Ranking Every Legend Of Zelda Game From Worst To Best

14. Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link

Zelda II is the Skull Kid of the series. It's mostly forgotten and there's nobody around today who wants to play with it, all because it's different.

Like the skeletally-veiled forest imp, you have to feel somewhat sorry for it, as it doesn't really merit its maligned reputation. In a series which has been justifiably criticised for relying on an increasingly tired formula, that the universal complaint about the second game centres on its early attempts to shake things up seems unfair.

However, there's a very good reason why Zelda is so formulaic: it's a bloody good formula. In largely ditching the top-down perspective for a more action-oriented experience akin to Castlevania or Metroid, Zelda II represented a major overhaul compared to its predecessor, and it's one which has been latterly rejected by fans revisiting the franchise's older titles. "It's not bad... but it's not Zelda," is the typical response.

And that's really the crux of Adventure of Link's problem: it really isn't a bad game, but anyone looking for old-school Zelda magic in the great tradition of the series is going to be left unsatisfied. Stick with it though: it's something of a hidden gem, albeit a tough one. Perfect for a Goron to chew on.