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The Legend of Zelda [NES]

T-Pac

Entry posted by T-Pac in Game Log

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Played through The Legend of Zelda [NES].

As a cryptic, nonlinear, exploration-based, action RPG - The Legend of Zelda is everything I hate in a video game, yet it’s an undeniable staple of the NES library (and the larger classic gaming canon). So I finally decided to play it - but in the least painful way possible: using a comprehensive online guide to save me the trouble of figuring out where to go or what to do on my own.

And even though I still found the exploration obtuse and the mechanics cumbersome to the very end, the appeal of this game was obvious. At the core of Zelda is a spirit of discovery - and while using a walkthrough turns that discovery into somewhat of a “paint-by-numbers” affair, I still found gratification (and even a degree of wonder) every time I burned a shrub to find a hidden stairway, or played the magic flute to reveal an underwater dungeon, or encountered a new monster in a locked chamber. If I were more inclined to action RPG gameplay, I could see myself relishing in the exploration, drawing maps and deciphering clues just like kids in the late-80s did when Zelda was new to the market. The visuals are a clear asset to the experience as well - from the dungeon layouts, to the enemy designs, to the overworld in general. The 8-bit sprites in this game are iconic, and maintain a perfect balance between practical communication and abstract ambiguity.

In short - I hate The Legend of Zelda as a game, but I love The Legend of Zelda as an aesthetic. It’s true that my experience with this title was lesser for having relied so heavily on a guide, but I wouldn’t have ever seen it through to the end otherwise. And I’m glad I did.

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Reed Rothchild
15 hours ago, Hammerfestus said:

Aww man.  It’s the only Zelda I do like. 

We need a "you disgust me" reaction 😅 😘

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T-Pac
17 hours ago, docile tapeworm said:

Dude…..Ill I can think to say is. you can’t come to my birthday.

Awww ... well at least I still like space-shooters, right?

[T-Pac]

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Jeevan

dude, as long as you experienced it, that is what counts, i think you should give alttp a try, it is by far the best zelda ever!!!!!!!

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Gloves
3 minutes ago, Jeevan said:

dude, as long as you experienced it, that is what counts, i think you should give alttp a try, it is by far the best zelda ever!!!!!!!

Trust me the best of a genre you don't like really doesn't help much lol. 

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Jeevan
25 minutes ago, Gloves said:

Trust me the best of a genre you don't like really doesn't help much lol. 

you might be right, i still hope he gives it a go 😆

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Sumez

I was never a massive fan of the first Zelda game. Every time I've tried playing it, the same issues turned me off on it. I do enjoy exploration and even map-making, but this game feels to me like it has a lot of obscurities just for the sake of having them in a way that's not very enjoyable (and I enjoy Metroid).

I don't feel the moment-to-moment action gameplay makes up for it either. The game feels stinted due the 4-way movement restriction.

I've been building a Top 100 NES(/FC) games list over a few years now. If I ever release it publicly, I feel like the biggest "controversial" take on it will be that I'm probably not gonna feature LOZ anywhere near the top. I'm honestly still unsure where it's gonna land.

I do love Zelda 2 however.

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T-Pac
8 hours ago, Jeevan said:

dude, as long as you experienced it, that is what counts, i think you should give alttp a try, it is by far the best zelda ever!!!!!!!

 

I've got a shortlist of influential classic games that I want to play through for context even if I don't technically enjoy them (Metroid, Super Metroid, Final Fantasy, Sonic the Hedgehog, etc.), and The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is constantly hovering in and out of that list. I actually started playing it back in high-school, and I was enjoying it until I got lost and stuck in the Dark World section. But if I use a guide like I did here, it might be worth revisiting.

[T-Pac]

 

45 minutes ago, Sumez said:

I was never a massive fan of the first Zelda game. Every time I've tried playing it, the same issues turned me off on it. I do enjoy exploration and even map-making, but this game feels to me like it has a lot of obscurities just for the sake of having them in a way that's not very enjoyable (and I enjoy Metroid).

I don't feel the moment-to-moment action gameplay makes up for it either. The game feels stinted due the 4-way movement restriction.

I've been building a Top 100 NES(/FC) games list over a few years now. If I ever release it publicly, I feel like the biggest "controversial" take on it will be that I'm probably not gonna feature LOZ anywhere near the top. I'm honestly still unsure where it's gonna land.

I do love Zelda 2 however.

 

This might be the first time we've ever held the same opinion about a video game... WHO ARE YOU AND WHAT HAVE YOU DONE WITH SUMEZ!?

[T-Pac]

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Link

Zelda 3 is definitely more accessible / easy to understand for a first time player than the first one is, imo. 

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CodysGameRoom

My favorite game of all time. It's so much fun to play. I wish I could un-remember all of it and experience it again for the first time. 

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Jfreakofkorn

Its an awesome play ( Zelda 1 ) besides the snes verion , i think , link to the past

Still on the lookout for the homebrew , outlands , i think its called 

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