All Games » NES/Famicom » Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Console icon NES/Famicom

Game icon

Developer

Nintendo

Publisher

Nintendo

Genre

Action-Adventure, Action RPG

Released

January 14, 1987

Title screenshot
In-game screenshot
Title screenshot Ingame screenshot

Achievements

Authors: dude1286 (29), suspect15 (15)

There are 44 achievements worth 650 (2,053) points.

This set has 8 missable achievements.

Sort: Normal ^ - Won By - Points - Title - Type 
  • Desert Gem

    (10) (11)

    Place the gem in Parapa Palace.

    3,400 (1,924) of 5,057 – 67.23%

    38.05% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    67.23% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Swamp Gem

    (10) (14)

    Place the gem in Midoro Palace.

    2,264 (1,248) of 5,057 – 44.77%

    24.68% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    44.77% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Island Gem

    (10) (15)

    Place the gem in Island Palace.

    1,973 (1,118) of 5,057 – 39.02%

    22.11% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    39.02% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Maze Gem

    (10) (16)

    Place the gem in Maze Palace.

    1,764 (1,012) of 5,057 – 34.88%

    20.01% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    34.88% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Water Gem

    (10) (17)

    Place the gem in the Palace on the Sea.

    1,696 (968) of 5,057 – 33.54%

    19.14% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    33.54% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Hidden Gem

    (10) (18)

    Place the gem in Three-Eye Rock Palace.

    1,575 (909) of 5,057 – 31.14%

    17.98% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    31.14% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Obtain the Triforce of Courage and awaken the Princess.

    1,432 (792) of 5,057 – 28.32%

    15.66% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    28.32% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Obtain the Triforce of Courage and awaken the Princess without getting the Shield, Life, Fire or Spell spells.

    250 (197) of 5,057 – 4.94%

    3.90% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    4.94% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Obtain the Triforce of Courage and awaken the Princess without continuing.

    678 (337) of 5,057 – 13.41%

    6.66% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    13.41% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Defeat Horsehead without being harmed.

    1,489 (830) of 5,057 – 29.44%

    16.41% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    29.44% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Defeat Helmethead without being harmed.

    853 (473) of 5,057 – 16.87%

    9.35% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    16.87% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Defeat Rebonack without being harmed.

    836 (453) of 5,057 – 16.53%

    8.96% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    16.53% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Defeat any Rebonack without having learned Down Thrust.

    253 (202) of 5,057 – 5.00%

    3.99% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    5.00% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Bested Carock

    (25) (83)

    Defeat Carock without being harmed.

    713 (401) of 5,057 – 14.10%

    7.93% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    14.10% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Bested Gooma

    (25) (84)

    Defeat Gooma without being harmed.

    712 (397) of 5,057 – 14.08%

    7.85% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    14.08% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Bested Barba

    (25) (72)

    Defeat Barba without being harmed.

    797 (477) of 5,057 – 15.76%

    9.43% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    15.76% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Defeat Thunderbird without being harmed.

    675 (370) of 5,057 – 13.35%

    7.32% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    13.35% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Defeat Dark Link without being harmed.

    854 (489) of 5,057 – 16.89%

    9.67% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    16.89% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Full of Heart

    (10) (17)

    Collect 4 heart containers.

    1,560 (939) of 5,057 – 30.85%

    18.57% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    30.85% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • All the Magic

    (10) (17)

    Collect 4 magic containers.

    1,651 (973) of 5,057 – 32.65%

    19.24% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    32.65% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Key Collector

    (25) (83)

    Collect all 31 small keys.

    678 (405) of 5,057 – 13.41%

    8.01% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    13.41% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Collect all 30 P-Bags.

    353 (270) of 5,057 – 6.98%

    5.34% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    6.98% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Six-Up!

    (10) (39)

    Collect all 6 1-ups.

    456 (328) of 5,057 – 9.02%

    6.49% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    9.02% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Max Health

    (10) (17)

    Raise Life to level 8

    1,778 (994) of 5,057 – 35.16%

    19.66% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    35.16% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Max Magic

    (10) (18)

    Raise Magic to level 8.

    1,609 (914) of 5,057 – 31.82%

    18.07% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    31.82% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Max Attack

    (10) (17)

    Raise Attack to level 8.

    1,621 (948) of 5,057 – 32.05%

    18.75% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    32.05% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Learn the Shield spell in Rauru.

    4,658 (2,594) of 5,057 – 92.11%

    51.30% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    92.11% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Jump Spell

    (5) (5)

    Learn the Jump spell in Ruto.

    3,362 (1,964) of 5,057 – 66.48%

    38.84% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    66.48% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Life Spell

    (10) (13)

    Learn the Life spell in Saria.

    2,699 (1,577) of 5,057 – 53.37%

    31.18% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    53.37% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Obtain the Hammer in Death Mountain.

    2,264 (1,267) of 5,057 – 44.77%

    25.05% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    44.77% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Down Thrust

    (5) (11)

    Learn the Down Thrust technique in Mido.

    1,160 (684) of 5,057 – 22.94%

    13.53% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    22.94% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Fairy Spell

    (10) (14)

    Learn the Fairy spell in Mido

    2,200 (1,249) of 5,057 – 43.50%

    24.70% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    43.50% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Fire Spell

    (10) (15)

    Learn the Fire spell in Nabooru

    1,943 (1,124) of 5,057 – 38.42%

    22.23% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    38.42% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Up Thrust

    (5) (11)

    Learn the Up Thrust technique in Darunia.

    1,021 (617) of 5,057 – 20.19%

    12.20% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    20.19% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Reflect Spell

    (10) (16)

    Learn the Reflect spell in Darunia.

    1,878 (1,097) of 5,057 – 37.14%

    21.69% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    37.14% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Spell Spell

    (10) (17)

    Learn the Spell spell in Hidden Kasuto.

    1,647 (965) of 5,057 – 32.57%

    19.08% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    32.57% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Thunder Spell

    (10) (17)

    Learn the Thunder spell in Old Kasuto.

    1,598 (928) of 5,057 – 31.60%

    18.35% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    31.60% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Snazzy

    (1) (3)

    Pick up a sharply dressed 1-up.

    456 (362) of 5,057 – 9.02%

    7.16% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    9.02% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Safely retrieve the P-Bag on the crumbling bridge in Parapa Palace without falling into the lava or using Fairy.

    1,886 (1,138) of 5,057 – 37.29%

    22.50% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    37.29% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Daring Grab

    (5) (13)

    Safely retrieve the P-Bag on the crumbling bridge in Midoro Palace without falling into the lava or using Fairy.

    947 (541) of 5,057 – 18.73%

    10.70% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    18.73% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Safely retrieve the P-Bag on the crumbling bridge in the Palace on the Sea without falling into the lava or using Fairy.

    886 (530) of 5,057 – 17.52%

    10.48% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    17.52% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Traverse the valley beyond the river monster without being hurt or using Fairy, Fire or Spell.

    430 (266) of 5,057 – 8.50%

    5.26% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    8.50% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode
  • Ate Your Frog

    (25) (139)

    Place the crystal in Three-Eye Rock Palace first in the first quest.

    273 (222) of 5,057 – 5.40%

    4.39% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    5.40% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

  • Reach the Great Palace without the Candle or Cross in the first quest.

    243 (200) of 5,057 – 4.81%

    3.95% of players have earned the achievement in hardcore mode
    4.81% of players have earned the achievement in softcore mode

Recent Players

OFICIALGameTour OFICIALGameTour

16 May 2025, 2:28pm

Exploring Hyrule • 🗡️3 ✨4 🛡️4 • keys: 7/31, P-Bags: 4/30, 1-ups: 1/6

AuntJemimom AuntJemimom

16 May 2025, 2:28pm

Three-Eye Rock Palace • 🗡️8 ✨8 🛡️8 • keys: 26/31, P-Bags: 4/30, 1-ups: 4/6

torkli torkli

16 May 2025, 2:20pm

In a cave • 🗡️8 ✨8 🛡️7 • keys: 27/31, P-Bags: 22/30, 1-ups: 3/6

Kolydun Kolydun

16 May 2025, 2:09pm

In a town • 🗡️1 ✨1 🛡️1 • keys: 0/31, P-Bags: 0/30, 1-ups: 0/6

Angelus230 Angelus230

16 May 2025, 10:46am

The Great Palace • 🗡️8 ✨8 🛡️8 • keys: 30/31, P-Bags: 30/30, 1-ups: 6/6

Pacoroto Pacoroto

16 May 2025, 9:09am

Exploring Hyrule • 🗡️1 ✨1 🛡️1 • keys: 0/31, P-Bags: 0/30, 1-ups: 0/6

DOOM441 DOOM441

16 May 2025, 7:29am

In a town • 🗡️1 ✨1 🛡️2 • keys: 0/31, P-Bags: 0/30, 1-ups: 0/6

M4g1cW4rr10r M4g1cW4rr10r

16 May 2025, 6:47am

On the title screen

sevm sevm

16 May 2025, 6:03am

In a town • 🗡️1 ✨1 🛡️1 • keys: 0/31, P-Bags: 0/30, 1-ups: 0/6

Pepy95 Pepy95

16 May 2025, 5:59am

Exploring Hyrule • 🗡️1 ✨1 🛡️2 • keys: 0/31, P-Bags: 1/30, 1-ups: 0/6

Recent comments

(See all 90)
suspect15 23 Dec 2024 17:27
Once you get the hang of it, it's a piece of cake.
alkalynity 25 Dec 2024 06:04
Definitely remember this game being much harder as a kid - learning the various tricks and cheese makes it much more doable. The "no good spells" run was actually quite fun and a nice challenge. Good set.
buvy 26 Dec 2024 01:14
Shield was how I got through the game as a kid so I was definitely intimidated by not being able to get it the prospect of getting through death mountain without a candle was something I was NOT looking forwards to so I wound up grinding out 6 attack and 7 life in midoro palace (kill the 3 jumping stalfos rinse/repeat) and was shocked at how easy getting the hammer was I got it on the first try with no additional 1-ups which I was saving for getting to the great palace sans candle. I put my detailed commentary on the individual cheevos so no need to go into details here.
FuManchus 3 Jan 2025 18:05
The black sheep has been tamed!
I had a blast while playing it, Frustrating learning curve but then really addicting once you have master all the combat moves and knows were to go.
Very proud to have master this game, never thought I could make compare to the saves states on NSO long time before.
The music in this absolutely incredible. One of the best NES-games for sure!
Thanks for a fair and solid set, very fun to tackle!
ApocalipseXX 22 Mar 2025 00:52
Platinado #50
Um jogo peculiar, ainda existe mecânicas do primeiro Zelda, coletar as chaves das masmorra, fadas recuperam sua vida por inteira, só que nesse jogo não tem puzzle, ele foi mais focado para a ação, o combate não é um dos melhores, inimigos de escudo são extremamente chatos, o truque pra matar eles é sempre pular e atacar, outra coisa ruim é o mapa, existem certos lugares no mapa com recompensa, as p-bag, corações e as porção de mana, só que nessas áreas não tem indicação ou algo diferente, então você terá que checar cada quadradinho, pra encontrar essas coisas, caso você não esteja usando o mapa em algum site, mas ainda sim, é um bom jogo, as conquistas mais difíceis foram de chegar ao último palácio sem a vela e Cruz, cara passar pela montanha cego é um inferno, os inimigos voadores são horríveis de matar, tenha muita vida e muita mana, recomendo usar a magia do trovão para eliminar os inimigos, e a outra conquista foi de zerar sem usar as magias especifica, que são a de cura, fogo, armadura e a magia pra desbloquear a chave mestre, para a dica deste desafio, vire fada e entre nas fechaduras das portas dos chefes, fadas podem passar e vão economizar suas chaves.
DarkEyedBeast 30 Mar 2025 21:10
Really good set, fun, frustrating, and satisfying. I appreciate all the achievements being skilled-base and not based on random chance or insane amounts of grinding. Defeating Thunderbird without taking damage was a huge pain. Was dreading beating the game without continuing but did it first try on the 2nd quest. I've always argued that Zelda II gets way too much hate, the Hoverbat remaster was amazing and this set has reinvigorated my love for the original game.
sandro4912 9 Apr 2025 17:12
So i never played the game before and now finished it two times with one hand tied behind the back.

The first run I did right a way without Shield, Life, Fire or Spell spells for the cheevo.

Got kicked in the nuts here on several occasions. Death Mountain, the way to the final palace and the final palace were the absolute worst to do without heal and 3 lives. Ended up die 26 times. Zelda 1 first time was a cake walk compared to that. I also did all the damage less bosses which sometimes were not easy. I realized with some like the wizard i was just very lucky on the first run.

Then I decided to do another run without candle and cross for the cheevo. I also decided to try the deathless cheevo right away. So I grinded 8/8/8 in the first palace and lost only one live in dark death mountain. I thought I grind that one back later.

Then I realized I'm missing the one were you need to do Rebonack without down thrust. So I was like yeah lets also risk it then we would be done with this game.
So I killed Rebonack and was on my last live. Ready to grind lives in palace 1 again.
Unfortunately i got trapped in palace 3 in the hall way were the blue knight is. The one you can only kill in the spot with the blocks. And that was it for deathless.

After that I did the rest and went with all the palace lives with 9 lives in to the scary dark way to the last palace. This was really easy since you just fly through the screens as fairy. You have enough lives for that.

So now I really need a break. But I will come back one more time for the no death one. Must be great to finally have lights and the spells in a run.

What I learned here is do not take risks.
suspect15 10 Apr 2025 00:04
I appreciate all the missable tag reports over the years, but I'm not going to update anymore of the achievements. I'd rather keep the missable focus on the ones that are easy to miss because you can't tell by the description. There are only 44 achievements in the set and many of them are very obviously missable by the description (such as doing something without getting a spell/technique). I expect people to be able to figure out which obvious ones are missable with a little common sense. Some of the achievements are impossible to tell if they are missable by the descriptions such as certain collection achievements - these are the ones that I'd prefer to emphasize so players can actually research why they are missable and how to make sure they get them. If I make this set into a haystack of missable tags, people will have a hard time finding the needles.
sandro4912 12 Apr 2025 08:51
Mastered.

This game was no joke. Quite the learning curve in the beginning. After the two runs were you are partially handicapped the not game over one was not really that hard. Just tedious to grind the lives.
DafydArtus 13 Apr 2025 03:30
@suspect15
Would it be possible to port these achievements to the FDS version, or are they too different?
It would make a bunch of people happy if it were possible.
ToastLover 13 Apr 2025 05:11
God damn this game is some hot dog shit LOL, I thought those reviews on YouTube I've seen all those years back were just people being a bunch of big babies but no, they were right LMAO. This could be an issue on my end (despite using a wired controller) but it feels like Link's movements for anything has this huge ass delay on top of the almost ice like physics when walking. I'll see just how much I can put up with this bs before I switch to ALTTP because idk dude....Besides like Mega Man 2 and Kaizo Mario hacks this has got to be one of the hardest games I've ever played and I'm not even done with the first dungeon yet 😭😭.
sandro4912 13 Apr 2025 07:19
Definitely this game has a quite the learning curve in the beginning.

But I have to say now after going through all the challenges it is kinda fun.

Will maybe also check out some hacks like the OOT Zelda II one later.
istv4n 15 Apr 2025 00:11
Happy to have mastered my favorite childhood game!
suspect15 15 Apr 2025 02:14
ToastLover, Zelda II has probably the cleanest and most responsive controls on NES when you develop a feel for it with some experience. Z2 is like the Dark Souls of NES - very daunting at first, but once you get the hang of it, it's very rewarding and a real blast.

Link does carry a little bit of inertia, but it becomes second nature and is actually quite helpful more advanced combat situations.

It's a pretty rewarding game to get good at because there are some challenging hacks that are extremely well done. The Z2 skill ceiling is extremely high where you can play some tough hacks and be really challenged, then come back to vanilla Z2 and it feels like it's the easiest game you've ever played. Definitely has an incredible amount of depth.

DafydArtus, no, I won't be linking the FDS version to this set. I'd be really surprised if the memory lined up and the difference might not make it reasonable although I think they are most cosmetic/QoL.
sandro4912 15 Apr 2025 18:37
I agree it is punishing at first but its not the bad control. The controls are really really well if you learned the. It gets way easier once you get it.

I think the problem here is that this is so different from the other zeldas to control.

Having mastered this I indeed kinda liked this unique game. I think also of trying some hacks in the future. Any you can recommend?

I thought about the oot zelda 2 one for example.
suspect15 17 Apr 2025 16:12
My favorite full game hacks are Journey of a Day, Winter Solstice and Shadow of Night. The Z2 Boss Endurance is also fun and has a fantastic set that takes the experience up several levels.
Kaneh 19 Apr 2025 20:30
I have the debilitating urge to beat game in chronological order by release, I love the Zelda series but never played the first two games. I beat the first and enjoyed it well enough. Went into this one after reading about this being the hardest Zelda game, the only difficulty in the game is the boring walk back through a lifeless world, when you die exploring every part of the palaces. Never thought I'd say this about a Zelda game, but I am glad I'm done with this one and will never have to play it again. I could see how people can like the game, I beat each boss on the first try....except for Shadow Link because I went in after almost getting my ass completely handed to me by the boss before it, so don't think it'll be too hard if you're thinking of playing it, it's the spawning far away on gameover/continue instead of retrying instantly that makes it seem "hard" so give it a try
sandro4912 19 Apr 2025 23:13
For me it was like really hating the game in the beginning. But after the tough learning curve it was quite enjoyable.

Ots very different from the other zelda games.

Only think i dont like is that you need to grind 8 8 8 again with the exp system.
suspect15 23 Apr 2025 14:24
You don't need to grind to reach 8/8/8, but you need to plan out your levels to get the most out of each free level at the end of palaces. Definitely not something first time players will have the info necessary to do though.
sandro4912 23 Apr 2025 15:39
Yeah i know its best to not finnish the palaces at the end. I just found it much less stressful to grind early. Especially death mountain was a beginners trap ;)