Arguably two of the most overlooked mainline entries inThe Legend of Zeldaseries are the Oracle duology. These two games originally launched simultaneously in 2001 for the Game Boy Color as some of the few Zelda games not produced directly by Nintendo, since these two were instead worked on by Flagship, a subsidiary of Capcom.
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However, just because they have been overlooked does not mean they aren’t worth playing. But since these two games were launched simultaneously and share many similarities, it can be difficult to know which to start with. So which Oracle game is the best choice for you?
8Action Focused In Seasons
One of the main gameplay differences that can be noticed when playing Oracle of Seasons is how muchmore combat Link will be going through.
This is not to say that combat is the sole focus of Oracle of Seasons, but it is much more of a focus than in Ages. Because of this, if you are a fan of the classic swordplay in 2D Zelda titles, then Oracle of Seasons would be the best place to start. But if combat isn’t what draws you to Zelda, then starting with Ages would be better.
7Puzzle Focused In Ages
In comparison to Seasons, Oracle of Ages has much more of a focus on puzzles, and the puzzles that feature can be a lot more complex. However, these puzzles are also more rewarding than those found in Oracle of Seasons.
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A lot of Zelda fans love the puzzles and dungeons that make Zelda games so challenging; however, some newer Zelda fans, especially those that have not played 2D Zelda, might find the more complex puzzles frustrating. If you want to work up to the difficult puzzles in Ages, then starting with Oracle of Seasons would be preferable.
6Changing Seasons In Oracle Of Seasons
Almost every Zelda game has a staple mechanic defining the entry in the series, whether this is Wolf Link in Twlight Princess, Loftwings in Skyward Sword, or the Dark World in A Link To The Past.
The Oracle games are no different. In Oracle of Seasons, as the name suggests, Link will unlock the power to change the seasons in the land of Holodrum. This will change the world around him in different ways and is a mechanic used to aid in traversal and solving environmental puzzles.
5Time Travelling In Oracle Of Ages
Similarly to the season manipulation in Oracle of Seasons, Link can time travel in the Oracle of Ages. Link can travel between two different times in the same land, 400 years apart.
This gives Link the opportunity to change the environment and events in the past to change the future. Like changing the seasons, this is commonly used to help in environmental puzzles and traversal. This time travel has been seen as having a bit more depth than the season changing, which aligns with the depth of puzzles present in Ages.
4The Story In Oracle Of Seasons
Compared to game series like Pokemon which tend to have very similar stories in entries that release at the same time, the Oracle games have completely different stories.
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While there are some overlapping elements between these stories, both are completely different and worth experiencing separately. In Oracle of Seasons, Link is transported to the land of Holodrum to aid Din, the eponymous Oracle of Seasons, who has been trapped by General Onox in his castle.
3The Story In Oracle Of Ages
In Oracle of Ages, Link is instead transported to Labrynna. Here Link meets Impa, a recognizable character for fans of the Zelda series, who leads him to meetNayru, who is the Oracle of Ages.
Then Veran, an evil sorceress, jumps out of Impa, who she has possessed, to possess Nayru, and uses her abilities to travel back in time so she can alter the present. Link then has to use the Harp of Ages to travel between the two time periods to put a stop to Veran and save Nayru.
2Overlapping Stories
One of the more unique features present in both the Oracle of Seasons and Ages is the overlapping elements of the story. Depending on which of the two games you finish first, you will be presented with a password that you may input in the other game. This will let you unlock the true ending of both games.
This combined element of the Oracle duology is why these two games are seen as so inseparable when it comes to discussing them. So, while you can have a satisfying experience just playing one, it is recommended to play both to get the true ending.
1Should You Play The Legend of Zelda: Oracle Of Ages Or Oracle Of Seasons First?
So, now that you understand the main elements which separate these similar but distinct Zelda games, which one is the best choice to start with? If you are new to 2D Zelda games, then consider start with Oracle of Seasons because of how challenging the dungeons can be in Oracle of Ages.
However, if you are experienced with 2D Zelda puzzles and dungeons, then Oracle of Ages may be a more engaging entry to begin with.
