The Legend of Zelda was probably the best offering of the last batch of Classic NES games. Zelda II: The Adventures of Link retains all of the details of the original sequel but if you recall, this game was not welcomed with open arms when it was first released in the 80s. Zelda II took the Zelda gameplay in a new direction that fans weren't too ecstatic about.

Zelda 2 is still a good game but the focus is more on platforming and action than the dungeon crawling RPG experience that is a hallmark of the series. It still retained many RPG elements and even expanded on them by allowing you for the first time to avoid random battles. Instead of a top-down view, Zelda 2 is a side scroller. It's like a very difficult arcade game. The enemies are tough and the platform levels are frustrating.

Link must rescue the princess from her endless slumber, induced by the evil Ganon. To do so he must do battle with the creatures that have overrun Hyrule. Link will level up through experience points which will give him greater strength and abilities, although the challenge of the game also increases at a similar rate so it's not always apparent that you've gained any new powers.

Not only will you use your sword for protection but this version introduces magic spells which take the place of other weapons and items. You'll either love or hate this concept - and it seems that most did hate it. But that was then. Many of the elements that Zelda 2 introduced are now standard in most RPGs.

Graphically the game is ridiculous. It's so bad that it's not even worth freaking on. The Zelda theme is prominent throughout and brings back fond memories. It's amazing what you can do with 8 bits. Now if only they would have spent 2 bits on the graphics. That's a joke, kids. Don't yell at me.

Although Zelda 2 was included in the Cube compilation package, this is the only GBA version available. It's a long adventure and although it may be somewhat boring by today's standards, it's a great way for beginners to submerse themselves in the RPG universe.