Category: The Adventure of Link

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a divisive game. However, most people seem to agree that it contains an absolute banger of a soundtrack. Short and sweet, each track perfectly compliments the moments in which they appear, and this is especially true of the battle sequences. The songs that accompany each fight are fast-paced, bombastic anthems that heighten the intensity of the difficult combat. They also translate perfectly into contemporary renditions, as evidenced by this awesome rock cover of “Great…

I’m not ashamed to admit that I have my fair share of struggles with playing Zelda games. Although some of us these days could probably play some of the titles in our sleep, first play throughs aren’t quite as smooth. Even the best of players groan at certain mini games and gripe about this boss or that boss. Most of the time, Zelda games are a fantastic experience, but I’m sure we’ve all seen our share of the dreaded “Game…

I love The Legend of Zelda.  All of the games are great, but I’m specifically more attracted to playing the 3D titles.  I’ve often asked myself why this is; could it be the more stunning visuals, or the more intricate music?  Could it be the mapping system, or some of the more unique fighting techniques that can only be found in 3D games?  Or, if I get down to the nitty-gritty of the matter, is it because I’m just not…

Ganon and Ganondorf cast a long shadow over the Zelda series. The Great King of Evil (and his various incarnations) have been the villain in a large amount of games, which means the player often end their experience in Hyrule by battling Ganon. With that being said, it is always interesting when a game features a final boss that is not Ganon. Whether it is Link’s Shadow, Majora, or Vaati, the non-Ganon villains help keep the gameplay and storytelling from…

To me, The Legend of Zelda has always been a series of dungeon-crawling headscratchers rather than combat-focused action games. Except for the franchise’s earliest entries, figuring out what one is supposed to do is usually the primary challenge; the actual execution is often trivial. Whether it’s a specific puzzle, the layout of a dungeon, or a sequence of actions that need to be performed, the Zelda series has consistently delivered brainteasers that are both creative and memorable. What has often…

With every new iteration in the franchise, the Zelda series finds some new way to innovate on itself. Some are smaller changes or developments, like Ocarina of Time to Majora’s Mask or Phantom Hourglass to Spirit Tracks. Others are huge sweeping changes, like the N64 era to The Wind Waker, or Skyward Sword to Breath of the Wild. While many of the fundamentals remain the same from entry to entry, the games still find ways to make themselves unique and…

Journey back with me to 2005: an odd year to talk about Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, for sure. That was, however, when 10-year-old me first became acquainted with the game. I remember standing in a rural Southern U.S. Walmart, transfixed by the bright blue of the brand-new Game Boy Advance SP that was soon to be mine. That day I also got to pick out a clearance-priced game. My choice? The Adventure of Link, my first handheld game….

Now this is a loaded question because there is a difference between difficulty in terms of how challenging a game is, and difficulty because of the lack of motivation to finish a game. In my case, The Adventure of Link is most difficult for me in both senses of this question. I still haven’t finished it out of pure frustration at the unfairness of the challenge level! And despite returning to it, I also don’t have a lot of drive…

I’m not sure how out of the ordinary this is, but I replay games more often than I play new ones by a mile. Not just new releases; even older games I haven’t played have a hard time squeezing into my schedule when there’s so many that I want to experience again (and again, and again). The Legend of Zelda is my favorite franchise and it makes me want to revisit their worlds many times to learn more and deepen my appreciation…

A good or bad gimmick can elevate or detract from a game, and the Zelda series is unique in that every single game has a distinct, unique gimmick associated with it that makes them ripe for examination! This week, we’re diving in and discussing what’s worked and what needed improvement over the years with Zelda gimmicks; Dual worlds are a favorite staple, but maybe stylus or motion controls weren’t for everybody. Transforming via masks was likewise awesome, so why did…