Pros -
As good as Link's Awakening
Less annoying trading mini-game
It's really cool seeing species from Zelda OoT in an 8-bit adventure.
Some of the puzzles are cool.
Takes advantage of the GBC.
Really unique boss fights. Not the same ole thing again.

Cons -
original music is bad
It's hard. I never would have finished this without a guide.
Ring system feels unnecessary.
Witty dialogue from Link's Awakening isn't here

Played this one as a linked game, enjoyed it even more than Seasons.
It's own story is good and richer than the Seasons one, the overall conclusion that appears in the linked game is even better. For that reason I think it might be worth it to play Ages>Seasons to balance out the amount of interesting plot, although I didn't play this way myself yet.
I also really liked both new characters and returning ones from N64 Zeldas.

Just like in OoS, both music and visuals are fantastic, devs could really make wonders on a limited hardware back then. I liked the puzzle focused gameplay of Ages more than combat focused one of Seasons, but it's good they made them different. I think two games connected into one journey was an amazing concept that I would like to see more often. The only thing I didn't like - linked game became way too easy with all the rings and upgrades from the first part.

I will be discussing the events of the Linked Game in this review since this was my linked game in my playthrough.

Both Oracle games I think are massively overlooked and underrated. They both offer different experiences from each other and highlight different elements of the Zelda series. Oracle of Ages is apparently the one focused on puzzles.

Oracle of Ages starts exactly the same was as Oracle of Seasons but now Link is transported to another kingdom and a different villain captures another Oracle. I was worried that I was about to go through the exact same game again but thankfully that’s where the similarities end between the two.

Also I forgot to note in my previous review that the art direction in both of these games is fantastic. I really love all of the character designs in these games.

I enjoyed Oracle of Ages more than Oracle of Seasons because it really felt like there was a lot more going on. There was focus on more characters like Queen Ambi and Ralph who are the only ones to have actual arcs across these two games. The story isn’t super special but I’m glad it does SOMETHING.

The dungeons in this game are all great. Capcom knows their way around creating good dungeons huh? Also once again this game has really great items unique from Oracle of Seasons. The Seed Shooter, Cane of Somaria and The Switch Hook are some of the best items in the series as well. With the Switch Hook being the highlight for me. The bosses are also all great! Vire’s boss fight being a Donkey Kong callback is genius!!!

Now on to the Linked Game content, uhh I expected a bit more but it’s cool I guess. Certain aspects carry over between games in cool ways. Princess Zelda also appears throughout your linked game only to get captured when you learn about Twinrovas super shocking super secret master plan which forces you to fight one more boss. I like that the linked content provides a better, more conclusive ending to the two games.

In some ways, Oracle of Ages feels like a greatest hits games. You liked the time travel in Ocarina of Time? Here you go! You liked the two worlds mechanic from A Link to the Past? Here you go! Zoras! Gorons! Jabu-Jabu!!! And you know what? I’ll eat it all up.

Both Oracle games are very close in quality and I can see the argument for preferring either over the other. However, Oracle of Ages is the definitely the one that resonated with me more.

I have genuinely no idea why everyone says this game is more focused on puzzles than Seasons, in the slightest. There's a couple okay dungeons in the second half of the game but everything else about this game was a linear snoozefest I really didn't feel like playing. The puzzles and overworld design never get anywhere close to the creativity and depth that Seasons consistently churned out, which really surprised me as these games came out on the same day. The music was way worse than Seasons too. The story is better but that's not saying a whole lot.
Better than Zelda 1, I guess, but this game is what I thought the Oracle games were before I had played them fully.