Play Classic NES Series : Zelda II : The Adventure of Link Online

Game Overview

Zelda II is the black sheep of the series, and honestly? That's why I love it. Instead of the usual top-down exploration, you're jumping between side-scrolling combat and an overworld map—like some weird, wonderful mashup of Zelda and Castlevania. The swordplay feels surprisingly precise once you get the hang of it, though those first few battles will humble you real quick.

You'll spend a lot of time grinding for XP to boost your attack, magic, or health (pro tip: don't ignore shield spells). The dungeons are moody as hell, full of those classic NES-era "how was I supposed to know that?!" moments. And yeah, it's tough—like, "throw-your-GBA-across-the-room" tough in spots—but beating a dungeon you've been stuck on for hours? Pure satisfaction.

This GBA port keeps everything that made the NES original divisive but fascinating. If you've only played the polished 3D Zeldas, this is a wild trip into the series' weird teenage years.