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The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages: Difference between revisions

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The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages (view source)

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{{quote|''I'm sorry I made you worry...But I saw it. A world filled with sorrow and despair...withering away!''|'''Princess Zelda'''}}
 
The seventh and eighth games in ''[[The Legend of Zelda]]'' series were developed by [[Capcom]] and released at the same time on the [[Game Boy Color]] in 2001. ''Oracle of Seasons'' and ''Oracle of Ages'' are the first portable ''Zelda'' games since ''[[The Legend of Zelda: LinksLink's Awakening|Link's Awakening]]'', and use similar graphics and gameplay styles.
 
Their most notable feature is the "Linked Game" system, which means that after you finish one game you can link your saved file to the other game and continue your adventure as a sequel. Other new elements include collectable rings with special abilities that can also be traded between the games.
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An interesting fact about these games is that they are the first canon ''Zelda'' games created with third-party involvement. It was originally titled ''The Triforce Series'' and was intended to be a trilogy of games with the same premise of linking the games together (in any order) to form one solid narrative. However, complications and budget forced a reduction to two games. In addition, one of the games was intended to be a remake of the first ''Zelda'' game, which was reworked into Oracle of Seasons after the Triforce Trilogy was cancelled, explaining why Holodrum's game map was similar to the map of the first Zelda game.
 
Capcom would later assist in ''[[The Legend of Zelda Four Swords (Video Game)|Four Swords]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: theThe Minish Cap|The Minish Cap]]''.
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{{tropelist}}
=== These Games provide examples of: ===
* [[As You Know]]: Used at the beginning of Oracle of Seasons.
* [[Ax Crazy]]: Because Twinrova sacrificed {{spoiler|herself (since Link had pretty much killed her anyway) instead of Zelda}}, Ganon [[Came Back Wrong]] and was resurrected as only a bloodthirsty killing machine.
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* [[Bizarre Seasons]]: Occurs in ''Seasons''. The seasons are all a jumbled mess because of the Oracle being imprisoned and the Temple of Seasons being sunk below the earth.
* [[Boxing Kangaroo]]: Ricky.
* [[Bragging Rights Reward]]: Some of the rings. One is awarded by using a [[New Game Plus+|Hero's Secret]]. Another two can be bought from stores that are only available by playing the game on a GBA. Another ring is given as a reward for beating Ganon in a linked game. There's also the rings you get for killing 1000 enemies and breaking 100 signs. The first ring you get would even count as one.
* [[Clown Car Grave]]: Each game has at least one undead themed dungeon, where this trope is played straight. Though strangely, undead enemies are seen a lot of other locations where there ''aren't any graves at all''.
* [[Continuity Nod]]: ''Seasons'' has a ton of references to [[The Legend of Zelda (Videovideo Gamegame)|the first game]], which makes sense, considering that these games began development as remakes of the NES games. Most notably, the first level shares the exact same layout as the first level of the original game, and the same boss is also featured.
** The other bosses from the original are also in ''Seasons''. Dodongo returns to his role as the second boss; Gohma (actually the ''last'' level boss to appear in the original, first showing up as the boss of the sixth dungeon) is up fourth; Digdogger is again the fifth boss; Manhandla, the ''third'' boss of the original game, guards the sixth dungeon; and a three-headed Gleeok (like the others, a recurring boss in the first game, ranging in head count from two in its initial appearance as the fourth dungeon's boss to four as the eighth dungeon's boss) guards the seventh dungeon.
** Most of the other games in the series are referenced, as well. Subrosia bears more than a passing resemblance to the Dark World of ''[[The Legend of Zelda: aA Link Toto Thethe Past|A Link to the Past]]'', and ''Link's Awakening'' is also heavily borrowed from (somewhat inevitable, as the ''Oracle'' games are built on the same engine as ''Link's Awakening'').
** After {{spoiler|killing the Twinrova sisters}} in Ocarina of Time, they say {{spoiler|that they'll come back to haunt Link.}} They probably don't realize it's a different Link, nonetheless, {{spoiler|in the Linked Game, you see what they meant.}}
* [[Cute Witch]]: Maple.
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* [[Deep Sleep]]: The Maku Tree in ''Seasons'' does almost nothing besides sleeping.
* [[Demonic Possession]]: Twice in ''Ages''; in both cases [[Contrived Coincidence|it's a good thing you have the mystery seeds (from the second dungeon), the seed shooter (from the third dungeon), and the switch hook (from the fourth dungeon).]]
* [[Distressed Damsel in Distress]]: The Oracles. More egregiously with Din; Onox sends a little tornado to carry her away and she's not seen again until Link goes and rescues her. Less so with Nayru, because Veran possessed her, and presumably she didn't have the strength or the time (likely both) to resist, and she's freed approximately once you're about two thirds through the game. And {{spoiler|Princess Zelda}} in a linked game.
* [[Dual World Gameplay]]: ''Oracle of Ages'' has time portals connecting the past and future. A few of them are [[A Wizard Did It|conveniently opened at the start of the game]] when Nayru's time powers are used, and the [[Ancient Artifact|Harp of Ages]] lets Link open them on his own. Once Link [[Magic Music|learns more songs,]] he can travel [[Shout -Out|Back To The Future]] from the past, and by the end of the game he can jump back and forth anywhere he wants.
** A less literal example is ''Seasons'', where the Rod of Seasons changes the seasons but you remain in the same world. The effects are the same though, the environment changes to open/close new paths depending on the season, like snow piling up or lakebeds drying up.
* [[Dummied Out]]: A bit of a meta case; an entire ''game'' was dummied out. The Oracle titles were originally supposed to be a trilogy, with a third title based around color-changing puzzles. Making three linked games quickly became too much to handle for the development team though, so they cut it down to two. Remaining evidence in the game code is limited to just the existence of Farore, and Koume and Kotake claiming Ganon's resurrection was initiated due to three bad emotions when only two plot events occurred to cause them (they worked around it by having {{spoiler|Zelda's kidnapping}} cause the third). This situation is given a [[Shout -Out]] in ''[[Minish Cap]]'', in which all three Oracle girls appear in cameos, but you can only have houses in Hyrule Castle Town built for two of them to live in.
** It's also worth noting that, in ''Minish'' Cap, giving Farore, the one whose game was [[Dummied Out]], a house, you get a better charm.
*** Giving her a house means the charm has the effects of both Din and Nayru's charms, but not as potent.
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* [[Dual Boss]]: Twinrova.
* [[Empty Room Psych]]: The rooms for {{spoiler|linked secrets}}.
* [[Enemy Switch-Out]]: ''Oracle of Ages'' has a [[Grappling Hook Pistol|Hookshot]] variant (appropriately called the Switch Hook) that acts like this, causing Link and the target to switch places.
* [[Everything's Better Withwith Dinosaurs]]: A red Dodongo that you can ride to swim through fast currents. He can also eat enemies in one gulp. And you can pick him up and throw him to hurt enemies. Also, he's the hardest friend to get a flute for in ''Seasons'' (in ''Ages'', you just buy the flute at the store).
* [[Final Exam Boss]]: Three times in ''Ages''. Two of those times are related to the [[Demonic Possession]] gear mentioned above, while the other one is... a giant statue.
* [[Flat Character]]: Onox is... some evil general who wants to throw the seasons into chaos and... that's just about all you see of him until you fight him. Veran at ''least'' shows up a little more.
* [[Fun Withwith Palindromes]]: ''Oracle of Ages'' features Symmetry City, whose survival depends on the total equality between the two sides. The name of the artifact that mantains the balance? Tuni nut!
* [[Gameplay and Story Segregation]]: Link isn't actually present in the scene where Veran mentions what her weakness is. All he knew was that she "desired" them, according to Ambi, which could've meant anything.
* [[Giant Hands of Doom]]: Ramrock, the boss of the eighth dungeon in ''Ages''.
* [[Global Currency Exception]]: Subrosia in ''Seasons'' uses chunks of ore as currency, not rupees.
* [[God Save Us From the Queen]]: A subverted example. Queen Ambi in ''Ages'' is actually a very kind and good woman; the reason why things get bad is because her naivety allows Veran (in Nayru's body) to manipulate her with ease. Then, later on, it's because {{spoiler|Veran possesses ''her''.}}
* <s>Grandfather</s> [[Grandfather Paradox|Grandmother Paradox]]: Ralph confronts Veran, possessing his ancestor Queen Ambi, in ''Ages''.
{{quote| '''Ralph''': "Fine! If I slay you, I vanish! Maybe it is terrifying... But if I must, I must. To do nothing and live just isn't me."}}
** Veran promptly [[Curb Stomp Battle|ruins the moment]], and Link has to save the day.
* [[Ghost Pirate]]: The skeleton pirates.
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* [[The Hecate Sisters]]: Din, Nayru, and Farore.
* [[The High Queen]]: Queen Ambi, although her possession by Veran [[God Save Us From the Queen|twists this]].
* [[Hijacked Byby Ganon]]: Actually, it was hijacked by Koume and Kotake, his surrogate parents from ''[[Ocarina of Time]]''. Ganon is the [[Final Boss]], but he's not directly involved with the plot other than the fact that the plot was to revive him.
* [[Hot Witch]]: Veran, the villainess of ''Ages''. Just see [[The Legend of Zelda: Oracle Gamesof (VideoSeasons Game)and Oracle of Ages/YMMV|here]]. She does have a bit of a [[Vain Sorceress]] vibe to her, though.
** {{spoiler|Ironically, her true form is a turtle, which can turn into a bee and a spider...even she remarks she is reluctant to use it, because it is so hideous, and may have something to do with her vanity in retrospect...}}
* [[Human Sacrifice]]: Twinrova tries to sacrifice Zelda to light the Flame of Despair in order to raise Ganon from the dead.
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** Veran's possession ability might be a variant; as she laughingly points out to Ralph in multiple cut-scenes, trying to strike her will only hurt her victim.
* [[Hypocritical Humor]]:
{{quote| '''Captain:''' You call yourselves pirates? Shameful fools! Getting sick the moment you set sail? It's... Oooh... Uhnn... It's no use! Put 'er ashore!}}
* [[Idiot Ball]]: Twinrova fight Link to the death when he interrupts their resurrection ritual and end up having to sacrifice themselves to bring back Ganon, and an incomplete one at that. Koume and Kotake can only be harmed by each other's magic. Why on Earth would they fight him together? Instead of providing Link with the necessary ammunition to take them both down, there's no apparent reason why one couldn't have remained behind to complete the ritual while the other trapped Link in a [[Hopeless Boss Fight]].
* [[Interquel]]: Set in between ''[[The Legend of Zelda: aA Link Toto T Hethe Past (Video Game)|A Link to the Past]]'' and ''[[The Legend of Zelda: LinksLink's Awakening (Video Game)|Link's Awakening]]'', according to ''[[All There in the Manual|Hyrule Historia]]''.
* [[Interspecies Romance]]:
** The Maku Tree has romantic designs on Link in ''Ages'', which is more of an interKINGDOM romance.
** Debatably, Queen Ambi (human) and Cap'n (undead).
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* [[Lethal Lava Land]]: Subrosia has tons of lava, with the occasional eruption for you to dodge, but it's really more of a subversion: there are few enemies, and the inhabitants are friendly.
* [[Let's Play]]: [http://www.youtube.com/user/mcgammar Boltage McGammar's] LP has him playing ''Ages'' first. If you want to see ''Seasons'' played first, check out [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6DcuZZp_PqM CeilingNinja's] LP.
** Alternatively, [http://lparchive.org/Legend-of-Zelda-Oracle-Series/ MeccaPrime's] LP does both games in parallel, with ''Ages'' as a [[Minimalist Run]] and ''Seasons'' as a [[Hundred Percent100% Completion]] run.
* [[MacGuffin Girl]]: The titular Oracles, and {{spoiler|Princess Zelda in the linked game.}}
* [[Magic Wand]]: The Rod of Seasons.
* [[Magnetic Weapons]]: Link's magnetic gloves in ''Seasons''. In order to defeat one boss, he has to crush it by directing a giant spiked ball with them.
* [[Mama Bear|Mama Bears]]: Seeing [[Fusion Dance|Twinrova]] {{spoiler|sacrifice herself for the sake of bringing Ganon [[Back Fromfrom the Dead]]}} just goes to show how much Koume and Kotake cared for Ganon(dorf).
* [[The Man Behind the Man]]: At first, Onox and Veran would appear to be the [[Big Bad|Big Bads]] of ''Seasons'' and ''Ages'' respectively, doing what they're doing because, well, they're insane and just like being evil. But later on, it turns out that all along, both of them were actually working at the command of Koume and Kotake, and their actions actually had a deeper purpose: to light some magical flames as part of a ritual to resurrect Ganon, the primary antagonist of the ''Zelda'' series.
* [[Meanwhile in Thethe Future]]: The story progression of ''Ages'' can be monitored by the progress of the Final Dungeon, regardless of what era you're in.
* [[Missing Secret]]: If you play ''Ages'' first there's one square on the map that you'll never be able to explore.
* [[Ms. Fanservice]]: Without a doubt, Veran.
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* [[Nerf]]: The jumping distance when using the Roc's Feather was shortened compared to the jumping distance in ''Link's Awakening''.
** This is however inverted in ''Seasons'' when you pick up Roc's Cape which is a L2 Roc's Feather.
* [[Nice Job Breaking It, Hero]]: In ''Ages'', the only reason Veran is able to possess Naryu is because Link disrupts the barrier separating the two in a [[But Thou Must!]] moment.
** A much more literal example in ages, is the second dungeon. After going through the fairies' woods to reach it, there is a rock in the way. Okay, equip the power bracelet, and move it, except this makes the WHOLE FREAKING DUNGEON COLLAPSE...and you have to use time travel to get in at that point...(in retrospect, why hasn't ganondorf done this in any of the 800 other dungeons in the [[Lo Z]]LoZ series, just one would doom link to failure...)
* [[Nostalgia Level]]: The aforementioned references to the first game often involve similarities between dungeons. In particular, the first dungeon of ''Seasons'' has the exact same layout as the first dungeon of the original Legend of Zelda, with the same boss.
* [[One Game for Thethe Price of Two]]: Both averted and played straight: the games by themselves are completely different (items, dungeons, bosses and so on), but if you want to complete the storyline you need to play a Linked Game requiring both games.
** And a linked game is a sort of [[New Game Plus+]]. You start off with one more heart container than normal and can access more things than a fresh game.
* [[One-Winged Angel]]: The final bosses of both games. {{spoiler|Veran [[Sequential Boss|has three.]]}}
* [[Petting Zoo People]]: The Tokay, anthropomorphic lizards with a penchant for theft.
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* [[San Dimas Time]]: In ''Ages'', Veran goes back in time to alter things in her favor. Some of the effects are instantaneous, while others, like the construction of the Tower, are incremental based on your progress through the game.
* [[Save This Person Save the World]]: Play straight with Din in ''Seasons'', but averted with Nayru in ''Ages''. Link actually manages to save Nayru and get her back to the present shortly after the sixth dungeon, but Veran is able to possess Queen Ambi and as she's still in the past can use Ambi's influence to complete her scheme even without Nayru.
* [[Shout -Out]]: Many, many to the original Legend of Zelda in ''Seasons''. Even most of the bosses in ''Seasons'' are re-worked versions of the original ''Zelda'' bosses.
** One of the Mini-Bosses in a linked ''Ages'' game is a shout out to the original ''[[Donkey Kong]]'' arcade.
* [[Sequence Breaking]]: It is possible in ''Seasons'' to do the 5th dungeon before the 4th one if you know how to get Autumn.
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** Lampooned by the Subrosians in a linked ''Ages'' game: in the past, several of them are admiring the Goron dance, implying the Subrosian dance is based on theirs. In the present, [[Older Than They Think|Rosa thinks the Goron dance is a poor imitation of the Subrosian dance]].
* [[Slasher Smile]]/[[Psychotic Smirk]]: The villains in the page's image.
* [[Smooch of Victory]]: Defeating the linked games gets Link a kiss from Princess Zelda.
* [[Snot Bubble]]: The Maku Tree in ''Seasons'' always has one of these, despite being, well, ''a tree''. Popping it with your sword is the only way to get him to wake up and engage in conversation.
* [[Stable Time Loop]]: A ton of these can be observed in ''Ages'', since there's a lot of time traveling.
* [[Stealth -Based Mission]]: Ambi's Castle in ''Ages''.
** The Subrosians in ''Seasons'' are fond of this. You have to stalk Rosa to find the portals into Subrosia to begin with, and later on {{spoiler|the Strange Brothers steal your Roc's Feather and you have to follow them to recover it}}.
* [[Super Drowning Skills]]: Played straight in both games until you get the Flippers. In ''Ages'' it continues to be played straight even ''after'' getting them, because another item that you acquire much later in the game is required for swimming in "deep water" (such as in the sea).
* [[Swirly Energy Thingy]]: In ''Ages'', these are the warps between the eras of Labrynna. In ''Seasons'', these are the warps between Holodrum and Subrosia.
* [[Tennis Boss]]: It's a ''Zelda'' game, [[Trope Codifier|so naturally]] each game has one miniboss in which you must deflect its blasts before you can injure it. The one in ''Seasons'' is an homage to [[The Legend of Zelda: aA Link Toto Thethe Past|Aghanim]] as well as Ganon's "Technique of Darkness".
* [[Terminator Twosome]]: In ''Ages'', Veran and Link. [[That Came Out Wrong|Threesome]], if you count Ralph.
* [[The Dev Team Thinks of Everything]]: In rare instances, you can run into Maple on particularly watery maps. If all of her items sink underwater during the collision, she'll treat you to some alternate dialogue.
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* [[Underwater Boss Battle]]: The sixth and seventh dungeons in ''Ages''--the boss of the sixth moves back and forth between the surface and underwater, while the seventh is underwater for the entire battle.
* [[Valley Girl]]: Rosa from ''Seasons''.
* [[Verbal Tic]]: The Tokay in the Japanese version have a [[Pokémon -Speak]] tic of using "toka" at odd moments. This was removed in the dub since Western audiences don't find that quite as endearing.
* [[Video Game Cruelty Potential]]: The cuccos are still around.
** [[Video Game Cruelty Punishment]]: And they still fight back.
*** Also, you can blow up the Moblin King's house in Seasons. Two times, if you try it a third time, it results in a [[Nonstandard Game Over]].
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* [[Worthless Yellow Rocks]]: Valuable items like Pieces of Heart and Gasha Seeds are sold in junk stores in Subrosia. Another Subrosian is seen throwing such items into lava in order to cause a volcano to erupt.
** Sadly, they cannot be caught out of the air.
* [[Yin -Yang Clash]]: One miniboss in ''Ages'' wields a supposedly unbreakable sword, and a supposedly unbreakable shield. You can only defeat him by tricking him into hitting the one with the other, breaking both.
 
{{reflist}}
[[Category:The Legend of Zelda (Franchise)]]▼
[[Category:Game Boy Color]]
[[Category:Action Adventure]]
[[Category:Fantasy Video Games]]
[[Category:The Legend Of Zelda Oracle Games]]▼
[[Category:Video Game]]
▲[[Category:The Legend Ofof Zelda: Oracle Gamesof Seasons and Oracle of Ages]]
▲[[Category:The Legend of Zelda (Franchise)]]
[[Category:Video Games of the 2000s]]
{{DEFAULTSORT:Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages, The}}
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