Cool game.
For one thing, I'm impressed that the soundtrack regularly sounds good even through the Game Boy's sound; there are plenty of talented composers who couldn't make that happen. For a game with music playing a major part in its plot and setting, it's good that it never sounds too ear-splitting in execution (it may get close occasionally, but oh well).
For the most part, it's a cute little treat that only has a few minor hiccups that crop up now and again. It feels like a bite-sized Zelda in every aspect, which strikes a chord because of how focused and captivating its exploration options are in spite of, or maybe partly because, of its limitations. A lot of creativity and surreal aspects are included to appropriately distinguish itself from past and future titles. I initially wasn't convinced that 2D Zelda as a format would have the same pull that I've experienced with the more impressive 3D titles, but I'm now more receptive to this kind of game's strengths and how the differences in map structure makes traversal in 2D more streamlined.
There were distinct moments where a boss or two would be mechanically frustrating to contend with, but those encounters only really stick out because it is just those few that brought the pace of the game to a halt for questionable design reasons.
Having also played the 2019 release recently, this game's overworld, dungeon and story design still definitely manage to endure the test of time at giving exactly enough depth to be satisfying to play and left me with some extremely memorable ideas for a Zelda title.
For one thing, I'm impressed that the soundtrack regularly sounds good even through the Game Boy's sound; there are plenty of talented composers who couldn't make that happen. For a game with music playing a major part in its plot and setting, it's good that it never sounds too ear-splitting in execution (it may get close occasionally, but oh well).
For the most part, it's a cute little treat that only has a few minor hiccups that crop up now and again. It feels like a bite-sized Zelda in every aspect, which strikes a chord because of how focused and captivating its exploration options are in spite of, or maybe partly because, of its limitations. A lot of creativity and surreal aspects are included to appropriately distinguish itself from past and future titles. I initially wasn't convinced that 2D Zelda as a format would have the same pull that I've experienced with the more impressive 3D titles, but I'm now more receptive to this kind of game's strengths and how the differences in map structure makes traversal in 2D more streamlined.
There were distinct moments where a boss or two would be mechanically frustrating to contend with, but those encounters only really stick out because it is just those few that brought the pace of the game to a halt for questionable design reasons.
Having also played the 2019 release recently, this game's overworld, dungeon and story design still definitely manage to endure the test of time at giving exactly enough depth to be satisfying to play and left me with some extremely memorable ideas for a Zelda title.