Daily Debate: Is Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Really That Bad?
Posted on May 02 2024 by Nick Miller
Every family seems to have that one problem child, the black sheep, if you will. Video games are no exception to this rule. Banjo Kazooie has Nuts & Bolts, Batman: Arkham has Blackgate, and Metroid has Other M. The Legend of Zelda even has its fair share of black sheep. Many would consider Four Swords Adventures a black sheep for its emphasis on multiplayer and episodic gameplay while others may point to the CD-I games for, well, too many reasons to count. However, if you ask fans what the black sheep of the mainline Zelda lineup is, most will likely point you towards one game, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.
Now, being called a “black sheep” isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Sometimes it can be, but more often than not the term just refers to a game that breaks from the series’ standard style, gameplay, or tone. This is no truer than with The Adventure of Link, especially when viewed in retrospect. Zelda fans have come to expect a certain gameplay structure and reoccurring themes that act as the glue which hold the series together. The Adventure of Link breaks from almost all of these trends, featuring an overworld reminiscent of something from classic Final Fantasy or Dragon Quest, as well as side-scrolling gameplay not unlike what you’d see in games like Castlevania II, Faxanadu, or Rygar. Nevertheless, many fans consider those changes unfavorable and rank The Adventure of Link among the worst games in the series. I have to ask though, is Zelda II: The Adventure of Link really that bad?
As someone who loves The Adventure of Link, I’m not blind as to why many fans don’t like it. Even though the gameplay isn’t bad, it’s still massively different from traditional Zelda; so to many, it may not feel like a proper Zelda game at all. That being said, this shift in tone and gameplay wasn’t all that uncommon for early video game franchises. Super Mario Bros. 2 (at least the one we got stateside) didn’t even start as a Mario game. It doesn’t follow any contemporary model for video game sequels, and that’s okay. It still had familiar characters, and it was still fun; just like The Adventure of Link. Sure, it looks different. It even plays different too. So what? If Mario can get a pass for having a unique sophomore outing, so can Zelda.
Another problem The Adventure of Link faces is its difficulty. The original Zelda was hard enough as it is but the sequel takes difficulty to the next level. With an unforgiving life system and demands for precision combat, The Adventure of Link is no joke. First time players will die, and they will die a lot. That’s a serious barrier to entry for some people — and that’s perfectly reasonable. Games with steep learning curves like Sekiro, Dark Souls, and even classic titles like Ninja Gaiden are not for everyone. Some gamers don’t want a white-knuckle challenge, so a game like The Adventure of Link will never be their cup of tea. However, difficulty does not a bad game make. As long as the challenge is consistent and fair towards the player, then there is nothing inherently wrong with intense difficulty. While The Adventure of Link does have some early Nintendo unfairness, it is generally a reasonable challenge, with obstacles that players can learn and anticipate.
Well, I could go on, but I really want to hear your thoughts. Is Zelda II: The Adventure of Link really that bad? How would you rank it among other Zelda games? Are there any tweaks that could be made to improve your experience with the game? Let us know in the comments below.
Nick is a writer for Zelda Dungeon and a longtime fan of the Zelda franchise. In his free time, he enjoys fishing, archery, skateboarding, and some good ol’ fashioned family time. He’s an advocate for physical media and an avid video game collector. His favorite Zelda game is Ocarina of Time, though Breath of the Wild and the Link’s Awakening remake are close contenders.
