Let's Play 23: "Zelda II: Adventure of Link" Pt.1 Quiz

Answer: False

"Zelda II: The Adventure of Link" is the only game to feature side-scrolling to a major extent; however, it is not the only "Zelda" game to feature side scrolling. The original "Zelda" title features a single screen of side-scrolling present when you get items, although this is very limited and hardly qualifies. All three Game Boy titles feature various small sequences in the dungeons that are side-scrolling.

Answer: True

What many players do not realize about the "Zelda" games is Japan had both "The Legend of Zelda" and "The Legend of Zelda 2: Rinku No Bouken" before the original game was ever released internationally. "The Legend of Zelda" was a launch title from the Famicom Disk System, released on February 21, 1986. In January 1987 Nintendo released the sequel: "The Legend of Zelda 2: Rinku No Bouken". This earlier version of "Zelda II" had several minor cosmetic differences with graphics and sound and one major difference: how the leveling up worked.

Several months later, Nintendo released "The Legend of Zelda" internationally in August 1987, over half a year AFTER the second game was released in Japan.

Answer: Best Character

"Zelda II" picked up two awards on the first annual Nintendo Power Awards, originally named the Nestor Awards. The game won best overall title of 1988 and also won in the "Best Character" category. The winners were determined by voters.

Here are the categories and winners:

Best Graphics and Sound: "Castlevania II: Simon's Curse"
Best Challenge: "The Legend of Zelda"
Best Theme.Fun: "Super Mario Bros. 2"
Best Play Control: "Super Mario Bros. 2"
Best Character: "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link"
Best Ending: "Super Mario Bros. 2"
Best Player Vs Player: "Blades of Steel"
Best Overall: "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link"

Interestingly enough, in 2009 "Nintendo Power" published their list of "Zelda" games from best to worst, and "Zelda II" was the worst "Zelda" game. Here is their list.

13. "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link" - NES
12. "The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures" - Gamecube
11. "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask" - Nintendo 64
10/9. "The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons" - Game Boy Color
8. "The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap" - Game Boy Advance
7. "The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass" - Nintendo DS
6. "The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker" - Gamecube
5. "The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX" - Game Boy/Game Boy Color
4. "The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess" - Wii/Gamecube
3. "The Legend of Zelda" - NES
2. "The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past" - Super NES
1. "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time" - Nintendo 64

Answer: Delayed due to a shortage of computer chips

Nintendo released "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link" in early 1987, nearly two years before it was released in America and six months even before "The Legend of Zelda" was released.

Nintendo ran into a shortage of computer chips, delaying the North American release date of "Zelda II" according to early issues of "Nintendo Power" and also appears in the June/July issue of Nintendo Fun Club on page 11. The Nintendo Fun Club was the predecessor to "Nintendo Power". This is the quote:

"Where's Link? All the fun of "The Legend of Zelda" continues in "Zelda II - The Adventure of Link", right? Right! But When? As soon as we can get more computer chips! There has been a shortage. But we have used the waiting time well by making "Zelda II - The Adventure of Link" and even more exacting, more challenging game - coming this fall!"

Answer: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

Nintendo used the town names in "Zelda II" as names for the Sages in "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time". According to internal game chronology, "Zelda II" takes place after "Ocarina of Time", and the towns are named after the sages.

Answer: Overworld Theme

"Zelda II: The Adventure of Link" is the only game famed composer Koji Kondo, who has provided music for all Zelda games produced between 1986 and 2009, did not score. The Overworld Theme to "Zelda II" is based off the original "Legend of Zelda" Overworld theme.

Akito Nakatsuka also composed the music for "Ice Climbers".

Answer: Six

Nintendo first released "Zelda II" in January 1987 for the Famicom Disk System. They released the title in December 1988 internationally as a gold cartridge. In 1992, they released the game a second time on the NES as part of the "Classic Series", this time on a grey cartridge rather than a golden cartridge.

In 2003, The game was next included on the the Gamecube promotional disk that featured "The Legend of Zelda", "Zelda II: The Adventure of Link", "The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time", and "The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask".

In 2004, Nintendo released the game on the Gameboy Advance as part of the Nintendo Classic series as well. The sixth and final time was on the Wii's Virtual Console.

Answer: Triforce of Courage

In "The Legend of Zelda", Zelda broke the Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces and hid them in eight dungeons to protect them from Ganon. In "Zelda II", you place six crystals in six palaces, all the while seeking the Triforce of Courage so you can wake the sleeping Princess Zelda.

Answer: Gooma

The Famicom Disk System version of "Zelda II", entitled "The Legend of Zelda 2: Rinku no Bouken" features numerous differences from the international release. There are numerous changes in sound, sprites, temples, enemy placement, etc. Most of these changes are cosmetic. All the temples are either grey or green, rather than the different colors of the international release. The biggest change is the way leveling works, which is totally different from the international release.

The second biggest change can be found in the Palace Five. One of the Blue Iron Knuckles, who is a pretty intimidating enemy by themselves, was originally Horsehead. The final boss of the palace was originally Helmethead for a rematch, but, like the third Mouser in "Doki Doki Panic", Nintendo replaced Helmethead with a new enemy boss by the name of Gooma.

There is a ball and chain throwing enemy in "Zelda II" that is not named in the international version, but is named Guma in the Japanese version.

Answer: False

As early as the second game, Nintendo began the multiple Link-Zelda characters that have long haunted the series. While the Link from "Zelda II" is explicitly the Link from the original title, Princess Zelda in "Zelda II" is NOT the same Princess Zelda from "The Legend of Zelda". Princess Zelda from "Zelda II" was the daughter of the king and she was cursed, to sleep forever in the North Palace. Afterward, the royal family decreed in the following generations that the daughters be named Zelda after the sleeping princess.

Here is the back story of "Zelda II". This text is taken from the original instruction manual:


"The Story of the Adventure of Link

At the end of a fierce fight, Link overthrew Ganon, took back the Triforce and rescued Princess Zelda. However, is it all really finished? Many seasons have passed since then.

Hyrule was on the road to ruin. The power that the vile heart of Ganon had left behind was causing chaos and disorder in Hyrule. What's more, even after the fall of Ganon, some of his underlings remained, waiting for Ganon's return. The key to Ganon's return was the blood of Link - the valiant lad that overthrew the King of Evil. Ganon would be revived by sacrificing Link and sprinkling his blood on the ashes of Ganon. Meanwhile, Link remained in the little kingdom of Hyrule and lent his hand to its restoration. But circumstances did not look very good. One day a strange mark, exactly like the crest of the kingdom, appeared on the back of Link's hand as he approached his 16th birthday. The worried Link went to Impa, Princess Zelda's nursemaid, who was shocked and frightened when she saw the birthmark. When she regained her composure, she took Link to the North Castle.

There was a door in the North Castle called "the door that does not open." Only the descendants of the Impa family who served the king knew how to open the door. Impa took Link's left hand and pressed the back of it against the door. There was a sound of a lock falling open, the door slowly creaked open and there on an altar in the middle of the room lay a beautiful woman. "Here lies the Princess Zelda." Impa began to speak calmly. "Link, the time has come when I must tell you the legend of Zelda handed down in Hyrule. It is said that long ago, when Hyrule was one country, a great ruler maintained the peace in Hyrule using the Triforce. However, the king too was a child of man and he died. Then, the prince of the kingdom should have become king and inherited everything, but he could inherit the Triforce only in part. The Prince searched everywhere for the missing parts, but could not find them. Then, a magician close to the king brought him some unexpected news. Before he died, the king had said something about the Triforce to only the younger sister of the prince, Princess Zelda. The prince immediately questioned the princess, but she wouldn't tell him anything. After the prince, the magician threatened to put the princess into an eternal sleep if she did not talk, but even still, she said nothing.

"In his anger, the magician tried to cast a spell on the princess. The surprised prince tried to stop him, but the magician fought off the prince and went on chanting the spell. Then, when the spell was finally cast, Princess Zelda fell on that spot and entered a sleep from which she might never awake. At the same time, the magician also fell down and breathed his last."

"In his grief, the prince placed the princess in this room. He hoped that someday she would come back to life. So that this tragedy would never be forgotten, he ordered every female child born into the royal household should be given the name Zelda."

From the stand next to the alter where Princess Zelda lay in a deep sleep, Impa took the six crystals and a scroll with the same crest and handed them to Link. "For generations, my family has been handed down these things which have been set aside for a time when a great king will come. They are written in ancient script that no one can read now. But you who have the crest may be able to read it. It is said that the key to uniting the Triforce is hidden there. Now it is time for you to read it."

Link glanced at the scroll half in doubt, but what do you know? Although he had never seen the letters before, he found that he could read them as if they were talking to him. This was written on the Scroll:

You who'll control the Triforce of the future. I shall hand down to you the secrets of the Triforce. There are three kinds of Triforce - Power, Wisdom, and Courage. When these three are brought together, the Triforce will share its maximum power. Of the three, I have left Power and Wisdom in the kingdom. But the Triforce of Courage I have hidden for a reason.

Not everybody can use the Triforce. It requires a strong character with no evil thoughts. But an inborn special quality is also necessary. Unfortunately, I have not found such a person during my lifetime.

Therefore, I have decided to cast a spell on all of Hyrule. A crest will appear on a young man with that character who has been brought up correctly, has gained many kinds of experiences and reached a certain age. But, what will happen if someone else uses the Triforce before then? If it is misused, it will produce many evils.

The Triforce of Courage is hidden in the Great Palace in the Valley of Death on the largest island in Hyrule. However, to enter you must first fight the guardians and undo the 'binding force.' When you have defeated the guardians, which I made to prevent enemies from invading the six palaces in Hyrule, set a crystal in the forehead of the statue you find. When you have set crystals in all of the statues in the six palaces, the 'binding force' placed on the Valley of Death will be removed and you will be able to enter the great palace. There you must fight the last guardian. And you can obtain the triforce only by defeating that guardian. There's nothing to fear. You are the one to get the Triforce. You are the beacon of hope for Hyrule.

Impa implored Link, who raised his head slowly after reading the scroll. "The magic spell cast upon the Princess Zelda will sure to be broken if the Triforce is used. Please, Link. Unite the Triforce and save the princess. And bring back peace to Hyrule." Link nodded silently in approval, and left the room after taking a long glance at the altar. Then with a magical sword in his left hand and a magical shield in his right, he set off alone on his long travels. At that time, Ganon's underlings were calling up new allies from the Underworld, and were beginning to work devilishly towards the revival of Ganon."