I have fond memories of this game. It was my favorite for NES (besides Dragon Warrior IV), yet I never owned it. I still remember it as the best in the series, possbily only second to Ocarina of Time. But I haven't played it in a while and can't find it anywhere. So if you have it, consider yourself lucky.
16 Reviews
A fine sequel to the NES classic
Reiver-217 October 1999
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.
The weakest entry that I have played in the Zelda series.
Aaron13756 January 2009
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.
One of the most difficult Zelda games ever!
Angel_Meiru23 February 2004
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.
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.
Great Game
jakwright28 April 2001
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.
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.
Very original Sequal
el_camello-118 February 2001
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 !
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, a great sequel
Rautus10 September 2007
The Legend of Zelda is a great and classic game, the sequel Zelda II: The Adventure is just as good. One thing the sequel does is add something new, instead of making it like the first one they made it different by adding side scrolling parts. The game has two modes, overhead mode and side scrolling mode. When your out in the fields of Hyrule it's overhead mode where you can't attack just search the land, if an enemy in overhead mode touches you then it goes into side scrolling mode, after getting out of side scrolling mode it's overhead mode again. Going into Towns, Caves and Castles also puts it into side scrolling mode. Zelda II is very challenging and difficult but also great fun to play.
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a great sequel to the classic game The Legend of Zelda and should be played. 10/10
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is a great sequel to the classic game The Legend of Zelda and should be played. 10/10
Great!
Glitch81615 April 2002
This game is great! If you are into RPG's you'll like this one. Now true is doesn't compare to RPG's of now but for 1989 this and Dragon Warrior were on the top of every RPG Gamer's Top 10 List, hands down. If you can get a copy of Nintendo Power from 1988, 1989, and 1990, you'll see what real gamers thought of this masterpiece.
"Zelda II: The Adventue of Link"- a misguided, painfully hard and flat-out unfair game that still has a bizarre fun-factor...
TedStixonAKAMaximumMadness16 February 2012
The NES sequel "Zelda II: The Adventue of Link" is a very strange game indeed. Seemingly different from its predecessor in every way, this game is the "sore thumb" of the franchise. It just doesn't fit in or make much sense... at all.
Set a few years after the first game, Link, our hero, is sent on a new quest- to save a different Zelda (yes, according to this game, there are two Zelda's... this is the first of the many nonsensical plot points this game doesn't explain very well), whom had been placed in an eternal slumber many centuries ago. At the same time, Link must also stop Ganon (the villain from the first game) from being resurrected by his followers. (Which happens in the event of you losing the game.) The general logic of the game is similar to the first- Link must traverse Hyrule, seeking dungeons to complete in order to collect artifacts to get more power, before confronting the big villain. But here is where the similarities end.
The game is told from an entirely different perspective. A bulk of the game is played similar to "Castlevania"- side-scrolling, with a lot of platform hopping. You do get a top-down map of the world (similar to Final Fantasy games), but it's only a small, small part of the game. 95% of it is played from the side perspective. There is also a lot less strategy in this game, due to the side-scrolling nature. You just hack, slash and avoid enemies.
You also collect experience, like an RPG, rather than getting Heart Containers to boost your health, so you will inevitably have to spend countless hours level-grinding, which gets incredibly annoying considering how little experience points you earn in battle.
The game's difficulty is near impossible, as well. Enemies move far too quickly and often come out of nowhere, and are much stronger than you. You will, without question, die dozens of times within the first few hours of gameplay, which is extremely discouraging. It just robs the game of a lot of the enjoyment. There's even enemies that are near invisible at times, which is blatantly unfair.
In addition, there are a lot of weird things in the game, including the infamous "I am Error." character, and lots of oddball moments that don't make much sense.
The graphics and sound, for an 80's NES game, are surprisingly decent, to be honest, so I can't complain about them. It's just the weird side-scrolling gameplay and the insane difficulty, not to mention the convoluted plot, that ruin it.
All of that being said, the game is still strangely playable. Something about its tone and style will keep you playing, so I must give it brownie points for that.
I give "Zelda II" a 5 out of 10. It's a crappy game, but it's somehow a FUN, crappy game.
Set a few years after the first game, Link, our hero, is sent on a new quest- to save a different Zelda (yes, according to this game, there are two Zelda's... this is the first of the many nonsensical plot points this game doesn't explain very well), whom had been placed in an eternal slumber many centuries ago. At the same time, Link must also stop Ganon (the villain from the first game) from being resurrected by his followers. (Which happens in the event of you losing the game.) The general logic of the game is similar to the first- Link must traverse Hyrule, seeking dungeons to complete in order to collect artifacts to get more power, before confronting the big villain. But here is where the similarities end.
The game is told from an entirely different perspective. A bulk of the game is played similar to "Castlevania"- side-scrolling, with a lot of platform hopping. You do get a top-down map of the world (similar to Final Fantasy games), but it's only a small, small part of the game. 95% of it is played from the side perspective. There is also a lot less strategy in this game, due to the side-scrolling nature. You just hack, slash and avoid enemies.
You also collect experience, like an RPG, rather than getting Heart Containers to boost your health, so you will inevitably have to spend countless hours level-grinding, which gets incredibly annoying considering how little experience points you earn in battle.
The game's difficulty is near impossible, as well. Enemies move far too quickly and often come out of nowhere, and are much stronger than you. You will, without question, die dozens of times within the first few hours of gameplay, which is extremely discouraging. It just robs the game of a lot of the enjoyment. There's even enemies that are near invisible at times, which is blatantly unfair.
In addition, there are a lot of weird things in the game, including the infamous "I am Error." character, and lots of oddball moments that don't make much sense.
The graphics and sound, for an 80's NES game, are surprisingly decent, to be honest, so I can't complain about them. It's just the weird side-scrolling gameplay and the insane difficulty, not to mention the convoluted plot, that ruin it.
All of that being said, the game is still strangely playable. Something about its tone and style will keep you playing, so I must give it brownie points for that.
I give "Zelda II" a 5 out of 10. It's a crappy game, but it's somehow a FUN, crappy game.
Strange, but cool.
ilovestarwars21 November 2004
The adventure of Link is the sequence of the 1987 NES classic. The game is now in 2-D side-scrolling view. The game has much better grahics than the first game.Now Link is much better made. The game's sound is medium. The gameplay is good.It's a little different the gameplay because of the new view, but the controls are good.The game has also an interesting system of making magic spells. And the game has a good fun factor.The better part is the new adventure after the end of the game(similar to the 1987 classic). The scores of the game are: GRAPHICS-9/10 SOUND-7/10 GAMEPLAY-9/10 FUN FACTOR-10/10
My overall for this game is 8.8/10.
My overall for this game is 8.8/10.
Link's Second Swing
hellraiser79 November 2021
This is another of my favorite games for the NES and another of my favorite video games of all time. It's once again another of those interesting secondary entries, some may 'be be put off that this game has a different format than the first. But once again as I said before you must understand this sequel was made at a time before sequel had any rules. It's understandable they wanted to change things up because they didn't want to repeat themselves.
Sometimes the fundamental problem with most video game franchises is that the games can sometimes blend where it's the same game just in a different dress. But the big problem with this is it just gives the franchises an excuse not to evolve. Personally, I felt they made the right choice this sequel not just help take the next step in the Zelda franchise but also for action RPGs in general.
Plotline is simple as usual where Zelda is put in a deep sleep and the key to awakening her and saving the land Hyrule is by finding all the Triforce pieces. Yeah, the plotline isn't really unique from the original but it's really in the execution of this game that makes it unique. I like that you have a bit more of a story from the dialog in the game, or at least what resembles one, it's not a very deep story but at least it helped it was the first step in giving the mythos of the game some depth. Also despite not a deep story because like with a lot of these yesteryear action RPG's we're really here for the action and adventure, as the story by it's nature is really just a motive device.
The graphical presentation is very good, I really like that the graphics in this sequel are a little more enhanced from the first game and they make good use of it. From the title sequence which looks even better than before, from that sword on the stone just like Excalibur from the King Artur legend down to the music which just sings epic adventure.
I really like the gameplay which I think is very solid. I really liked the platform action format they were taking which reminded me of the arcade game "Rastan". Ok, it's not exactly like that that game but close as you have your sword that you use to thrust. I like that you can jump and thrust downward which is cool much like how Scrooge uses his cane like a pogo stick in the "Ducktales 1 and 2" (both reviews for another time). That's a very helpful feature for enemies that get too close and others that you must hit in a certain way.
As usual it's a magically charged, I really love the sound it makes which is just music to my ears. The magic enhances the attack power of your sword. But as usual if you lose a part of your life or even one heart your sword is depowered. It's still useful but not as powerful as before which is why you would want to keep your life bar full or refill it anyway you can.
Character animation is solid and looks a little sharper than before from link who looks older let alone taller which fits. Down to the enemies where there is a solid variety from the usual creepy creatures like snakes, bats, oversized spiders, blob, to monsters like mutant rat soldiers, skeleton warriors, etc. I even like the bosses that are memorable, and each have a uniqueness and it's a solid fight against them though simple once you find the sweet spots, from an anamorphic horse knight armed with a mace, a fully armored evil knight on an armored horse, a really big Viking who has spiked armor with club to boot, etc.
But also, really love the environmental animation in the platform action segments which are detailed well, each of them are always different and well designed. But I really like the overworld map you walk through which I thought was cool, it really gives you the feel of a vast landscape worth exploring, with so many places to venture.
And of course, the game has the RPG elements, from going to villages to get some information, shops to purchase items needed, the level grinding as enemies that appear occasionally as you are walking the overworld and when you tap one of them or they tap you, your thrust into a danger scenario and have no choice but to fight though. Though that can also work to your benefit as it can add experience points to your meters. In the game there are the usual meters you would see health, attack, and magic; throughout the adventure if you rack up enough experience points and even play though each of the temples you go through the meter would be displayed and you must decide which meter you want to take up a notch. This gives the game an element of strategy as which meter your choice could be crucial to your progress on the next area and temple.
And of course there is the music, I really love that this time there are even more tracks than before. Each of them are memorable from the title theme which is an honorable mention in favorite themes in my book as it's a more calmer tone that sings out epic adventure. Down to the ongoing music as you are walking through the lands and even the temples that both sing action adventure.
"Zelda 2" second swing makes the cut.
Rating: 4 stars.
Sometimes the fundamental problem with most video game franchises is that the games can sometimes blend where it's the same game just in a different dress. But the big problem with this is it just gives the franchises an excuse not to evolve. Personally, I felt they made the right choice this sequel not just help take the next step in the Zelda franchise but also for action RPGs in general.
Plotline is simple as usual where Zelda is put in a deep sleep and the key to awakening her and saving the land Hyrule is by finding all the Triforce pieces. Yeah, the plotline isn't really unique from the original but it's really in the execution of this game that makes it unique. I like that you have a bit more of a story from the dialog in the game, or at least what resembles one, it's not a very deep story but at least it helped it was the first step in giving the mythos of the game some depth. Also despite not a deep story because like with a lot of these yesteryear action RPG's we're really here for the action and adventure, as the story by it's nature is really just a motive device.
The graphical presentation is very good, I really like that the graphics in this sequel are a little more enhanced from the first game and they make good use of it. From the title sequence which looks even better than before, from that sword on the stone just like Excalibur from the King Artur legend down to the music which just sings epic adventure.
I really like the gameplay which I think is very solid. I really liked the platform action format they were taking which reminded me of the arcade game "Rastan". Ok, it's not exactly like that that game but close as you have your sword that you use to thrust. I like that you can jump and thrust downward which is cool much like how Scrooge uses his cane like a pogo stick in the "Ducktales 1 and 2" (both reviews for another time). That's a very helpful feature for enemies that get too close and others that you must hit in a certain way.
As usual it's a magically charged, I really love the sound it makes which is just music to my ears. The magic enhances the attack power of your sword. But as usual if you lose a part of your life or even one heart your sword is depowered. It's still useful but not as powerful as before which is why you would want to keep your life bar full or refill it anyway you can.
Character animation is solid and looks a little sharper than before from link who looks older let alone taller which fits. Down to the enemies where there is a solid variety from the usual creepy creatures like snakes, bats, oversized spiders, blob, to monsters like mutant rat soldiers, skeleton warriors, etc. I even like the bosses that are memorable, and each have a uniqueness and it's a solid fight against them though simple once you find the sweet spots, from an anamorphic horse knight armed with a mace, a fully armored evil knight on an armored horse, a really big Viking who has spiked armor with club to boot, etc.
But also, really love the environmental animation in the platform action segments which are detailed well, each of them are always different and well designed. But I really like the overworld map you walk through which I thought was cool, it really gives you the feel of a vast landscape worth exploring, with so many places to venture.
And of course, the game has the RPG elements, from going to villages to get some information, shops to purchase items needed, the level grinding as enemies that appear occasionally as you are walking the overworld and when you tap one of them or they tap you, your thrust into a danger scenario and have no choice but to fight though. Though that can also work to your benefit as it can add experience points to your meters. In the game there are the usual meters you would see health, attack, and magic; throughout the adventure if you rack up enough experience points and even play though each of the temples you go through the meter would be displayed and you must decide which meter you want to take up a notch. This gives the game an element of strategy as which meter your choice could be crucial to your progress on the next area and temple.
And of course there is the music, I really love that this time there are even more tracks than before. Each of them are memorable from the title theme which is an honorable mention in favorite themes in my book as it's a more calmer tone that sings out epic adventure. Down to the ongoing music as you are walking through the lands and even the temples that both sing action adventure.
"Zelda 2" second swing makes the cut.
Rating: 4 stars.
disappointment
Zyz246 July 1999
After having Zelda I played, I liked it a lot, because of the secrets, the gameplay and the view from above. So I expected much of the sequel, what turned out to be a disappointment. It didn't really have the zeldasurroundings. The gameplay was different and the view was changing from above to a sideview and it was more about the action than the secrets and other stuff. If you've played Zelda I on Nintendo then I would commend you to buy a Super Nintendo and play Zelda: A link of the past or buy a Nintendo 64 to play zelda: the ocarina of time, because these games are much like zelda I (of course they are much better), but don't take zelda II.
Great game
Billenium0051 July 2002
This game is fun to play, not much on graphics or sound, but what can you expect from the late 80's. Looking at what the Zelda world has turned into today, I strongly recommend you check this game out. I truly believe it's better than Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. Even better than the game boy versions of Zelda. This game sticks to the story line and continues the adventure from the original game. Worth the time to play it.
An Honest Review
generationofswine28 December 2019
I wasn't a fan, and I wasn't a fan because of The Legend of Zelda.
I was expecting something like that again. I was expecting another world that I could spend endless hours exploring, burning as many trees as possible, bombing as many walls as possible, all in an effort to find what little secrets might be hidden beneath them.
Zelda 2 didn't have any of that. The views changed and it became more about the action and less about the endless hours of exploration in a fantasy world you were free to explore at your own peril.
I wanted more of that, and instead I got a game that felt like any other action-adventure game.
I was expecting something like that again. I was expecting another world that I could spend endless hours exploring, burning as many trees as possible, bombing as many walls as possible, all in an effort to find what little secrets might be hidden beneath them.
Zelda 2 didn't have any of that. The views changed and it became more about the action and less about the endless hours of exploration in a fantasy world you were free to explore at your own peril.
I wanted more of that, and instead I got a game that felt like any other action-adventure game.
The Adventure of Link
lucianomarzo9219 June 2013
The Adventure of Link is a least favorite game among a lot of Zelda fans. I couldn't believe how bad and how difficult at was at first. The overworld is absurd, as you cannot use your sword, and there are no conventional enemies. Every ten seconds three enemies appear and it's like pac-man in that you have to run and try to avoid them. If they run into you, you are forced into this new screen of enemies. You can either fight them at this point or leave the screen and return to the overworld.
This game is very annoying at first, but you sort of get used to it. I tried to make progress in this game countless times and gave up on it within minutes. It doesn't even seem like a Zelda game. It is playable though once you figure out how it works. It helps to consult a walkthrough or a Youtube video to get help, as there are a lot of cryptic places where you get stuck and there's no way to know that there's a wall you can walk through or a certain grave that you can fall into unless you consult a walkthrough.
The dungeons are side-scrolling, so they're basically the opposite of the first Zelda game. A really annoying thing is that every time you die you have to start at the very beginning of the game. So you have to complete a palace in its entirety, or else you have to start from the beginning. You still do keep items and stuff like that, and going through the dungeon the second or third time is much easier, but it gets really tiresome. It's easily the worst thing about the game.
There are points in this game that seem virtually impossible. I felt like some of them require 50+ attempts before you beat them, and that's a lot for a game like this. The worst is the very last dungeon. It is incredibly hard. The last boss took me so many times to beat. There's also a boss right after that one. Fortunately, there's a technique to beat this boss that makes it about the easiest boss in the game, but if you don't know it you won't ever beat the game.
Overall, I would only recommend this game to Zelda completists who want to beat every game. The Adventure of Link does some things right, but it's far from a success. The palaces are kind of different and almost fun at times, but the difficulty is ridiculous. The graphics are also very dated.
This game is very annoying at first, but you sort of get used to it. I tried to make progress in this game countless times and gave up on it within minutes. It doesn't even seem like a Zelda game. It is playable though once you figure out how it works. It helps to consult a walkthrough or a Youtube video to get help, as there are a lot of cryptic places where you get stuck and there's no way to know that there's a wall you can walk through or a certain grave that you can fall into unless you consult a walkthrough.
The dungeons are side-scrolling, so they're basically the opposite of the first Zelda game. A really annoying thing is that every time you die you have to start at the very beginning of the game. So you have to complete a palace in its entirety, or else you have to start from the beginning. You still do keep items and stuff like that, and going through the dungeon the second or third time is much easier, but it gets really tiresome. It's easily the worst thing about the game.
There are points in this game that seem virtually impossible. I felt like some of them require 50+ attempts before you beat them, and that's a lot for a game like this. The worst is the very last dungeon. It is incredibly hard. The last boss took me so many times to beat. There's also a boss right after that one. Fortunately, there's a technique to beat this boss that makes it about the easiest boss in the game, but if you don't know it you won't ever beat the game.
Overall, I would only recommend this game to Zelda completists who want to beat every game. The Adventure of Link does some things right, but it's far from a success. The palaces are kind of different and almost fun at times, but the difficulty is ridiculous. The graphics are also very dated.
See also
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