Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES Classics GBA)

You know, it's funny how some people think they can give a review on a game they have probably downloaded for their fine NESTICLE emulator, played it for approx. 5 minutes, decided it being crap and thrown it aside. And now they're spitting all over it on Amazon.

It's just like reading through first few pages of a thick book, then closing it and deciding it's no good. Some books need a few pages to unfold an otherwise interesting story; which afterward results in that you just can't seem to be able to put them down. Adventure of Link is just like that. And I would not have put myself to writing this, would I not think those fools are doing a great injustice to the game.

Considering I'm of ones who had actually beaten the game, here's a proper and objective review.

First, I have played through all the old school Zeldas and I find this particular side-looking graphical approach rather refreshing. Graphics are also quite fine, considering Nintendo Entertainment System's capabilities.

Action sequences appear a bit too tough at the very beggining, but that seems to change after a few hours of gameplay (Note that this Zelda has a RPG-style experience system, which means the more foes Link disposes of, the stronger character he becomes. You choose the sort of advancement between health, attack and magic up to level eight, which is just fine as Link would get too powerful otherwise.). With well built up Link you actually begin to enjoy these sequences.
Also enemies are of many sorts, each requesting an unique approach to defeat. Wonderful (Except those tedious ghosts on the cemetery, which are worse than mosquitoes- drinking both your experience and health.).

Dungeons are perhaps too much alike each other, but the approach to them is basically the same as in other upside-down looking Zeldas. You still need to find keys in order to advance and fight bosses at the end. Now, these are a weak side of Zelda II, as they are somewhat poorly designed and not really much of a challenge. Nintendo should have tried harder here and design somewhat more innovative bosses. But still, each of them has it's own strengths and weak points, and requires an unique approach to be defeated. Thunderbird in the very last palace is even too difficult to beat in open battle, but luckily the sequence has a glitch which lets you defeat it:)
Also, graphical approach doesn't leave much room for some good puzzles- but hey, the first NES Zelda doesn't have any either.

Storyline is rather thin, truly- but again thicker than one in first NES Zelda and I think all the information in cartridge pretty much brings out maximum of NES abilities. Concerning that, I just hate some poor solutions to problems (Like when a wench in one city tells you she had lost her mirror. All you have to do is go one screen left, into one of the houses there, crouch under the table and press B. I needed to search for a clue in one of the walkthroughs and find such things real annoyance.). There aren't many silly approaches like that, though(one, two at the most).

Game is quite a long one, for a NES game. With items you get later in game you unlock shortcuts for traveling on map so you can reach previously distant places in no time at all. Only at the very end; when nothing but the last palace remains; the way to reach it is too perilous and long lasting, as you will probably have to start it all over again a few times to beat the game (The saving system writes down all but your current position, so when loading saved file you will have to start from the very beginning- from the scene with sleeping princess.).

What more to say? If you are a Zelda fan and you decide to buy this game, just give it an hour or two at the beginning. Also, consider all the time that passed from it's original release on NES. Afterwards I'm sure you'll like it.
Don't want to ruin the adventure for you, but amongst other qualities this one has a nice and rewarding ending as well, with Link and Zelda getting pretty intimate at the end. Too bad the curtain lowers so soon:)

Finally; as a conclusion; here's my rating of the game. I'm giving it 86% and would have given it over ninety, would it not have been for those few gaps in the perfection. Because; considering its age and the system Zelda II - The Adventure of Link came originally out for; this game is, in comparison to the other NES games, brilliant.

This Zelda is very different to the other Zelda games in the series, so just because you enjoyed the 1st NES one, the SNES one etc. you may not enjoy this. First of all, alot of the game is a like a side scrolling platform game, you will go into a view like this when you are in a dungeon or a town, as well as when you touch an enemy on the world map. The game is also much more like a traditional RPG in the sense that you can level up your health and magic by earning points- the points are won by defeating enemies but there is no turn based battling like most RPG's.
I think the game is good, but you have to get into it to actually enjoy it. It's less accessible than the 1st NES one, and alot less than the SNES and more recent games in the series. You will die alot more often, and this can be very frustrating, but if you stick at it, it does get more fun and rewarding.
Also, the clues that you get to direct you in the game are alot harder than in recent Zelda's, there isn't much text to direct you to your next destination. I haven't got far in this game to be honest, it's good, but maybe I like it more out of curiosity for the series than the game itself.
I'd reccommend this game to Zelda fans, but if you're just looking for a good RPG for the GBA then Golden Sun etc. may be a bit more entertaining.

Zelda II: Adventure of Link is an amazing game, no doubt about it, but it is extremely hard when compared to other games in the series.

Pros:
-Mostly sidescrolling, not all based around the overworld
-Levelling system, you can level up life, magic and attack
-Good music, the temple themes have been re-used in games like SSBM
-Jump button, believe it or not I think this was the first Zelda game with a jump button

Cons:
-VERY challenging, even the best Zelda veteran can be challenged
-Repetitive temples, most temples are the same layout, with the exception of the last one
-Length of temples, every temple (as was the case in Zelda I) has an important item to get, and when you beat a temple it turns to stone, so you have to make sure to get the item before you leave
-Bad enemy placement, some enemies are placed just over/under the reach of your sword, making it difficult to hit them.

Overall I'd give this game a 9.5/10, it has good music, good graphics (for the NES) and good gameplay, only drawback is the difficulty.

Buy it, but beware!