Pro A.
07-23-2004, 06:20 AM
July 22, 2004
This is one of the more unique rivalries of all-time. This was the last time to date that the two most powerful dynasties were released with top-billed titles in the same year. The odd thing is that was 16 years ago. Since then, Nintendo has been wise to separate the two. As it went for a long time, one dynasty would get one year and the other would get the next year. It was a strong marketing ploy. Yet, seeing these two side by side in a sales brawl would be entertaining. The rivalry between the two games is interesting. They were released in the same month and the games are of equal quality. You can get arguments for both sides. Both are legitimate. I will attempt to put an end to the discussions.
Super Mario Bros. 2 vs. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link! Let the battle begin!
Round One: Graphics
Winner: Super Mario Bros. 2. This was a runaway for the best graphics of 1988. There really is no one that comes close. Zelda II and Double Dragon make legitimate runner-up cases. Mario 2 has more graphical detail, less tearing, and a very unusual look to the world that matches the weirdness of the game. Zelda II does a very nice job of capturing the feel of Hyrule. The dungeons aren’t much to look at. It’s the outside world that gets the props. One-half does not compensate entirely for the other half. Point to the mustachioed one. Score: 1-0 to Mario 2.
Round Two: A Tale of Two Jumpers
Winner: Tie. This is very hard because both games have erratic play control. Zelda II has problems with jumping and hit detection. Mario 2 has problems with jumping and hit detection. Both of them wash each other in this category. Both will get you into trouble. Luigi is the guilty clown in this one. Love the extra kick, but when you overshoot you want to break him. Tricky jumping in the later dungeons catch up with Zelda II. This one is a draw. It could go either way. Score: 1-0-1 to Mario 2.
Round Three: Story
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. This isn’t very hard if you keep it in perspective. Metal Gear did have the best story of 1988. This isn’t about Metal Gear, though. Zelda II has a better concept. Wizard puts Zelda to sleep. Minions want Link’s blood so they can pour it over Ganon’s ashes to bring him back to life. That was a pretty daring concept for 1988. While it doesn’t match Metal Gear or Phantasy Star, it sure beats the cheap Wizard of Oz-knockoff with the St. Elsewhere-style ending. Everything was going so well until we learn it was a dream. Major loss of points for zip originality by stealing from a movie and from the series finale of a prominent TV show. At least Mario doesn’t have autism. Score: 1-1-1 for both.
Round Four: Game Design
Winner: Super Mario Bros. 2. Another close one. Mario 2 does end up winning out because it does bring more variety to the table than Zelda II. After a while, the dungeons start to look the same. Mario 2 at least has some fun with it. Their dungeons let you go deep into magical caves and buildings and all sorts of things. Zelda II doesn’t have the same feel of intimacy. It looks like a huge basement with no interior design. Hell, even the walls are black. Score: 2-1-1 to Mario 2.
Round Five: The Princesses
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. But… but… Toadstool actually did something! Zelda is asleep! Valid points, but since Toadstool isn’t getting kidnapped and being the center of the story, the game loses points there. On top of that, Toadstool is the worst of the four players you can use. Floating jump or not, she moves slowly and she picks things up slow. Zelda, at least, gives you reason to go on. Toadstool is a character you never want to play unless you’re desperate. Literally dead broad beats useless broad. Never thought you’d see the day, huh? Score: 2-2-1 for both.
Round Six: Originality
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The fact that this game didn’t literally rip-off Doki Doki Panic gives it the automatic win. Doki Doki Panic was an original title that had the four main characters replaced and Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Toadstool were inserted. Yeah, that's original. Score: 3-2-1 to Zelda II.
Round Seven: Challenge
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Dark Link. ‘Nuff said. That’s all you really need. The game was hard enough until we got there. The final boss of Zelda II is a nightmare and you have to fight an enemy that can pretty much mirror you every step of the way. The final boss in Mario 2 is actually pretty easy. Worse, he is beaten by vegetables. No wonder my generation is fat. We got the image that we can die from eating veggies after playing this game. Bravo, Nintendo! No wonder you’re the scorn of the world right now. But, Zelda II has a strong difficulty curve and it gets higher and higher with each passing dungeon. Mario 2 stays at basically one level most of the way. Score: 4-2-1 to Zelda II.
The winner by unanimous decision: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
This is one of the more unique rivalries of all-time. This was the last time to date that the two most powerful dynasties were released with top-billed titles in the same year. The odd thing is that was 16 years ago. Since then, Nintendo has been wise to separate the two. As it went for a long time, one dynasty would get one year and the other would get the next year. It was a strong marketing ploy. Yet, seeing these two side by side in a sales brawl would be entertaining. The rivalry between the two games is interesting. They were released in the same month and the games are of equal quality. You can get arguments for both sides. Both are legitimate. I will attempt to put an end to the discussions.
Super Mario Bros. 2 vs. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link! Let the battle begin!
Round One: Graphics
Winner: Super Mario Bros. 2. This was a runaway for the best graphics of 1988. There really is no one that comes close. Zelda II and Double Dragon make legitimate runner-up cases. Mario 2 has more graphical detail, less tearing, and a very unusual look to the world that matches the weirdness of the game. Zelda II does a very nice job of capturing the feel of Hyrule. The dungeons aren’t much to look at. It’s the outside world that gets the props. One-half does not compensate entirely for the other half. Point to the mustachioed one. Score: 1-0 to Mario 2.
Round Two: A Tale of Two Jumpers
Winner: Tie. This is very hard because both games have erratic play control. Zelda II has problems with jumping and hit detection. Mario 2 has problems with jumping and hit detection. Both of them wash each other in this category. Both will get you into trouble. Luigi is the guilty clown in this one. Love the extra kick, but when you overshoot you want to break him. Tricky jumping in the later dungeons catch up with Zelda II. This one is a draw. It could go either way. Score: 1-0-1 to Mario 2.
Round Three: Story
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. This isn’t very hard if you keep it in perspective. Metal Gear did have the best story of 1988. This isn’t about Metal Gear, though. Zelda II has a better concept. Wizard puts Zelda to sleep. Minions want Link’s blood so they can pour it over Ganon’s ashes to bring him back to life. That was a pretty daring concept for 1988. While it doesn’t match Metal Gear or Phantasy Star, it sure beats the cheap Wizard of Oz-knockoff with the St. Elsewhere-style ending. Everything was going so well until we learn it was a dream. Major loss of points for zip originality by stealing from a movie and from the series finale of a prominent TV show. At least Mario doesn’t have autism. Score: 1-1-1 for both.
Round Four: Game Design
Winner: Super Mario Bros. 2. Another close one. Mario 2 does end up winning out because it does bring more variety to the table than Zelda II. After a while, the dungeons start to look the same. Mario 2 at least has some fun with it. Their dungeons let you go deep into magical caves and buildings and all sorts of things. Zelda II doesn’t have the same feel of intimacy. It looks like a huge basement with no interior design. Hell, even the walls are black. Score: 2-1-1 to Mario 2.
Round Five: The Princesses
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. But… but… Toadstool actually did something! Zelda is asleep! Valid points, but since Toadstool isn’t getting kidnapped and being the center of the story, the game loses points there. On top of that, Toadstool is the worst of the four players you can use. Floating jump or not, she moves slowly and she picks things up slow. Zelda, at least, gives you reason to go on. Toadstool is a character you never want to play unless you’re desperate. Literally dead broad beats useless broad. Never thought you’d see the day, huh? Score: 2-2-1 for both.
Round Six: Originality
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. The fact that this game didn’t literally rip-off Doki Doki Panic gives it the automatic win. Doki Doki Panic was an original title that had the four main characters replaced and Mario, Luigi, Toad, and Toadstool were inserted. Yeah, that's original. Score: 3-2-1 to Zelda II.
Round Seven: Challenge
Winner: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link. Dark Link. ‘Nuff said. That’s all you really need. The game was hard enough until we got there. The final boss of Zelda II is a nightmare and you have to fight an enemy that can pretty much mirror you every step of the way. The final boss in Mario 2 is actually pretty easy. Worse, he is beaten by vegetables. No wonder my generation is fat. We got the image that we can die from eating veggies after playing this game. Bravo, Nintendo! No wonder you’re the scorn of the world right now. But, Zelda II has a strong difficulty curve and it gets higher and higher with each passing dungeon. Mario 2 stays at basically one level most of the way. Score: 4-2-1 to Zelda II.
The winner by unanimous decision: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link