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The Legend of Zelda Turns 25
harrymcc writes "The Legend of Zelda originated 25 years ago today, when Nintendo released the original game for its Famicom console in Japan on February 21st, 1986. Benj Edwards is celebrating with a look at some of the franchise's odder sidelights, from a version broadcast by satellite to the unexpected true story of where the game got its name."
If you're in the mood for more nostalgia, 1Up has a collection of articles delving into the past two and a half decades of Zelda. And since it's cool, here's a link (sorry) to a guy who hacked an oscilloscope to display Gameboy games, using 1993's Link's Awakening as a demonstration.
Boy were those bad.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CD-i_games_from_The_Legend_of_Zelda_series
I'd sooner:
(a) Use the Gameboy Player w/ my Gamecube.
(b) Use the o-scope to play old vector games like Asteroids, which really aren't as good on regular displays.
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I remember going to the local toy store to get The Legend of Zelda with the original gold cartridge. It was my second console game after I had played out Super Mario Bros.
When did "Those were the days." become "Damn, I feel old."?
On another note, Hindsight is 20/20, but nostalgia is totally blind.
Playing The Legend of Zelda sent me down the path to a depraved life of home invasion and malicious destruction of pottery...
It wasn't an official release, but man, it was great fun. I used to play that and Tetris in class all the time...instead of paying attention. Good times.
Same here. Only tried the 3D version of Zelda64 though. Too much roaming, not enough action, lack of detail in the graphics, and general 3D unfun compared to the SNES 2D version I find.
Are the other 2D variants (which I haven't tried) not as good ad Zelda 3 on the SNES? Any idea why?
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They're one-hit kills with a bow and arrows. Not only that, the arrow pierces through, which allows multiple kills with a single arrow-- no other monster in the game is killed this easily by that weapon. Probably not as bone-headedly easy as yelling into a microphone, but a lot easier than the author lets on.
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The GameBoy ones are very classy, following in the footsteps and formula of A Link to the Past. Zelda 2, which has the distinction of being a sidescroller with a Dragon Warrior-style overworld, is generally considered the dark sheep of the family. The original Zelda 1 would probably feel very archaic to you, given that it's an ancient NES game. But later 2D games, like the Oracle of Seasons/Ages and Link's Awakening are great stuff, and newer DS games borrow even more heavily from A Link to the Past in style, but scaled down to make the adventure more compact—all of the GameBoy and DS games have less roaming than the SNES game.
(P.S. Technically, only the original NES games are numbered; the rest of the continuity is a shitstorm.)
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Are the other 2D variants (which I haven't tried) not as good ad Zelda 3 on the SNES? Any idea why?
As good? No. Zelda 3 is still the best 2D Zelda.
That doesn't mean there are no good ones, though.
Of the 2D Zelda games, the one other that is closest to Zelda 3 is likely:
Minish Cap - Game Boy Advance - The art is nice, the music is a throwback to earlier Zelda games, and it uses abilities to lock off areas of the world map until you have the equipment to deal with it.
The transport bird from Zelda 3 makes a reappearance, although you have to unlock its target locations by finding specific stones on the overworld.
One of the dungeons is actually a throwback to Zelda 1, right up to the music and sound effects in it.
It also uses a number of new items rather than just rehashing the same items from every other Zelda game.
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Other good 2D Zelda games are.
Oracle of Ages - Game Boy Color - Upgraded version of the Link's Awakening DX engine. Graphics are still somewhat more primitive than Zelda 3.
The item trading sequence unlocks the level 2 sword.
Uses the time portal mechanic instead of the Dark World mechanic of Zelda 3, but it works out much the same.
Has a few new items to the series, but most are shared with Oracles of Seasons.
Makes one continuous story with Oracle of Seasons.
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Oracle of Seasons - Game Boy Color - Same engine as Oracle of Ages, but the game isn't as good. Instead of the previously mentioned time portal mechanic, it instead allows you to change the season for the current area; there are four versions of every outside area.
The two Oracles games form one single storyline with two final bosses after each game's respective boss, but you will only encounter said bosses if you finished one game and used the code it gave you when starting a new game on the other.
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Link's Awakening (DX) - Game Boy (Color) - DX version is in color. Graphics are somewhat more primitive than Zelda 3.
Uses a lot of the same of the same items as Zelda 3.
Engine features (these are also found in the Oracles games):
Has two item slots instead of one, but the Sword is now an item you have to equip. Shields are no longer automatic.
Rooms do not scroll, each room on a map is exactly one game screen wide and one game screen tall.
Item Trading sequence, which in this game is required in order to locate the last boss in the final dungeon.
Link does not start with the sword. It must be found first.
Some dungeons require keys before you can enter.
If you have a dungeon's compass, the game will play a tone if you enter a room that has a key in it.
Every dungeon has a mini-boss. Beating the mini-boss unlocks a portal to the dungeon entrance.
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The Legend of Zelda - NES - Fairly good, but very unintuitive in places. Badly in need of a remake.
Most items from the NES Zelda went on to appear in the same or upgraded form in Zelda 3. Best example: The Red Candle was upgraded to the Lantern in Zelda 3.
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And the other 2D Zelda games that you may or may not want to avoid:
The Adventure of Link - NES - Exchanges top-down view for side-scrolling view. Black sheep of the family. OK, but doesn't feel like a Zelda game.
Phantom Hourglass - DS - Sorta fun, but the touch-screen controls means you may have a bad case of handinthewayitis. Areas are separated on the world map, and you must navigate by boat, but it doesn't suck like Wind Waker's boat did.
Has one really irritating, timed dungeon that you need to visit repeatedly.
Spirit Tracks - DS - Somewhat fun. Same as previous entry, but without the tedious dungeon, plus your main mode of transportation around the world map has changed from a ship to a... train. Also involves teaming controlling a second character at certain points using the touchscreen.
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The original ZELDA Gold Cart I purchased new when it first came out. And it is still in really good shape!
I think I will setup my NES today and play it again.
( I have already modded the cart to make replacing the batteries easier. It has 2 battery spots now. I can change the battery without loosing my save games)
Some images for those who are not interested in the game: http://www.buzzfeed.com/gavon/hot-chicks-with-zelda-tattoos
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