sonicbacon123
2018
Fun & short puzzle platformer. Movement feels good especially the swinging. Wouldn't be much fun w/o a partner. Love the ability to piggyback on the other player. A very nice feature when their is a gap in skill level or strengths of each player differs.
Some of the stronger character work in a Zelda game. The trio of Link, Ciela, and Linebeck had me smiling in most cutscenes. Rest of the game is otherwise fine. Something satisfying about being able to play the game entirely with the stylus. It uses every feature of the DS you could think of. The ability to write on the map for puzzle solving is nice. Rolling and detection of drawing symbols are my only real issues control wise. Sadly dungeons, exploring and music are mostly bland affairs.
Sprite work is absolutely gorgeous. Rest of the game fails to impress on most fronts for me. Not against hearing classic themes but 3 times now they rely on so much old and it has even less great new tracks than the Oracle games. The dungeons are a major downgrade in challenge and half feel closer to the more common linear 3D dungeons. Worst of all it's padded like crazy. Standard abilities and overworld rewards are gated by kinstones. Dashing with your sword out has to be unlocked now???
Played it as my linked game and it wasn't long before I realized it was my favorite of the two. From the seasons mechanic, to the items (magnetic glove, magic boomerang, roc's cape are all much preferred to the power glove and switch hook), to the dungeon themselves, to certain pieces of music such as Tarm Ruins and Temple Ruins, and the subterranean land of Subrosia. While not as powerful or as complete an experience as Link's Awakening, it is top tier Zelda in the gameplay department.
Not as big on the time travel mechanic as I am the seasons mechanic because it was done before and, time wise, using the harp is more tedious than the rod in OoS. There are some great dungeons but the bizarre control change for swimming after getting the mermaid suit is my biggest reason for preferring the other version. Swimming becomes obnoxious. The reuse of music and graphics is why I ultimately end up preferring Link's Awakening to either Oracle game. Nonetheless, Ages is still an enjoyable game.
No doubt the constraints during its development lead to its best parts. Love how removed it is from the typical setting and story, the somber mood, the main and side stories, a lot of emotion conveyed with little dialogue. Yet I didn't enjoy playing it as much as its older brother. The most interesting side content is in the minority compared to just how many items there are to get. I'd have liked more dungeons and could've done without stray fairies.
A noticeable improvement. Found most of the bosses to be very creative compared to the first game. Chapters and dungeons are much improved. Until Freezman tries to make up for how inoffensive the rest of the game is. An absolute padded slog fest that reminds you this game was made in 8 months. Style change is an awesome addition but the amount of battles needed before you can switch is absurd. Post-game has more meat but continues to waste your time when you really just want to fight cool bosses.
Considering its reputation, my previous indifference for the series, and just how much I already knew about the game you'd think it'd be impossible for it to live up to any sort of expectations I had. The challenge of delivering the experience that enamored so many; delivering that to me seemed an insurmountable task for this game. Against all odds though, I now get it. It all clicked into place. Nonstop fun. Such a pure and fulfilling experience. Happy to say I love this game.
A powerful experience.
The solution to the chain chomp puzzle room in Turtle Rock being to push a random block is both frustrating and disappointing considering how many things I tried. Otherwise, fun game.
Love that Temple theme, do not love playing this. Often mentioned alongside old games is how obtuse it can be to figure out how to progress but Zelda II is genuinely absurd in that regard. It is also absurdly difficult. A game I actually don't feel bad calling unfair. I would not have beat it without save states.
1986
More fun than I was expecting.
2010
I tried but I can't stand it. I reject everything about this game.
Bop it! Twist it! Pull it!
peak fiction