The Legend of Zelda (video game)

Lore & Background

The Legend of Zelda was released in Japan as a launch game for the Family Computer Disk System on February 21, 1986. More than a year later, in late 1987, it was released in North America and Europe on the Nintendo Entertainment System in cartridge format, by which time a sequel had already been released in Japan. The US version was one of the first games to include an internal battery for saving data. This version was released in Japan on February 19, 1994. The game incorporates elements of action, adventure, and role-playing genres. The player controls Link from a flip-screen overhead perspective as he travels the overworld, a large outdoor map with various environments. Link begins the game equipped only with a small shield, but can enter a cave and receive a sword from an old man. Throughout the adventure, Link finds and acquires various items that increase his abilities, including heart containers and magic rings. These items are mainly found in caves scattered throughout the land, some easily accessible, others hidden beneath obstacles such as rocks, trees, and waterfalls, and purchasable from merchants. Rupees, the in-game currency, are found in hidden treasure caves and used to buy equipment, information, and ability upgrades. Hidden in the overworld are entrances to eight large dungeons housing the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom. Each dungeon has a unique maze-like layout of rooms connected by doors and secret passages, often barred by monsters or blocks. Dungeons also contain useful items such as a boomerang and a magical recorder. Once Link has collected all eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom, he gains access to a ninth and final dungeon to defeat Ganon and rescue Zelda. The game world contains 600 separate scenes, with the overworld consisting of over 97 scenes and the underworld consisting of nine multi-scene labyrinths. After initially completing the game, a player can begin a more difficult version referred to as the 'Second Quest', which alters many locations, secrets, and includes entirely distinct dungeons and stronger enemies.

Reader's Guide

The Legend of Zelda is regarded as one of the most influential and greatest video games of all time. It was a critical and commercial success, selling over 6.5 million copies and launching a major franchise. A sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, was released in Japan for the Famicom Disk System less than a year later on January 21, 1987, and numerous sequels and spin-offs have been released since. The game has received numerous ports and remakes, in addition to re-releases on the Virtual Console and Nintendo Classics services. It was also one of 30 games included in the NES Classic Edition system. The game's non-linear design forced players to think about what they should do next, contrasting with the linearity of Super Mario Bros. Miyamoto forced the player to listen to the old man who gives them their sword and encouraged interaction among people to share their ideas to find hidden secrets, a new form of gaming communication. This concept became the root of another series developed many years later: Miyamoto said that Zelda became the inspiration for Animal Crossing, a game based solely on communication. The game's development began in the fall of 1984, and it was originally intended to be a launch game for the Famicom Disk System. The development team worked on The Legend of Zelda and Super Mario Bros. concurrently, trying to separate their ideas: Super Mario Bros. was linear, while The Legend of Zelda was non-linear. Miyamoto drew inspiration from his childhood experiences exploring fields, woods, and caves around Kyoto, aiming to impart players a sense of limitless wonder through unknown exploration.

Did You Know?

• The game was designed and directed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, developed alongside Super Mario Bros.
• After completing the game, a more difficult version called the 'Second Quest' alters locations, secrets, and dungeons.