An outstanding journey when paired with Ages.
GAMEPLAY ~ This is the ACTION game!
This is the game you've been waiting for in the LoZ universe! It has hardly any puzzles and enough hack and slash action to keep any button masher yearning. Both of the Oracle titles are modeled after the original GB game Link's Awakening and more or less the revamped game DX for the GBC. This game rely on the Rod of Seasons (as the name implies it changes seasons) an there is four obvious season, which means certain areas open when different seasons change. The only problem with the rod is that there is no choice on what season you call forth, so if you want spring from winter, you wave the rod on the stump about three times to reach your desired season. No selection process which is a real bummer.
The basic menu (press start button) is broken down into three parts. Tools on the first ring, Scenario items second ring and Essences and Heart collection on the third ring. That third ring also contains the save state area as well. To cycle between each menu press select. The Tools menu is the only one you can pick and chose from an each item can either be equipped on the A or B buttons respectfully. But the Tools menu does get rather cluttered with no actual holding place for anything, not too confusing, but quite chaotic if you ask me. There is also rings, which can be equipped on the Second menu on the bottom left, don’t forget to equip them!
This game gives you a plethora of new tools to assist in your journey. Gone is the lousy switch-hook, but still missing is my love the hook-shot. You get a pair of magnet gloves which are very fun and frustrating to use (especially in Level 8) and the Roc Cape, which is an upgrade of the feather which allows you to "float" for a short distance. So it's like Link can fly! Or at least it looks it!
The dungeons are set up quite basic with only a few halting spots (I was stuck in Level 7 for awhile because I missed an obvious staircase.) and almost completely void of any puzzles. An the bosses were strangely familiar an quite fun to battle! Some strategy was needed,. but mostly you just slash away an they die quite quickly.
Overall, very fun an exciting to challenge!
STORY ~
Link is summoned to a new land (Hodonlum or something) where he meets up with a dancing troupe... a dancing troupe who are really Knights of Hyrule! So you know Zelda is around. Well anyway, there is a dancer named Din, who is really good an she is captured by the Dark general Onox an enslaved in a crystal. I played Season on a Linked game, so my story was different than what is listed here, but I am trying not to spoil anything.
GRAPHICS ~
Top of the line for the GBC! The GBC was a higher grade in graphics than the NES, but many of it's game didn't look or feel as expressive as the LoZ series did. I guess when CAPCOM stepped up to help alot of things were upgraded. Again, as in my Ages review, Link goes through motions, mainly dance motions, but not as often as in Ages. He dances once to get a boomerang, an never has to dance again. But Link does get a cape and to watch Link fly is something of legend!
The enemies are basic LoZ fanfare as are the bosses. As I said, they look strangely familiar, it's because many of the bosses are just reworks from the original NES Zelda game! You get that annoying bomb eating triceratops and the unicorn dragon from stage one! Each one looks graphically goofy, but come off better than their original counter parts, but are far easier an more fun to beat. Even Onox was fun to fight when you found his weakness. The over-world is brilliantly designed. Maybe not as difficult or as large (Ages had "two" maps, Seasons has one) but defiantly more fun to explore. The seasons are pulled off wonderfully as well, from the leafless trees of winter to the water receding powers of summer, it's fun to sit back an watch!
Overall, not as fully realized as Ages was, but runs a very close second.
SOUND ~
Again, not too impressed with the sound, actually I downright didn't notice many of the tracks. Since most of the dungeon theme's were boring an lifeless. But than crept in that once track that caught my ear was the track from Ocarina of Time called "Song of the Storms" an awesome song an it caught me off guard. The track is played by the guy near the windmill, an I love that song! The SFX were alright, and again, no voice-overs for Link! Which was the right move to make Nintendo / Capcom!
REPLAYABILITY ~
With no puzzles the game has to offer the fine young adventures undertaking the task of rescuing Din something to do during the travels. Well, there is a bit more than Ages, but not much more. There is a "beast hunting" sequence where you track down four different golden beast an slay them for a powerful ring. There is also the jewel hunting part which is used to open up the Tarm Ruins level. Than the obvious trading game which can go two ways and the always exciting ring collecting. There is also the "Hero cave" which is a 20+ level dungeon in where you transverse different obstacles an a bounty of puzzles to secure a powerful accessory!
I did have to use a FAQ a few times, but not as dependent as I was in Ages.
The real charmer is the linked game feature, which lets you import passwords from Seasons into Ages to quire more powerful weapons and accessories. Including the Master Sword, Mirror Shield, and my very favorite weapon the Biggoron Sword! That blade was so helpful in many of the later boss battles and enemy encounters! With the password system you will be jumping in between both Ages and Season's constantly to see what rewards you can gain (or earn). Also with the linked game is the extended story line and the chance to battle the ultimate Moblin himself!
With Ages and Seasons work hand-in-hand both bring the replay to a powerful 10+!
But if not played together, it would only garner a 7 or an 8 respectively.
Overall ~
Defiantly the better of the two in my opinion. It has a great balance of extras and overall spectacular gameplay that any fan of the LoZ series would be proud to play! When linked with it’s kin title Ages, expect to be playing both these games well over the 20 hour mark!
An outstanding addition to any collectors collection!