A side-scrolling platformer where Princess Zelda searches for her missing father and Link across Gamelon. You navigate stages from a world map, unlocking new areas by clearing zones or defeating bosses. Combat involves sword strikes and magic items found throughout levels. The game uses full-motion video cutscenes with voice acting—a rarity in 1993. Stages scroll horizontally, and you'll backtrack to previously visited areas with new abilities. Impa, Zelda's nursemaid, accompanies her but doesn't affect gameplay. This was Zelda's first playable role in the franchise. The platforming differs sharply from the overhead exploration most Zelda games use, leaning closer to linear action-platformer structure. Nintendo developed it through a licensing deal with Philips and later distanced itself from the title.
