Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

The Good
I think I applaud the development team for trying something different. The game has even more RPG elements and some of those things made their way into subsequent releases (some of the named locations, fighting a dark version of yourself, etc..) but largely the concepts and ideas in this game were forgotten.

As much as I despised the combat, I did start to get a kind of Souls-like feeling with it. I would figure out the enemy's patterns and after I had died a few dozen times, I became adept at taking them on. Then another enemy was introduced that I couldn't figure out, so rinse and repeat.

The Bad
Well, the graphics are terrible. Even if you're a retro gaming fan, there's a lot not to like about the visuals. Link's sword, for example, is the same color as his skin. So, it looks like Link has a really messed up appendage. All of the towns look exactly the same except for maybe a color palette swap or a slight shift in position. The overworld map is bland and uninteresting.

NPC dialogue is confusing and provides almost no context or information. All of the NPCs look the same.

None of this would be as bad if the gameplay was any good. After all, the Castlevania series attempted a similar shift in format with Simon's Quest and it wasn't terrible. Unfortunately, Zelda 2 doesn't fare so well. The game is unfair, way more unfair than the original. Link's sword swipe is not very long so therefore you have to be super close to the enemy to hit it. Link's movement is as if he's on ice so when you stop you kind of slide just a tiny bit, which makes platforming a bit more challenging than it needs to be.

The bosses, while visually interesting, are random and seem to have no real connection to one another.

The Bottom Line
The Adventure of Link swings for the fences, I will say that much. They tried to do something different, unfortunately it just didn't work. I don't think the game is without merit, the leveling system is interesting, and a lot of the enemies and bosses looked pretty good. Everything else though was pretty bad. The game honestly felt like it wasn't finished and needed just a little more polish and balancing.

The Good
The Sequel to Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link, is better than it’s predecessor in all the ways that matter.

In Zelda II, the Princess of the title has been put to sleep by magic. It is up to Link, or whatever you name him, to break the spell and save her. The plot thickens when the dead Gannon’s minions are out for Link’s blood, literally, as it is the key to reviving the evil lord!

Zelda II, is wonderfully darker and more morose, than the first game. The plot is clearer and better written. And this time Hyrule feels like a real place. There are towns and villages this time! So people no longer live in caves. The world is more fleshed out. And not just endless screens that all look the same. The dungeons are more unique as well instead of just a palette swap.

The combat is more visceral and realistic. But it is also much more challenging. More on that later. Link learns to use magic in this adventure a first for the series and it plays a significant role in the game. Gone are the heart containers, now Link levels up, like a real RPG. Many items and weapons return this time. As well as new one like the lantern, to see in dark dungeons.

The Graphics are not good per say. But at least you can tell what things are supposed to be which is not always so with NES games. This is a late NES game so they are decent overall.

The Music is good, but no where near as good as in more recent Zelda games. The sounds are sub par.

The controls are almost identical to those of the original game. So needless to say they get the job done.

The Bad
This game is hard! Easily the hardest in the series. But at least the difficulty is consistent. The sound effect are kind of lame. And the graphics could have been a lot better. Why do most fans hate this one? It is actually an RPG unlike the other Zelda games. Nintendo tried to make the series better but every one hated it…why?

The Bottom Line
Overall, there is fun to be had here. If you can get over lame sounds bad graphics, and the unforgiving difficulty.

The Good
This, I think, is the best Zelda game. It is the toughest of all Zelda games because you actually end up beating your shadow. I have 4 more Zelda games, and they took me weeks of once in a while play to finish them, but this one took me like 10 years, no kidding! (well, maybe because I got it when I was 5 ys. old, but EVERYONE in my family played it and no one could win it.) It requires thinking a lot, and understanding clues. NO tips and tricks from anywhere! It is an interesting story, and has the most original enemies and dungeons from all Zelda Games. I think is the perfect trama because you have to wake up Zelda, the original idea of the game; you don't go around for other objects that have nothing to do with Hyrule like the other Zelda Sequels. You definitely have to think a lot because there are things that have no clues actually, and without them you cannot move on, that is why it took me such a long time, cause i got stuck many times.

The Bad
It is the best game, no complaints, but the fact that you thumbs WILL HURT a lot, especially if you already fought with your shadow!

The Bottom Line
If you like adventure, Zelda games, and most of all best sellers with Nintendo;s Golden Seal, you WILL love this game!