The Nintendo/Capcom pairing for one of the latest Zelda games has created an incredibly clever game. Of course the game I am talking about is none other than the Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons/Ages. I was surprised to learn when first turning on the game to see the words Capcom to flash across the screen. I have put two games in this review because these games are both the same, sort of. First off this game applies all the greatness of old with all the greatness of new. For instance, the password system that allows you to switch between the games is genius. This allows for all sorts of secrets and new upgrades. Also, the time/season changing offers increased difficulty and more puzzles. With out a doubt, this game will be a classic.

    In Oracle of Seasons (as well as in Ages) the opening movie has you walk inside a castle and walk up to the triforce. The triforce sends you to a different world. As you come to, you meet Din, the oracle of seasons in the disguise of a dancer. Then before your very eyes, Onox, the general of darkness, kidnaps Din. From that moment on you explore Holodrum and obtain the rod of the seasons. Then you can change the seasons from atop a tree stump. Each season has its own special attributes, which makes the game more puzzling.

    In Ages, the opening movie is the same. This time you are sent to the land of Labrynna. When you come to this time, you meet Impa, Zelda’s royal nurse. Impa is a strange shade of gray, but you don’t seem to notice. As you walk along with Impa, you see a stone with the triforce on it. Impa convinces you to move the stone. Then you meet Nayru, Oracle of Ages, and listen to her song. Then a shadow comes out of Impa and you find out that Vernan, Sorceress of shadows, possessed her. She possesses Nayru and goes back in time. That’s when your adventures in time. Later, you get a harp which controls time and that makes the game more puzzling.

    There are several things that both games have. They have classic Zelda characters, like the Zora’s and the Goron’s. There are also some new characters like the Subrosians and Maple the witch apprentice. And there is a way to link the games. You can input a password or use a link cable to continue the game. In other words, once you beat one of the games you can continue the other game with passwords. Also, there are things called rings that you wear that give you special powers. There may even be a special appearance by Zelda herself.

    All in all this game is great. There is good music that you will be signing in your sleep, memorable gameplay, and side quests. Two of my favorite features in the game are the mini games and finding all the rings. I’d give this game an 8.5/10 just because of the insane difficulty that occurs later on in the game. Still, if the newest version of the game is just as good as these ones, it shall be a good game indeed.