Summary
- Nintendo Switch Online members now have access to two classic The Legend of Zelda games: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. These games were originally released in 2001 for the Game Boy Color.
- The games feature the classic top-down pixel style and traditional dungeons, exploration, and combat that the series is known for.
- Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are often overlooked but are shining examples of the classic Zelda formula. The addition of these games to Nintendo Switch Online allows fans to experience the original gameplay and world of The Legend of Zelda.
Members of the Nintendo Switch Online subscription service can now play another two classic The Legend of Zelda games: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons. Nintendo's NSO service gives users access to a host of classic games from previous consoles, including the NES, Super Nintendo Entertainment System, Game Boy, and Nintendo 64.
Those who've now completed the newest Zelda game, May 2023's Tears of the Kingdom, can now try their hand at two older entries in the series via Nintendo Switch Online. Originally released in 2001 for the Game Boy Color, Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons, Nintendo revealed they're now both available as part of the NSO subscription as of July 27, 2023.
The games feature the classic top-down pixel style the series was once known for, along with traditional dungeons, exploration, and combat.
Are Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons The Same Game?
Zelda: Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons originally launched together in a similar fashion to the Pokémon dual-releases, but the two Zelda titles are almost entirely different from each other. Ages and Seasons have different stories as well as unique gameplay, with the former focusing more on puzzles, while the latter has more of an interest in combat. In Seasons, Link is sent by the Triforce to Holodrum, while in Ages, Link is sent to Labrynna. Completing both reveals their full, overarching story.
Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons are often considered to be some of the most overlooked games in the Zelda series, as is often the case with games that are released on Nintendo handhelds instead of home consoles. However, the duo are shining examples of the classic Zelda formula and gameplay, and proved popular enough to be re-released on the Nintendo 3DS Virtual Console in 2013.
The addition of Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons to Nintendo Switch Online comes at a great time for those who have only been introduced to the series through its most-recent titles: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom. While it seems the traditional Zelda style is gone forever in favor of the open worlds of the later releases, NSO and games like Ages and Seasons mean fans can still experience the original gameplay, art, and world of The Legend of Zelda.
Source: Nintendo/Twitter