Episode 586: Zelda II & The Action RPG (Patreon)

Jeremy: Yes, I know, we've talked about Zelda II before... as part of a double-header... way back in episode 66? Whew, so it's been a while. And that means I don't need to feel bad about revisiting the topic, on its own, with a completely different crew of people (which means different experiences, opinions, and facts). But it's not as though Kevin and Nadia and I (along with Tomm Hulett, returning to the show again in near-record time from the recent Operation Galuga episode) are just talking about Zelda II. Oh, no. We're talking about its place in history—specifically its place in the evolution of the action RPG. So, while Zelda II features here as the centerpiece, it's surrounded on either side by games like Dragon Buster and The Battle of Olympus. Games that either influenced Zelda II or else were shaped by it. It's a dose of video game information-shaped medicine with a delicious Zelda coating to help it go down more smoothly. So open wide.

Edits by Greg Leahy. Art by Greg Melo.

10:11 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES): Opening

21:02 - Pac-Land (Arcade): Name Entry

34:11 - Vampire Killer (MSX2): Wicked Child

44:31 - The Wing of Madoola: Tower | Smashing...Live!: Great Bay Shrine

55:56 - Super Smash Bros. Melee: Hyrule Temple

1:06:51 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES): Town Theme

1:19:15 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES): Great Palace

1:28:06 - The Battle of Olympus (NES): Peloponnesus Forest

1:36:34 - Castlevania II: Simon's Quest (NES): A Requiem

1:48:19 - Link: The Faces of Evil: Goronu: Face's Crypt

1:58:09 - Adventure Time: Hey Ice King! Why'd You Steal Our Garbage?!! (3DS): A Hero is Made

Closing - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES): Staff Roll