Tag: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

A few days ago, we reported a new Ocarina of Time speedrun world record. If you found yourself intrigued by the prospect of racing through your favorite games, you’ll be happy to know a speedrunning marathon is taking place from January 4th to January 10th. Every January, Awesome Games Done Quick collects some of the highest profile speedrunners and raises money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation…

In a recent episode of Previously Recorded, the hosts dive in to a deep discussion about the black sheep of the Zelda family, Zelda 2. This game greatly differs from all other Zelda games, both in its combat and gameplay styles. The Previously Recorded hosts give their opinions on why it’s such a different experience from the other Zelda games and why they either like or dislike it. Head inside for the full video…

As of late, the retro vibe has been quite popular in indie titles. While many of these creations are infused with a good deal of originality and respect for the games which inspired them, it’s hard to know when to draw the line between “inspired by” and “copied from”. And since the Legend of Zelda series has set the standard for so many games, this is an especially tough call. Join the debate inside!

Often considered the

Zelda series black sheep, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link gets a lot of undeserved hate. Many complain that the game is too difficult, too large, or that it strayed too far from the original game’s design. Despite these issues, Zelda II’s legacy is filled with many overlooked features that should redeem its status among even its staunchest haters.

Let’s take a closer look at some of those redemptive qualities after the jump!

YouTube user InsaneInTheRainMusic posted this video earlier today, and it will truly knock your socks off. He gives the Hyrule Temple Theme from Zelda II (probably best known for its use in the Hyrule Temple stage in Super Smash Bros Melee) a jazzy makeover, and it is simply beautiful. This is easily one of the best renditions of this song that I have heard in a long time.

Head past the jump to check out the video!

This is just a reminder for anyone interested in watching the back to back speed runs of The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link coming up soon in the Summer Games Done Quick charity marathon. The set begins at 1:24pm EST today. You can check the schedule here to confirm the time, as it is subject to change, and you can click here to watch the marathon (which is currently running).

The marathon is a charity which donates to Doctors Without Borders, a humanitarian organization which ‘delivers emergency medical care to people affected by armed conflict, epidemics, malnutrition, natural disaster, or exclusion from health care in more than 65 countries’. Each donation within a certain price bracket will also enter you for a prize. The prizes during the Zelda NES block are some sprite perlers of various characters in The Legend of Zelda, and some really sweet posters.

I’ll also be throwing up reminders for A Link to the Past and Twilight Princess shortly before the runs are to begin, so keep an eye out if you’re interested! And please, if you can, consider donating. It’s for a good cause.

Shigeru Miyamoto has created some fantastic games. From Super Mario Bros. 3 to Donkey Kong to Pikmin 2, the designer has one of the most impressive resumes in the history of video games. Many people hold his work in high regard, oftentimes deeming it the best the industry has seen. Miyamoto-san has left an impact on the industry that will not be forgotten in any of our lifetimes.

Yet, despite the pantheon of classics, Shigeru Miyamoto is disappointed in one of his creations. In an interview with Kotaku, the game developer revealed he believes he’s made a “bad” game.

Kotaku: Do you feel like you’ve ever made a bad game?

Shigeru Miyamoto: Yeah…

Of course, the interviewer pressed on to know more. Here’s what Shiggy had to say.

“I wouldn’t say that I’ve ever made a bad game, per se, but a game I think we could have done more with was…”

Oh you want to know what it is? Well you have to come inside to find out!

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is perhaps too often referred to as “the black sheep” of the Zelda franchise, and although such terminology isn’t socially acceptable these days, the point holds true. With such an RPG-based combat system, how exactly is Zelda II classified within a genre?

J. Parish of Telebunny writes that Zelda II is the very epitome of the Action RPG genre:

Zelda II works remarkably well as a very literal and very faithful exploration of the action RPG. As we’ve seen very recently with Luigi’s Mansion: Dark Moon and

Pikmin, Nintendo excels at sneaking action elements into otherwise

staid genres like adventure games and real-time strategy. And here is

where that tradition began.

In this installment of his excellent “Anatomy of Zelda II” article series, Parish looks at how the combat system of the game defines it. Come inside for more Zelda II analysis articles from Telebunny.

Here at Zelda Informer we’ve been following J. Parish’s “The Anatomy of Zelda II” Series right from the start and will continue to do so, because it simply is worth the time. Not only is this series of articles some of the best objective analysis there is on The Legend of Zelda, but it tackles the rarely written about Adventure of Link.

This series has been looking at the make-up of Zelda II, and has already been through four excellent parts, which you can find links to inside. Parts V – “Homecoming” and VI – “Pixie Dust” are now available, covering the game up to the end of the third palace. Here’s a taste of the analysis and commentary within:

What this also reveals is that Death Mountain, intimidating as it may have been at the northern edge of The Legend of Zelda,

stretched far beyond what Link explored the first time around. A vast

network of interconnected caverns crosses through and beneath the upper

reaches of the mountain, linking Zelda‘s otherwise isolated region with the greater bulk of Hyrule.

As promised, links to the rest of the series are inside, and could not be more highly recommended.