I feel like this review should be in two parts: the game and the actual hack.

BS Zelda Map 2 (the game): Originally released for the BS-X, this map stays a bit LESS true to the original Legend of Zelda, and benefits from it. I probably wouldn’t have liked it much as a kid, because the overworld was half of the size of the original (8×8 instead of 16×8). However, when I’m in the mood to play the original style Zelda, rather than one of the SNES/GB games, I like that the map is more focused. It’s the perfect bite-sized Zelda, with the redone map making it a fresh experience. The dungeons don’t fare as well though. Sticking strictly to a theme, the dungeons spell out the work “NINtENDO” (small T intentional). The shape of these letters forces them into a mostly linear affair. Still, I think that BS Zelda Map 2 might be my go-to game in the future.

Fourth Quest (the hack): The hacking on this game is phenomenal. The fact that they were able to take a ROM in 4 parts and combine it all into a single experience is a masterwork in retro hacking. This plays just like a normal Zelda game. If I didn’t know it was based on a BS-X broadcast, I’d have no hints of that from the game itself. The only weird thing was that the Master Key didn’t get written to SRAM. You have to recollect it every time you start the game. That’s a non-issue for someone using save states though. Now, onto Third Quest!