LCD games from The Legend of Zelda series

genre = Action Adventure
modes = Single player
ratings =
platforms = Game & Watch, Wrist watch
media =
requirements =
input =

"Zelda Game Watch" and "Zelda Game & Watch" are two action-adventure video games developed and published by Nintendo. They are respectively an LCD wristwatch game and a multiscreen "Zelda" game on the Game & Watch platform.

Gameplay

The "Zelda Game Watch"

The Game Watch was a multi-purpose wristwatch by Nelsonic. It was based on the original "The Legend of Zelda" and included such familiar foes as Aquamentus and Keese. It was considered the poorer of the two LCD games because the screen was too small to reasonably allow much strategy or movement. The playing area was even smaller than that of the Game Boy titles in the series. It came in black, red, white and pink.

The game consisted of four dungeons with four rooms each. In each room, Link would have to collect a boomerang to defeat the Gel. After all Gel were defeated he could get a sword to defeat the Keese which first appear in the second dungeon. As a reward, he gained a key to the next room. When entering it, though, he lost his found items and had to recollect them, and if he did not make it to the next room within ten seconds of grabbing the key it was game over. The last two rooms of every dungeon also had hearts to replenish Link's health. Once all the enemies in the fourth room were dealt with, the dungeon's boss (which was always Aquamentus) appeared. To defeat him, Link had to collect a bomb and place it in front of Aquamentus. Following his victory, a Triforce fragment would appear, which allowed him access to the next dungeon. After collecting all four pieces of the Triforce the game would reset to level one.

The "Zelda Game & Watch"

"Zelda Game & Watch", also known as "ZL-65", was the last multi-screen Game & Watch system. Players control Link and must fight through dungeons on the Game & Watch's lower screen. Enemies encountered include series staples such as Moblins, Stalfos, and Ghosts. Once complete, the action shifts to the upper screen where Link battles a dragon, and avoid its fire and tail attacks. Controls limit movement to the left and right; pressing down causes refreshing Links health with "Water of life", pressing up makes him climb the stairs, and the attack button slashes enemies to death with a sword and also can activate a shield. When Link is at full health, the "sword beam" ability occurs. Once completed, the game starts again with the players high score carried over and faster enemies.

Plot

Both plots feature Link, but Ganon appears in neither of them.

The "Zelda Game Watch"

Hyrule is attacked by a monster king called Aquamentus along with his 3 sons. They shatter the Triforce into four pieces, steal them, and take over the four sacred dungeons. Because of this, Hyrule is in chaos. Link must kill them and their minions to save Hyrule.

The "Zelda Game & Watch"

Eight dragons kidnap Princess Zelda and threaten mankind, and Link has to defeat these dragons to save Hyrule.

Development

It was developed by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo R&D1.

Reception

"Zelda Game & Watch" is thought to have pushed the limits of what is possible on the Game & Watch LCD format, though the gameplay is far simpler than the NES original.

In 1998, Toymax Inc. was licensed to make the Mini Classic series, keychain-sized remakes of the Game & Watch series, one of them, of course, being the Zelda title. It has a significantly smaller screen size, and, unlike its predecessor, looks more like a Game Boy than a Nintendo DS. This keychain version, along with Oil Panic and Donkey Kong, was only released in Europe. By at least 2007, Stadlbauer and It's Outrageous! have begun distributing the Mini Classics version in select locations within the United States, using art from ' and '. In October 2002, Nintendo included a port of the game as a hidden unlockable extra in "Game & Watch Gallery 4" for the Game Boy Advance. However, the game world is significantly different in this port. To fit everything on-screen at once, the second screen was reduced. Its height is about two-thirds of that of the original screen, but almost twice its length.

References

External links

* [http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gbadvance/game/561568.html Complete guide to the "Zelda" port] at GameFAQs
* [http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/gba/b/g%26w4_2.htm The Video Game Museum's ending gallery] shows the complete ending sequence
* [http://www.zeldalegends.net/index.php?n=gw ZeldaLegends.net article] has some pictures and info