![]() ![]() The display is nothing fancy but matches the game resolution well, looking as clear as can be expected at that size. There are no save states beyond that, though, so get ready to die a gazillion times in Zelda II. ![]() You can play each straight through, or hit the Game button to switch to another, saving your progress. There’s also a recreation of a classic monochrome Game & Watch from the ’80s, though its entertainment value is, frankly, limited. The games themselves are the inimitable original, The Legend of Zelda its brutally hard side-scrolling sequel The Adventure of Link and cherished puzzle box classic Link’s Awakening, recently remade in style. The only difference is the addition of the start and select buttons, which are actually used in the Zelda games. It does a fine job, and the three old-school Zelda games included are great options for Nintendo-hard adventure that actually fits in a pocket.Īnnounced a couple months back, this $50 gadget is very similar physically to last year’s Mario Game & Watch, the first in the series based on Nintendo’s pre-Game Boy line of handhelds. There's also a light-up Triforce on its back this time, which is another cool little extra touch on a device already brimming with them.I have in my hands the Legend of Zelda Game & Watch, the second in Nintendo’s line of whimsical throwback handhelds clearly meant as stocking stuffers for those who already have (or can’t find) a Switch. The Zelda version adds Select and Start buttons, which is quite nice (and necessary for playing the included games). Thankfully decades of gaming have honed my reflexes to a sharp edge so I was able to catch it quickly, but please, be careful.Īside from a different color scheme than the Super Mario version, the form factor of the Zelda Game & Watch is nearly identical with a few exceptions. I only mention this because I nearly had a heart attack when I thoughtlessly moved it and the fresh new review unit I'd just been sent nearly crashed on the floor. It should be noted that the space for the Game & Watch is somewhat generous, so it doesn't lock into place or anything like that. Two little legs pop out from the back and it sits at just enough of an angle to let gravity do the hard work. It's a neat little use of something most people would otherwise throw away (not me, I'm a weirdo who keeps all his packaging). Packaging for the Zelda Game & Watch is lovely, as it was last year, and this year the insert in the box converts to a stand to display your Game & Watch while it tells time. It's fun enough but I won't play much of it in the long term given the built-in alternatives. There are two different levels of difficulty, and it's a game of reflexes to try to smack down the "vermin" as they pop their heads up from the bottom of the playfield. Included alongside the three Zelda games is the fast and fun Game & Watch game Vermin, which has Link's head swapped in place of the Game & Watch man. But it's not so bad as to be a deal breaker at all, especially since I found myself naturally holding it dead-on without feeling uncomfortable. Viewing angle leaves a little to be desired, as the colors become somewhat washed out with as little as 10 degrees difference in any direction. There's no slimy smearing or other ugliness at all. The colors are rich, vibrant, and absolutely crisp. The tiny screen, something I was enamored with on last year's Game & Watch, is back again and looks fantastic. I'd play through Zelda II in its Japanese version if it weren't already hard enough to play in English, but it's still super cool and definitely worth checking out for any long-time fans who have never seen the differences. When you talk to a townsperson in one of the villages, there's a made-up beepy-boopy video game language as their dialogue spills across the screen. What I didn't know, and I'm embarrassed to admit, was that the Japanese version of The Legend of Zelda II also has different sounds than the version I grew up with. ![]()
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