Retro Replay Review

Gameplay

Link: The Faces of Evil adopts a classic side-scrolling platform format, casting players as the Hero of Time as he leaps and swings through the island of Koridai. From the opening scene, you’ll guide Link through treacherous terrain, dodge traps, and vanquish Ganon’s minions with your trusty sword. Each level culminates in a boss fight against one of the dreaded “Faces of Evil,” forcing you to adapt to new attack patterns and environmental hazards.

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The controls are relatively straightforward—jump, slash, and collect heart containers to expand your health bar—but they suffer from occasional stiffness. Timing your jumps can feel unforgiving on narrow platforms, and Link’s sword has a brief wind-up that can leave you vulnerable to sudden projectile attacks. Despite these quirks, the level layouts are designed to encourage exploration, rewarding careful players with hidden bonuses and extra life icons tucked away in secret alcoves.

Replay value is modest but present. Once you’ve mastered each boss’s patterns, you may return to earlier stages to hunt for missed treasure chests or complete the game with minimal damage taken. Speedrunners will find a niche challenge in shaving seconds off their playthroughs, though newcomers should prepare for a fair share of trial-and-error moments.

Graphics

The pixel art in The Faces of Evil reflects the CD-i’s technical limitations, resulting in backgrounds that can feel flat and sprite animations that sometimes lack fluidity. That said, Koridai’s forest pathways, rocky ramps, and dungeon corridors are rendered in rich, saturated colors that convey a fairytale atmosphere despite the dated hardware.

Where the graphics really shine—or perhaps charm—is in the fully animated interstitial cutscenes. Much like its sister title Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, this game features hand-drawn sequences depicting pivotal story moments. While animation quality varies (and some character expressions border on unintentionally humorous), these scenes inject personality and a sense of epic scale that the in-game engine simply can’t match.

On the downside, sprite flickering can occur when too many objects crowd the screen, and enemy designs often reuse a small pool of colors and shapes. If you’re accustomed to modern HD remasters, these technical compromises will stand out—but if you embrace the game as a retro curiosity, its visual quirks become part of the experience.

Story

The narrative premise is straightforward: Ganon has seized Koridai, kidnapped Princess Zelda, and unleashed the enigmatic “Faces of Evil” to guard the island’s key strongholds. Link’s quest is clear—battle through each region, defeat these fearsome guardians one by one, and rescue Zelda before the land is plunged into darkness forever.

Storytelling unfolds through a mix of in-game text and the CD-i’s signature cutscenes. Between levels, you’ll witness dramatic dialogue exchanges, villains taunting Link, and Zelda’s plight depicted in bold, expressive artwork. Though the voice acting can be uneven, the earnest performance conveys the gravity of each perilous encounter.

Depth of character is admittedly minimal—Link remains the silent protagonist, and Zelda plays the classic damsel role. However, the episodic structure gives each boss a brief moment in the spotlight, revealing just enough lore to keep players invested in the journey without bogging down the pace.

Overall Experience

Link: The Faces of Evil is a product of its era, offering a blend of nostalgic charm and rough edges. For collectors and die-hard Zelda enthusiasts, it presents an intriguing footnote in the franchise’s history—a chance to explore an uncommon spin-off on the CD-i platform. The challenge level is moderate, making it accessible to seasoned gamers seeking a retro diversion.

At the same time, casual players should temper expectations: repetitive stage designs, stiff controls, and occasional graphical hitches can lead to moments of frustration. The game’s audio, featuring looping tracks and repetitive sound effects, further highlights the technological constraints that shaped its development.

Ultimately, The Faces of Evil stands as a curious blend of ambition and limitation. If you’re hunting for an off-beat Zelda adventure to add to your collection, this title delivers plenty of quirky moments and memorable cutscenes. But if you crave the polished gameplay and expansive worlds of Nintendo’s flagship entries, you may find Koridai’s perils a tougher sell. Regardless, it remains an essential oddity for completionists and retro gamers curious about the darker corners of Zelda history.

Retro Replay Score

4.8/10