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The Legend of Zelda
PRESS
SCORE
9.0
GAMER
SCORE
9.1
9.0


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1.The Legend of Zelda
2.Super Mario Bros. 3
3.Super Mario Bros.
4.Super Mario Bros. 2
5.Duck Tales
6.Final Fantasy
7.Metroid
8.Mega Man 2
9.Mike Tyson's Punch-Out!!
10.Bionic Commando [1988]
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The Legend of Zelda


Also known as: Zelda no Densetsu: The Hyrule Fantasy (JPN)

Embark on a quest to find the Triforce, slay Ganon and save Princess Zelda in the timeless adventure game from Shigeru Miyamoto that invented the genre. Originally released for the Famicom Disk System in Japan, the game arrived in the US on cartridge in 1987. In an ingenious marketing ploy, Nintendo released the game on a gold cartridge, so if you hadn't heard about the glory of Zelda, the shiny cart would definitely catch your attention. And since Zelda originated on the Disk System, the US version also included the ability to save your game status via battery back-up -- a first for the NES. The game's release heralded the end of the days when console games were all about linear quests and never-ending twitch gameplay with small level variations or increasing speed settings.
 
Publisher: Nintendo
Developer: Nintendo R&D4
Platform: NES     ·   Genre: Action Adventure
Release Date: 07/01/87
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Original Rating - the rating the source gave this game as originally published on their site and/or publication. Adjusted Rating - the rating the source gave this game, adjusted for the GameStats rating scale. (0.0 to 10.0).
  VicioJuegos [Spain] 02/21/2006 95 /100 9.5  
  MyGamer 10/31/2004 8.4 /10 8.4  
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Average Press Score:
based on 2 reviews
9.0
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Powered By IGN
  02/28/2012 IGN Games: A History of Gaming's Most Shameless Rip-Offs
If you can't beat 'em... well, don't do this.
 
  01/20/2012 IGN Wii: Nintendo's Greatest Commercials
The Big N's history of marketing is almost as genius as the games it produces.
 
  12/24/2011 IGN Wii: The Legend of Zelda Timeline Revealed
Nintendo's new Zelda encyclopedia has hit Japan, and more details are surfacing.
 
  11/07/2011 IGN Music: London Philharmonic Orchestra: The Greatest Video Game Music Review
Orchestra adds punch to classic scores and new favorites.
 
  09/08/2011 IGN Wii: Aonuma Never Beat the Original Legend of Zelda
Turns out Skyword Sword's director allowed Ganon to prevail in the NES classic.
 
  07/21/2011 IGN Nintendo DS: The Legend of Zelda Symphony Concert Series Kicks Off This October
Mark your calendars, tickets go on sale soon.
 
  07/21/2011 IGN Wii: The Legend of Zelda Symphony Concert Series Kicks Off This October
Mark your calendars, tickets go on sale soon.
 
  06/03/2011 IGN Wii: The Many Appearances of Shigeru Miyamoto at E3
Gaming's foremost goofball hams it up on stage at E3s of the past.
 
  05/12/2011 IGN Wii: The Legend of Zelda: The Greatest Game Tournament - Round Three
Dear old school Zelda fans: Sorry. It's N64 vs GameCube and Wii!
 
  05/05/2011 IGN Wii: The Legend of Zelda: The Greatest Game Tournament - Round Two
It's Ocarina vs. Phantom Hourglass. Majora's Mask vs. A Link to the Past. Who wins? That's up to you!
 
IGN is kickin' it old school with a retro guide for the first Legend of Zelda made originally for the Nintendo entertainment system. The Nintendo Wii's special Virtual Console feature that allows players to experience classic titles from ancient 8-bit times gave us an excuse to start busting out the guides for these age-old classics, starting with one for the Legend of Zelda.

Known to be a notoriously difficult game, the original Zelda defines the very meaning of dungeon-crawling and bears an innate difficulty so unnerving that games deemed "frickin' hard" these days would pale in comparison. It's amazing how people even managed to conquer this game in its entirety back in 1980s without IGN Guides. So maybe you've beaten the game already as a kid, but that was ages ago right? Let this guide jog your memory and knock on the door of nostalgia for you.

Inside this The Legend of Zelda strategy guide, you'll find:

  • BASICS // Don't remember how to play? We've got it covered.
  • WALKTHROUGH // We tell you all the secrets and power-ups needed to beat the game in our Legend of Zelda walkthrough.
  • QUEST ITEMS // What does that pixilated blob do for you? Find out here.

The Legend of Zelda Strategy Guide
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