"The Legend of Link"

It exists. A place to find fairies, beasts, swords in stones, castles, heroes, villains, and even a princess in need of rescuing. A place where the only transportation is a horse, and the only place you want to go you cannot reach. Don't fear the journey which lies ahead of you, for fear won't keep the breath in your body, nor the blood in your veins. In fact, the only weapons that will keep your curtains from closing are those which were made for legends. Smooth, cool metals made into blades; sharp, straight arrows and curved bows. Be pure and true, and maybe they will name a legend after you. Or maybe your legend will go by the name of another, she who sleeps in the shadows, she who is innocent. The world I speak of is Hyrule, an illusion of the deepest depths. For here exists only within the circumference a GameCube disk. Welcome to The Legend of Zelda, buckle your seat belts folks, you're in for a bumpy ride.

In winter of 2003, Nintendo released a special GameCube bundle which included The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition disk. This disk came with four previously released Zelda games. The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time, and The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask. The first two were originally released on the Nintendo Entertainment System(NES), and the latter two were on the Nintendo 64(N64). Who could have ever imagined they would one day come bundled together on one little disk? That one day was many yesterdays ago, and I still can't believe it. It is one of Nintendo's most in demand series, having at least one game for each Nintendo game system. Over the years, the series has gotten more advanced and complicated. There has never been any truly bad Zelda games, with the exception of those terrible CDI games, those were yucky. Link has evolved in front of our eyes, from boy to adventurer. He has no voice, but that which we give him. If his voice is our own, then he becomes us. You are not Link when you play the games, Link is you.

Obviously, Collector's Edition is but a fancy cover name for "four Zelda games on one disk." Each game is full, each game stands on it's own. To play one game is not to play the others, but to step into one of four worlds the disk has to offer. Though each game is different, each has much in common with the others. Let's look at the four games here as a whole for a second, you must first know the book before you learn the chapters.

Move through candle lit corridors, show creatures in the dark your courage. Go on a scavenger hunt for something of eight. Two paths diverge in the woods, and Zelda takes the path less traveled. What makes Zelda so different from other games is the fact that it's not linear, you can do things as you see fit. Link travels on an over-world map, on which holds the different levels of the game. If you happen on level two before one, you can test your skills and might in it, you don't have an order in which to do tasks. This switch is like going from elementary to middle school. You don't have to walk in a line with your peers to the next class, you get there on your own. Of course, it still makes sense to go to algebra before calculus, but that's beside the point. The point is that you have a freedom, and it's a very nice thing.

Levels will teach you not only skill with the blade, but skill with the mind. In each level there are many locked doors, and the key to opening those doors is to think outside the box. While there are plenty of monsters to fend off, Zelda isn't a hack and slash. Items and weapons are useful, so with new levels come new items. Finish off the level by challenging a boss, Dodongo is always a popular selection. Don't forget to nab what you came in for, you need it and seven other things like it to enter the last level. After that, time to do some stuff on the over-world map. Walking through waterfalls, robbing graves, and playing magical instruments should suffice. Flash forward to the last level. Boy, that went by fast! It's finally time to battle the final boss: the one who's wrought all the trouble on the world, the evilest of evils, the causer of chaos... aka, Ganon. After taking him on (and winning, of course), go into the next room and rescue princess Zelda, or do whatever it was you were trying to do.

That is how a basic Zelda game is played, but there are many variations to this formula. Let us look at each game on the disk as an individual now, and see how it deviates from the classic formula.

The Legend of Zelda stays true to the Zelda format. What makes this game stand out from the others is two things. First, some secrets are found, how should I put it, somewhat... randomly. An example: Link has bombs, if he puts these bombs on certain walls, they leave a hole/new entrance after blowing up. But how exactly do you know which spots in the walls hold secrets? You don't. Trial and error is the only way. There are many more secrets like this, and not only dealing with bombs. Honestly, I can't see how anyone would be able to figure out some of the stuff in the game without being told how to do it. Some may consider this a weakness, but it is what it is. Sometimes you the only way to get an answer right is to have someone tell you. And how did that person know? They asked someone before them. Second, there is a 2nd quest. After beating the game, you can begin a new game. All dungeons are moved around, and so are all secrets. The game is much more challenging, and you don't receive items in the order that you did for the first quest, which forces you to change your playing style. So you see, the end is only a new beginning. All around, the best game on the disk.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is the oddball of the series, and the least well known. Unlike the first game, this one deviates from the path of typical Zelda quite a bit. While you still have an overhead view of Link in the over-world, the view is 2-D side scroller for the dungeons and the towns. This game includes some RPG elements to it, such as leveling up, magic, and random battles in the over-world. No eight dungeons here, this one has but six. This doesn't make the game easy, though. The Adventure of Link is without a doubt the hardest Zelda on the disk. It's tough for a couple of reasons. Number one, you start out weak, and the enemies don't. Number two, the pits. Hey, jumping over lava isn't child's play when a bunch of floating enemies are blocking your jump path! Overall, a bit annoying in the beginning, but you'll get used to it. Something that disappoints me is that it doesn't include some of the classic Zelda weapons. How can Link fight without his bow and arrows, or his boomerang? Zelda II doesn't feel quite like a Zelda game, but provides fun for those looking for a good challenge.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time is Link's first outing in the 3-D world. You get a much more closer view as opposed to the overhead view. This game borrows heavily from the original The Legend of Zelda, so it follows the rules of a Zelda game quite well. Link becomes an adult in this one, with the help of his time traveling ocarina. Finally, you get to ride a horse in this one. That's good, because riding a horse is more enjoyable than not riding a horse. A game that combines the past Zelda style with a fresh new look and flavor.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask plays just like Ocarina, but with some new features. This game sees the path of a Zelda game and where it's going, and chooses a different path that ends in the same place, but gets there in an odd way. Majora's Mask places a lot of emphases on masks and time. Put on different masks and gain new powers. Since the moon crashes into the world in only three days, you're working with a time limit. Not to fear, the ocarina is here! Use it to go back in time and save the day. Only four dungeons here, but there's tons to do in the over-world, which more than make up for the lack of dungeons. Also, Zelda doesn't really come into play here, she must be taking a vacation. I think this surpasses Ocarina of Time in every way.

Don't worry, I know what you're thinking. Ok, I don't, but let's assume you were thinking about the extras of the game. There are two extras: a 20 minute Wind Waker demo and a short film clip entitled "A Retrospective," encompassing all the games of the Zelda series. The clip basically just shows gameplay footage from each Zelda game and lasts about 2 minutes. I was expecting much more than this, but on the other hand, it's strangely entertaining to watch. The Wind Waker demo is good, but after only 20 minutes it automatically ends. The game is far too deep to get into in only 20 minutes, so you only scratch the surface of the game. I guess that's what demos are for, though.

On a last note, it would be foolish of me not to mention a minor problem with the disk. That problem is that sometimes, while playing Majora's Mask, it's possible the game will freeze up on you. I myself haven't ever experienced this problem, but have talked with many who have. My advice: save often, cause doing things over again sucks. Maybe this will happen to you, maybe it won't, but you need to know the facts. Hopefully it won't, but if it does, hey, it happens. The Legend of Zelda series is among my favorites, but I have tried not to be biased in this review. Instead, I have showed you the series as a whole and the games as individuals. If you like the Zelda series, of course you will like this game. If you don't like it, or didn't know about it, now you do, and should know if you'll like it or not. Four Zelda games in one, what a crazy world we live in.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 07/19/04