Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
The radical sequel to The Legend of Zelda transforms the formula with side-scrolling combat, RPG-style leveling, and magic spells. Link ventures through Hyrule to awaken Princess Zelda from an eternal sleep while preventing Ganon's resurrection.
Platform
nes
Year
1987
Genre
Action RPG
Developer
Nintendo R&D4
Controls
About This Game
Introduced key Zelda staples including Dark Link (the final boss), towns with NPC interactions, and the iconic 'Death Mountain' location.
Unique among Zelda games for its hybrid gameplay - overhead world map navigation transitions into side-view platforming combat with a sophisticated swordplay system.
Despite initial mixed reception, its innovations influenced later action-RPGs and it's now regarded as a cult classic with one of the most challenging difficulty curves in the series.
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