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Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (THE LEGEND OF ZELDA 2 リンクの冒険, The Legend of Zelda 2 Rinku no Bōken) is a video game for the NES that was released a year after The Legend of Zelda was. While the original game used a bird's eye view perspective, The Adventure of Link goes in a dramatic new gameplay direction that basically is a sidescrolling RPG/action adventure video game. The game's map takes on a bird's-eye-view perspective, though the dungeons, boss battles and towns take a sidescrolling perspective. It is also included in The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition for Gamecube. It is available on the Virtual Console for 500 Wii points. It will be released on the Nintendo eShop as part of the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program on the Nintendo 3DS on September 1st, 2011 in North America.

Gameplay

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is no longer restricted to one perspective as it was in the original game. When traveling from one place to another, the player will be provided with a bird's eye view of Link and Hyrule. During action, town and dungeon sequences, it will switch to a 2D sidescrolling viewpoint. On the main map, the view will change upon touching an enemy, town, or dungeon entrance. There are several new items and magic abilities available as well as returning favorites. One of this sequel's most notable inclusion is the Hammer, which would appear in subsequent Zelda titles.

In Zelda II Link has a magic meter that depletes when using magic. There are eight unique spells in the game, each one giving the player different abilities. The magic spells include Shield, which supplies Link with higher defense; Jump, which allows Link to jump higher; Fire, which causes Link to project fireballs from his sword; Spell, which will put a deadly spell on an enemy; Life, which grants Link three extra hearts; Fairy, which transforms Link into a fairy and grants him access to the power of flight; Reflect, which can reflect projectiles and enemy attacks; and Thunder, which attacks all enemies on the screen.

Trivia

  • A notable mistranslation in this game is one character who claims his name is "Error". This is a mistranslation from the original "Errol", which in Japanese is pronounced identically to "Error". This was not fixed in subsequent ports.
  • The game won 2 awards in the 1988 Nintendo Power Awards: Best Character (Link), and Best Game Overall. It also won Best Character (Link) again in the 1989 Nintendo Power Awards.
  • Zelda II was featured on the cover of the January/February issue of Nintendo Power magazine in 1989.

Reception

The game was initially successful, but its popularity dwindled quickly. Nevertheless, many elements and weapons from this game went on to appear in most Zelda titles following it. Link would be portrayed in his Zelda II form in Captain N: The Game Master.

There are many contributors to its lack of popularity. The game's overworld is for traveling only. Battles occur in underworlds after semi-random encounters. The overworld also lacks detail, making it difficult to navigate. The citizens of each town only provide tips, not actual assistance.

External Links

This classic game is available on the Virtual Console
Img virtualconsole Link returns to Hyrule to search for the Triforce and to awaken Zelda from an endless sleep. Embark on a quest to find the Triforce of Courage and save Hyrule from ruin. Learn magic spells, talk to people in towns to get clues, collect items to increase your power, and explore six palaces where the underlings of the evil Ganon await you. This sequal to the Adventure classic uses a side-scrolling visual engine unique to the series for more technical combat, and features more in-depth world roaming as Link encounters townsfolk while on his quest.


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