Box Art
Game: Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
First Released: May 14, 2001, Gameboy Color
Developers: Flagship, Nintendo, Capcom
Platforms: Gameboy Color, Virtual Console
Rated: E, for Mild Violence
First Released: May 14, 2001, Gameboy Color
Developers: Flagship, Nintendo, Capcom
Platforms: Gameboy Color, Virtual Console
Rated: E, for Mild Violence
How I Came To Play This Game
Link riding a horse in the intro
I originally bought my copy of Oracle of Seasons from a Slackers store. However, the only way for me to play it was on my original Gameboy Advance. Unfortunately, that model was notorious for having a thick protective plastic screen that dimmed the light even when played under a lamp. In other words, it was too hard to see so I eventually gave up. Later I got a Gameboy Advance SP with the backlit screen, but I got bored and didn't make it much further. It wasn't until both Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages were released for the 3DS Virtual Console that I could comfortably play them.
Story
Fight With Onox
Called by the Triforce, Link travels to the shrine of the sacred relic. He is beckoned by the sacred triangles, and they transport him to a world known as Holodrum, which is in dire need of the legendary hero. Link awakens near some stones near an area known as North Horon. He hears distant music, and gets up. Nearby, he finds a traveling troupe of performers, who are enjoying a dance performance by Din, a majestic dancer, another member of the troupe. Link also meets an old woman called Impa, the troupe's cook. Din asks Link if he would like to dance with her, and he agrees. However, all of a sudden, the skies grow dark, and the antagonist, General Onox, presents himself. He reveals that Din is in truth the Oracle of Seasons, a descendant of a line of oracles who have the power to change the seasons of Holodrum. Before disappearing from the scene with Din, Onox calls forth a huge tornado that blows away Link and the troupe members. Onox seals Din inside a crystal cage, and lowers the Temple of Seasons deep beneath the earth, throwing the seasons of Holodrum into chaos, ruining crops and causing despair and misery throughout the land. Link awakens in the care of Impa, who tells him about the current situation. In order for Link to confront Onox and rescue Din, he must talk to the Maku Tree. Link finds the gate to the grove of the Maku Tree locked. In order to prove his worth, he is told to brave the Hero's Cave and retrieve the sword therein. He successfully does so, and enters the grove of the Maku Tree. However, the Maku Tree has been sapped of its power and does not recall how to stop Onox. He informs Link that Onox has also taken the eight Essences of Nature, mysterious items containing the very essence of the various aspects of nature and growth. If Link retrieves these, the Maku Tree will be able to return to his true power and thusly, he will be able to produce a Maku Seed that can dispel the barrier that deters outsiders from entering Onox's Castle. Link eventually finds a portal to a subterranean world known as Subrosia, populated by the cloaked Subrosians. Here, he also finds the ruined Temple of Seasons. He finds his way into the temple, where he communes with the spirit of winter. To aid him in his quest, the spirit presents him with the Rod of Seasons, a mythical object that allows the user to change the seasons to their own liking. In order to use the rod to change the seasons further, he must find other portals leading into the three other towers of the ruined Temple. Eventually, Link manages to add the power of every season to the rod. After many trials and tribulations, Link manages to recover all eight Essences of Nature. As promised, the Maku Tree produces a Maku Seed. The Seed dispels the barrier around Onox's Castle. Inside, Link encounters General Onox in a decisive battle. Realizing the threat that Link poses, General Onox tries to stop Link by transforming into his true form; that of a giant Dark Dragon. Despite this, General Onox is ultimately defeated by the young hero, and Din is released from her prison and the seasons are returned to normal. However, General Onox ultimately succeeded in accomplishing what Twinrova, the evil being that had been controlling his every move wanted him to; to cause enough destruction and suffering in Holodrum to light the Flame of Destruction.
Pros And Cons
Story
Maku Tree
I think as a continuation to the story from A Link to the Past, the story fits rather well. The hero had nothing left to save in Hyrule, as he already completed that quest. It only makes sense that he travel to different lands to complete quests there. Tying in the seasons with it was also a nice touch.
Characters
Din and Link
Not too many characters are added in this game. The only ones that stick out as new are Din, Farore, and the Maku Tree. The two Oracles, Din and Farore, are obviously named after two of the Golden Goddesses, and play a major part of the story. The Maku Tree serves as a source of wisdom and overseer of your journey. The bad guy named General Onox doesn't really have much screen time, so it's hard to believe how evil he really is. Many characters from Ocarina of Time make cameos such as Guru Guru.
Gameplay
Four Seasons, Four Worlds
The gameplay is the same as it was in Link's Awakening, so there really isn't a better way to describe it other than to say "8-bit Link to the Past". However, they added the selective Z-axis from Link to the Past in order to make the game more realistic. In other words, in order to slash an enemy, you need to be on the same level as it is. Other than that it's exactly the same. However, I think that it made fighting enemies a lot tougher. In Link's Awakening, I would use Roc's Feather to hop out of reach of the enemies and kill them with a Spin Attack while in mid-air. However, in this game that doesn't work because you can't hit enemies below you. I also think that the game went a little overboard with the puzzles. Given four versions of the overworld, one for each season, meant that there was a much higher degree of variance. With that, the puzzles were a lot harder to figure out, and that is what ruins a game for me. It shouldn't take forever to figure out how to get into a dungeon, or take hours to complete a dungeon. Other than that, it's another cup of Zelda goodness.
Graphics
Subrosia, the fifth world
Just as the gameplay was, the graphics were completely ripped from Link's Awakening. The only major difference being that they are much more detailed. The overworld is still divided into many screens, but inside dungeons there are areas that cause the screen to scroll. So that is a little improvement and makes it closer in terms of advancement to A Link to the Past.
Music
Many music tracks were also ripped straight from Link's Awakening, such as the Title Screen, Overworld, Witch Hut, Secret, and Item Get themes. However, it does add a lot of new themes as well. Also, many of the ripped tracks have been remastered for better sound quality.
Releases
Oracle of Seasons was released alongside Oracle of Ages on May 14, 2001 for the Gameboy Color. Then on May 30, 2013, they were both released for the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console.
Gameboy Advance Extras
Gameboy Advance
Both the Oracle games were released around the launch of the Gameboy Advance. Since the Gameboy Advance was going to be backwards compatible with Gameboy and Gameboy Color games, the developers decided to add some features that only become available when playing on a Gameboy Advance. The Gameboy Advance had a darker screen than the Gameboy Color, so the game graphics would become much brighter so that they are easier to see. Also, an Advance Shop would become available where you could buy many rare items for discount prices.
My Rating
I give this game a 7/10. It was a good game, but it didn't have much to offer in comparison to Link's Awakening or A Link to the Past.