The Legend of Zelda 2: Rinku no bôken

I have played just about every Zelda game in existance. I tend to get through most of them as well. But there is an exception. I have never ever have gotten through Zelda II nor Wind Wakers (heck, I don't even own Wind Wakers yet).

Unlike most of the other Zelda games, Zelda II is a combination of RPG and Action-Adventure side scroller games, which is quite an original idea. The plot has to deal with Link having to recover Zelda from a strange illness that made her unconscious. However, some sacrifices obviously have to be made though.

To gamers everywhere: Zelda II has been re-released on a new game anthology called "Legend of Zelda collector's Edition" for the Nintendo Gamecube. But I have to warn you, this is not an easy game, in fact, it is far from easy.

Shigeru Miyamoto could have lived off the success of the hit Legend Of Zelda and made a sequel exactly like the first one...but instead, he decided to make a different kind of game, a side scrolling adventure. The result was Zelda 2: The Adventure Of Link. While the overhead view of the original didn't completely vanish, all action scenes were depicted on a side-scrolling view. Link could now jump, duck, and do all the other fun things he couldn't in the first one. The land is quite large, and their is something uniquely magical about this 8-bit wonder that many games nowadays fail to create...a pity, considering all the things we can do now. It goes to show you that technology isn't the only thing to make a game.

Being only the second game in the Zelda series, it can't be said that there was an established format for the series. This is, as stated above, a great game; combining a gigantic over world map with wandering monsters, which then converts to a side scroller to fight the various types of beasts. Link can go to towns and converse with the local populations, explore caves, temples and the like. Unlike in the first game, Link can now gain experience, learn new sword techniques and cast spells!

The story begins after the original "Legend of Zelda" with Ganon's minions trying to resurrect their fallen master by sprinkling Link's blood on Ganon's ashes. The storyline is very deep brought to life by the expanse of the world map and the depth of the game play and exploration. Highly recommended game for any fan of the Zelda series.

I know I'm leaving stuff out, but I hope this description will help anyone unfamiliar with the Zelda series.

Granted, I still found it somewhat fun to play. I hear there is a worse Zelda incarnation that came on this strange media player back in the 90's. I saw this system advertised on television and they did show a clip of Zelda and it did look rather bad, but I have never played it so I can not say for sure. This game takes place some time after part one and is a direct sequel to that game. Zelda has been put to sleep by some magician and Ganon's minions are trying to revive their former boss and all they need to do so is Link's death! For some reason Link must once again go through dungeons to get what he needs to help awaken the princess. The story is a bit off here as I had no clue as to who was the main bad guy or who that one character was at the end that made Link's shadow come to life. That is one of the reasons this one is a bit weak. The play is different too, as this time you walk on a map like in an rpg and you encounter enemies who appear on the map and fight them in a side scroll level. The dungeons are also side scroll. Link also can visit towns and this is also a bit more rpg than the first, but the towns are rather bland except you can learn magic here which is also a new feature and somewhat pointless except for that cure and defense spell. You also level up in this particular Zelda game. So all in all it is okay and the most different of all the Zelda games so worth a try if you ever run across it.

Like many Nes sequals, the gameplay is very different (CastleVania II, Super Mario II etc) Although this game is very different from the original Classic, it is more innovative, original, and believe it or not, Fun. This is definatly one of the most underated NES games, get It, now !