Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Currently digging Kid Icarus: Uprising. The game's amazing. Definitely my favorite 3DS games next to Super Mario 3D Land. And it's packed to the brim with content, not surprising noting that Sakurai's behind the helm.

As anyone who's played any of his Super Smash Bros. games from Melee on knows, the man makes a living on stretching replay value to its limit, and Uprising is no exception. Idols are Trophies ripped straight from Melee and Brawl, three Treasure Hunt achievement lists will be familiar to anyone who appreciated the under-appreciated Kirby's Air Ride will recognize the verbatim accomplishment menu, and hundreds of semi-customizable weapons headline an insanely-addicting Together (read: Multiplayer) mode. Titled Light vs. Dark, they begin as basic Team matches that turn into Protect the VIP for that is essentially Super Smash Bros. in 3D.

Add to that a Solo mode that features a delightful and charming tongue-in-cheek story that pushes the player from set piece to set piece (a la Star Fox 64) with one of Nintendo's best localization efforts fleshing out witty and likable characters with undeniable Nintendo Charm rounds out the best 3DS game for sheer content and one of the most enjoyable games I've ever played. And I'm not even done with the story! Excellent production values, additively fun with an insane amount of content. Highly recommended for all 3DS owners. *obligatory warning about how the controls apparently suck and how I'm biased and a horrible judge of taste for liking the hand-cramping control scheme*

Now onto another sequel:

"YES! Now no one will ever mistake me for Zelda again!" -Link

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is infamous among fans for being what is generally considered the most difficult game in the series. Most of this is due to Nintendo's tinkering with what is now considered the classic "Overworld-Dungeon-Item-Boss" formula that Zelda is known for. Instead of an open Adventure game the original Zelda pioneered, Zelda II takes queues from RPGs and action games. Instead of traversing an overworld that handles both exploration and combat, the sequel opts for a chibi version of an overworld showcasing towns, roads, forests, rivers, deserts, oceans and swamps with enemies appearing to hinder Link's progress. When encountering foes or locations, gameplay switches to a side-scrolling view where the majority of the game is played.

An epic conclusion I've reached only twice.

Zelda II places more focus on combat, requiring players to learn new moves and not wildly swing away like in its predecessor. Link can now crouch, moving his sword and shield in tandem, requiring careful timing and restraint to block attacks and retaliatory strikes. Magic was also introduced in this installment for use in casting various Spells, including Shield for added defense, Life to restore health outside of fairies and Inns, and offensive spells such as Fire and Thunder. Link's Health and Magic meters, including Link's attack power, are increased through Experience Points obtained by defeating foes and grabbing Experience Bags on action screens.

This results in a more action-oriented Zelda, though there are enough callbacks to the initial game that it isn't too jarring a switch. Link is still garbed in his traditional green tunic, gathering keys to unlock doors in Palaces while chatting it up with townsfolk for information on current objectives and goings-on in Hyrule.

Which brings me to the plot. Zelda II is a direct sequel to the original Legend of Zelda, on Link's 16th birthday. The Triforce appears on the back of the boy's left hand, which he shows to Hyrule Castle's attendant, Impa. She reveals to the youth that this occurrence proves he is the Hero and shows him a sealed chamber unlocked with his glowing Mark of the Hero. Inside, a previous incarnation of the Princess Zelda is shown to be in an eternal sleep as the result of an old curse, resulting in the Failure Timeline's tradition of naming all first-born princesses in the Hyrulian family to be named in her honor.

I love the old anime look.

Impa reveals that Link is destined to obtain the Triforce of Courage, the third and final piece to match the previous game's Triforce Pieces: Zelda's Triforce of Wisdom and the defeated Ganon's Triforce of Power. By obtaining the third sacred triangle, the curse will be broken and the sleeping Princess Zelda will awaken from her slumber. To reveal its location, Link must place six crystals in six Palaces filled with the loyal and unrelenting minions of the deceased Ganon. They are hellbent on killing Link, for sprinkling his blood on their master's ashes would revive the Prince of Darkness, dooming Hyrule again. This all leads to a final confrontation not with the revived Ganon, but with Link's personified dark side (and the fans rejoice!).

Admittedly, most of the plot takes place in the manual, as was common in the NES days outside of RPGs. This was also the second Zelda game I played and was engrossed in, namely due to its setting and expansion of the original's plot. An old King of Hyrule used a completed Triforce with a balance of Power, Wisdom and Courage to lead his kingdom to prosperity? What a ruler! It blew my 8-year-old mind that Link, Zelda and Ganon each had a third of his mighty power.

It also annoyed the heck out of my young self (and my less-irritable older self), for this game is unrelentingly difficult. Arming you with only three lives, Zelda II is a game I've only beaten twice. Twice! This is due to the fact I'm both reckless and I try to speed through everything, resulting in many a Darknut death. While the game also places limited numbers of dolls serving as additional lives, they do not respawn; meaning if you find two of the dolls, get a Game Over, and return to the game, the extra lives will not return. Maddening! Infuriating! Exhausting... Though you do get quite the sweet Game Over message.

Best. Game Over screen. Evar.

Hey, this blew my mind as a kid!
/nostalgia_slave

Otherwise, the game presents itself very well. Zelda II has more detailed and varied environments, distinct enemies and fantastic music (dungeon theme, anyone?). Zelda games were relatively modest in its first two installments, though they possessed atmosphere that pure tech could not convey back in '88. This would be resolved in every future game (Zelda III would be most-anticipated) and combine the lessons learned from both NES installments.

Despite its black sheep status, Zelda II is by no means a bad game. In fact, it's quite an enjoyable one; challenging, lengthy, and still charming in its brutality. It's definitely the odd man out of the series, similar to last week's Super Mario Bros. 2, but it similarly introduces enough now-standard Zelda elements that it would be unwise for fans not to experience it. The Sword Beam, Magic, fan favorites Dark Link, the Upward and Downward Strike, emphasis that the Hero's name is Link and not Zelda, etc. Lots of "Oh, that's where it came from!" moments to be had.

I love this piece; even in a by-gone era, your greatest enemy is yourself.

I definitely recommend Zelda II, though with a friendly warning about the game's Nintendo Hard difficulty. The Virtual Console versions are recommended, mainly due to their Suspended Play capabilities; even better for 3DS owners are Restore Points which can be abused as much as possible! *coughnotthatIabusethemcough*

Main Series
1. The Legend of Zelda
2. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

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Now if you excuse me, I'm off to battle more random opponents online in another Light vs. Dark match. So addicted.

Ciao!