Who can forget the first time they played the Legend of Zelda for the NES? Before you even put the damn thing in the Nintendo you knew it was something special... it was freakin' GOLD. It was gimmicky without being gimmicky... it was simply awe inspiring to my young self. Upon pressing in the big awkward power button, you were immediately whisked away into one of the best gaming experiences you would ever be a part of.



Right from the beginning, it drew you in with its beauty, its storytelling (at that time in gaming, this was a rare treat), and a soundtrack more epic than most movies were being released with. It was your job to save the princess... sure, not the most original premise, but there's a twist! You've got to deal with this "Triforce" thing, and take out some evil bastard named Ganon! HOW??? you wonder.



Luckily, theres an old man who gives you an answer. You're gonna be running around with a sword kicking monster ass. Radical! you think. And kick monster ass you shall, across a huge overworld that was as fun to explore as it was to look at. Throughout the game, you procured a variety of other useful items, like bombs, a recorder like kids learn in elementary school, some rings that make you stronger, etc. Speaking of bombs, how pants-wettingly exciting was it when you found your first secret passage by placing a random bomb in a rock wall??? That 'you just found a secret' music would play, and you'd grin from ear to ear as you entered, ready to collect some kick ass spoils.



As you got stronger (or got more hearts, whatever you want to call it), you entered bigger dungeons, fought stronger monsters, and had to search harder for the map, compass, and unique treasure that said dungeons offered. Sometimes there were secret passages, sometimes there were those annoying wall masters that grabbed you and took you back to the entrance. Sometimes, the level was shaped like a swastika (?!?) (see the map). Always, the foreboding dungeon music kept you on your toes. And when you were near the boss, you would hear its terrible cries from the next room.



Fortunately, you were not without help. The game came packaged with a nice map of the overworld, and faeries can be found througout who refilled your heart containers. The old man from the beginning would even pop up every now and then with cryptic clues like 'Eastmost penninsula has the clue', or to tell you that you owed him 200 bucks for fucking up his door when you bombed it in. Bastard. Then there was the shopkeep, whose pushy sales techniques provided you will useful items and at the same time foreshadowed a career in retail for many gamers. Double bastard.



But like all good things, the Legend of Zelda came to an end... and you rescued the princess from Ganon's evil clutches. For all the bullshit that Link was put through to save her, she should at least let him throw it in the backdoor. Although, she kind of looks suspiciously like the pushy merchant.... I digress. And just when you thought it was all over, you were offered a second, more challenging go around at the game in the form of the master quest. Goodbye homework, hello again Hyrule!

I hated those fucking cake things that took your shield

yeah, that really sucked JimN

* remembers *

* cries *

C3 you have no idea how hot this thread is.

Bought a copy off eBay for 6 bucks last fall. Rad.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H2dCgexMMUI

A very enjoyable game. I can proudly boast I completed the game with 100% of everything on both the first quest and second quest.

Those bastards were the worst. Even more so than the glowing things that wouldn't let you use your sword for a short period of time.

never beat it. never got close, i don't think.

i beat it, in 4 hours i think once. Awesome.

This game took months (at least it seems like it) to finish when it came out.

I popped it in on Thanksgiving break a few years back. I finished it in a few hours. I couldn't believe how easy it was.

I wish the same acclaim could be said about Zelda 2.

I liked zelda 2... Link to the Past is by the far the best zelda game, and probably my favorite game of all time

i think i'm the only person in the world who finds zelda repetitive and boring. Do I have no soul?

I liked Zelda 2 as well, but Ocarina of Time was the best, hands down.

pretty sure you're soulless

I still play this on my PSP. And when Legend of Zelda came out for SuperNintendo the NES version was put away.

let's have sex right now! That's the best thing anyone on RM has ever said.

I remember the last boss of Zelda 2 being ridiculously hard. You have to fight yourself.

Have any of you played The Minish Cap for GBA? Now THAT is a fun Zelda game.