Another Great Addition To The Wonderful Zelda Series Hits The Gameboy (The Legend of Zelda - The Oracle of Ages (GB))

Member Name: wampyrii

Product:	The Legend of Zelda - The Oracle of Ages (GB)
Date:	22/07/01 (124 review reads)
Rating:

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The Zelda series just carries on going with this, the umpteenth adventure for our hero Link in the mythical land. In fact, there are not one, but two new additions to the Zelda family released simultaneously, The Oracle of Ages and The Oracle of Seasons, the completion of one aiding you in the other and enabling you to access areas which would otherwise be impossible to reach...However, it is the Oracle of Ages which is under review here as I am yet to play The Oracle of Seasons...but its only a matter of time I am sure.

Zelda is easily the best role playing game available on the Gameboy at the moment, whichever version you play, right back the original Zelda game. For those who have never played a Zelda game before then it can be best described as being somewhat like the Pokemon games in its overall style but without being quite so damn annoying. You wander around solving puzzles in order to progress further into the game, some requiring items to pass a particular point, others moving objects etc. or the completion of an event...that kind of thing. You journey around the land, meeting different characters and engaging in plot enhancing conversations as well as being treated to some rather picturesque cut scenes which move the plot along as well. The basic premise behind the game is this:

You play Link once again in an adventure where he travels over 400 years into the past as well as battling in the present. The evil Sorceress of Shadows, Veran, has harnesses the power of Neyru, The Oracle Of Ages, by possessing her body. She wants to control the present land of Labyrnna by travelling into the past and destroying all that can stand in her way in the future. Labrynna changes dramatically before your very eyes as her handiwork becomes immediately apparent and it is up to Link to find the Harp of Ages to travel into the past and recover the 8 Essences of time to defeat the evil Sorceress.

This is a great game, combining the same gameplay an
d engrossing storylines which made the original 1987 release of Zelda the hugely popular hit that it was and remains today, with some glorious graphics, clever puzzles and generally wondeful ideas that will keep you engrossed for ages. I have to say that I am not a big fan of Gameboygames in general, but this one is simply superb. There is simply so much to do and the world they have created here is enormous so its a challenge that is going to keep you busy for some time. The puzzles are pitched at just the right level to get you thinking but not be so obscure that you never have a hope of solving them without resorting to a cheat site and fully utilise the time travel ideas. For example, plant a seed 400 years ago and find a tree in its place when you return to the present...that sort of thing.

I like this game a lot. It is very cutesy at times which is to be expected from Nintendo products I suppose but nothing which is going to have you reaching for the barf bags too fast. You meet lots of different characters along the way, even getting to ride in a kangaroo's pouch and befriend a winged polar bear...amongst a variety of others. You will find that there is a lot of interaction between you and the other game characters and a fair number of cut scenes which move the action along - and these are all beautifully drawn I might add and really highlight the fantasy element. I also like the idea that when you complete either the Oracle of Ages, or the Oracle of Seasons, you are given a password which can be entered so that you keep the same character/items etc. when you start playing the next - and access some special parts that can only be accessed through this method. This of course is a clever marketing plot to get you to buy both games but if you were already intending to then its a useful addition.

Overall then this is a great game and well worth shelling out your cash for. There is absolutely loads going on here, lots of sub-games and variet
y to keep your interest to the very end. The plot-heavy story is intriguing and combined with the cut-scenes helps hold your attention even more and pretty soon you'll probably find it as hard toput down as I did. A great game and a worthy addition to the ever growing Zelda family.

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