#7: The Legend of Zelda (1986)

This was kind to the uninformed. It decided to mention whether it was any good right in the title. "Legend" is very appropriate and would have made a lactose-intolerant Barney Stinson proud. It's simply that good. Never mind the fact that it was released in 1986. They say a true and great "Legend" survives the test of time, and I would wager that this is as good as the day it was released. The magic formula of "find the triforce", "slay Ganon" and "save Princess Zelda" originated here. It formed the basis for many, MANY of Link's adventures. It created a veritable cultural icon.


You may find yourself wondering "Um...so when THE HELL did you actually play this?" I'm guessing here, but around 2007 on the Wii Virtual Console. I'm incredibly glad I did, else I'd never have known the sheer child-like joy this game can bring. What other game almost forces you to have hand-drawn maps with your detailed plans and goals? Keeps you up until the wee hours of the morning because you simply HAVE to finish the current dungeon before you turn in? Has you dancing with joy when you discover a secret Heart Container? This pretty much turns you into Indiana Jones. Shigeru Miyamoto has said in interviews that his conceptualization of The Legend of Zelda was based on his childhood memories of books, movies, stories and personal experiences. Good thing his memories weren't of being imprisoned in a well. 


The action sequences form the main part of the game, along with the exploration, and they are extremely satisfying. At no point does it feel like it's an unfair journey or task, as those early games inevitably do. The enemies could have had better names overall, though. Who fears a "Like-like"? Still, I don't think anyone's complaining about that. Everyone was probably raving about the amazing sprite-work and unforgettable soundtrack, esp. for an 8-bit game.



It was so chock-full of secrets, a magician would have been impressed. Blue Candles, White Swords, Silver Arrows, burning a specific bush down to get hidden Rupees...even the final dungeon was hidden! This was truly a game you brag about to your friends at lunch. "Have you found the boomerang on the screen three away from the start?" "The three-headed dragon boss who drops the bow?" It was simply MAGICAL. I'm very pleased that I endured a little bit of the old-school hard knocks in order to finish it. It was the first home console version of any game to feature a save system. Without one, it simply wouldn't have worked at all.



Anyone lucky enough to have finished this, truly finished a piece of gaming history. It's the type of game you wouldn't be surprised to see in an iconic 80's/early 90's film like Back to the Future or Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. It was just that good.





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