The Legend of The Legend of Zelda Games on NES
The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II are two classic NES games with very different ideas about what a Zelda game is.
The Legend of Zelda for NES and the Legend of Zelda II: Link's Adventure are two classic video games that have been enjoyed by millions of players around the world. While both games are part of the same series and share many similarities, there are also some key differences that make both games standalone for better or worse.
| The Legend of Zelda | Zelda II: The Adventure of Link | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Essential | Play it |
| View | Top-down, an open world to explore | Side-scrolling levels, more linear |
| Focus | Exploration, hidden items and secrets | Combat and challenges |
| Getting stronger | Find weapons and items | Items plus experience points and levels |
| Story | Simple, little dialogue | More dialogue and characters |
Exploring versus fighting
One of the most notable differences between the two games is the overall gameplay experience. The Legend of Zelda for NES is a top-down adventure game that tasks players with exploring a vast, open world in search of hidden items and secrets. The game is focused on exploration, with players using a variety of weapons and items to defeat enemies and solve puzzles.
In contrast, Link's Adventure is a more linear, action-oriented game. The game features side-scrolling levels, and players must fight their way through enemies and obstacles to progress through the game. While the first game is focused on exploration, the second game is more focused on combat and challenges.
How Link gets stronger
Another key difference between the two games is the way in which players upgrade their characters. In The Legend of Zelda for NES, players can find new weapons and items that grant them new abilities, such as the ability to shoot arrows or throw bombs. These items can be found hidden throughout the game world, and players must explore and search for them in order to upgrade their character.
In Link's Adventure, players can also find new weapons and items, but they can also upgrade their character by earning experience points and level up. This means that players must defeat enemies and complete challenges in order to become stronger and better equipped to face the challenges ahead.
The implementation of an experience system in The Legend of Zelda II is a significant departure from the gameplay mechanics of the first game. In the first game, players could upgrade Link by finding new weapons and items hidden throughout the game world. In Zelda II, players earn experience points by defeating enemies and completing challenges, and can then use these points to level up and become stronger. This change to the gameplay mechanics is likely to have been made in order to add a new layer of depth and strategy to the game. By allowing players to earn experience points and level up, the game becomes more RPG-like, and players must think carefully about how they approach each challenge in order to maximize their character's potential. This can add a sense of progression and accomplishment to the game, as players can see their character becoming stronger and better equipped to face the challenges ahead.
It can also add a “grind” to the gameplay that is not present in the first game because you are required to fight enemies for the experience needed to become stronger. In the first game, you cannot become more powerful or choose your powers, instead it is more reliant on player skill to use the items you acquire successfully.
Story and dialogue
The Legend of Zelda has a relatively simple story, with players taking on the role of Link and embarking on a quest to save Princess Zelda from the evil Ganon. The game features little in the way of dialogue or character development, with players largely left to their own devices to figure out the story as they play. Link's Adventure features a more complex and fleshed-out story. The game includes dialogue and character interactions, and players must pay attention to the story in order to understand what is happening and why.
Link himself
For our hero, Link, there are not many notable differences between the two games. In both games, Link is a young hero who is tasked with saving the kingdom of Hyrule from the evil Ganon. Links’s Adventure is the sequel story to the first game and Link is shown to have aged slightly and is now a teenager. This is indicated by his slightly taller stature and more mature appearance. However, this change is not significant and does not impact the gameplay or story in any significant way. In both games, Link is courageous and resourceful, and is able to use a variety of weapons and items to defeat enemies and overcome challenges.
So which is better?
It is difficult to say definitively whether The Legend of Zelda is better than The Legend of Zelda II: Link's Adventure, as both games are highly regarded and have their own unique strengths. However, most players prefer The Legend of Zelda for a few reasons.
One reason why it may be considered better is because of its focus on exploration and discovery. The game features a vast, open world that players can explore at their own pace, and the game is filled with hidden items and secrets that players can uncover. This allows players to feel a sense of adventure and discovery as they play, which can be a very satisfying experience.
Another reason why The Legend of Zelda may be considered better is because of its more open-ended gameplay. The game is not as linear as The Legend of Zelda II: Link's Adventure, and players are free to tackle challenges and explore the game world in any order they choose. This allows for a more personalized gameplay experience, and players can approach the game in a way that suits their own play-style.
Additionally, some people may prefer The Legend of Zelda because of its simple, straightforward story. The game does not feature a lot of dialogue or character development, and players are largely left to their own devices to figure out the story as they play. This can be appealing to players who enjoy games with a more minimalist approach to storytelling.
While both The Legend of Zelda and The Legend of Zelda II: Link's Adventure are great games, some people may prefer the first game for its focus on exploration, open-ended gameplay, and simple story. Ultimately, the choice of which game is better is a matter of personal preference.