Adventure of Link...the second Zelda game of the franchise. A direct sequel to the well known Legend of Zelda made in 1986. Back then, the game was the next big thing other than Super Mario Brothers. Now, the game has become very arcadic. Arcadic, is that even a word? But what did they do to Adventure of Link? Completely changed the formula. There's no bushes to burn, walls to bomb, items to buy, interesting weapons, none of that. Since Link has gotten older, he simply...grew out of his weapons and tools. It's stupid, I know...but I dunno, you think of something. Ladies and gents, we are now in a 2-D side-scrolling adventure. Well...that was..sudden. But apparently Miyamoto or someone else in the development didn't like the idea of a non-linear adventure like The Legend of Zelda. Well, has this game aged well?  I guess we'll find out in Adventure of Link, a sequel to The Legend of Zelda. Well I've got a story to summarize...

After Ganon's defeat in the last game, years have passed and Zelda is now basically in a coma because of a sleeping spell that was cast on her. Link is informed by Impa, Zelda's servant, that Link is the only destined one to save Hyrule again and awaken Princess Zelda. Now that Ganon is defeated, Link has to go through seven temples/palaces, obtain the treasures, and put the magic stones dropped by the bosses in these weird-looking altars. Now, Ganon's minions are after Link. Not for pity revenge, no, they want Link's BLOOD to resurrect Ganon from his ashes. Huh. Blood references in a Nintendo game...guessing that didn't last on shelves for long. But that's oddly dark for a Nintendo game. Well, after playing Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker, and the Paper Mario games, I'm kinda used to it (Not that there's blood in those games, it's just the plot and characters that are the problem). But this story is obviously more sophisticated than the last game if this is mentioned. It makes sense that when you get a game over (Aaand, Link has lives now), Ganon appears on the screen and makes this odd laugh. I guess it takes Link three deaths for him to bleed? I never understood that, but Nintendo logic I guess.

The depth of this game isn't much. So don't be shocked to find out that A Link To The Past has more content than this game and the last one combined. I'm rating depth a 5/10. It doesn't offer much, but now RPG elements are in this game, so dodging enemies the entire game isn't recommended. Sorry Zelda 1 fans! By killing enemies, you can earn experience points. If you get a certain number of experience, you will level up, and you can choose a source to level up. Jump height, magic meter, life meter, attack, and defense. Oh yeah, Link now sports a magic meter in this game which is used later on in games like Ocarina of Time or A Link To The Past. When you use magic spells, your magic decreases. You may want to be careful of what you level up. This game is filled to the BRIM with annoying enemies, so that would make attack and defense useful. Jump upgrading can be used to get secrets in certain areas. Or you could just use the fairy spell, which is not really recommended. Yeap, there's a fairy spell. You turn into a fairy and you can fly. It only wears off when you get off the original screen, so don't abuse it. Now that we are in a 2-D game, Link can only use his shield to block projectiles, which he can't upgrade in this game by the way, a sword, which he can't upgrade either and he still stabs enemies instead of swinging the sword, and Link can duck and jump. Jumping is abused a lot to dodge enemies, but like I said, you don't want to do that even though you're facing IRON KNUCKLES. They toss swords at you, and they have a TON of health. By the way, this game is aggressively hard. More on that later. Now, there is an over-world to this game, which is just like the over-world from the last game. There is now villages, and in the over-world, you're taller than them, so...what the heck? You can enter them to meet NPC's. I'm glad Hyrule is now more active, but the only people helpful are wise men or women who heal you. But honestly, "Hello," "If all else fails, use fire," and "I AM ERROR" isn't what I'd call a real conversation. Some do give you good hints, but not much really. Hyrule still is a maze, so this is still a guide game just like the last game, but this is more severe. Hyrule is a MAZE in this game. Speaking of which, based on what material you're standing on, if you get ambushed by an enemy on the over-world on, let's say...grass, you will be warped to a level of enemies and tall grass and..fireballs. Wouldn't the grass burn? Eh, screw it. But the over-world isn't very graphical. Yes, that BLANK black box on a giant brown square is Death Mountain. You can get a lot of spells or items in villages, but a lot of them are down-right useless like the Thunder spell or the "Spell" spell. Take my advice, use a guide. I mean, how am I supposed to know you need to cast Spell next to a giant green wall in this one village just to make this one house appear right out of the ground? Exactly. Link has nothing special, but at least he still rocks his short Kokiri skirt. This isn't what I'd call a walk-in-the-park. In fact, it's the opposite. So many enemies, Hyrule is a maze, and this game doesn't offer much in depth, really. Besides all the hearts and potions you can collect. Does Link hold up EVERYTHING he gets? Hey Link, do you know where my wallet is? *DA NA NA NAAAAAA* Okay, you can put that down now...now this may be an unfair rating, but overall, this is 5/10...

Difficulty of this game is a definite 8/10. I mean, like I said, Hyrule is a maze, especially Death Mountain, the Great Palace is like Ganon's Castle in Zelda 1, but a TINY bit easier, Link has to get to the final level, The Great Palace with a tiny sword and shield and useless magic spells, when you get a game over, you're warped back to Hyrule Palace with your experience points GONE, and progress gone. If you're about to reach the Great Palace, but DIE, you're getting your butt back to Hyrule Palace, my friend. At least there's no Wizzrobe's in this game. But Nintendo has to make this one of the hardest video games you could ever play. Not harder than Hard Corps for the SEGA Genesis, but hard. Link is easy to control, but this game contains enemies that hit hard, take many hits to kill, horrible hints from townspeople, useless spells, REALLY hard final boss, if I add another reason, you know you're gonna make it harder for yourself. This game is no cakewalk, and it's a miracle if you die less than 55 times playing this game. I would reward you for that feat. Enough said, let's move on.

Overall, this game is a 6/10. This game isn't great, but at least there is SOME entertainment to this game. The early part of the game is pretty fun, but then this game pulls no punches, and that's a fact. This game has NOT aged well. Heck, Contra is easier than this. Should I recommend this for any casual video game players? Heck no! I recommend this to people who are actually interested enough for a game like this. I am one of those people. This game took forever for me to beat! And I'm not very good at Legend of Zelda games, but honestly, that doesn't mean this game is easy. This is not my opinion. And take my advice, use a guide. And what I mean is like the longplay by cubex55 on YouTube or a map on Game Fact or something. But overall, I will rate this game a 6/10. And no, I am not done with this review. I have three more categories to go!

This game does have good graphics. I am rating this an 8/10. Not everything in this game is graphically distinguished, but the sprites for the enemies or monuments are pretty good. Hyrule itself isn't that good, and some of the backgrounds aren't very good, but the bosses have good sprites and so does the townspeople for early Nintendo Entertainment System game content, I can surely say that. Things surely are a lot more identifiable in this game, but this was beaten in the next game...hint hint, the game which is a prequel of A Link Between Worlds, which just came out for the Nintendo 3DS.  But there really isn't much to say about the graphics than just this. This is a VERY colorful game by the way. The colors are very washed out like Game Boy Advance games...

Soundtrack and sound effects I would say are a 9/10. The sound effects and soundtracks of the Zelda games have been great. I don't really like Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword, but these two games for the Nintendo Wii have great soundtracks and sound effects. In this game, the soundtrack well makes the scene. The Hyrule theme has been changed, and there's no pieces from Zelda 1 in this game, which is rather a disappointment. But like I said, this game has a great soundtrack. I like the theme that plays during the Dark Link fight. Which I forgot to mention is the final boss. After beating Thunderbird in the Great Palace, an old man gives you one last challenge...defeating Dark Link. The theme is great for the boss battle is GREAT. Some sound effects are remixes from the last game, like striking an enemy and the sound effect for killing it. This my friends has amazing sound to it.

Now despite this game's difficulty, this game is addicting. I am rating this category a 7/10. The 2-D gimmick makes this game addicting, combat is really fun, and some of the townspeople speeches are pretty funny. This is one of the only Zelda games that made me smile. Come on, even my mature friends from back when I played this as a child cracked up when you talk to a healer in villages, and you walk inside a house with the girl, the door closes, and then you come out five seconds later fully healed. It's immature, but can be pretty funny because of the character sprites. This game is very addicting. Pretty much all the early Zelda games are addicting. Well except Oracle of Seasons and Minish Cap...

Overall, this game is okay. It hasn't aged well. It is very arcadic like the last game. Zelda 1 is obviously a lot more entertaining, but this game is still..something, right....? Overall, I am rating this game a 6/10...

Really awesome review great wording and grammar. Awesome everything. This was one of my favorites. Keep writing reviews

Great review I enjoyed reading it. Hope you do more.

Great review I am a big fan of the Zelda games hope you do same more reviews good job.

me and my friend are still trying to beat this game, he may have already beat it, but I don't know.

Oh guys, don't uncover my old reviews. It's embarrassing 

Mega Mewtwo X : I once tried to beat this game with a power glove. It didn't end well. xD

I tried to EXIST with a power glove, didn't end well either. looool