The Oracle of Seasons
The Legend of Zelda - Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages are both action, role playing, puzzle solving handheld adventures that combine with each other. These games make for number 7 and number 8 in the Zelda series of games and should be treated as separate games even though to get the full adventure you must play both games through. The game was released towards the end of the life cycle for the Gameboy Color and towards the birth of a new handheld console The Gameboy Advance. The games were developed by Flagship an independent Japanese games company funded by all the big companies such as Capcom, Nintendo and Sega. Flagship no longer exists as the employees have all been merged into Capcom's main offices. The Zelda adventures were both released on February 27th 2001 in Japan, May 14th 2001 in North America and October 5th for Europe. If the games are played on a Gameboy Advance the colour palette is enhanced to a higher brightness and a special shop is accessible.
The Story
The Triforce calls out to Link bound within the walls of Hyrule Castle. Link encounters The Triforce only to be transported to an enchanted forest where he discovers a dancer whom goes by the name of Din. With a warm welcome from Din to the world of Holodrum the sky covers with a thick blanket of black. Deep within the clouds calls a voice after Din making a vocal presence as Onox, The General of Darkness. A light falls from the sky taking Din to its summit furthermore a tornado creates chaos and causes Holodrum havoc altering seasons.
Impa informs Link that he should visit The Maku Tree in The Horom Village. Link with aid of a trusty sword he stumbled across on the way to The Maku Tree learns that he must collect the 8 Essences of Nature. Link must restore Holodrums nature and tame the seasons to a peaceful tranquility.
Being since the last handheld adventure was Links Awakening this was a long time in the pipeline. Experimentations were originally planned on recreating the original Legend of Zelda from the NES and porting it to the Gameboy Color. An idea originated from the Flagship Team to create 3 Zelda games for the handheld consoles representing the 3 pieces of The Triforce. This system became far too complex and after advice from Mr Miyamoto one game was to be cancelled leaving two adventures Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages being linked via a password system meaning you could play any of the games in any order.
How it plays
The oracle of seasons and ages both look similar in graphics returning a familiar overhead look down view on Link and the characters but with enhanced graphical details and features added. Elements and characters are borrowed from The Ocarina of Time which you will discover in each quest. The Gameboy Color suffered because the screen didn't feature a backlight which meant you had to be in a well lit area to enjoy the game, I used to be right by a lamp. Once played on The Gameboy Advance it is clear the colours are brighter which still doesn't really alter the fact that you still need a backlight.
Ring Bearer
A great new introduction in these games are the use of rings which can be equipped from your inventory once they are found and approved. Some rings do not offer any use but make for a good laugh such as the ring that transforms Link into the classic 8-bit NES version. It can be quite frustrating trying to collect all the rings only to discover you already have the same ring over and over again but at least Vasu buys them back off you. It isn't a necessity to actually collect any of the rings to complete the game but you wouldn't feel complete without them. I personally enjoyed getting an appraisal for a ring of Vasu it was rather enjoyable and I'm sure you'd feel like you were missing out on something if you decide to boycott the whole ring collecting events.
Seasons Change but Hero's Never Die
You can tell the developers really went to town with this quest even if all you think is this looks just like Link's Awakening, think again! In The Oracle of Seasons you are expecting obvious the seasons to play a great role in the game and you would be correct. Once Link has obtained the Rod of Seasons he can change the cause of nature only once by jumping onto a tree stump and using the mystical item. This is a key role to the game as you can progress further only once the seasons have been changed as there are certain actions that can be performed for instance in spring the flowers blossom and Link can climb upon a flower bud to be shot high into the air enabling you to gain distance when reaching platforms that would normally be out of reach. This adds so much diversity to the game and is a really good concept.
The Endings
If you play one adventure through and carry across the password to the next game you will see Twinrova capturing Princess Zelda lighting the Flame of Despair. Twinrova's evil plan is to sacrifice The Princess Zelda to light the 3rd flame resulting in the resurrection of Gannon. You didn't think they would have a Zelda game and no have Gannon in there did you? Pah pull the other one, most of them do!
Enhanced Equipment
Throughout the game there are chances to enhance the sword that Link originally carries, it can be upgraded twice in total once carrying a game over to the next. The shield can also have a maximum total of two times enhancement to upgrade Links defence. With an upgraded sword equipped Link can blast out beams from the tip of the sword with full health a reoccurring feature from Zelda games. Some items can only be upgraded in one of the particular games however such items as The Roc's feather and The Power Bracelet.
Link in Action
Oracle of Seasons is more an action orientated game out of the two and it doesn't matter which game you decide to conquest first use the password for the next game and continue with an advantage. Rings can be transferred using the password system or The Link Cable. Elements are changed form once a quest is started with a password you will notice the cut scenes at the end and there is the chance to obtain the victory ring for defeating Gannon's weaky resurrection (weaky = weak, not a typo).
Sounds: Not much improved here from Link's Awakening people may complain personally I think they fit well.
Graphics: Just like Link's Awakening but with colour and a lot more. Get the Gameboy Advance SP on the go to get thorough enjoyability out of it.
Replayability: Hell yeah Zelda fans if you've not played this quest then go out now and track down both games. You'll keep playing until you kick Gannon's ass!
I Award The Oracle of Seasons: 8/10
Facts & SecretsTry sprinkling some magic seeds on an adult Cuccos, they will turn into child Cuccos. This game was supposed to be part of a 3 part series representing each piece of The Triforce but due to developed difficulties was canned. |