The Legend Of Zelda: The Mystic Mirror (Player Two Start)

Released exclusively for the Game Boy Color on March 23, 1998, The Legend Of Zelda: The Mystic Mirror is the second handheld Zelda game, and takes place in the “timeline” before any of the others. Indeed, the game takes place at a time when the land of Hyrule was new and Link and Zelda's legend had not yet even begun. The game's graphics are somewhat better than Link's Awakening, similar to those in OTL's Oracle of Seasons/Ages games, with rich and vibrant color everywhere. The game's soundtrack is enhanced by the Game Boy Color's sound chip, with quality rivaling that of the SNES' A Link To The Past. Gameplay is largely similar to Link's Awakening, with Link able to wield two items/weapons at once. The game's primary item is the Mystic Mirror, and it works largely like the Mirror of Truth from OTL's Ocarina of Time, though without the need to use up a Magic Meter (since this Zelda game doesn't have one), displaying secrets and hidden paths when it is used. The game heavily hints toward the appearance of these secrets when it's required for progress in the game, only non-essential secrets utilize trial and error with the mirror.

The game begins as Link, a young farm boy, is drawn to Hyrule Castle by the prospect of a job. The King is holding a fighting tournament, and Link decides to enter. When he impresses Princess Zelda with his sword skill, he is assigned the task of hunting down three shards of the Mystic Mirror, an artifact from a time before Hyrule existed. Link explores three dungeons and battles three bosses to gain the shards. In the meantime, he meets three beautiful girls: Farore, Din, and Nayru. The three girls guide Link on the early parts of his journey. Link gathers the shards and restores the Mystic Mirror, but when he does so and returns to the castle, it is invaded by a dark wizard named Ekkadan. He tries to take the mirror, but the mysterious powers of the three mysterious girls block him from doing so. Realizing the girls' true power, Ekkadan kidnaps them and drags them into a dark portal. Link must use the mirror to uncover passageways that will unlock a hidden world, including three new dungeons in which Ekkadan has imprisoned the girls. The Mystic Mirror reveals that these three girls are in fact the three goddesses of Hyrule, who were stripped of their powers and reborn as mortals after Hyrule came into being. After conquering the dungeons and freeing the girls (also restoring their memories of being goddesses in the process), they reveal that Ekkadan has taken their goddess powers and has formed a tower of evil from which he intends to rule Hyrule. Link must ascend Ekkadan's tower and defeat him. After doing so, the goddess' powers are restored. They reveal that though they welcome humans and will always protect them, Hyrule's presence will always be a constant drain on the goddess' powers. However, through Link and Zelda, it is learned that if great heroes step forth and show wisdom, courage, and power, the goddess' powers will be continually sustained and that Hyrule will always be prosperous. The goddess Nayru takes the mirror, preserving it for a time when it will once again be needed to save Hyrule from destruction.

The Mystic Mirror is the Game Boy's best selling title since Link's Awakening in 1993. It continues the revivification of the Game Boy that began with the release of the Game Boy Color in 1996, and sets the stage for an even bigger hit once Pokemon is released stateside later in the year.