Editing Zelda's Adventure

{{Use mdy dates|date=January 2023}}
{{Short description|1995 video game}}
{{unreliable sources|date=December 2016}}
{{Infobox video game
| title     = Zelda's Adventure
| image     = Zeldasadventure packaging.jpg
| caption   = Box art for ''Zelda's Adventure''
| developer = Viridis Corporation
| publisher = [[Philips|Philips Interactive Media]]
| director  = Anna Roth
| designer  = Lee Barnes<br>Christopher Thompson
| engine    =
| released  = {{vgrelease|EU|May 10, 1996<ref>{{Cite web |access-date= January 7, 2021 |url= https://tcrf.net/Prerelease:Zelda%27s_Adventure#The_Scrapped_NA_Release |title= The Scrapped NA Release |quote= The July 1994 issue of Computer and Video Games included a preview of ''Zelda's Adventure'', where it gave a release date of August of the same year. Likewise, the August 1994 issue of the UK CD-i magazine had a review of ''Zelda's Adventure'', which gave an October release date. Neither of these release dates stuck, and the game would be pushed back to early 1996. Had any of the releases happened, it's likely that ''Zelda's Adventure'' would've been released in North America around the same time. |archive-date= August 17, 2024 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20240817184006/https://tcrf.net/Prerelease:Zelda%27s_Adventure#The_Scrapped_NA_Release |url-status= live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |type= Magazine |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |title=CDi Magazine UK |issue=17 |quote=Out: 10/05 |date=April 1996 |page=12}}</ref>}}
| series    = ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]''
| genre     = [[Action-adventure game|Action-adventure]]
| modes     = [[Single-player]]
| platforms = [[Philips CD-i]]
}}
'''''Zelda's Adventure''''' is an [[Action-adventure game|action-adventure]] [[fantasy]] video game developed by Viridis Corporation and released on the [[CD-i]] format, based on ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' franchise. Set in the land of Tolemac, the game follows a non-traditional storyline, in which [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]] has been captured by the evil lord [[Ganon]], and [[Princess Zelda|Zelda]] must collect the seven celestial signs in order to rescue him.

Released nearly eight months after the first two [[CD-i games from The Legend of Zelda series|''Zelda'' CD-i games]], ''Zelda's Adventure'' uses a different game engine from [[Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon|''Faces of Evil'' and ''Wand of Gamelon'']]. Whereas the first two CD-i games were patterned on the side-scrolling ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'', ''Zelda's Adventure'' took the top-down ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'', ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening|Link's Awakening]]'' as its models. ''Zelda's Adventure'' is the only ''Legend of Zelda'' game to feature live-action cutscenes. Reception for the game was negative, and whereas some critics have given more nuanced reviews of the first two games, ''Zelda's Adventure'' is  regarded as [[List of video games notable for negative reception|one of the worst video games ever made]].

==Gameplay==
[[Image:Zeldasadventure1.jpg|left|thumb|Gameplay screenshot]]
Unlike the previous two CD-i ''Zelda'' games, which take the [[side-scrolling game|side-scrolling]] view from ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link|Zelda II]]'', ''Zelda's Adventure'' is played with the overhead view found in ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]''.<ref name="IGNZA">{{cite web |url=http://cheats.ign.com/objects/017/017125.html |title=IGN: Zelda's Adventure |website=[[IGN]] |access-date=April 15, 2008 |archive-date=April 9, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409203733/http://cheats.ign.com/objects/017/017125.html |url-status=live }}</ref> Playing as [[Princess Zelda]], the aim is to fight through the Seven Shrines of the Underworld to collect the celestial signs, and bring the land of Tolemac to an Age of Lightness.<ref name="IGNZA"/><ref name="MGZA">{{cite web |url=http://www.mobygames.com/game/zeldas-adventure |title=Zelda's Adventure for CD-i |publisher=[[MobyGames]] |access-date=April 15, 2008 |archive-date=October 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171014050859/http://www.mobygames.com/game/zeldas-adventure |url-status=live }}</ref>

Unlike the other two games, ''Zelda's Adventure'' was created by Viridis, an entirely different company, with a change in style and gameplay.<ref name="IGNZA"/><ref name="MGZA"/> Level design is very much like the original ''The Legend of Zelda'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'', with an overworld that allows access to individual dungeons.<ref name="MGZA"/><ref name="zeldasadvent">{{cite web |url=http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries_za.shtml#overview |title=Overview: Zelda's Adventure |author=Zelda Elements Staff |publisher=Zelda Elements |date=January 1, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080306043728/http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries_za.shtml#overview |archive-date = March 6, 2008}}</ref> The [[Full motion video|FMV]] sequences that present the plot are [[live action]] instead of animated.<ref name="zeldasadvent"/>

== Plot ==
[[Ganon]] has kidnapped Link and stolen the seven celestial signs, creating an "Age of Darkness" in the kingdom of Tolemac ([[Camelot]] spelled backwards).<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Opening sequence |quote='''Gaspra the Astronomer:''' And so it was that Ganon, Lord of Darkness, had taken over Tolemac. He had stolen the treasured celestial signs and captured Link!}}</ref> Princess Zelda (Diane Burns, Annie Ward) is recruited by the court [[astrologer]] Gaspra (Mark Andrade) to collect the signs to defeat Ganon and save Link.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Opening sequence |quote='''Gaspra the Astronomer:''' And so I've found this champion of strength and courage. It is you, Princess Zelda. (...) Go now, my princess; restore the celestial signs and rescue Link.}}</ref>

Guided by the words of Shurmak, Zelda must first travel through the forest to the Shrine of Rock,<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |quote='''Shurmak:''' I am Shurmak your guide. I have known you since you were a child. (...) Go now to the one who has a bed but never sleeps, where by its side the red willow weeps and to its mouth that never speaks.}}</ref> where she encounters Llort, a greedy minion of Ganon who protects the first celestial sign.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Inside the Shrine of Rock |quote='''Llort:''' I said this is my cave. Mine! This is the Shrine of Rock and I am Llort! Go away! Take nothing! It's all mine!}}</ref> Gaspra appears to congratulate Zelda and direct her to the Shrine of Illusion where she faces Pasquinade to earn the second celestial sign.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Sequence after the Shrine of Rock |quote='''Gaspra the Astrologer:''' Congratulations, Zelda. You have prevailed. Hurry now; you must travel to a place of festi`val. Rumor tells it is found in the great forest to the north. And remember, all is not what it seems.}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Entrance to the Shrine of Illusion |quote='''Shurmak:''' Look beyond illusion to conquer the evil Pasquinade. Deception is all around you.}}</ref> Guided by the inhabitants of Tolemac, Zelda then makes her way to the mountains to conquer the Shrines of Air<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |quote='''Thabul the Mystic:''' Something you seek is not of this world, but above it. Defeat the woman of the air. It is to the east you must go.}}</ref> and Destiny<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Sequence after the Shrine of Air |quote='''Gaspra the Astrologer:''' Your quest continues to the northwest, to a place of burial where destiny can be challenged.}}</ref> before crossing the great south sea to challenge Agwanda at the Shrine of Water for the fifth sign.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Sequence after the Shrine of Destiny |quote='''Gaspra the Astrologer:''' Hurry, now! Waters of healing and renewal await you. Remember, to look for the great sea island to the south.}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Entrance to the Shrine of Water |quote='''Shurmak:''' A strong spirit leads the way to the troubled waters that lie ahead. Stay above water and you will conquer the evil Agwanda.}}</ref> Gaspra directs Zelda once more to the Shrine of Power in the southeast where her strength is tested,<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Sequence after the Shrine of Water |quote='''Gaspra the Astrologer:''' I hear tell of a vast fortress of strength and power. Go forward bravely, and you will be victorious.}}</ref> before traveling to the Shrine of Fire where she will face Warbane.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Sequence after the Shrine of Power |quote='''Gaspra the Astrologer:''' You're drawing close, but your journey will carry you far to the northwest where many say there's a rumble in the earth and a glow of fire.}}</ref><ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Marketplace in Great Wimbish |quote=For thirty suns my husband and I ran the great locksmith forge for Warbane. Then Ganon came and pressed Warbane into service for his own evil plan. The forge was closed. Warbane built a fortified retreat of his own, somewhere off in the Forest of Canvula to the north.}}</ref> As Zelda reaches to collect the final celestial sign Ganon's claw stops her, and she is drawn into his lair for the final battle.

In the game's final scenes, peace returns to Tolemac. Link is revealed to be safe, holding hands with Zelda where the entrance to Ganon's lair once stood, the land now thriving with new growth.<ref>{{cite video game |title=Zelda's Adventure |developer=Viridis |publisher=Philips Media |date=1994 |platform=Philips CD-i |level=Closing sequence |quote='''Gaspra the Astrologer:''' Princess Zelda, you've succeeded! The victory has brought peace and light back to Tolemac. Your courage and strength will not be forgotten. For now, your work is done. Off you go to celebrate Link's return. But first, remember, lessons of the heart, mercy, and human kindness prevail above all else. Farewell, young princess!}}</ref>

== Development ==
In 1989, [[Nintendo]] signed a deal with [[Sony]] to begin development of a [[CD-ROM]]-based system known as the "Nintendo PlayStation" or the SNES CD to be an [[Peripheral|add-on]] to the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] that would allow for [[Full motion video|FMV]] and larger games.<ref name="cdioverview">{{cite web |url= http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries.shtml |title=Overview: CDi Series |author=Zelda Elements Staff |publisher=Zelda Elements |date=January 1, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080306102711/http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries.shtml |archive-date = March 6, 2008}}</ref><ref name="trailers">{{cite web |url=http://www.gametrailers.com/player/14537.html |title=The Legend of Zelda Retrospective Zelda Retrospective Part 3 |author=GameTrailers Staff |publisher=[[GameTrailers]] |date=October 22, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-date=March 19, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080319113522/http://www.gametrailers.com/player/14537.html |url-status=live }}</ref> However, Nintendo broke the agreement and instead signed with [[Philips]] to make the add-on, which caused [[Sony]] to spin off their add-on into its own console called the [[PlayStation (console)|PlayStation]].<ref name="cdioverview"/><ref name="Wired"/><ref name="Dumbest">{{cite web |url=http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index17.shtml |title=Nintendo: From Hero to Zero |author=GameSpy Staff |publisher=[[GameSpy]] |date=January 1, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080404183227/http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/june03/dumbestmoments/index17.shtml |archive-date=April 4, 2008}}</ref> Witnessing the poor reception of the [[Sega CD|Sega Mega-CD]], Nintendo scrapped the idea of making an add-on entirely.<ref name="cdioverview"/><ref name="trailers"/> As part of dissolving the agreement with Philips, Nintendo gave them the license to use five of their characters, including [[Link (The Legend of Zelda)|Link]], [[Princess Zelda]], and [[Ganon]], for games on Philips's console called the [[CD-i]], after the partnership's dissolution.<ref name="trailers"/><ref name="kot">{{cite web |url=http://kotaku.com/gaming/history-is-cool!/this-day-in-gaming-june-5th-265907.php |title=This Day in Gaming, June 5th |first=Mark |last=Wilson |website=[[Kotaku]] |date=June 5, 2007 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080608052257/http://kotaku.com/gaming/history-is-cool%21/this-day-in-gaming-june-5th-265907.php |archive-date=June 8, 2008}}</ref> Contracting out to independent studios, Philips subsequently used the characters to create three games for the CD-i, with Nintendo taking no part in their development except to give input on the look of the characters<ref name="trailers"/><ref name="faceevil">{{cite web|url=http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries_foe.shtml |title=Overview: Link: The Faces of Evil |author=Zelda Elements Staff |publisher=Zelda Elements |date=January 1, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090314052202/http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries_foe.shtml |archive-date=March 14, 2009 |url-status=unfit}}</ref> based on the artwork from Nintendo's original two titles and that of their respective instruction booklets.<ref name="retrogamer27">''[https://archive.org/stream/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_027#page/52/mode/2up The Making of... Zelda: 'Wand of Gamelon' & 'Link: Faces of Evil']''. [[Retro Gamer]]. Issue 27. p. 52-57. August 2006.</ref> Philips insisted that the development studios utilize all aspects of the CD-i's capabilities including [[Full motion video|FMV]],<ref name="gamelon">{{cite web | url=http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries_wog.shtml | title=Overview: Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon | author=Zelda Elements Staff | publisher=Zelda Elements | date=January 1, 2008 | access-date=April 7, 2008 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080220115512/http://www.zeldaelements.net/cdiseries_wog.shtml | archive-date = February 20, 2008}}</ref> high-resolution graphics, and CD-quality music.<ref name=retrogamer27/> Because the system had not been designed as a dedicated video game console, there were several technical limitations, such as laggy controls (especially for the standard infrared controller),<ref name="gamelon"/> and numerous problems in streaming-audio, memory, disc access, and graphics.<ref name=retrogamer27/> Viridis was tasked with observing ''A Link to the Past'' and basing ''Zelda's Adventure''{{'}}s gameplay on it, though was told to still show off the CD-i's capabilities, meaning that the game still used Redbook audio and animated cutscenes.<ref name="ign">{{cite web |url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/26/hyrule-times-vol-13-zeldas-adventure |title=Hyrule Times Vol. 13: Zelda's Adventure |work=[[IGN]] |last=Schneider |first=Peer |date=January 26, 2002 |accessdate=July 8, 2021 |archive-date=May 12, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230512195654/https://www.ign.com/articles/2002/01/26/hyrule-times-vol-13-zeldas-adventure |url-status=live }}</ref>

The backgrounds for ''Zelda's Adventure'' were created from videos of scenery near [[Santa Monica Boulevard]] in [[West Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California|West L.A.]], footage of [[Hawaii]] taken from a helicopter and the developers' vacation photos.<ref name="developing">{{cite web |author=Bas |url=http://cdii.blogspot.com/2007/03/zelda-voyeur-and-man-who-worked-on-both.html |date=March 8, 2007 |title=Zelda, Voyeur, and a man who worked on both CD-i projects... |publisher=Interactive Dreams |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-date=January 30, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080130232411/http://cdii.blogspot.com/2007/03/zelda-voyeur-and-man-who-worked-on-both.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> This decision was responsible for much of the game's RAM usage, causing backgrounds to scroll slowly and causing extreme frustration to the game's developers. The CD-i's technical abilities were so limited that the use of one or two kilobytes of system RAM caused arguments amongst the developers.<ref name="developing"/> Photos of the characters were shot using mirrors mounted on the ceiling, which was so low it precluded mounting the camera. All of the game's human characters were portrayed by the in-office staff. The character's sprite walking animations were done by having the actors walk on a motorized [[treadmill]].<ref name=cdii>{{cite web |author=Bas |url=https://cdii.blogspot.com/2007/02/philips-viridis-zelda.html |date=February 6, 2007 |title=Philips + Viridis = Zelda |publisher=Interactive Dreams |archive-date=July 21, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721090642/https://cdii.blogspot.com/2007/02/philips-viridis-zelda.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> The game's music composer, Mark Andrade also physically portrayed the part of Gaspra in the game's cutscenes, while his voice was dubbed by ''[[The Andy Griffith Show]]'' star, [[Hal Smith (actor)|Hal Smith]]. Zelda in the game's opening cutscene was played by office receptionist Diane Burns, while in other cutscenes as well in-game she was portrayed by Annie Ward.<ref name="developing"/> The houses and interiors built for the cut scenes were built as scale models.<ref name="developing"/> Non-human characters were created using clay models and being animated in [[stop motion]] animation. The model artist was Jason Bakutis, who had worked in Hollywood on movies like ''[[Critters 3]]'' and ''[[Freddy's Dead: The Final Nightmare]]''.<ref name=jason>{{Cite web|url=http://www.nintendoplayer.com/interview/zeldas-adventure-jason-bakutis/|title=Nintendo Player – A Not-For-Profit Classic Gaming Fansite - Interview with Zelda's Adventure (Philips CD-i) Model and Prosthetic Maker Jason Bakutis|website=www.nintendoplayer.com|access-date=January 1, 2017|archive-date=August 17, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240817184000/http://www.nintendoplayer.com/interview/zeldas-adventure-jason-bakutis/|url-status=live}}</ref> Developers have stated they were not influenced by the first two CD-i Zelda games.<ref name="developing"/> ''Zelda's Adventure'' spent two years in [[Software testing|testing]], longer than it took to develop the game.<ref name="developing"/> Much more music was composed for the game than was used.<ref name="developing"/> Developers had difficulty making sure all the areas of the game had proper background masking.<ref name="developing"/> There were plans at one point to hire [[Echo & the Bunnymen]] to do the music.<ref name=jason/>

Intending to push the capacities of the CD-i to its limits, development initially progressed with a goal of 600 screens and 160 [[Non-player character|NPC]]s. At this early stage, Viridis president Lee Barnes suggested that playthrough time might take as much as 300 hours.<ref>"New Nintendo Titles are in the Pipeline". ''CDi Magazine''. Pg.4.</ref> These development figures were reduced in the final product which had only a handful of NPCs and whose playthrough time has been placed by one commentator at only 12 hours.<ref>Szczepaniak, John. ''[http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/kusoge/kusoge03.htm Your Weekly Kusoge #03 - Zelda's Adventure - CDi (1995)] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131010085204/http://www.hardcoregaming101.net/kusoge/kusoge03.htm |date=October 10, 2013 }}''. HardcoreGaming101. 2011.</ref>

The majority of the game's programming was done by one person—Randy Casey, who was responsible for programming all of the game and all associated tools. Additional programming for the inventory system and game progress tracking, dubbed "FRP engine", was done by Gavin James. There is conflicting information about the game's budget—one developer claims there was "no budget at all"<ref name=cdii/> while Bakutis claims (possibly facetiously) it had "at the time, the biggest budget ''ever'' for a video game".<ref name=jason/>

==Reception==
{{Video game reviews
| rev1 = CD-i
| rev1Score = 84%<ref>{{Cite journal |last=Alesi |first=Jason |date=April 1994 |title=Zelda's Adventure Review |url=https://archive.org/details/cdi-uk-17/page/n9/mode/2up |journal=CD-i |publisher=Haymarket Publishing |issue=17 |pages=10–12 |access-date=April 4, 2022}}</ref>
}}

''Zelda's Adventure'' was widely panned by critics. The graphics of ''Zelda's Adventure'' were called "blurry and digitized".<ref name="Wired">{{cite magazine|url=http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/03/gamelife-the--3.html |title=Game{{!}}Life The Video, #7: Nintendo and CD-i |last=Kohler |first=Chris |magazine=[[Wired (magazine)|Wired]] |date=March 24, 2008 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090401234018/http://blog.wired.com/games/2008/03/gamelife-the--3.html |archive-date=April 1, 2009 |url-status=unfit}}</ref><ref name="up">{{cite web |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=5&cId=3149883 |title=CDi: The Ugly Duckling |first=Danny |last=Cowan |website=[[1UP.com]] |date=April 25, 2006 |access-date=April 7, 2008 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://archive.today/20120720182316/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=5&cId=3149883 |archive-date=July 20, 2012}}</ref> [[Wired (magazine)|''Wired'' magazine]] said that the graphics were some of the worst ever encountered.<ref name="Wired" /> The game's acting was criticized as unprofessional. Another flaw that has been identified is that the game could not produce both sound effects and music at the same time.<ref name="up" /> Scott Sharkey of ''[[1UP.com]]'' called the box art of ''Zelda's Adventure'' one of the 15 worst ever made.<ref>{{cite web |first=Scott |last=Sharkey |url=http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3158260 |date=March 30, 2007 |title=Hey Covers...You Suck! |website=[[1UP.com]] |access-date=April 7, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121019144058/http://www.1up.com/do/feature?pager.offset=4&cId=3158260 |archive-date=October 19, 2012 |url-status=dead}}</ref> ''Zelda's Adventure'' was released as the Philips CD-i was being discontinued and has become very rare over time, as have the first two Philips Zelda games; ''Zelda's Adventure'' is regularly sold for over $100.<ref name="up" /><ref>{{cite news|page= 3|title=Technology: Gamesblog: Yesterday's games could be gold dust to collectors. The games are internet memes on Youtube.|first=Keith|last=Stuart |date=April 19, 2007 |newspaper=[[The Guardian]]}}</ref>

Despite giving positive reviews for ''Faces of Evil'' and ''Wand of Gamelon'', neither Danny Cowan of ''[[1UP.com]]'' nor ''RetroGamer''{{'s}} John Szczepaniak would extend them to ''Zelda's Adventure'', which Szczepaniak described as demonstrating arbitrary and illogical design, sloppy visuals, nearly non-existent music, excruciatingly high difficulty and cumbersome loading and controlling. Gameplay for ''Zelda's Adventure'' has also been portrayed as a trial-and-error effort to guess which items can be used to defeat which enemy.<ref name="deservdamn">''[https://archive.org/stream/retro_gamer/RetroGamer_027#page/56/mode/2up The Making of... Zelda: 'Wand of Gamelon' & 'Link: Faces of Evil' - Deserving Damnation]''. [[Retro Gamer]]. Issue 27. p. 57. August 2006.</ref> Cowan called ''Zelda's Adventure'' "practically unplayable" due to the jerky frame rate, unresponsive controls, and long load times, summarizing his review with a warning to avoid the game at all costs.<ref name="up"/> In discussing the popular online conception that ''Zelda's Adventure'' is superior to ''Wand of Gamelon'' and ''Faces of Evil'', ''RetroGamer'' pointed to the top-down perspective as fomenting misinformation regarding the game's similarities to the original ''Zelda'' when, according to ''RetroGamer'', the game is actually not worth playing.<ref name=deservdamn/> ''[[USgamer]]'' staff ranked ''Zelda's Adventure'' as the second worst ''The Legend of Zelda'' game, noting that it is counted separately from the other CD-i games due to being less terrible than the others. They considered it a "well-meaning attempt" to recreate the original ''[[The Legend of Zelda (video game)|The Legend of Zelda]]'' on the NES, as well as crediting it for being one of few video games to let players play as Zelda, but felt that the lack of experience on the designers' part as well as the CD-i's technical limitations made it a "dreadful" game to play.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.usgamer.net/articles/26-07-2018-best-zelda-games-every-legend-of-zelda-game-ranked#section-3 |work=[[USgamer]] |date=June 4, 2019 |accessdate=July 8, 2021 |title=Best Zelda Games Ranked Worst to Best |archive-date=July 9, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210709191002/https://www.usgamer.net/articles/26-07-2018-best-zelda-games-every-legend-of-zelda-game-ranked#section-3 |url-status=dead }}</ref> ''[[IGN]]'' writer Peer Schneider was excited that a new developer was chosen instead of the one behind ''Wand of Gamelon'' and ''Faces of Evil'', though still felt it was not worth playing despite being an improvement over the other two games. He recommended it only for "die-hard Zelda fan[s]".<ref name="ign"/>

==References==
{{Reflist|30em}}

{{The Legend of Zelda}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:1994 video games]]
[[Category:Action-adventure games]]
[[Category:CD-i games]]
[[Category:Europe-exclusive video games]]
[[Category:Fantasy video games]]
[[Category:Nintendo CD-i games]]
[[Category:Video games developed in the United States]]
[[Category:Video games featuring female protagonists]]
[[Category:Single-player video games]]
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda spinoff games]]
[[Category:Video games with digitized sprites]]
[[Category:Viridis Corporation games]]
[[Category:CD-i-only games]]