Play Zelda II: The Adventure of Link Online

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link came out for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987, developed and published by Nintendo. It arrived a couple of years after the original, and it felt like a deliberate, strange turn for the series, trading the top-down view for something that mixed overhead exploration with side-scrolling action.

You control Link, tasked with awakening Princess Zelda from an endless sleep by finding the Triforce of Courage. The game shifts between an overworld map you navigate screen by screen and side-scrolling areas where you fight enemies with your sword and shield, jump across pits, and cast magic spells. You gain experience points to increase your attack, magic, and life stats, a clear departure from the first game. The pacing is methodical, and the difficulty is punishing, demanding precise timing and careful resource management. It feels like a grueling but focused test of your reflexes and patience.