The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition

"Link's Wonderful Memories"

Zelda: ever heard of it? Yup, the adventure of Link, Zelda, Ganon, and all the rest is one of the most legendary gaming franchises in history. Shigeru Miyamoto's epic story has become quite a fan favorite, and Nintendo knows it. That's why they've compiled a Gamecube disc featuring some of Link's adventures. From old to new, these Zelda epics have come together as The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition for the Nintendo Gamecube. Does it live up to its franchise's reputation?

First off is the original that started it all: The Legend of Zelda. Yes, Link's original adventure for the NES is here in its entirety. Controls are simple: assign your items to a button, slash your sword, run, slash, bomb, all the rest. Collecting heart containers, exploring dungeons, running around in the overworld, it's all here in all of its 8-bit glory. The groundbreaking save system is still here, although you only get three hearts after loading. Probably one of my most notable observations of this game is how unforgiving it is. Many of the modern conventions of today's Zelda adventures aren't present in the original. No overworld map. Extremely cryptic hints. Tough puzzles. All of these wrapped up in a single adventure. But quite honestly, the game holds up extremely well. Finding treasure, shops, and upgrades are all here and the quest is lengthy to say to least. Despite having a few improved sequels, the first Zelda is still a very good game. Just don't start thinking it'll be a cake walk.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is Link's second NES game, and it's a HUGE change. Link is a side-scrolling warrior who must save Zelda. Combat is played on multiple levels and there is a Magic system. However, upon beginning the game, one thing you have to wonder is why the winning formula was changed so drastically. The exploration aspect is severely cut down and the combat isn't as fluid as the first. The game isn't a particularly deep adventure, but it's included on the disc, if you really want to play it.

Next up is The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, a game many gamers have heard of. Link's first journey onto the N64 and his first journey into full 3-D is a truly epic story featuring time travel, lost princesses, and a whole lot more. The story is full of heartbreak, plot twists, and every other game theme under the sun. It's also an upgrade with the combat, featuring a unique 3-D targeting system and dungeons. The L-Targeting system is spot on and the dungeons are expansive and challenging. The game is groundbreaking; exploring the Zelda universe is fluid and full of interesting aspects. The characters are full of personality and the game is worth playing for the amazing story alone. Absolutely everything in the game shows a sense of polish and innovation, despite having the same graphics as its original N64 cartridge. This game alone makes the collection worth buying, but there is more.

Majora's Mask was Link's departure from the world of Ganon and Zelda, and his journey to the world of Termina. Majora's Mask was Link's giant sidequest where a tremendous Moon was on a collision course with the planet. The countdown of the Moon's collision makes the entire world under the hourglass, and it's up to Link to save the world of Termina. Using mysterious masks, Link must explore new dungeons in a new world. The gameplay is still Ocarina of Time style and still good. Many new enemies and bosses appear, and although it does feel a bit like a re-hash of Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask's intricate story and interesting gameplay style is good. Just keep an eye on the clock.

Finally is a solid demo of Wind Waker. Now, honestly, if you have this collection, you most likely have Wind Waker already. However, if you don't and want to know what Link's cel-shaded Gamecube adventure is about, the demo is long-enough to get most of the basics presented. Learning the techniques, exploring the seas, it's all easy and fun. The demo isn't extremely long, but there's enough to do in the demo to find out what the world of Wind Waker is all about.

Outside of the inclusion of the sub-par Zelda II game, the only real gripe is the omitting of one of Link's most famous adventure: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Link's journey on the Super NES was his return to the classic Zelda gameplay and had a much more interesting story. How this disc can be called a Collector's Edition without A Link to the Past is a mystery, but considering the amount of memory the disc can hold, it can be understandable. It still is disappointing, however, of this. As one of Link's most famous adventures, not including the SNES game is a major letdown.

Pros

+ A nice anthology of one of gaming's most acclaimed franchises
+ Ocarina of Time
+ Majora's Mask
+ Solid demo of Wind Waker
+ The original that started it all!

Cons

- Zelda II
- No Link to the Past?

Zelda: Collector's Edition is a tough call. On one hand, it has many of the most legendary games in video game history, including the unforgettable and simply incredible Ocarina of Time. The inclusion of the original Zelda and Majora's Mask is a good deal, along with a good demo of Wind Waker. However, it's pretty tough to say that this is a full Zelda collection, with such an influential game like Link to the Past omitted. Zelda II is a forgettable journey; it seems to be there only as a reminder of the misstep of Link's NES legacy. The collection may feel incomplete, but having many of Link's most legendary adventures on a single disc is pretty hard to pass up. Overall, The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition isn't the perfect Zelda collection, but it has plenty of amazing content to constitute a purchase. Plus, it has Ocarina of Time.

Reviewer's Score: 8/10, Originally Posted: 11/06/06