The Legend of Zelda
| The Legend of Zelda | ||||||||||||||||
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NES - USA - 1st edition. |
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The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure video game developed and published by Nintendo and released on the Famicom Disk System on 1986-02-21, then ported to NES on 1987-08-22 for release in other countries. It is the very first game in the Zelda series.
In the game, an evil wizard named Gannon used a powerful artifact called the Triforce of Power to kidnap, Zelda, the princess of the land of Hyrule, and spread his evil minions across the realm. You play an elfin boy named Link who must collect the eight pieces of a second artifact called the Triforce of Wisdom, as well as many other weapons and items, to become strong enough to defeat Gannon.
Contents
Personal
| Own? | Yes. I own five US NES copies of this game including one original 5-screw gold cart, three 3-screw gold carts with round seals, and the gray cart. I also have a rev-A box with round seal, three manuals (NES-ZL-USA-I★, NES-ZL-USA-2, and one missing the cover, but I think it's NES-ZL-USA-I), and two maps. |
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| Won? | Yes. I have beaten the US version many times with 100% completion. I've beaten the second quest with 100% completion. Prior to the Internet, I hand-mapped nearly every bomb/burn site for both quests. I've also beaten the first quest of the FDS. |
| Finished | NES: Around 1990 / FDS: 2024-02-01. |
I first played this game in the late 1980s when my brother borrowed it from his friend who lived down the street. My brother accidentally deleted the boy's near-complete save game file, and we struggled to get all his items back before having to return it to him. Later, we ended up getting our own cart, and it quickly became one of our favorites. We used help from Nintendo Power and The Official Nintendo Player's Guide to get details about the game, and I painstakingly burned and bombed nearly every title in the game to uncover its secrets. As we reached the end of the game, I faked being sick so I could stay home from school and keep playing. I was able to find the last heart container and the red ring, but I didn't get to Gannon. My brother beat it first, showed me how it was done, and then I was able to beat it too. The second quest took a lot longer because several of the puzzles were more complicated, but I did end up beating it too. In my 40s, wanting to learn more about the FDS, I beat the Japanese original.
It is my second favorite Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, being my favorite.
Review
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| 8 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 |
Best Version: NES
— This section contains spoilers! —
Good
- Considering the constraints of the media, there is an unbelievable amount of game here! Fitting everything into 64K was a serious feat of engineering.
- The game has pretty nice graphics considering the limitations of the NES.
- Despite having very little space for music, Koji Kondo managed to fit memorable songs that don't become annoying; the title music is especially good. Kondo also made good use of environmental sound effects like the crash of the ocean on the shore and the monster roar when a boss is nearby.
- The slow progression of items you can buy and through the exploration of dungeons keeps the game fresh the whole time.
- I like how the underworld monsters are more sinister and gruesome than the over world monsters. It was also a good design decision to give each dungeon a primary monster type to help give them character, and to have the type become more difficult as the game progresses. The switch from water to blood/lava as you reach underworld 5 was a nice touch as well.
- Even without the second quest, the game is wonderful. The addition of an entirely new underworld was icing on the cake.
- The manual is very well-made, and the inclusion of a partial map was a great help. I also love how they hired someone to create a clay model of Hyrule just for a background photo!
- Coloring the game cartridge metallic gold was a nice touch.
- In order to prevent him from blending into the background, Link's sprite palette actually changes in certain underworlds. The designers were wise to do this.
Bad
- The game requires a lot of trial and error to find all the hidden rooms and treasures, and the cryptic hints from the Hyrulians aren't all that helpful. Thankfully, the vast majority of these are optional.
- I wish there were more red/blue versions of the various enemies, items, etc. This seems like an untapped area. For example, there are no blue Like-Likes, red Wall Masters, Red Gibdos, or Red Manhandlas. Some of them are backward was as well, like the Red Tektites being harder to kill than the blue.
- Unless you're familiar with Japanese mythology, a lot of the monsters will seem particularly unusual and abstract.
- The "Pay me for the door repair charge" annoyingly punishes you for exploring.
- Some of the items seem to be poorly placed like when you get boomerangs from both the first and second dungeons. Although this may have been on purpose to introduce the idea of upgrading items early on.
- There is noticeable slowdown when a lot of sprites are on the screen at once.
- Dungeon 7 is particularly out of place with a, by then sissy, Aquamentus for a boss.
- In one of the second quest dungeons, it is possible to become trapped in a couple rooms closed off by a shutter door, and, if you don't have any bombs, you need to reset the game.
Ugly
- There is very little in the game to keep you on track. Dungeons usually feature a cryptic hint to get you to the next one, and sometimes you can buy hints from old ladies, but, unless you have a hint guide, you'll be lost a lost, especially in the second quest. At least the manual and map that comes with the game gives you a decent start.
Media
Box Art
I'm not a huge fan of any of the boxes. The Japanese art is a bit primitive, and, while I like the design of the North American art, it's a little too simplistic.
The original Famicom Disk System box features a cartoon Link in front of an aerial painting of Hyrule. Although the red lettering doesn't fit, the empty Triforce mold is a nice addition.
The North American box is a fairly plain gold box with a metallic coat of arms. A part of the coat of arms is cut out to reveal the golden cartridge inside. This was a great marketing decision. The third release did not have the window because the cartridge was gray. The typeface of the "ZELDA" logo is Zapf International Demi.
The screenshots in back of the US box use the original thin Japanese typeface.
The Japanese release for the Famicom uses the same box as the FDS, only with more of the art visible and a dark cyan backdrop.
The emblem of the US reprint box.
Game Media
Famicom Disk System - Japan - Disk - Side A.
Famicom Disk System - Japan - Disk - Side B.
NES - USA - Cartridge - Metallic gold. This really made the game unique compared to the dull gray carts, and gave the game a psychological uniqueness. It made me happy just to look at it.
NES - USA - Cartridge - Internal circuit board.
Documentation
Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy - Manual - Japan.
The Legend of Zelda: Instruction Booklet - Manual - USA.
Manual - Game Boy Advance - USA.
Map - USA.
Poster - FDS - Japan - Front.
Poster - FDS - Japan - Back.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 1.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 2.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 3.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 4.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 5.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 6.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 7.
The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, blurb.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - 2nd Quest, part 1.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - 2nd Quest, part 2.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - 2nd Quest, part 3.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - 2nd Quest, part 4.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - 2nd Quest, part 5.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - 2nd Quest, part 6.
Nintendo Power, 1988-06 - levels 8 and 9.
Nintendo Power, 1988-09, locations.
Nintendo Power, 1989-01 - Counselor's Corner.
Nintendo Fun Club, 1987-Q2 - Description.
Nintendo Fun Club, 1987-Q2 - Contest.
Nintendo Fun Club, 1988-06 - Tips and Tricks.
Winning Book Series 1 - Japanese hint book.
Collection of Secret Tricks 1 - Japanese hint book.
Collection of Secret Tricks 2 - Japanese hint book.
Japanese hint book.
Urawaza Taizenshu hint book.
Legends of Localization.
Graphics
Palette swapping link's tunic causes an undesired artifact.
- flickr.com/photos/historyofhyrule/albums/72157629221232021 - Official published art.
- spriters-resource.com/nes/legendofzelda - Graphics.
Screenshots
Title screen.
Getting 100 rupees.
When Link gets a magic clock, he remains invulnerable until he leaves the room.
Watch your hearts or you'll wind up dead!
The game over screen.
Design Documents
Overworld.
Overworld map.
Overworld map (translated).
Overworld room layouts.
Overworld map objects.
Overworld rooms, and wallmaster room with unused monster.
Secret passage room layout (Takashi Tezuka's alias is seen).
Secret passage compared to actual game.
Scrapped control scheme.
Scrapped underworld entrance.
Scrapped underworld entrance (translated).
Underworld maps - first quest.
Underworld maps - first quest - detail.
Underworld maps - second quest.
Underworlds.
Scrapped underworld floor system.
Underworld room layout.
Triforce room layout.
Ganon room layout (Takashi Tezuka's alias is seen).
Ganon room compared to actual game.
Monsters.
Monsters.
Monster item drop information.
Character ROM layout.
Maps
Overworld map.
Overworld map, with spoilers.
Underworld maps, with spoilers.
Overworld grottos.
Overworld warps.
2nd Quest Overworld, with spoilers.
2nd Quest Underworlds, with spoilers.
Fan Art
Old man gives Link a sword comic by Zac Gorman.
Buying The Legend of Zelda comic by Zac Gorman.
Dodongo comic by Zac Gorman.
Fan art by Zac Gorman.
Wallmasters comic by Zac Gorman.
Link fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Zelda fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Weapons fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Items fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Overworld fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Underworld fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Old Man fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Old Woman fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Faeries fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Shopkeeper fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Triforce fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Octorok fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Tektite fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Leever fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Zola fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Peahat fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Molblin fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Armos fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Lynel fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Ghini fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Stalfos fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Zol & Gel fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Goriya fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Wallmaster fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Rope fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Dark Nut fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Vire & Keese fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Like-Like fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Bubble fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Wizzrobe fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Pols Voice fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Aquamentus fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Dodongo fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Manhandla fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Gleeok fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Moldorm fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Digdogger fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Ghoma fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Lanmolafan art by Deimos-Remus.
Patra fan art by Deimos-Remus.
The Sorcerer Ganon fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Ganon fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Lynel ad fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Wallmaster ad fan art by Deimos-Remus.
Another wallmaster ad fan art by Deimos-Remus.
30 Year Anniversary Poster by Deimos-Remus.
Fan art advert by Deimos-Remus.
Safely Endangered comic.
Honest title.
CGA mockup.
Videos
Play Online
Representation
| Strong female character? | Fail | None of the women are strong. |
|---|---|---|
| Bechdel test? | Fail | There are women, but they never talk to each other. |
| Strong person of color character? | Fail | Nobody is human. |
| Queer character? | Fail | There are no queer characters. |
Credits
The Legend of Zelda has credits, but they leave out some people and are mostly aliases. Thankfully, dedicated fans have determined the majority of their real names.
| Role | Staff |
|---|---|
| Executive Producer | Hiroshi Yamauchi |
| Producer, Director | Shigeru Miyamoto |
| Director, Designer | Takashi Tezuka |
| Programmers | Toshihiko Nakago, Yasunari Soejima, I. Marui |
| Music, Sound Effects, Audio Programmer | Koji Kondo |
Titles
| Language | Native | Transliteration | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| English | The Legend of Zelda | ||
| Japanese | ゼルダの伝説ゼ THE HYRULE FANTASY | Zeruda no Densetsu Za Hairaru Fantaji | Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy |
Links
- zeldadungeon.net/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda - Zelda Dungeon.
- Video Games
- 1986 Video Games
- Video games developed by Nintendo
- Video games published by Nintendo
- Famicom Disk System Games
- NES Games
- Video Game Genre - Action-adventure
- Video Game Genre - Exploration
- Video Game Genre - Metroidvania
- Media Theme - Adventure
- Media Theme - Fantasy
- Software Distribution Model - Commercial
- Video Games I Own
- Video Games I've Beaten
- Video Game Rating - 8
- Video Game Graphics Rating - 6
- Video Game Sound Rating - 7
- Video games which can be played online
- Video games without a strong female character
- Video games that fail the Bechdel test
- Video games without a strong person of color character
- Video games without a queer character
- Video Game Prime Order - Adventure, Action, Strategy
- Favorite
- Favorite Games
- Trope - Damsel In Distress
