Zelda: FAQ and Walkthrough

ZELDA II: THE ADVENTURE OF LINK

A.K.A.

THE LEGEND OF ZELDA 2: LINK NO BOUKEN

Japan -> U.S. Changes FAQ - Version 1.0

Created: Dec. 30, 2003, Last Updated: Dec. 30, 2003

Compiled by John Ricciardi [http://www.nokonoko.net]

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (C)1987 Nintendo Co., Ltd.
This FAQ (C)2003 John Ricciardi. All Rights Reserved.

Welcome! This is a simple list of differences between the original
Japanese version of the second 8-Bit Zelda game (The Legend of Zelda
2: Link no Bouken, for the Famicom Disk System) and the U.S. version
(Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, for the Nintendo Entertainment
System). Most people never had a chance to experience the Japanese
version, so I thought it'd be neat to compile a list of differences,
as the game was altered significantly during the conversion from
Japanese disk to American cartridge.

=====================================================================

Differences in the original Japanese version are as follows:

1. The opening title screen music has an extra layer of sound. It
sounds better than the U.S. version.

2. At the title screen, underneath the game logo, it says "PUSH
START." In the U.S. version, there is no such text.

3. The text in the opening scroll is different. The original Japanese
version is as follows:

SEVERAL YEARS AFTER GANNON
WAS DESTROYED,LINK  LEARNS
FROM IMPA ABOUT THE ANOTH-
ER SLEEPING PRINCESS ZELDA.
HE IS  TOLD SHE  CAN  ONLY
AWAKEN WITH THE  No.3 TRY-
FORCE SEALED  IN THE GREAT
SANCTUARY AT DISVALLEY. TO
REMOVE THE SEAL,  CRYSTALS
MUST BE  EMBEDDED  INTO  A
STONE  STATUE  STANDING IN
6 SANCTUARIS.
LINK SETS OUT ON AN
   ADVENTUROUS QUEST...

For comparison, here is the text from the original U.S. Version:

AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED,  
IMPA TOLD LINK A SLEEPING   
SPELL WAS CAST ON PRINCESS  
ZELDA. SHE WILL WAKE ONLY   
WITH THE POWER OF NO.3      
TRIFORCE SEALED IN A PALACE 
IN HYRULE. TO BREAK THE     
SEAL,CRYSTALS MUST BE       
PLACED IN STATUES IN 6      
WELL GUARDED PALACES.       
LINK SET OUT ON HIS MOST    
ADVENTURESOME QUEST YET... 

And here is the text from the updated U.S. Version found on the
GameCube Zelda Collector's Edition disc:

AFTER GANON WAS DESTROYED,
IMPA TOLD LINK A SLEEPING 
SPELL WAS CAST ON PRINCESS
ZELDA. SHE WILL WAKE ONLY
WITH THE POWER OF THE THIRD
TRIFORCE SEALED IN A PALACE
IN HYRULE. TO BREAK THE
SEAL,CRYSTALS MUST BE 
PLACED IN STATUES IN 6
WELL GUARDED PALACES.
LINK SET OUT ON HIS MOST
ADVENTURESOME QUEST YET...

Side note: why change "No.3" to "THE THIRD" but not fix any of the
other text? Weird, Nintendo. Weird.

4. The file select screen is different. At the bottom, instead of
"REGISTER YOUR NAME" and "ELIMINATION MODE," it says "NAMAE TOUROKU"
and "KILL MODE" (NAMAE TOUROKU is Japanese for 'name registration').

5. Hyrule Castle is less detailed. The pillars are only found in
Zelda's chamber -- they don't extend to the hallways like they do in
the U.S. version. Instead, the upper ceiling hangs much lower in the
hallways. There are no purple curtains in the hallways, either.

6. Zelda's chamber doesn't have any torches. There are two in the
U.S. version.

7. Link's color palette is a bit different. The brown is a bit darker
in the original.

8. The enemies and fairies on the overworld map look completely
different. In the Japanese version, they look a bit like balloons
with eyes. Stronger enemies are blue, while weaker enemies are
off-white. Fairies are red.

9. The battle music is entirely different. It's nothing at all like
the battle music in the U.S. version. FWIW, I think the U.S. battle
music is much better.

10. Experience point bonuses are different. For example, Bubbles
(those flying circular skull things that drain your magic) only give
you 10 points! What a rip!

11. When you go up in level, you can choose any category to improve
at any time (Attack, Magic, Life). In the U.S. version, each category
has separate point requirements (usually Attack costs most, while
Life is cheapest). This might seem a bit unbalanced, but there's a
catch...

12. ...And the catch is this: When you die and have to continue, your
three levels (Attack, Magic, Life) will be evened out to equal that
of whichever was lowest before you died. So if you have 5 Attack, 4
Magic and 3 Life, and then you run out of lives, all three attributes
will be reduced to 3 when you continue. Ouch! Because of this, it is
best to always level up each attribute evenly, lest you find yourself
losing levels all the time.

13. Because the game is disk-based, it pauses to load data whenever
you enter a new area (town, palace, random house on the map, etc.).
During this time, you see a black screen with the letters "W A I T"
in the center.

14. The water in the overworld is animated. It does not move in the
U.S. version.

15. Link doesn't pick up items (like Heart Containers, etc.).
Instead, you have to stab them with your sword to get them, just like
magic bottles and point bags.

16. The six main temples are all white. In the U.S. version, only the
first temple is white. The rest are different colors.

17. Some temples have slightly different layouts and/or enemies. For
example, Midoro Temple (the second temple) has some of those pillars
that drop the blue drip monsters, and there are Blue Octoroks in some
of the halls. This is different from the U.S. version.

18. When you lose all your lives, the screen goes black and the words
"RETURN OF GANNON" and "THE END" appear. There is no silhouette of
Ganon like in the U.S. version.

19. The sound effect when you enter into a battle is different.

20. The sound effect when Link gets hurt is different.

21. The sound effect when reading signs and talking to people is
different.

22. The sound effect when you receive a spell from a wise man is
different.

23. The sound effect when you use magic is different.

24. The sound effect when you stab a wall or hard surface is
different.

25. The sound effect when you open a locked door is different.

26. The sound effect when you stumble upon a fairy is slightly
different (same tune, just sounds better).

27. The sound effect when a boss roars is different.

28. The sound effect when a boss is destroyed is different.

29. The sound effect when you place a crystal into a statue is
different.

30. The sound effect when you lose a life is slightly different
(sounds a bit nicer than in the U.S. version).

31. The sound effect when it says "RETURN OF GANNON" (sic) is
different. Instead of hearing him laugh, you hear the same sound as
when a boss roars.

There are likely dozens of other small changes, but for now, this is
all I've got. Enjoy!

=====================================================================

(C)2003 John Ricciardi. May not be reproduced or redistributed under
any circumstances without the permission of the author (that's me).
Intended for use on GameFAQs.com only. I don't plan on posting it
anywhere else, so please don't ask me if you can. :)

Thanks for reading!
http://www.nokonoko.net