Difference between revisions of "The Legend of Zelda"

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[[Image:Legend of Zelda, The.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
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[[Image:Legend of Zelda, The - NES - USA.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
  
'''''The Legend of Zelda''''' is an action-adventure game by [[Nintendo]] released in 1986 and the very first game in the [[The Legend of Zelda (Universe)|Zelda series]]. It is my second favorite Zelda game, [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]], being my favorite.
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'''''The Legend of Zelda''''' is an adventure action 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 [[The Legend of Zelda (Universe)|Zelda series]]. In the game, an evil wizard named Gannon used a powerful artifact called the Triforce of Power to kidnap the princess of the land of Hyrule, Zelda, and spread his evil minions across the realm. You play an elfin boy named Link who must collect the 8 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.
  
I first played this game in the late 1980s when my brother borrowed it from a boy 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. As we neared completion, 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.
+
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.
 +
 
 +
It is my second favorite Zelda game, [[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past]], being my favorite.
  
 
==Status==
 
==Status==
Line 10: Line 12:
 
==Review==
 
==Review==
 
* '''Overall:''' 8/10
 
* '''Overall:''' 8/10
* '''Best Version:''' SNES BS remake.
+
* '''Best Version:''' NES
  
 
===Good===
 
===Good===
* Considering the constraints of the media, there is an unbelievable amount of game here!
+
* 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 manages to be very long without being unnecessarily difficult. Though, a beginner will certainly want the manual and map with them.
+
* The game has pretty nice graphics considering the limitations of the NES.
 +
* Despite having very little space for music, it manages to be memorable and not become annoying. The title music is especially good.
 +
* 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.
 
* Even without the second quest, the game is wonderful. The addition of an entirely new underworld was delicious icing on the cake.
 
* Even without the second quest, the game is wonderful. The addition of an entirely new underworld was delicious icing on the cake.
* The slow progression of items you can buy and through the exploration of dungeons keeps the game fresh the whole time.
+
* The manual is very well-made, and the inclusion of a partial map was a great help.
* Despite having very little space for music, it manages to be memorable and not become annoying. The title music is especially good.
+
* Coloring the game cartridge metallic gold was icing on the cake.
* The entire game fits into 64K, which is a serious feat of engineering.
 
  
 
===Bad===
 
===Bad===
Line 24: Line 28:
 
* 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.
 
* 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.
 
* 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.
 
* 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.
* Dungeon 7 is particularly out of place with a (by then, sissy) Aquamentus for a boss, and the red candle for a treasure.
+
* Dungeon 7 is particularly out of place with a, by then, sissy Aquamentus for a boss, and the red candle for a treasure.
 
* 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.
 
* 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.
  
Line 31: Line 36:
 
* Nothing. This game is sheer brilliance.
 
* Nothing. This game is sheer brilliance.
  
==Notes==
+
==Media==
* The font used on the box art on the "ZELDA" logo is Zapf International Demi.
+
===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.
  
==Documentation==
+
<gallery>
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - FDS - Japan.jpg|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.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - USA.jpg|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 typeface of the "ZELDA" logo is Zapf International Demi.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Japan.jpg|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.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Gold Cartridge.jpg|The North American release featured a shiny metallic gold cartridge. 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.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Documentation===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual (Revision).pdf|Game manual revision.
 
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual (Revision).pdf|Game manual revision.
 
Legend of Zelda - Manual - FDS.pdf|Japanese Manual.
 
Legend of Zelda - Manual - FDS.pdf|Japanese Manual.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual (France).pdf|French manual.
 
Legend of Zelda - In-box Map.jpg|The map that came with the game.
 
Legend of Zelda - In-box Map.jpg|The map that came with the game.
 
Legend of Zelda - 2nd Quest Official Map.jpg|The 2nd Quest map that came with Nintendo Power.
 
Legend of Zelda - 2nd Quest Official Map.jpg|The 2nd Quest map that came with Nintendo Power.
Legend of Zelda - Tips & Tricks.pdf|Tips & Tricks Hint Guide.
+
Legend of Zelda - NES - Tips & Tactics.pdf|Tips & Tactics hint guide.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 007.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 7.
+
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 007.jpg|[[The Official Nintendo Player's Guide]], part 1.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 008.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 8.
+
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 008.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 2.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 009.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 9.
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Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 009.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 3.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 010.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 10.
+
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 010.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 4.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 011-012.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 11/12.
+
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 011-012.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 5.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 013.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 13.
+
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 013.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 6.
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 014.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, page 14.
+
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 014.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 7.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 127.jpg|The Official Nintendo Player's Guide, blurb.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 026-027.jpg|[[Nintendo Power]], June, 1986, 2nd Quest, part 1.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 028-029.jpg|Nintendo Power, June, 1986, 2nd Quest, part 2.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 030-031.jpg|Nintendo Power, June, 1986, 2nd Quest, part 3.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 032-033.jpg|Nintendo Power, June, 1986, 2nd Quest, part 4.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 034.jpg|Nintendo Power, June, 1986, 2nd Quest, part 5.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 035-037.jpg|Nintendo Power, June, 1986, 2nd Quest, part 6.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 054-055.jpg|Nintendo Power, June, 1986, levels 8 and 9.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-09 - 064-065.jpg|Nintendo Power, September, 1986, locations.
 +
Nintendo Fun Club - 1987-Q2 - 01.jpg|[[Nintendo Fun Club]], 1986-Q2 - Description.
 +
Nintendo Fun Club - 1987-Q2 - 07.jpg|Nintendo Fun Club, 1986-Q2 - Contest.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Ad (Japan).jpg|Famicom Disk System advert.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Screenshots===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Screenshot - Title.png|Title screen.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Maps==
+
===Design Notes===
 +
<gallery>
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 1.jpg|Dungeon layout?
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 2.jpg|Sprite memory layout.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 3.jpg|Unused dungeon entrance screen.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 4.jpg|Early over world map.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 5.jpg|2nd quest, dungeon layout 1.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 6.jpg|2nd quest, dungeon layout 2.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 7.jpg|Dungeon time line?.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Design Notes 8.jpg|Underworld room.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Design Notes 9.jpg|Over world rooms.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Design Notes 10.jpg|Over world rooms, and wallmaster room with unused monster.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Design Notes 11.jpg|Over world room objects.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Design Notes 12.gif|Ganon's room compared with finished product. [[Takashi Tezuka]]'s alias is on this one.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - Design Notes 13.gif|Shortcut room compared with finished product. [[Takashi Tezuka]]'s name is on this one.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 
 +
===Maps===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Legend of Zelda - Overworld.png|Overworld map.
 
Legend of Zelda - Overworld.png|Overworld map.
Line 62: Line 110:
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
==Gallery==
+
===Fan Art===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 +
Zac Gorman - Legend of Zelda - Sword.gif|Old man gives Link a sword comic by Zac Gorman.
 +
Zac Gorman - Legend of Zelda - Buying.gif|Buying The Legend of Zelda comic by Zac Gorman.
 +
Zac Gorman - Legend of Zelda - Dodongo.gif|Dodongo comic by Zac Gorman.
 +
Zac Gorman - Legend of Zelda - Octorok My World.jpg|Fan art by Zac Gorman.
 +
Zac Gorman - Legend of Zelda - Wallmasters.gif|Wallmasters comic by Zac Gorman.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Link.jpg|Link fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Zelda.jpg|Zelda fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Weapons.jpg|Weapons fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Items.jpg|Items fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Overworld.jpg|Overworld fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Underworld.jpg|Underworld fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Old Man.jpg|Old Man fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Old Woman.jpg|Old Woman fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Faeries.jpg|Faeries fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Shopkeeper.jpg|Shopkeeper fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Triforce.jpg|Triforce fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Octorok.jpg|Octorok fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Tektite.jpg|Tektite fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Leever.jpg|Leever fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Zola.jpg|Ghini fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Peahat.jpg|Peahat fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Molblin.jpg|Molblin fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Armos.jpg|Armos fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Lynel.jpg|Lynel fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Ghini.jpg|Ghini fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Stalfos.jpg|Stalfos fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Zol & Gel.jpg|Zol & Gel fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Goriya.jpg|Goriya fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Wallmaster.jpg|Wallmaster fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Rope.jpg|Rope fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Dark Nut.jpg|Dark Nut fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Vire & Keese.jpg|Vire & Keese fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Like-Like.jpg|Like-Like fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Bubble.jpg|Bubble fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Wizzrobe.jpg|Wizzrobe fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Pols Voice.jpg|Pols Voice fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Aquamentus.jpg|Aquamentus fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Dodongo.jpg|Dodongo fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Manhandla.jpg|Manhandla fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Gleeok.jpg|Gleeok fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Moldorm.jpg|Moldorm fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Digdogger.jpg|Digdogger fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Ghoma.jpg|Ghoma fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Lanmola.jpg|Lanmolafan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Patra.jpg|Patra fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - The Sorcerer Ganon.jpg|The Sorcerer Ganon fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Ganon.jpg|Ganon fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Ad - Lynel.jpg|Lynel ad fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Ad - Wallmaster.jpg|Wallmaster ad fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - Ad - Wallmaster 2.jpg|Another wallmaster ad fan art by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Deimos-Remus - 30 Year Anniversary Poster.jpg|30 Year Anniversary Poster by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Fan Art - Deimos-Remus.jpg|Fan art advert by Deimos-Remus.
 +
Honest Video Game Titles - Legend of Zelda, The.jpg|Honest title.
 +
Legend of Zelda, The - NES - CGA Mockup.png|[[Color Graphics Adapter|CGA]] mockup.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
 +
 +
===Videos===
 +
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQ6hgzzk_o8 youtube.com/watch?v=RQ6hgzzk_o8] - Longplay, 1st Quest.
 +
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tG8lVuLs9EY youtube.com/watch?v=tG8lVuLs9EY] - Longplay, 2nd Quest.
 +
 +
==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.
 +
 +
{| class="wikitable" |
 +
! Name !! Roles
 +
|-
 +
| [[Hiroshi Yamauchi]] || Executive Producer
 +
|-
 +
| [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] || Producer, Director
 +
|-
 +
| [[Takashi Tezuka]] || Director, Designer
 +
|-
 +
| [[Toshihiko Nakago]] || Programmer
 +
|-
 +
| [[Yasunari Soejima]] || Programmer
 +
|-
 +
| [[I. Marui]] || Programmer
 +
|-
 +
| [[Koji Kondo]] || Music, Sound Effects, Audio Programmer
 +
|}
 +
 +
==Titles==
 +
{| class="wikitable"
 +
! Language !! Native !! Transliteration !! Translation
 +
|-
 +
| English || The Legend of Zelda || ||
 +
|-
 +
| Japanese || ルダの伝説ゼ THE HYRULE FANTASY || Zeruda no Densetsu Za Hairaru Fantaji || Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy
 +
|}
  
 
==Links==
 
==Links==
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/legend-of-zelda mobygames.com/game/nes/legend-of-zelda] - MobyGames.
+
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda mobygames.com/game/legend-of-zelda] - MobyGames.
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game)] - Wikipedia.
 
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game) en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(video_game)] - Wikipedia.
 
* [http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(NES) vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(NES)] - Music.
 
* [http://www.vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(NES) vgmpf.com/Wiki/index.php/The_Legend_of_Zelda_(NES)] - Music.
Line 75: Line 211:
 
[[Category: Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Video Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Video Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 +
[[Category: NES Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 +
[[Category: Famicom Disk System Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Action|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Action|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Adventure|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Adventure|Legend of Zelda, The]]
Line 80: Line 218:
 
[[Category: Favorite|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Favorite|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Favorite Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Favorite Games|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 +
[[Category: Fantasy|Legend of Zelda, The]]

Revision as of 16:49, 18 September 2018

North American box art.

The Legend of Zelda is an adventure action 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 the princess of the land of Hyrule, Zelda, and spread his evil minions across the realm. You play an elfin boy named Link who must collect the 8 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.

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.

It is my second favorite Zelda game, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, being my favorite.

Status

I own the original gold cart, the revised gold cart, and the gray cart. I have beaten the game many times with 100% completion. I've beaten the second quest with 100% completion. I once hand-mapped nearly every bomb/burn site for both quests.

Review

  • Overall: 8/10
  • Best Version: NES

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, it manages to be memorable and not become annoying. The title music is especially good.
  • 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.
  • Even without the second quest, the game is wonderful. The addition of an entirely new underworld was delicious icing on the cake.
  • The manual is very well-made, and the inclusion of a partial map was a great help.
  • Coloring the game cartridge metallic gold was icing on the cake.

Bad

  • The game requires a lot of trial and error to find all the hidden rooms and treasures. 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.
  • Dungeon 7 is particularly out of place with a, by then, sissy Aquamentus for a boss, and the red candle for a treasure.
  • 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

  • Nothing. This game is sheer brilliance.

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.

Documentation

Screenshots

Design Notes

Maps

Fan Art

Videos

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.

Name Roles
Hiroshi Yamauchi Executive Producer
Shigeru Miyamoto Producer, Director
Takashi Tezuka Director, Designer
Toshihiko Nakago Programmer
Yasunari Soejima Programmer
I. Marui Programmer
Koji Kondo Music, Sound Effects, Audio Programmer

Titles

Language Native Transliteration Translation
English The Legend of Zelda
Japanese ルダの伝説ゼ THE HYRULE FANTASY Zeruda no Densetsu Za Hairaru Fantaji Legend of Zelda: The Hyrule Fantasy

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