Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary creator of The Legend of Zelda, has officially labeled Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link a “failure,” asserting that A Link to the Past serves as the true successor to the original 1986 title.
The Black Sheep of the Zelda Franchise
In a 2003 interview with Swedish publication Superplay Magazine, resurfaced by Retro Gamer’s 40th-anniversary issue, Miyamoto opened up about the development struggles behind the series’ second entry. Zelda 2 notably shifted away from the top-down perspective of the original, opting for an RPG-inspired world traversal system and side-scrolling action sequences. This departure resulted in a title that felt more like a precursor to the Action RPG genre than a traditional Zelda experience.
Why Zelda 2 Missed the Mark
Miyamoto revealed that while the core concept for the sequel originated with him, the execution fell short due to the development environment. “The games I make usually get better in the development process, since we keep coming up with good ideas, but Zelda 2 stayed the same,” Miyamoto explained. He noted that because the game was handled by a different team, it lacked the iterative refinement that defines his typical creative process, ultimately leading him to view it as a failure.
A Link to the Past: The True Sequel
Following the mixed reception of Zelda 2, the series returned to its roots with A Link to the Past. According to Miyamoto, this title was intended to be the rightful successor to the original game. “We actually see A Link to the Past as the real sequel to The Legend of Zelda. Zelda 2 was more of a side story about what happened to Link after the events of The Legend of Zelda,” he stated.
The Legacy of a Creative Misstep
While Zelda 2 remains a polarizing entry—often cited as the “black sheep” of the franchise despite a dedicated cult following—its existence proved vital to the series’ evolution. The critical response to the game likely pushed the development team to revert to the classic formula for A Link to the Past. This pivot not only produced one of the most critically acclaimed games in history but also established the foundational mechanics that paved the way for iconic future titles, including Ocarina of Time, The Wind Waker, and Breath of the Wild.
Leave a Reply