Difference between revisions of "The Legend of Zelda"

From TheAlmightyGuru
Jump to: navigation, search
(Gallery)
(19 intermediate revisions by the same user not shown)
Line 1: Line 1:
 
[[Image:Legend of Zelda, The.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
 
[[Image:Legend of Zelda, The.jpg|thumb|256x256px|North American box art.]]
  
'''''The Legend of Zelda''''' is an action-adventure game by [[Nintendo]]. It is my second favorite Zelda game in the series. I first played this game in the late  
+
'''''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.
 +
 
 +
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.
 +
 
 +
The font used on the box art on the "ZELDA" logo is Zapf International Demi.
  
 
==Status==
 
==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 a couple of times with 100% completion. I once mapped nearly every bomb/burn site for both quests.
+
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==
 
==Review==
Overall: 8/10
+
* '''Overall:''' 8/10
 +
* '''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 manages to be very long without being unnecessarily difficult. Though, a beginner will certainly want the manual and map with them.
 
* 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 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.
 
* Despite having very little space for music, it manages to be memorable and not become annoying. The title music is especially good.
 
* Despite having very little space for music, it manages to be memorable and not become annoying. The title music is especially good.
  
Line 20: Line 26:
 
* 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 27: Line 34:
 
* Nothing. This game is sheer brilliance.
 
* Nothing. This game is sheer brilliance.
  
==Notes==
+
==Documentation==
* The font used on the box art on the "ZELDA" logo is Zapf International Demi.
+
<gallery>
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual.pdf|Game manual.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Manual (Revision).pdf|Game manual revision.
 +
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 - 2nd Quest Official Map.jpg|The 2nd Quest map that came with Nintendo Power.
 +
Legend of Zelda - Tips & Tricks.pdf|Tips & Tricks Hint Guide.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 007.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 1.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 008.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 2.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 009.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 3.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 010.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 4.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 011-012.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 5.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 013.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 6.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 014.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, part 7.
 +
Official Nintendo Player's Guide - 127.jpg|Official Nintendo Player's Guide, blurb.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 026-027.jpg|Nintendo Power, 2nd Quest, part 1.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 028-029.jpg|Nintendo Power, 2nd Quest, part 2.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 030-031.jpg|Nintendo Power, 2nd Quest, part 3.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 032-033.jpg|Nintendo Power, 2nd Quest, part 4.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 034.jpg|Nintendo Power, 2nd Quest, part 5.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 035-037.jpg|Nintendo Power, 2nd Quest, part 6.
 +
Nintendo Power - 1988-06 - 054-055.jpg|Nintendo Power, levels 8 and 9.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 1.jpg|Design notes - Dungeon layout?.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 2.jpg|Design notes - Sprite map.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 3.jpg|Design notes - Unused dungeon entrance graphic.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 4.jpg|Design notes - Early over world map.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 5.jpg|Design notes - 2nd quest, dungeon layout 1.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 6.jpg|Design notes - 2nd quest, dungeon layout 2.
 +
Legend of Zelda - NES - Design Notes - 7.jpg|Design notes - Dungeon time line?.
 +
</gallery>
  
==Gallery==
+
==Maps==
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
Legend of Zelda - Overworld.png|Overworld map.
 
Legend of Zelda - Overworld.png|Overworld map.
Line 39: Line 76:
 
Legend of Zelda - 2nd Quest Overworld.png|2nd Quest Overworld, with spoilers.
 
Legend of Zelda - 2nd Quest Overworld.png|2nd Quest Overworld, with spoilers.
 
Legend of Zelda - 2nd Quest Underworlds.png|2nd Quest Underworlds, with spoilers.
 
Legend of Zelda - 2nd Quest Underworlds.png|2nd Quest Underworlds, with spoilers.
 +
</gallery>
 +
 +
==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.
 
</gallery>
 
</gallery>
  
Line 44: Line 136:
 
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/legend-of-zelda mobygames.com/game/nes/legend-of-zelda] - MobyGames.
 
* [http://www.mobygames.com/game/nes/legend-of-zelda mobygames.com/game/nes/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.thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/The_Legend_of_Zelda thealmightyguru.com/Games/Hacking/Wiki/index.php/The_Legend_of_Zelda] - NES Hacker Database.
  
  
[[Category: Game|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: Action|Legend of Zelda, The]]
 
[[Category: Action|Legend of Zelda, The]]
Line 53: Line 147:
 
[[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 10:28, 4 August 2017

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

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.

The font used on the box art on the "ZELDA" logo is Zapf International Demi.

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 manages to be very long without being unnecessarily difficult. Though, a beginner will certainly want the manual and map with them.
  • 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.
  • I like how the underworld monsters are more sinister and gruesome than the over world monsters.
  • Despite having very little space for music, it manages to be memorable and not become annoying. The title music is especially good.

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.

Documentation

Maps

Gallery

Links