faut s'investir totalement pour en entrevoir tout le potentiel. Le gameplay est un modèle d'intelligence et de précision, et je ne connais rien d'aussi palpitant que les duels avec les chevaliers. La refonte totale du système de jeu opérée après Zelda 1 a donné vie à un titre à part dans la série, mais tout aussi culte, si ce n'est plus !

Zelda II is easily one of the strangest games to come out for the NES. I have to say that I was surprised how good the game actually was and how badly the game gets trashed nowadays. Sure, it may be the worst in the series of Zelda titles, but it's by no means a bad game. Check it out if you must, or pick it up to complete your collection.

Zelda II, like the original Legend of Zelda, has been available for free on the GameCube through the Zelda Collection disk, but the Classic NES Series version's the only official way to get this adventure in portable form. It's a recommended, and playable, adventure even today, but don't expect the same gameplay from the truly classic Zelda titles.

Link has had a lot of adventures over the years, though none have inspired such wildly varied reactions as Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The Nintendo Entertainment System sequel to the original Legend of Zelda, Zelda II eschewed the top-down dungeon crawling nature of the first game and went sideways, essentially turning the game into an action role-playing game/platformer hybrid. Some people loved the new direction of the series, and some reviled it. The truth was probably somewhere in the middle. Now the debate over Zelda II's place within the series can be fought all over again because the game has come to the Wii Virtual Console. Its unusual design and sometimes clunky mechanics don't hold up nearly as well as any of the other Zelda games re-released for the Virtual Console. But Zelda II still makes for an interesting history lesson, and the game itself is decent enough to make it worth its $5 price.

Although Zelda 2 was included in the Cube compilation package, this is the only GBA version available. It's a long adventure and although it may be somewhat boring by today's standards, it's a great way for beginners to submerse themselves in the RPG universe.

Even with its irregularities and flaws, Zelda II is still a good old-fashioned Nintendo adventure, and as such still comes off as a quality piece of work. It's certainly the least classic chapter of its series, but a lacking Zelda game is still pretty entertaining. Adventure of Link might be more for completists than its predecessor was, but you can certainly find plenty here to keep you busy for some time.

Is this fair? I mean are they allowed to do this? Switch genres mid-franchise? Okay, I get it if you're doing a handheld version or something and you decide to mix things up a bit. But this was a direct sequel. There's a "II" right in the title. And yet Zelda II plays like a completely different game.

Nachdem er im ersten Teil die Blaupause für ein neues Genre namens “Action-Adventure” geliefert hatte, verfolgte Miyamoto für den Nachfolger auf einmal und ohne große Not einen klassischen Sidescroller-Ansatz. Markenzeichen wie Bogen und Bumerang wurden durch ein simples Magiesystem ersetzt und auch sonst konnte man sich nur verwundert am Kopf kratzen, wieso so viele Errungenschaften aus Links Debüt nicht auch für das Sequel berücksichtigt wurden. Insgesamt nicht schlecht – aber auch nicht wirklich Zelda!