The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
by SPIG
Our Price: $99.99
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Category: Video Games
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Product Summary
Brand: NintendoAudio: German (Manual); German (Subtitled)
Platform: Game Boy Color
Publisher: SPIG
Product features:
- Classic characters
- all-new story
- hidden levels
- password exchange with Oracle of Ages
- one-player action
Video Game Reviews of The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Customer Review: An enjoyable Zelda you can take with you
Summary: 5 Stars
I notice a pattern with Zelda releases: when they're on Nintendo's main machines likes the Nintendo 64(Ocarina of Time) or the Wii(Twilight Princess), there's an unbelievable amount of hype and press that kicks in. The handheld stuff though gets raves from fans yet they barely register in terms of hype. Originally planned as a trilogy, Nintendo decided to make Link's next handheld adventure be a dual deal with Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages released simultaneously. Essentially they're the same game with minor alterations but boy do you have fun regardless.
Story: Each game revolves around the need to rescue a princess and in this case it's Din, the Oracle of Seasons. With her kidnapped, the seasons are thrown out of balance which can potentially mean that there could be endless winter or quick shifts from summer to fall and back again. And of course it's up to Link to rescue her from Onyx.
Graphics: Keep in mind that this is Game Boy Color so it probably won't have the dazzle that Minish Cap managed to pull off. Hell, it doesn't even look as sharp as Link to the Past. What it is though is vibrant and colorful and this game in particular just looks so rich. The game also has some anime-style still cut scenes to tell the story which is a nice touch.
Sound/Music: Obviously no voice acting since this is GBC, not to mention a Zelda game. Where the game shines though as the series always has is in its music. While it probably doesn't have that instant purchase that Ocarina or Link to the Past was, it's nonetheless an enjoyable soundtrack that fits the mood for places perfectly.
Gameplay: Zelda games on the GBC are pretty much the same as something like Link to the Past but in one sole difference: your inventory. While in LttP, you had to actually go to your screen for each individual item. Ocarina and onwards made it so that you can carry 3. Here it's 2. While it's weird to get used to, some bosses require you change items on the fly and I had no problem. There's some new items such as Rod of Seasons which you can use to progress in the game. An example is something is only accessible if you freeze a lake and provide a pathway then go back to spring and get the item.
The big thing here is the password system. Essentially Seasons and Ages were meant to be bought at the same time; unlike Pokemon where you bought one and a friend bought the other, in order to get the most of Oracle series, you beat one and you get a password. Jot it down, start up the other and input the password and continue from there. Also, NPC's can give you passwords which you tell to people in the other game to get special items. While it gets slightly tedious to have to go back and forth all the time, the items tend to be well worth it.
Now for people who are wondering, Seasons is the more accessible in terms of new Zelda players or in difficulty. This is more action-oriented and it's a bit more forgiving. So if you're more of the action type, pick Seasons. But in the end, you should just buy both since you'll probably think "well since I beat one of them..."
Description of The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Game Boy Color entry into the series, coded by Capcom. Taking place in the world of Holodrum, far removed from the land of Hyrule, Link must embark on a quest that will see him traverse the land in its entirety in search of the Oracle of Seasons. By obtaining the Rod of Seasons, Link is able to manipulate the seasons by waving the wand atop any nearby tree stump. The landscape changes with each season, and though trees will be in full bloom in summer, during the winter months they'll lose their leaves, enabling Link to squeeze past them and enter new areas. Simultaneously released with Oracle of Ages, the two games are interconnected via a password featureOne of two new Zelda games for the Game Boy Color, The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons is the more action-focused title of the duo. The Triforce has alerted Link to trouble in the land of Holodrum, where the General of Darkness has kidnapped Din, the Oracle of Seasons. The villain hopes to transform Holodrum into a wasteland by changing the order of seasons. It's up to you to help Link save Holodrum by rescuing Din.
The game features more combat and fewer puzzles than its sister, making it better suited for younger gamers. Its mechanics and menus are similar to those found in Link's Awakening, also for the Game Boy. This is classic overhead role-playing at its best. The key item in this game is the rod of seasons, which allows Link to change seasons at will. For example, an impassable lake becomes a quick stroll by using the rod to change seasons from summer to winter.
Although this game is extremely enjoyable on its own, you'll want to use it in conjunction with its sister title: Oracle of Ages. After you complete one game you'll be given a password that lets you begin with all your items, statistics, and progress intact in the other. Certain characters will appear only by playing both games. By using a link cable, players can trade items. Game Boy Advance users will find a store that's exclusive to them.
While this is one of the best Game Boy titles ever, a truly sublime experience can be had playing it with its companion title. --Raymond M. Padilla
Pros:
- Hours of outstanding gameplay
- Great as a standalone; outstanding in conjunction with its sister game
- Nice bonuses for Game Boy Advance owners
- Lots of reused sound effects from previous Zelda games
- Longtime gamers might find the story and level design contrived
- Your thumbs will get sore from all the battles
One of the most highly esteemed digital adventures is back on your Game Boy Color console in two new games: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages. Both are independent games, but when they're linked between two Game Boy Color consoles via the separately sold Game Link cable, players can share items, uncover story elements, and unlock hidden areas in each game.
In Oracle of Seasons, players help Link embark on a quest to recover the Essences of Nature. To do so, he must first find the Rod of Seasons, a magical item that lets Link transform the landscape into the season of his choice, helping him overcome obstacles and solve puzzles. Ricky the kangaroo, Moosh the winged bear, and Dimitri the dodongo accompany Link on this adventure.
Using the Harp of Ages, Link must travel through time and space to save Nayru, the eponymous prophet in Oracle of Ages, who's been kidnapped by the evil sorceress Veran. By learning new melodies to play on the harp, players will travel to the past and affect changes in the present to solve the game's varied puzzles.
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