Zelda 2-The Adventure Of Link
I hadn't played it in awhile and I forgot how punishing the difficulty was. It's okay, though. The harder the game, the greater the sense of accomplishment when you finish it.
It's got some really tough spots and the clues are lame (or missing?) and I remember getting stuck several times back in the day. I'm pretty sure I didn't resume playing until a friend explained how to get past certain parts...that's a flaw in the game (lack of intuitive clues). I don't use FAQs/cheats/videos/whatever (even back in the day) and it was frustrating to get stuck (missing an item) and not know where in the f*ck to go.
Zelda 2 is a great game, still, but that's because I love flawed games with a goddamn spirit. Zelda 2 has moxy. Zelda 2 wasn't the easy cash-in* it could have been (upgraded version of Zelda 1). Zelda 2 was pioneering...I wish there were more games like it (
Exile on our beloved TG-16/PCE is a direct descendent of Zelda 2).
I love games that mix genres/mechanics/etc. (hybrids), but I understand that hybrid games are commercially less feasible.
For example: it is difficult to appease all customers when customers have very particular preferences: Turn-based RPG fans want more of the same, ARPG fans (overhead) want more of the same, ARPG fans (sideways) want more of the same, etc. etc. Hybrid games run the risk of (at some point) leaving a bad taste in everyone's mouth.
FIGHTING WORDS: ARPG fans who lack the demanding platforming skills that platform-afficianandos live by might start hatin' on Zelda 2.
BOTTOM LINE: I love hybrid games that pull from differernt genres. Zelda 2, you are loved.
* Sadly, for reasons discussed above, most folks would have preferred a predictable sequel to Zelda 1. They would have lauded it. I would have loved it, too. But, now, given the history of the series, I am even more appreciative of Zelda 2's role/place.
