Welcome to Rauru. Return the crystal to the palace in Parapa.
Not many games sit quite so cherished in my heart as the classic NES game, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, now brought over onto the Game Boy Advance. Some people disliked the RPG elements that its predecessor lacked; over the years Zelda II vanished from gamers’ minds like Moa in Old Kasuto without the Cross, and Legend of Zelda games moved on to become the staple action-adventure run-around complete with the dungeons and Moblins we know and love today.
But for me, Zelda II stands as not only the first Zelda game I ever played, but one of my earliest video games in general. I still remember the notebooks my sisters and I used to keep, writing down spare pieces of dialogue and locations of items and enemies the townspeople—always rushing back and forth and disappearing off the screen or into the safety of their houses—would mention at our convenience.
Unfortunately, my game file was mysteriously erased when I finally managed to reach the end boss, Dark Link. Not only was I absolutely heartbroken at having lost all my hard work, but my sisters couldn’t even remember how the game ended (something for which I’ll never forgive them). But unlike my save file, my own memories of Zelda II aren’t going to be erased anytime soon. I’ll never forget the fantastic, catchy music the game boasted—most of all, the amazing Parapa Palace theme, which remains one of my all-time favorite to this day. I’ll never forget the way I cursed Gannon as he laughed maniacally when I landed repeatedly on the Red Game Over Screen of Death. And who could ever mistake the unexplained “I AM ERROR” man? One day I will sit back down and finish what I started back in my childhood, and when I do, my evil shadow better watch out.
Highlights
- RPG elements make the game shine
- Memorable music
- Old school challenge
- Witness the evolution of Link
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
System: GBA
Developer: Nintendo
Publisher: Nintendo of America, Inc.
Find: Goozex
All reviews are based on final retail code unless otherwise noted.
Want to know more about the game? Just ask! We love to hear ourselves type, and might even say something vaguely resembling an answer to your question(s)…
July 8th, 2009 at 11:04 pm
Wasn’t this also on NES? I definitely never had a GBA, but I remember playing it.
July 8th, 2009 at 11:12 pm
Yup, it’s on the NES—and the photos and video are from the old NES game. But you can also find it on the GBA, so you can snag it on Goozex.
July 9th, 2009 at 12:21 am
You know this sounds lame, but I remember when I would watch my dad play this when I was little. Since it’s over on Goozex, I am seriously contemplating getting it for him for his birthday =)
July 9th, 2009 at 6:44 am
Save file’s wipe eventually because the cartridge stores the saves using battery power, if the battery juice isn’t replenished every so often - or if the cartridge battery wears out then yea, poof go the saves
Just to clear up that little mystery (and maybe save someone a savegame or two)
July 9th, 2009 at 8:31 am
You can also play them all on the collectors disc for the gamecube (which will work on the wii.) So you get Zelda, Link, Link to the past, Ocarina of time and Majora’s mask. I loved all the games so I ended up getting it and was totally worth it!
July 9th, 2009 at 9:08 am
@mihoyonagi Not lame! I vote that you should.
@FredOzzel Ohhh … maybe that was it lol. Still, I was sad … *sniff*
@Riddle That’s true! I never had a Gamecube. *crawls in a hole* My neighbors did, though.
July 9th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
This was the hardest and coolest Zelda of them all. Makes sense it’s also the one Nintendo fans like least…
July 9th, 2009 at 5:35 pm
Seriously! I love this game, and it bums me out that there weren’t more Zelda games like this. Magic is fun. So are wizards who live in basements. Okay, at least wizards who live in basements in video games, anyway … no offense to your cousin, William.