On February 21, 1986, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda on the Famicom Disk System. The game was developed by Shigeru Miyamoto, and inspired by his childhood and the adventures he would take growing up. The original Legend of Zelda spawned a series so popular and endearing that it is still well loved today.
The Legend of Zelda is a series that I hold most dear, even more so than Super Mario. Though my introduction into the series was not with the original NES game but with The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time on Nintendo 64. That game cemented my adoration with the series and I’ve been a Zelda fan since. Though, to be fair, could I really call myself a “true” Zelda fan having not experienced the original? I decided that I had to correct that wrong. I had to play the very first The Legend of Zelda.
I eventually did play The Legend of Zelda (NES) via the Virtual Console on my Wii U. The game really is something else. There was no “hand holding” like you get in most games today nor was there any inclination on where you had to go or do. From the first screen, you were simply given a choice of directions that you can go. The dark spot on the map is what gets most people’s attention so that is where I went first, which turned out to be a cave.
Inside the cave, I was met by an old man between a set of torches. The old man told me that it was dangerous to go alone and gave me a sword. With that, It was time to venture into the world of Hyrule with little but a sword and my wits. I would go forth and fight monsters, travel through dungeons, and rescue the princess and save Hyrule!
Playing the original game on the NES must have been a real challenge. Not knowing where to go next and with no internet to look up walkthroughs and guides. I salute the gamers of yesteryear for their perseverance, and intuition to communicate with other players to share notes so they could progress forward. Things are so much easier in this day and age where there’s a Wiki and a walkthrough for anything, even for games that were released 30 odd years ago.
The Legend of Zelda is such an iconic game that it deserves to be played at least once. At least so you can better appreciate how far the series has come as a whole. Fortunately for Nintendo Switch Online subscribers, if they have the NES – Nintendo Switch Online app downloaded to their Nintendo Switch, they can play The Legend of Zelda for free as well as many other classic NES games. Even if you haven’t played every single Zelda game, you owe it yourself to at least play this one.
The Legend of Zelda NES Review:
Initial Release: September 18, 2018
Pricing: Free with Nintendo Switch Online Subscription
Category: Action, Adventure
Players: 1 playerThe Legend of Zelda (NES) is an iconic game that is deserving of its induction into the World Video Game Hall of Fame. This Hyrule fantasy has a powerful lure that has enticed many a gamer over the years. Its sense of adventure, an open world to explore, and its memorable music still make this game a joy to play, even now.
8/10
