Adventure of Link Difficulty

[Mases]

One of the biggest knocks that many Zelda fans give Adventure of Link, is its pure difficulty level. There is some truth to this as 'most' Zelda fans would attest to. The first time playing through Adventure of Link, it is pretty darn difficult. It is certainly not one of those games you could just pick up and play and immediately be great at it.

Unlike more modern Zelda games like say... Twilight Princess or Phantom Hourglass where you can legitimately pick up the games for the very first time and play through the entire game without dying once. That didn't exist in Adventure of Link.

So the question is. Is this necessarily a bad thing? Or is this actually a good thing about the game?

I personally think its a great thing and in order to understand this, you need to warp back 20 years in time. In general, games on the NES were a LOT harder than what we've come to expect nowadays. A lot of this has to do with the changing of the gaming market, as it is now tending to a larger, more casual environment, so games that could be considered difficult and/or frustrating are not too common. Looking back at other games on the NES, I don't think Adventure of Link was 'over-the-top' difficult, in that I think it was 'beatable' by the average gamer. There are some games on the NES, that even today I cannot beat even with hours upon hours of practice.

I also like to ask... Is Adventure of Link more difficult than say... the 2nd quest of the original Legend of Zelda? I would say the 2nd quest might be more difficult, if not really close.


All in all, I think the difficulty of Adventure of Link is overlooked and it is mostly modern gamers who grew up in the N64 and on age that often criticize the difficulty. I personally thought it was a great challenge and within the Zelda series, (not counting LoZ 2nd quest), I think it is the only 'natural' quest that gives me trouble. Nowadays in order to play through Zelda and have these more difficult times, I need to do it artificially, but preventing myself from getting certain items, or only using 3 heart containers, and so on and so forth.

[basement24]

I think it's a great thing to have a game that can't be played through so easily. At times, especially 20 years ago and the age I was when It came out, AoL was controller-throwing, maddeningly difficult. It was sometimes unforgiving in it's difficulty, and it made it something that was worth trying again and again to beat.

I think maybe these days, it's a negative for the game because new gamers are so used to the ease of new Zeldas that they won't give AoL a chance.

I just replayed AoL again for the first time in over a decade and found it not as difficult as I remember. I think the problem with the difficulty level and new gamers is they want to progress throught it as fast as they can, and they don't manage magic while battling through dungeons, and levelling up. If you can master these, then the game really isn't as hard as people think.

Maybe it's a good thing it's this difficult though, because then it keeps the circle of people who beat it to a more tight-knit group! :P

I think AoL might be more difficult than LoZ's 2nd quest. The 2nd quest was impossible with the hidden dungeon in the bushes and some of the false walls as well. I think overall the combat wasn't as difficult as AoL's could be, but in general, the puzzles without hints were terribly difficult to handle without a walkthrough of somekind.

I would really like the series to regain a bit of the AoL difficulty, especially in combat with larger foes like the Iron Knuckles. At least TP made those battles a bit more epic, but the difficulty and thread of "Oh, great, and Iron Knuckle..." as it was in AoL still wasn't present.

[Josh]

Of all the numerous times that I've still tried to play through it, yes I find it personally to be a bad thing. It's by far the hardest game I've ever played, and every time I play it I can't seem to want to get past Death Mountain, and even if I do, and try and get further, I can't seem to, which makes me put it down and want to play something else, because it takes the fun out of the game when you spend an hour trying to get through a certain spot in one game.

[Gravity]

I'm gonna have to go with a low-difficulty rating on AoL. Probably because I was playing it brand new as a kid, (which I'm sure tells you all exactly how old I am.) But since I played it over and over again waiting on ALttP to come out, I got quite good at it. My last run through I got every single item, upgrade, spell, heart, magic and sword experience level. I'm a completionist through and through, and oddball Adventure of Link is no exception.

[MrMosley]

I loved AoL for its difficulty and even design. Its got one of the most memorable soundtracks IMO as well. But on the topic of its difficulty, I think that Nintendo should have stuck with that format for some of its titles. Today, we don't have anything as hard as AoL was, and that might be a good thing considering not all would attempt to beat it today. But we do have Zelda games that are becoming increasingly easy. I think Nintendo needs to look at the factors that made AoL difficult, and possibly replicate them in the future. Sure, a lot of people hated the game for its time, but those elements today could bring a more hardcore base of gamers to Nintendo and to the series itself.

[Golem]

I enjoy a hard game, and I really enjoyed the combat; I'd like to see the series return to some more intense fights. However, it seemed like Adventure of Link's difficulty was ramped up so high that you had to level grind in order to move forward. (It seems like that was a common problem back then--you can't get through Metroid 1 without farming tons of health.)

But, it's been several years since I've played AoL. Does it really require level grinding, or was I just bad at the game?

[angelkid]

I'm currently playing AoL through now. I have to say, it is incredibly hard... but I love it. I really love the challenge, sometimes I find myself a little bored of trying the main game and I run around and level up for a while. My god it can be the most frustrating thing ever when you get to 900/1000 then get game over. Frustrating, but still all part of the fun. The thing is, not meaning to be harsh, of the games I have played, this has to be one of the worst Zeldas. I love it, I really do. On the other hand, the actual side-scrolling game play and the storyline and such just takes off it I think, but that's not my point. My point is, I think the difficulty is what makes it so great. So, no I don't agree with you Mases, because the difficulty is what makes me want to play it. That's what gives me the thirst and determination to play on, and that is what has made it such a memorable game to all of you I'd guess.

However, sadly Mases you are right. There are people in the world who hate a game for the simple reason that they can't complete it. The thing that's so unforgiving about AoL is that even the very beginning is hard, I can see how some people would never even complete the first palace. So this is why I think it is unpopular. If it were to relent a bit at the beginning, give people a chance to get into it, then they would see what a great game it really was.

Yeah Darklink01, you are completely right. The soundtrack is amazing. I really can't stop singing that palace theme, the one that is also in SSBM. It's a really masterful piece. The one thing I love about this game though, is the side-quests. I never expected there to be any in such an early game. For example, LoZ had the heart containers and that was it. In this game, so far, (and I'm only as far as the water town of Saria) there is the trophy, the mirror, learning all the spells, Heart Containers, Magic Jars.

Also, I think that yes, Nintendo should make more games this hard. However, I don't think it should go un-announced. If they want to make a game this hard I think they should tell people before they purchase it, or else there would be ALOT of unhappy customers. I really don't think they will make another game like this though, I really don't think it would sell well at all.

So, to sumarise I think the difficulty of AoL ruins it for some people, but makes it for others. Also, I think that they should make more games of this difficulty, but I don't think they will, and I'm not sure they would be able to. They haven't done it in a long time and unless they were carefull it could turn into another Silver Surfer (apparently the hardest game of all time.)

[El Bagu]

It´s neither exclusively bad nor exclusively good. I believe 2D games should always be difficult, that´s a lot of the experience in my opinion and that´s why I used to love those "simplistic" games that much. With 3D´s it´s different, a new dimension give so much more of an experience that difficulty isn´t really needed for total enjoyment.

(I hope my post makes some sense!)

[Chrono]

I miss games like this. Only the kids today would complain about a Zelda game being too hard. And I also agree with Gravity, Adventure of Link really wasn't all that hard. Yeah it requires more skill and patience, but after having beaten it 100 times, it is far too easy for me now.

But if the newer Zelda games had at least 10% of this kind of difficulty then that'd be great.

[Zarom]

I'm just 16 and I really enjoyed this game. I've played it again a week ago and now that it's the third time (maybe fourth) that I did it, it wasn't as hard as the first time. Yeah, first time, it's really hard.>:( But then, you get used to it.

I think that the difficulty is what makes the game interesting to play again and again (same as LOZ. This game is a real challenge, but I wouldn't recommend it to young people who aren't skilled at videogames. :nod:

I think that AOL is a lot more difficult than LOZ quest #2. In LOZ, at first, it was hard to find the dungeons (but not hard in the point it makes you die, hard because it's VERY long to find) and to find out about the secret walls. (I had to go look on the net after ~5 hours looking for the whistle in second temple) But when you get used to it after that, it kind of gets easier. The firsts dungeons were more difficult than more advanced one because the ennemies were tough to defeat with the sword you had. The most difficult thing in the quest #2 is the orange whisps that jinxes your sword and that you have to head into a blue one to be able to use it again. (Oh yes, that was REALLY TOUGH :devil::devil::devil:)

[deku guy]

the first time it was really hard! but i managed to beat it yestarday at 11:pm the same day i played till` 4:30am
and i arived at the 6 palace
today ill beat it again

[NoRush]

Although I am not done playing through this game yet, seeing as how I have been playing for a while now, I can say that AoL is the hardest game I have ever played in the Zelda series.

I also agree with angelkid, actually, you took to the words out of my mouth. hehe. This is really the worst Zelda game. AHHH I hate starting over all the way at the beginning when I die, jeez.

Actually I feel both Aol and LoZ are pretty bad. I like LoZ far more than AoL because it's just more fun and I like the over world map more. I also liked the dungeons more in LoZ.

Either way, I don't like either of the 1st games. I'll play them because they are Zelda games and don't get me wrong I will def. have fun doing so! But I just like these games the absolute least.

[Brandikins]

I didn't think it was that hard. It's one of my favorite zelda games actually. I liked the fact of the Great Palace and an RPG game style.

[Chrono]

Although I am not done playing through this game yet, seeing as how I have been playing for a while now, I can say that AoL is the hardest game I have ever played in the Zelda series.

I also agree with angelkid, actually, you took to the words out of my mouth. hehe. This is really the worst Zelda game. AHHH I hate starting over all the way at the beginning when I die, jeez.

Actually I feel both Aol and LoZ are pretty bad. I like LoZ far more than AoL because it's just more fun and I like the over world map more. I also liked the dungeons more in LoZ.

Either way, I don't like either of the 1st games. I'll play them because they are Zelda games and don't get me wrong I will def. have fun doing so! But I just like these games the absolute least.

How can the originals be the worst Zeldas? I do not understand your logic. Go play another series then lol.

[NoRush]

How can the originals be the worst Zeldas? I do not understand your logic. Go play another series then lol.

It goes like this: I just beat the Maze Island Dungeon and the joy and happiness received from such a feat is overwhelmingh! I love it and I'm really happy about it.

No need to say, the level of difficulty to do so was...wwwoooww. A good kinda wow, but I mean to say the 1st Zelda's are my least favorite.

I still get super-duper excited about them, but they are still easily my least favorites.:)

[Master Kokiri 9]

Ugh... AoL is so flippin hard!! I can't even get to the first dungeon... WITH A WALKTHROUGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[Brandikins]

I doubt that. You need to get some of the spells in the towns from wise man. I love that game, so if you need help just send me a message. :)

~ Brandikins

[angelkid]

Just completed this game! Have to say, WOW! I fought so hard. It took me many hours of devotion to crack what was going on, what to do, how to do it ETC. Eventually I got to a point where I was really quite good. I could defeat difficult enemies without taking a single hit, I could go through the entire death mountain maze only taking about 2 bars of damage. There is no denying it though. This game is hard. I'm talking real, real hard. I was trying to fight the big moth type final boss thing, took me at least 20 lives! Then, after that, Darklink was so easy in comparison.

The thing about this game though, you look at it, and on paper, in comparison, it is one of the worst Zelda games. Just mainly because it is so basic and such. To me though, because of the difficulty, I'd say it comes in at number 6 or 5. The difficulty gave me such a buzz everytime I completed a dungeon or found an item or learnt a new spell. There were moments of this game, that were pure gold. Death mountain maze being one of them. That was amazing, the gameplay of it, the endless tunnels, no idea where you were going to come out, going through it again and again to gain Experience, and eventually learning the best root off by heart.

Another part of this game that I so totally loved was the secrets. The fact that all the spells and such were so difficult to get because the items that triggered them were so insanely difficult to find. For example, that one where you had to look under the table. I tell you, once I had figured that out, I never stopped checking under every table lol. It was kind of disappointing that there was never anything else in there lol. I loved how all the little secrets were not actually required but they made the game so much easier, like the magical key. I also love how ocassionally they'd throw a really easy one in there to confuse you. For example, the one where the woman says 'I'm thirsty I need water,' (or something like that) and you walk like 5 steps left and there is a water fountain and all you have to do is press a button, walk back to her, and she'll let you in to see the Old man.

I'll be honest, I was kinda... Almost off Zelda for a little bit there. Like, I'd still come on here everyday, but I never posted. I never had anything to say. This was just the injection I needed to get me back into making more posts, and making them alot better.

In Short, AoL's difficulty is what makes it so amazing, unique and enjoyable.

[citanuzuki]

This would have to be my least favorite zelda game in the whole series.infact I never really liked it at all,just didnt have the zelda feeling to it.Also it was one of the hardest.

[ironknuckle1]

how do you defeat darknuts the easiest because i can get into the first temple but the darknuts always hit me right where im not shielding and blocking where im attacking.

[basement24]

how do you defeat darknuts the easiest because i can get into the first temple but the darknuts always hit me right where im not shielding and blocking where im attacking.

If you can, jump up and then attack as you're falling down. You'll hit them on the top of their head. 9 times out of 10 it will be high enough up that they can't block it. Otherwise, yeah, swordplay with them makes them the hardest enemy in the game. Moreso than some bosses!

[octorok74]

I think that the diffulculty was excellent. Sure it gets frustrating, but it teaches you that you should value Link's life and think before you act. The difficulty of AoL should be put into other Zelda games, because it would add a nice twist to the 3D games.

[dumb180]

Haven't actually played it all the way through due to a good mix of pin connector problems and its sheer difficulty, but its skill level kind of refreshing. I certainly hope the lives system and sidescrolling are gone for good, but I'd like to see some elements of AoL come back. e.g. Less clues, monsters that do incredible damage and can be really hard to kill.

As for AoL being more difficult than LoZ quest two: I wouldn't think so; not at all. Quest 2 is crazy hard! Don't think I'll ever finish that. :lol: