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, also known as OoA, is a video game published by Nintendo and developed by Nintendo in conjunction with Capcom. Although the game was originally released for use on the Nintendo Game Boy Color, it exhibits special features, such as additional items, when played on a Nintendo Game Boy Advance.
Gameplay This game is the counterpart of , which was released at the same time. These two games have the ability to link with one another, using either passwords or a cable, so that a person could play one game, and then transfer his or her progress to the other game. In addition, this is the only way to reach the "true" ending of the game. The game was originally planned to be a trilogy known as the "Triforce Trilogy", in which two of the games were to be remakes of the original NES titles. This idea was scrapped relatively late in the development process, and the games were re-branded to remove all mention of this Triforce theme. Story Deep inside the Temple of the Triforce, Link slowly approached the golden relic when a voice called out to him. Without warning, he was sucked into a vortex that tossed him out into a dark forest where upon landing, the young hero heard screaming. Running blindly through the bushes, Link entered a clearing and found a lady on the ground screaming and being circled by animals. When the monsters saw Link approach them, they scattered off in all directions. Link soon realized that the woman lying on the ground was Princess Zelda's nurse, Impa. Impa said that there was a singer in the forest and that she had to go look for her. The nurse asked Link if he could help her. He agreed and the two went off in search for the songtress. Continuing through the forest, they finally found who they were looking for. A young lady with blue hair sat on a tree stump surrounded by forest creatures that were listening to her beautiful song. The girl's name was Nayru and then Impa broke the solo with an evil laugh. A shadow had emerged from Impa and was cackling as it swirled through the trees. The silhouette revealed itself as Veran, Sorceress of Shadows. The shadow began soaring around before flying into Nayru's body and disappearing in a flash of light. Nayru was the Oracle of Ages to land called Labrynna and now that she was taken by Veran, the time flow between the past and present became disrupted. The land of Labrynna The land of Labrynna is much smaller than most worlds in the Zelda series. The land of Labrynna can be explored twice over by Link, in the Past and the Present. Each has subtle changes, much like the Light World and Dark World in . Characters Difference between Seasons and Ages The biggest difference between Seasons and Ages is that each focuses on a different aspect of the classic Zelda formula: Ages is puzzle-heavy while Seasons is action-oriented. It's worth mentioning that Seasons and Ages are fully self-contained games that can be played and completed without each other. Links to Oracle of Seasons Upon completing Oracle of Ages, players will receive a 20-character password. When starting a new game, players can input the password to play an alternative version of . The alternative version features people who will mention passwords. Upon telling these passwords to people in Oracle of Ages, their Oracle of Ages file will receive items of some sort. Then, by taking a new password back into Oracle of Seasons, the new item can be brought to the game. Rings can also be traded this way, either by password or by Link Cable. The alternate game also has many extras. Some items move around and must be found in different places. Princess Zelda appears and must be rescued. The Oracle of Ages character Queen Ambi appears in the game, and after searching for her long-lost sea-faring lover, finds him in Subrosia. Also, once Onox is defeated, the witch Twinrova appears. Veran and Onox were ploys to light the Flames of Sorrow and Destruction. Upon kidnapping Princess Zelda, the third Flame of Despair lights, and Twinrova attempts to offer Zelda as a tribute, along with the energy of the 3 Flames, to revive Ganon. Link must then enter Twinrova's lair and stop the ritual. Upon completing the alternative game, players receive yet another password. When used to start a new game, players receive the Victory Ring, which commemorates their defeat of Ganon. Other media A manga novelization of the game was made by the manga-ka Akira Himekawa, a sequel to Oracle of Seasons manga. It introduced plot-lines and story elements that weren't included in the original game, characters like Raven, Link's ancestor who travelled to Labrynna and worked as Queen Ambi's chief guard, as well as a companion in the bumbling Ralph (a young man who assists Link on his quest), and finally Link's grandparents, who raised him. It also included the link-up segment of the game, hence Ganon made an appearance. However, unlike the game, Zelda does not kiss Link at the end of the story. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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