After countless delayes because of "chip shortages", Zelda II The Adventures of Link, was finally released at the end of 1988. Even though it was a fantastic and popular game, it had a very diffrent look to it when compared to the first Zelda. The overworld was much larger, but encounters with enemies led to a side-scrolling scene that took the place of the "on the spot" battles of the origanal Legend of Zelda. The towns and dungeons (which were magneficently designed) were also side- scrolling. Link also know had the ability to use magic, and jump too. Link also leveled-up his life, magic, and attack abilities from defeating enemies.

THE STORY

Zelda II The Adventures of Link, takes place several years after the first Zelda. A sleeping spell has been cast on Princess Zelda as a result of her refusing to reveal infomation about the Triforce to an evil magician. In order to free her from this spell, Link must place crystals in the foreheads of statues in six palaces throughout Hyrule. Doing so opens the path to the Great Palace, were the Triforce of courage is hidden (the Triforce is the key to breaking Zelda's spell). Meanwhile, Ganons underlings are beginning to work toward the revival of Ganon, which can only occur by first sacrificing his killer, Link, and then sprinkling Link's blood on his ashes.

THE OUTCOME

After placing the crystals in all six palaces, Link heads to the Great Palace to take on the final Guardian and retrieve the Triforce of Courage. After defeating the Guardian, Link goes to face his own darkside in a attempt to purify himself and claim the Triforce. After defeating his own darkside, he reunites the three Triforces, the Triforce of Power, Wisdom, and Courage, and awakens Princess Zelda from her Spell.

THE JAPANESE VERSION

-RELEASE DATE- January 14, 1987 (only on disk) -ORIGANAL TITLE- The Legend of Zelda 2 Rinku No Bouken (The Legend of Zelda 2 Link's Adventure) -ABOUT THE JAPANESE VERSION- The Japanese version of Zelda II was released almost two years before the U.S. version. There were some minor differences between the two versions, but for the most part it was exactly the same game. Some of the music in the Japanese edition was diffrent (better in the U.S. version), the enemies on the overworld map looked worse, there was less animaton in certain parts (for example, Link never held up items when he got them in the Japanese version), and also, for the worst part, there were access pauses in the game, or in other words, there was loading!