Hudson's Adventure Island vs Link: The Faces of Evil

Hudson's Adventure Island is a retro side‑scrolling platform game where you guide Master Higgins across 32 challenging stages to defeat the Evil Witch Doctor and save Princess Leilani. First released in 1986 for the Famicom and MSX, it later appeared on the NES in North America and PAL regions, becoming a beloved title in the platform‑action genre. The game features eight distinct areas, each ending with a boss fight, and classic power‑ups that enhance Higgins' abilities as you progress.

Link: The Faces of Evil is a side‑scrolling action‑adventure game released in 1993 as part of the ill‑fated Nintendo‑Philips CD‑ROM partnership. Players guide Link through the island of Koridai, battling Ganon’s minions and confronting the titular Faces of Evil to rescue Princess Zelda. Unlike traditional top‑down Zelda titles, this game uses a platformer perspective with a world‑map hub, offering a distinct take on the franchise that has been widely criticized and is not recognized as canon by Nintendo.

• Timeless side‑scroll gameplay
• Memorable retro graphics and music
• Clear level progression with boss encounters
• Easy to pick up for all ages

• Unique Zelda spin on side‑scrolling
• Nostalgic 16‑bit visual style
• CD‑quality soundtrack
• Straightforward control scheme

• Limited to single‑player only
• No modern quality‑of‑life features like save states
• Graphics may feel dated to new players

• Clunky and imprecise controls
• Level design feels repetitive
• Not officially part of the Zelda canon