Classic NES Series: Zelda II - The Adventure of Link Review

By Kristan Reed Published 13 January, 2005

An object lesson in why we should consider cutting certain Links to the past.

Version tested: GameBoy Advance

Order yours now from Simply Games.

As you might have got wind of with our NES Classics reviews thus far, we're big fans of the past; and in some cases we're big fans of some really ancient games. Hell, we're even firmly behind the idea of repackaging that past so that some of the best games of yesteryear can find a whole new audience and allow those of us who were there to relive some of our favourite games. You'd imagine a series of such apparent uninterrupted genius like Zelda would be a fantastic example. Surely every Zelda game has been a huge hit and therefore utterly brilliant? Well, that's the theory.

However many copies Zelda II sold back in the day, it's hard to imagine too many people giving it the time of day seventeen years down the line. Yes, we're sorry to report that it's yet another Classic NES Series title that's largely trading on the brand name to lure in unwitting punters looking to sate their justifiable hunger for more things Zeldary. Originally released back in 1988, this is one of those titles that even fans of the series have - over the years - had difficulty being kind to, never mind the parts of the world that Nintendo didn't bother with at the time. Despite its reportedly huge commercial success at the time, Zelda revisionists have long singled out this episode in the series for being something of the bad apple, introducing - of all things - side-scrolling action platforming into the RPG mix. Heavens above. And to be fair they're bang on the money. It doesn't feel like it belongs in this most celebrated of series. Off with its head.

Wake up you daft git!

'Classic NES Series: Zelda II - The Adventure of Link' Screenshot 1

If it's of interest (he says hopefully), in this episode you're once again expected to fill the dainty shoes of Link on a mission to (surprise) save the sleeping Zelda and stop the return of the evil Gannon. As is Zelda tradition you access the main locations via a somewhat graphically simplified (if you can imagine that) but nevertheless familiar-looking overhead view of the action, with the game flicking to a side-scrolling 2D view whenever you visit one of the game's main locations or, for example, enter a random battle interlude. For those of you used to the 'Zelda' way of doing things, this is an ill-judged experiment, and visually completely out of line with the series. It's all wrong.

If you were hoping for layers of narrative to fill in the gaps in the storyline, then you'd be hopelessly misguided. The villagers you meet from place to place are incredibly unexciting in a way that would have seemed lacking even back then. Early on, one villager simply utters "I am error," which offers a pretty big clue as to what we're dealing with. As far as faithful ports go, this one's got them - warts and all. Aside from that obviously faithfully reproduced bug, the grunting one-liners are harrowingly dull - even taking into consideration the format's age, and delivers more evidence that the NES wasn't exactly up to par with what other formats were offering at the time.

So what's there to do? Essentially move around from place to place on the overhead map, flick to a side-scrolling location, learn magic in the towns then go and engage in some action in the many palaces, generally consisting of defending attacks both (gasp) high and low and fending them off with magic. Fair enough, there are a decent variety of enemies to do battle with, and a modicum of tactical skill involved in these, but if reducing the whole game to a series of encounters with terrifyingly lacklustre sprite-based characters sounds fun, then be our guest. It's not the type of Zelda game we're familiar with and it looks fortunate a third ever got made in the light of what's on offer here.

Too faithful by half

Sure it's a faithful port - probably too faithful in truth - so if you like the idea of a game that is an exact replica of the 1988 original then here it is in all its 8-bit glory. It's just a dreadful shock to discover how badly the game has aged and it's even more of a shock how much money Nintendo expects its loyal customers to part with for it. Come on Nintendo: next time you think of rounding up your back catalogue, either release them at a sensible price or as part of a value compilation. Releasing them one by one is, frankly, nonsensical. Strictly for collectors. But then maybe that's the whole point.

Order yours now from Simply Games.

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Picture of Kristan.

About Kristan Reed

Kristan is a former editor of Eurogamer, dad, Stone Roses bore and Norwich City supporter who sometimes mutters optimistically about Team Silent getting back together.

Read more articles from Kristan by visiting the Kristan Reed archive page.

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Comments (29) Latest comment 7 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Blerk #1 7 years ago

    I really don't like this game. It's the only Zelda I don't get on with.

    /waves hands

  • PinkSpider #2 7 years ago

    My mum completed this back in the day, I cant even do it now (emulated - im not paying for this when I paid a few quid back then)

    Also: EG you animated ad fest is killing my pc, its old you know and it looks like im typing blank characters here.

  • bionutz #3 7 years ago

    PinkSpider : your animated ad fest is killing my pc.
    Why don't you use the Opera browser and turn off plug-ins? You also get rid of the pesky "smart adds".

  • Shinzou #4 7 years ago

    No more NES Classics. Please!

  • onyxbox #5 7 years ago

    i feel sick just thinking about what Nintendo are doing here. The first set of classics were pretty classic but the second wave is just embarrassing.

    BTW: is there anything out there that lets you put SNES roms onto a GBA ?



  • krudster #6 7 years ago

    That's it, a bit of an overdose, but really, there's nothing else out at the moment. We are doing some import reviews and previews to see us through the wasteland of jan.

  • onyxbox #7 7 years ago

    Resi 4 ?

    Eh?... yeah ?.... please (with sugar on top)?

  • malloc #8 7 years ago

    Cheer up Kristan mate. It's not so much for the game, but the history and tradition that one rebuys a game like this. You play it, and realise what Nintendo did and have done, and are glad that they tried this ill-judged experiment when they did and promptly corrected it. Sure it's not as good as the others, but cut it some slack. It was still an enjoyable romp while it lasted and it's your only chance to play a Zelda game as a 2D side scroller.

    This is surely a prime example of Nintendo trying to move on and see what happens when they try something new. Yeah it may fail, but they didn't just copy and paste from the first one.

  • Dagon #9 7 years ago

    Yeah, I enjoyed this game a lot when it came out. Very different from the first one.. like a true sequel should be. Heh. It's also insanely difficult, which is why Blerk doesn't like it. Anything that isn't exactly the same as the previous game I played.. omg.. it's .. I don't know what it is, but I want back.

  • krudster #10 7 years ago

    Hey, I know the sentiments of releasing old games and I fully support them. It's more down to the bare faced cheek of individual re-releases at comical prices.

  • PinkSpider #11 7 years ago

    Because Explorer being explorer uses less resources than Opera/ Firefox, and they take forever to load. (im running a 120mhz, 32mb ram system here... my good pc's motherboard died :( ).

  • Feanor #12 7 years ago

    January is a pretty good month for releases over here in America: Mercenaries, RE 4, Suikoden IV, The Punisher, Full Metal Alchemist, Playboy, Oddworld Stranger's Wrath and more! Hehe.

  • Dick Laurent #13 7 years ago

    How's the Punisher game working out for you, Feanor? I hear it's supposed to be pretty good.

  • Feanor #14 7 years ago

    Well, I haven't played it and I won't be buying it cause I've got too much else to play and it doesn't interest me greatly. The things I've read about it have been positive though, and I have found the descriptions of the various Punishments you can meet out to be amusing. Actually, I think I saw some footage on G4TV of The Punisher shoving someone's head in a fish tank full of piranhas or something - that sure made me chuckle.

  • DiscoMike #15 7 years ago

    All these NES classics, and the last few reviewed have brought few fond memories back for anyone.

    Never having been part of the NES generation (C64 was where it was at for me in those days) where there actually any good NES games that still stand out and could be enjoyed today?
    Edited by 1 at 13/01/05 @ 19:20

  • krudster #16 7 years ago

    Not played it, sorry.

  • Celeborn #17 7 years ago

    *Goes checks out his Golden Zelda II NES Cart*

    Well, the cart looks prettier in the game after all this time :p It was an ok game - but it seems a little dumbed down of everything; not enough of an RPG, not enough substance for the action sequences; not enough story; not enough variety.

    And also I got stuck all those years ago in trying to get to that final castle. How the hell do you get past those eyes!

  • Aretak #18 7 years ago

    I had a golden cartridge version of this when I was younger. I smashed it up with a hammer.

    Really.

  • Daryoon #19 7 years ago

    Zelda II, Faxanadu and Battle of Olympus made a fine trilogy of side-scrolling RPGs. Well I know I enjoyed them, and still do...

  • Blerk #20 7 years ago

    It's also insanely difficult, which is why Blerk doesn't like it.

    Ooh - lies! I don't like it because it's 'not Zelda'. It's some other game with Zelda-style graphics.

    Kristan, how about reviewing Four Swords, eh? I need to know about the single player game. :-)

  • krudster #21 7 years ago

    Your wish is granted - he's been playing it all week, just for YOU! Review monday.

  • Salaman #22 7 years ago

    I never got past the 4th castle or so on this one.
    Just got horribly stuck and got disspirited when retrying years later.

    It's not "as" bad imo. Bu they.

    Oh about ERROR.
    I recall that guy.
    I think later on you meet someone or get something and then you need to go fnd error.
    I can imagine it was supposed to be "errol" actually & they decided to Engrish it up a bit.

    Anyone recall what was up with Error?

  • Blerk #23 7 years ago

    Your wish is granted - he's been playing it all week, just for YOU! Review monday.

    Fabbo!

    For my second wish I want you to send Rob and Mugs over to Squenix Europe to hold them hostage until they agree to release DQVIII over here.

  • maclander #24 7 years ago

    This was a pretty good game, considering all the other games from the same era, but it wasn't as good as the first Zelda or Mario. This doesn't mean that you should diss it, because it is pretty good even if it is, by right, the most disliked Zelda.

    About Error.
    I think Link gets a quest of finding him, Error from his brother (who’s in a town way south) or something. So how can you miss that he is supposed to be Error (except if you didn’t play the game for more than about ten minutes)?

    To Eurogamer:
    Please try to play the games before you review them (even the NES classics).
    Edited by 1 at 14/01/05 @ 09:38

  • krudster #25 7 years ago

    Yes we did. Thank you.

  • Sid-Nice #26 7 years ago

    I got this free when I purchased the Gold GBA SP with Minish Cap. :)

  • Dagon #27 7 years ago

    Ooh - lies! I don't like it because it's 'not Zelda'. It's some other game with Zelda-style graphics.

    Tsk! Have you actually played it? It's more like the 'modern' Zeldas than the first one, that's for sure. Not in terms of what it looks like, certainly not the graphics (what?), but what you do in the game.

  • Galvanizer #28 7 years ago

    Bring me Zelda 2005 pronto!

    The only game I'd buy a GameCube for!

  • Galvanizer #29 7 years ago

    Your Lucky "Sid Nice", but I got my Triforce SP and Minish Cap for £50 NEW from GameStation! :-P

    To be honest ZELDA is the ONLY Ninty game I'd buy their consoles for.........
    Edited by 1 at 17/01/05 @ 15:16