This is my favorite video game for the NES and it's one of my favorite video games of all time, I honestly feel this was a game that was just made for me.
This game was revolutionary in many ways as it was one of the first action RPGs as well as one of the very first major video game console franchises for the NES as well as another great video game franchise in general.
It made sense a game like this would be made as RPGs along with movies and TV in the fantasy genre was one of the big booms of the 80's. I played this game when I was about seven years old, I got into this game because I'm a big fan of the cartoon "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" along with others like "Dungeons and Dragons", seeing and playing this game felt like a dream come true.
Everything about this game is just beautiful there is just so much to love about this game. As I mentioned this game was one of the first action RPG's, most RPGs at the time were always table top, more based on strategy than doing, you took action but it was mainly after a decision or even a roll of the dice, and the vast environments and creatures were mainly alive more in your own imagination based on the narrative story.
In this game you are constantly doing which made the game a lot more engaging and interactive (well sort of), most importantly this game felt more accessible for non-fans of RPG; and I use to be one of them as I've never played RPG's or even knew anything about them at the time, this game was a great introduction to them.
I really like the plotline, it's true this game doesn't have a running storyline like the further entries do, but that was video games back then as they weren't concerned about story but focused more on action and fun. And that's what this game does and that's a good thing, you are set on what you need to do, and you simply just jump into the adventure and just have a good time.
The graphical presentation is beautiful, and I still think it is in a historical art appreciation sense. From the amount of color, character designs, but mainly just the vast environment. Which was very different because video games back then never really had vast environments only levels with scenery.
But in this game, there are different sections of scenery all interconnected to give you the feel of a vast environment. Each of the environments depending on where you go are always different from the forest, mountains, beach, cemetery and anyplace else you see.
This gave the game so much to explore and secrets each of them carries, sometimes when I play the game again, I find some new things. And of course, there are the Dungeons which are a lot of fun as their pretty much maze puzzles by their nature.
Each section you go through is always a different challenge, it's a mystery at first because you just never know what the next section holds. And like in all mazes it's your point A to B linear approach but it's not quite as simple as there is a bit of a nonlinear elements where sometimes you have to find certain room with a specific tool you need to or even finding and making secret passageways, all to get to point B.
The action in the game is solid, you have a very good variety of enemies each have different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, like those really strange evil armadillo creatures, bats, moblin solders that are literally dog solders, mummies, ghosts, evil knights, and other fantasy baddies all trying to kill you. And there are the bosses that are solid and slightly memorable like one that's a Triceratops, by their nature are puzzles themselves as each of them you have to take out in a different way.
The character you play the main hero Link is cool he's one of my favorite video game protagonists of all time. Though this makes the title of the game inaccurate as Zelda isn't the main character. Maybe naming it "Legend of Link or Hyrule" wouldn't of been very catchy so oh well whatever title works. From that Robin Hood like outfit, he wears he pretty much has hero written all over him. His character is armed with a sword and shield, both items have their strengths and weaknesses.
The shield block works when you refrain from attack however this shield can only block some attacks. The sword is awesome it was the closest equivalent to He-Man's power sword; you have the typical thrust attack but the best feature about it is that it discharges magical blades toward enemies at great distances.
It's so awesome because those magical blades destroy anyone it touches instantly or for stronger enemies drains their energy quicker, let alone I love the sound it makes which is just music to my ears. However, you can only discharge magical blades as long as your life gauge remains full, if half a life or a full life is gone from the gauge, they you sword is depowered.
And as usual the game has the RPG elements from leveling up which happens once you defeat the boss and find the Triforce piece. I always love that moment in the game when you raised that Triforce piece over your head with that music of triumph, it just gave you a feeling that you accomplished something great. But the moment this happens another heart is added to your life bar.
Also, throughout the game you collect rupees to fill up your currency which you'll need for the usual shops to purchase all kinds of things, food to replenish your life bar if you can't fill it up by any other means faster, tools like bombs or even a raft, but also weapons like different kinds of swords that increase your attack power.
And of course, there is the music which is just superb and is a timeless classic that is still being played today.
The game mainly consists of three tracks, but all three tracks are memorable, from the open environment, the dungeon which has sort of this mysterious and creepy tone to it, but the theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs of all time and pretty much the theme that still plays for the franchise today. It's such a beautiful theme as it just the right music that sings out epic fantasy adventure.
It's not just a game, it's an adventure.
Rating: 4 stars.
This game was revolutionary in many ways as it was one of the first action RPGs as well as one of the very first major video game console franchises for the NES as well as another great video game franchise in general.
It made sense a game like this would be made as RPGs along with movies and TV in the fantasy genre was one of the big booms of the 80's. I played this game when I was about seven years old, I got into this game because I'm a big fan of the cartoon "He-Man and the Masters of the Universe" along with others like "Dungeons and Dragons", seeing and playing this game felt like a dream come true.
Everything about this game is just beautiful there is just so much to love about this game. As I mentioned this game was one of the first action RPG's, most RPGs at the time were always table top, more based on strategy than doing, you took action but it was mainly after a decision or even a roll of the dice, and the vast environments and creatures were mainly alive more in your own imagination based on the narrative story.
In this game you are constantly doing which made the game a lot more engaging and interactive (well sort of), most importantly this game felt more accessible for non-fans of RPG; and I use to be one of them as I've never played RPG's or even knew anything about them at the time, this game was a great introduction to them.
I really like the plotline, it's true this game doesn't have a running storyline like the further entries do, but that was video games back then as they weren't concerned about story but focused more on action and fun. And that's what this game does and that's a good thing, you are set on what you need to do, and you simply just jump into the adventure and just have a good time.
The graphical presentation is beautiful, and I still think it is in a historical art appreciation sense. From the amount of color, character designs, but mainly just the vast environment. Which was very different because video games back then never really had vast environments only levels with scenery.
But in this game, there are different sections of scenery all interconnected to give you the feel of a vast environment. Each of the environments depending on where you go are always different from the forest, mountains, beach, cemetery and anyplace else you see.
This gave the game so much to explore and secrets each of them carries, sometimes when I play the game again, I find some new things. And of course, there are the Dungeons which are a lot of fun as their pretty much maze puzzles by their nature.
Each section you go through is always a different challenge, it's a mystery at first because you just never know what the next section holds. And like in all mazes it's your point A to B linear approach but it's not quite as simple as there is a bit of a nonlinear elements where sometimes you have to find certain room with a specific tool you need to or even finding and making secret passageways, all to get to point B.
The action in the game is solid, you have a very good variety of enemies each have different abilities, strengths, and weaknesses, like those really strange evil armadillo creatures, bats, moblin solders that are literally dog solders, mummies, ghosts, evil knights, and other fantasy baddies all trying to kill you. And there are the bosses that are solid and slightly memorable like one that's a Triceratops, by their nature are puzzles themselves as each of them you have to take out in a different way.
The character you play the main hero Link is cool he's one of my favorite video game protagonists of all time. Though this makes the title of the game inaccurate as Zelda isn't the main character. Maybe naming it "Legend of Link or Hyrule" wouldn't of been very catchy so oh well whatever title works. From that Robin Hood like outfit, he wears he pretty much has hero written all over him. His character is armed with a sword and shield, both items have their strengths and weaknesses.
The shield block works when you refrain from attack however this shield can only block some attacks. The sword is awesome it was the closest equivalent to He-Man's power sword; you have the typical thrust attack but the best feature about it is that it discharges magical blades toward enemies at great distances.
It's so awesome because those magical blades destroy anyone it touches instantly or for stronger enemies drains their energy quicker, let alone I love the sound it makes which is just music to my ears. However, you can only discharge magical blades as long as your life gauge remains full, if half a life or a full life is gone from the gauge, they you sword is depowered.
And as usual the game has the RPG elements from leveling up which happens once you defeat the boss and find the Triforce piece. I always love that moment in the game when you raised that Triforce piece over your head with that music of triumph, it just gave you a feeling that you accomplished something great. But the moment this happens another heart is added to your life bar.
Also, throughout the game you collect rupees to fill up your currency which you'll need for the usual shops to purchase all kinds of things, food to replenish your life bar if you can't fill it up by any other means faster, tools like bombs or even a raft, but also weapons like different kinds of swords that increase your attack power.
And of course, there is the music which is just superb and is a timeless classic that is still being played today.
The game mainly consists of three tracks, but all three tracks are memorable, from the open environment, the dungeon which has sort of this mysterious and creepy tone to it, but the theme song which is one of my favorite theme songs of all time and pretty much the theme that still plays for the franchise today. It's such a beautiful theme as it just the right music that sings out epic fantasy adventure.
It's not just a game, it's an adventure.
Rating: 4 stars.