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(Expanded info on credits and cut down trivia section. Unfortunately, I couldn't find much in the way of credible references for the nicknaming stuff.)
m (Undid revision 421986 by WilliamLC (Talk))
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|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
 
|publisher=[[Nintendo]]
 
|designer=[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] (producer/director)<br />[[Takashi Tezuka]] (director)<br>Toshihiko Nakago (programmer)<br>[[Koji Kondo]] (sound composer)
 
|designer=[[Shigeru Miyamoto]] (producer/director)<br />[[Takashi Tezuka]] (director)<br>Toshihiko Nakago (programmer)<br>[[Koji Kondo]] (sound composer)
|released='''FDS/NES release'''<br>{{release|na= July 29, 1987|jp=February 21, 1986 (FDS)|eu= November 27, 1987}}<br>'''GBA release'''<br>{{release|na= June 7, 2004 |jp= February 14, 2004|eu= July 9, 2004}}<br>'''Wii Virtual Console release'''<br>{{release|na= November 19, 2006|eu= December 8, 2006|jp= December 2, 2006|aus= December 7, 2006}}<br>'''3DS Virtual Console release'''<br>{{release|jp=August 31, 2011|na= August 31, 2011|eu=September 1, 2011|aus=September 1, 2011}}{{Exp|3DS Ambassadors}}<br>'''Wii U Virtual Console release'''<br>{{release|jp=August 28, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wiiu/software/vc/fbaj/index.html|title=<nowiki>Wii U|ゼルダの伝説|Nintendo</nowiki>|site=Nintendo}}</ref>|na= August 29, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=40345|title=NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - AUG. 29, 2013|site=Nintendo Pressroom}}</ref>|eu=August 29, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/The-Legend-of-Zelda-796345.html|title=<nowiki>The Legend of Zelda | NES | Games | Nintendo</nowiki>|site=Nintendo UK}}</ref>|aus=}}
+
|released='''FDS release'''<br>{{release|jp=February 21, 1986}}<br>'''NES release'''<br>{{release|na= July 29, 1987|jp=February 19, 1994|eu= November 27, 1987}}<br>'''GBA release'''<br>{{release|na= June 7, 2004 |jp= February 14, 2004|eu= July 9, 2004}}<br>'''Wii Virtual Console release'''<br>{{release|na= November 19, 2006|eu= December 8, 2006|jp= December 2, 2006|aus= December 7, 2006}}<br>'''3DS Virtual Console release (Ambassador Program)'''<br>{{release|jp=August 31, 2011|na= August 31, 2011|eu=September 1, 2011|aus=September 1, 2011}}<br>'''3DS Virtual Console release'''<br>{{release|jp=December 22, 2011|na= July 5, 2012|eu=April 12, 2012|aus=April 12, 2012}}<br>'''Wii U Virtual Console release'''<br>{{release|jp=August 28, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.jp/wiiu/software/vc/fbaj/index.html|title=<nowiki>Wii U|ゼルダの伝説|Nintendo</nowiki>|site=Nintendo}}</ref>|na= August 29, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.nintendo.com/articles.jsp?id=40345|title=NINTENDO DOWNLOAD HIGHLIGHTS NEW DIGITAL CONTENT FOR NINTENDO SYSTEMS - AUG. 29, 2013|site=Nintendo Pressroom}}</ref>|eu=August 29, 2013<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.nintendo.co.uk/Games/NES/The-Legend-of-Zelda-796345.html|title=<nowiki>The Legend of Zelda | NES | Games | Nintendo</nowiki>|site=Nintendo UK}}</ref>|aus=}}
 
|esrb=E
 
|esrb=E
 
|pegi=3{{exp|GBA}} / 7{{exp|Virtual Console (Wii and 3DS)}}
 
|pegi=3{{exp|GBA}} / 7{{exp|Virtual Console (Wii and 3DS)}}
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Being a game designed for storage in a floppy disk, the game's graphics don't use too many elements; sprites are given different color palettes depending on their location in the overworld. For example, trees can be colored either green or orange; brick walls in dungeons are painted blue, green, yellow or white, and so on.
 
Being a game designed for storage in a floppy disk, the game's graphics don't use too many elements; sprites are given different color palettes depending on their location in the overworld. For example, trees can be colored either green or orange; brick walls in dungeons are painted blue, green, yellow or white, and so on.
   
The game features three background themes: the overworld tune, the standard dungeon tune and the final dungeon tune. The first theme has become the franchise's main theme, and it is often reused in other games in the franchise. The dungeon theme is used as the theme for the [[Royal Crypt]] in {{TMC}}. Sound samples such as the one when Link collects a new item and the one when a new path is open are also often reused in later ''Zelda'' games.
+
The game features three background themes: the overworld tune, the standard dungeon tune and the final dungeon tune. The first theme has become the franchise's main theme, and it is often reused in other games in the franchise. The dungeon theme is used as the theme for the [[Royal Crypt]] in {{TMC}} and in the [[Color Dungeon]] in {{LADX}}. Sound samples such as the one when Link collects a new item and the one when a new path is open are also often reused in later ''Zelda'' games.
   
 
The Japanese FDS version of the game utilizes the Disk System's additional frequency-modulation synthesis chip; the music sounds more lifelike as a result.
 
The Japanese FDS version of the game utilizes the Disk System's additional frequency-modulation synthesis chip; the music sounds more lifelike as a result.
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===Timeline Placement===
 
===Timeline Placement===
According to the [[Zelda Timeline|timeline]] revealed in ''[[Hyrule Historia]]'', ''The Legend of Zelda'' takes place in the "Downfall" branch, which, in a whole, takes place after ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''. After [[Ganon]] is defeated twice, in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'' and the [[Oracle Series|''Oracle'' series]], Hyrule entered 'The Golden Era', in which the wise [[Royal Family of Hyrule|Hyrule monarchs]] used the Triforce to govern the land. After the [[King of Hyrule (The Adventure of Link)|king]]'s death and the attempt of the [[Prince of Hyrule]] to assemble the complete Triforce, Hyrule was lead into the 'Era of Decline'. The Prince of Darkness, Ganon was revived, leading to the events of ''The Legend of Zelda''. Immediately following this game, the events of ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'' take place.
+
According to the [[Zelda Timeline|timeline]] revealed in ''[[Hyrule Historia]]'', ''The Legend of Zelda'' takes place in the "Downfall" branch, which, in a whole, takes place after ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time]]''. After [[Ganon]] is defeated in {{ALTTP}}, the [[Oracle Series|''Oracle'' series]] and in {{ALBW}} where Link and Zelda recovered the Triforce from Yuga-Ganon, Hyrule entered 'The Golden Era', in which the wise [[Royal Family of Hyrule|Hyrule monarchs]] used the Triforce to govern the land. After the [[King of Hyrule (The Adventure of Link)|king]]'s death and the attempt of the [[Prince of Hyrule]] to assemble the complete Triforce, Hyrule was lead into the 'Era of Decline'. The Prince of Darkness, Ganon was revived, leading to the events of ''The Legend of Zelda''. Immediately following this game, the events of ''[[Zelda II: The Adventure of Link]]'' take place.
   
 
Both this game and its sequel are linked in continuity, since the first game revolves around retrieving two of the major fragments of the Triforce, and Ganon is fought in order to rescue [[Princess Zelda]]; the second game revolves around finding the third major fragment in order to revive an incarnation of Zelda that was comatose for a very long time, and to impede the revival of Ganon.
 
Both this game and its sequel are linked in continuity, since the first game revolves around retrieving two of the major fragments of the Triforce, and Ganon is fought in order to rescue [[Princess Zelda]]; the second game revolves around finding the third major fragment in order to revive an incarnation of Zelda that was comatose for a very long time, and to impede the revival of Ganon.
   
[[File:LoZIntro.png|thumb|right|The introduction contains various mistranslations]]
+
[[File:LoZIntro.png|thumb|right|The introduction contains various mistranslations]]
  +
 
===Mistranslations===
 
===Mistranslations===
 
The Legend of Zelda is littered with mistranslations, direct word-for-word translations, and odd quotes.
 
The Legend of Zelda is littered with mistranslations, direct word-for-word translations, and odd quotes.
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[[File:Credits.png|thumb|right|Pseudonyms are used in the credits]]
 
[[File:Credits.png|thumb|right|Pseudonyms are used in the credits]]
 
===Credits===
 
===Credits===
In the [[The Legend of Zelda (Game)/Credits|credits]], all but the executive producer {{nw|Hiroshi Yamauchi}} are listed under pseudonyms. Designer {{nw|Takashi Tezuka}} is credited as "Ten Ten," sound composer [[Koji Kondo]] as "Konchan," programmer I. Marui as "Marumaru." At the time, nicknames were commonly used among Japanese developers as a company measure against employee poaching.<ref>{{cite web|quote= |author= |published= |retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://legendsoflocalization.com/the-legend-of-zelda/first-quest/|title= The Legend of Zelda: First Quest|site= Legends of Localization|type=}}</ref><ref name=Miyamoto>{{cite web|quote= In early U.S. releases of a few Mario games, he was sometimes credited as "Miyahon", a mistranscription of the kanji in his name (本 — which can be read as either hon or moto). The misread surname was Miyamoto's development nickname in the 1980s (having a nickname was a common practice among Japanese game developers at the time).|author= |published= |retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://www.mariomayhem.com/shigeru_miyamoto.php|title= Shigeru Miyamoto biography|site= Mario Mayhem|type=}}</ref>
+
In the [[The Legend of Zelda (Game)/Credits|credits]], all but the executive producer {{nw|Hiroshi Yamauchi}} are listed under pseudonyms. Designer {{nw|Takashi Tezuka}} is credited as "Ten Ten," sound composer [[Koji Kondo]] as "Konchan," programmer I. Marui as "Marumaru." At the time, nicknames were commonly used among Japanese game developers as a company measure against employee poaching.<ref>{{cite web|quote= |author= |published= |retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://legendsoflocalization.com/the-legend-of-zelda/first-quest/|title= The Legend of Zelda: First Quest|site= Legends of Localization|type=}}</ref><ref name=Miyamoto>{{cite web|quote= In early U.S. releases of a few Mario games, he was sometimes credited as "Miyahon", a mistranscription of the kanji in his name (本 — which can be read as either hon or moto). The misread surname was Miyamoto's development nickname in the 1980s (having a nickname was a common practice among Japanese game developers at the time).|author= |published= |retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://www.mariomayhem.com/shigeru_miyamoto.php|title= Shigeru Miyamoto biography|site= Mario Mayhem|type=}}</ref>
   
Producer and director [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] is listed as "S. Miyahon," a mistranscription of his name - 本 can be read as either "moto" or "hon."<ref name=Miyamoto /> This is widely believed to be another error in translation.<ref>{{cite web|quote= |author= |published= December 22, 2012|retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://www.zeldadungeon.net/2012/12/mistranslation-in-the-legend-of-zelda/|title= Mistranslation in The Legend of Zelda|site= Zelda Dungeon |type=}}</ref> However, in a leaked prototype of the game, many of the developers - including Miyamoto - were credited under their real names.<ref>{{cite web|quote= |author= |published= |retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://tcrf.net/Proto:The_Legend_of_Zelda#Ending|title= Proto:The Legend of Zelda|site= The Cutting Room Floor|type=}}</ref> The pseudonym "Miyahon" was thus chosen deliberately for the final release.
+
Producer and director [[Shigeru Miyamoto]] is listed as "S. Miyahon," a mistranscription of his name - 本 can be read as either "moto" or "hon."<ref name=Miyamoto /> This is widely believed to be another error in translation.<ref>{{cite web|quote= |author= |published= December 22, 2012|retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://www.zeldadungeon.net/2012/12/mistranslation-in-the-legend-of-zelda/|title= Mistranslation in The Legend of Zelda|site= Zelda Dungeon |type=}}</ref> However, in a leaked prototype of the game, many of the staff - including Miyamoto - were credited under their real names.<ref>{{cite web|quote= |author= |published= |retrieved=November 15, 2013|url= http://tcrf.net/Proto:The_Legend_of_Zelda#Ending|title= Proto:The Legend of Zelda|site= The Cutting Room Floor|type=}}</ref> The pseudonym "Miyahon" was thus chosen deliberately for the final release.
   
 
=== Completion Records ===
 
=== Completion Records ===
{{Main|Speed Run}}
+
{{Main|Speedrun Records}}
<!-- NOTICE: To update completion records, please edit the Speed Run article (http://zeldawiki.org/Speed_Run). This table will automatically be updated with the records on that page. -->
+
<!-- NOTICE: To update completion records, please edit the Speedrun Records article (http://zeldawiki.org/Speedrun_Records). This table will automatically be updated with the records on that page. -->
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:500px;"
 
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center; width:500px;"
 
|-
 
|-
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! Notes
 
! Notes
 
|-
 
|-
{{#section:Speed Run|LOZ}}
+
{{#section:Speedrun Records|LOZ}}
 
|}
 
|}
 
{{clear}}
 
{{clear}}
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==Reception==
 
==Reception==
 
===Sales===
 
===Sales===
''The Legend of Zelda'' was commercially successful, selling 6.5 million copies worldwide and being the fourth best-selling [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] game of all time;<ref>[http://www.rpgamer.com/news/japan/rp033104.html RPGamer - Japandemonium: Xenogears vs. Tetris]</ref> it's also the second best-selling ''Zelda'' game to date, the best seller being ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]'', which sold 7.6 million copies.
+
''The Legend of Zelda'' was commercially successful, selling 6.5 million copies worldwide and being the fourth best-selling [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] game of all time;<ref>[http://www.rpgamer.com/news/japan/rp033104.html RPGamer - Japandemonium: Xenogears vs. Tetris]</ref> it's also the second best-selling ''Zelda'' game to date, the best seller being {{OOT}}, which sold 7.6 million copies.
   
 
===Reviews===
 
===Reviews===
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==Ports and Remakes==
 
==Ports and Remakes==
  +
[[File:TLoZ Shield Emblem.png|right|150px]]
 
A remake of the original game, ''[[BS The Legend of Zelda]]'', was broadcast via the [[BS-X Broadcasting System]]. The gameplay is similar to the original, but there are some key differences. ''BS The Legend of Zelda'' is different from most other ''Zelda'' games as the game's central heroes are actually supposed to be the [[Mascot|mascot characters]] of the BS-X Broadcasting System, and are otherwise supposed to be based on the player as the character's name and gender is based off of the broadcasting ID. The male character wears a green tunic, though others are later available, and a backwards baseball cap. The female character has long red hair and is otherwise almost exactly the same as the male.
 
A remake of the original game, ''[[BS The Legend of Zelda]]'', was broadcast via the [[BS-X Broadcasting System]]. The gameplay is similar to the original, but there are some key differences. ''BS The Legend of Zelda'' is different from most other ''Zelda'' games as the game's central heroes are actually supposed to be the [[Mascot|mascot characters]] of the BS-X Broadcasting System, and are otherwise supposed to be based on the player as the character's name and gender is based off of the broadcasting ID. The male character wears a green tunic, though others are later available, and a backwards baseball cap. The female character has long red hair and is otherwise almost exactly the same as the male.
   
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* The presence of a [[Second Quest]] (although very few subsequent games reused this concept).
 
* The presence of a [[Second Quest]] (although very few subsequent games reused this concept).
   
The [[Moblin|Moblin's]] quote [[Iconic Quotes from The Legend of Zelda|"It's a secret to everybody"]] has become a popular [[wikipedia:meme|meme]] among gamers over the years. It is first referenced in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past|A Link to the Past]]'' when Link brings a chest to a man who stands next to a sign outside of the desert. He offers to open the chest under the condition that Link will "keep it secret from everyone else". It is also referenced in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time|Ocarina of Time]]''. If Link bribes the guard at the gate of Hyrule Castle, speaking after he opens the gate will result in him saying "KEEP IT A SECRET TO EVERYBODY." And in'' [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'', after talking to Kafei in his home behind the curiosity shop, he says "Keep what we just talked about a secret from everybody". It is even referenced in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' when in [[Hyrule Castle Town|Center Castle Town]], Link can enter a door and walk up to a balcony, where a [[Goron]] sees the golden force around [[Hyrule Castle]]. He admits that he has kept it "a secret to everybody."
+
The [[Moblin|Moblin's]] quote [[Iconic Quotes from The Legend of Zelda|"It's a secret to everybody"]] has become a popular [[wikipedia:meme|meme]] among gamers over the years. It is first referenced in {{ALTTP}} when Link brings a chest to a man who stands next to a sign outside of the desert. He offers to open the chest under the condition that Link will "keep it secret from everyone else". It is also referenced in {{OOT}}. If Link bribes the guard at the gate of Hyrule Castle, speaking after he opens the gate will result in him saying "KEEP IT A SECRET TO EVERYBODY." And in'' [[The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask|Majora's Mask]]'', after talking to Kafei in his home behind the curiosity shop, he says "Keep what we just talked about a secret from everybody". It is even referenced in ''[[The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess|Twilight Princess]]'' when in [[Hyrule Castle Town|Center Castle Town]], Link can enter a door and walk up to a balcony, where a [[Goron]] sees the golden force around [[Hyrule Castle]]. He admits that he has kept it "a secret to everybody."
   
 
==Trivia==
 
==Trivia==
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===[[Gallery:Box Art|Box Art]]===
 
===[[Gallery:Box Art|Box Art]]===
  +
{{#section:Gallery:Box Art|LOZ}}
<gallery>
 
File:Lozbox.jpg|North American box art
 
File:LoZ US CS Box.jpg|North American "Classic Series" box art
 
File:ZELDA 1.jpg|Japanese Famicom Disk System box art
 
File:LoZ JP Box.jpg|Japanese Famicom cartridge port box art
 
File:LoZ GBA US Box.jpg|North American GameBoy Advance box art
 
File:LoZ GBA EU Box.jpg|European GameBoy Advance box art
 
File:LoZ GBA JP Box.jpg|Japanese GameBoy Advance box art
 
</gallery>
 
   
===Cartridge and Logos===
+
===Cartridge===
 
<gallery>
 
<gallery>
 
File:Famicom_Zelda_Disk.png|''The Legend of Zelda'' disk
 
File:Famicom_Zelda_Disk.png|''The Legend of Zelda'' disk
 
File:Gold-colored-Legend-of-Zelda-cartridge.png|The North American gold cartridge
 
File:Gold-colored-Legend-of-Zelda-cartridge.png|The North American gold cartridge
 
</gallery>
  +
  +
===Logos===
 
<gallery>
 
File:The-Hyrule-Fantasy-Logo.png|Japanese logo
 
File:The-Hyrule-Fantasy-Logo.png|Japanese logo
 
File:TLoZ Logo.png|The logo seen in the English title screen
 
File:TLoZ Logo.png|The logo seen in the English title screen
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{{Clear}}
 
{{Clear}}
   
{{Refbar}}
+
{{Ref}}
   
 
{{Names
 
{{Names
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|jaM= The Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda<br>The Legend of Zelda
 
|jaM= The Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda<br>The Legend of Zelda
 
|de= {{de|The Legend of Zelda (Spiel)|The Legend of Zelda}}
 
|de= {{de|The Legend of Zelda (Spiel)|The Legend of Zelda}}
|kr= 젤다의 전설
+
|ko= 젤다의 전설 (Jeldaui Jeonseol)
  +
|koM= Zelda Legend
|chS= 塞尔达传说
 
  +
|chS= {{Chinese|塞尔达传说|Sàiěrdá Chuánshuō||3}}
|chT= 薩爾達傳說
 
  +
|chSM= Zelda Legend
  +
|chT= {{Chinese|薩爾達傳說|Sàěrdá Chuánshuō||3}}
  +
|chTM= Zelda Legend
 
}}
 
}}
  +
 
{{Games}}
 
{{Games}}
 
[[Category:Games|L]]
 
[[Category:Games|L]]

Revision as of 17:01, 6 November 2014

Template:GameNav

This article is about the first game in the series. For information on the series as a whole, see The Legend of Zelda (Series). For the television program, see The Legend of Zelda (TV series).

Template:Game The Legend of Zelda was the very first Zelda game released. It centers its plot around a boy named Link, who becomes the central protagonist throughout the series. It came out as early as 1986 for the Famicom in Japan, and was later released in the western world, including Europe and the US in 1987. It has since then been re-released several times, for the Nintendo GameCube as well as the Game Boy Advance. The Japanese version of the game on the Famicom is known as The Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda.

Story

"A long, long time ago the World was in an age of Chaos.

"In the midst of this chaos, in a little kingdom in the land of Hyrule, a legend was being handed down from generation to generation, the legend of the 'Triforce'; golden triangles possessing mystical powers. One day, an evil army attacked this peaceful little kingdom and stole the Triforce of Power. This army was led by Ganon, the powerful Prince of Darkness who sought to plunge the World into fear and darkness under his rule. Fearing his wicked rule, Zelda, the princess of this kingdom, split up the Triforce of Wisdom into eight fragments and hid them throughout the realm to save the last remaining Triforce from the clutches of the evil Ganon. At the same time, she commanded her most trustworthy nursemaid, Impa, to secretly escape into the land and go find a man with enough courage to destroy the evil Ganon. Upon hearing this, Ganon grew angry, imprisoned the princess, and sent out a party in search of Impa."

"Braving forests and mountains, Impa fled for her life from her pursuers. As she reached the very limit of her energy she found herself surrounded by Ganon's evil henchmen. Cornered! What could she do? ... But wait! All was not lost. A young lad appeared. He skillfully drove off Ganon's henchmen, and saved Impa from a fate worse than death."

"His name was Link. During his travels he had come across Impa and Ganon's henchmen. Impa told Link the whole story of the princess Zelda and the evil Ganon. Burning with a sense of justice, Link resolved to save Zelda, but Ganon was a powerful opponent. He held the Triforce of Power. And so, in order to fight off Ganon, Link had to bring the scattered eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom together to rebuild the mystical triangle. If he couldn't do this, there would be no chance Link could fight his way into Death Mountain where Ganon lived."

"Can Link really destroy Ganon and save Princess Zelda?

"Only your skill can answer that question. Good luck. Use the Triforce wisely."[1][2]

Gameplay

File:NES Zelda screenshot.jpg

Screenshot of gameplay

The game itself introduces a new level of gaming, one that includes roleplaying, action, adventure, and puzzle/logic.

Dungeon Exploration

Barring Link's progress are creatures he must battle to locate the entrances to nine underground dungeons. Each dungeon is a unique, maze-like collection of rooms connected by doors and secret passages and guarded by monsters different from those found on the overworld. Link must successfully navigate each dungeon to obtain one of the eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom. Dungeons also conceal useful items, such as a boomerang for retrieving items and stunning enemies and a recorder with magical properties. The first six dungeons have visible entrances, but the remaining three are hidden. Except for the final dungeon, which can't be entered until the previous eight have been completed, the order of completing dungeons is somewhat arbitrary, but many dungeons can only be reached using items gained in the previous one.

Overworld Exploration

Non linearity, the ability to take different paths to complete the game, separated Zelda from its contemporaries. Link can freely wander the overworld, finding and buying items at any point. This flexibility enables unusual ways of playing the game; for example, it's possible to reach the final boss of the game (but not defeat him) without taking a sword. Nintendo of America's management initially feared that players might become frustrated with the new concept, left wondering what to do next. As a result, the American version of the game's manual contains many hints, tips, and suggestions for players.

Second Quest

After completing the game, the player has access to a more difficult quest, officially referred to as the Second Quest, where dungeons and the placement of items are different, with enemies stronger. Although a more difficult "replay" wasn't unique to Zelda, few games offered a "second quest" with entirely different levels to complete. Entering "ZELDA" as the player's name starts the second quest immediately. The Second Quest can be replayed each time it's completed.

Game Information

Japanese Version

The Legend of Zelda was originally released in 1986 as a flagship title for the Famicom Disk System in Japan. Apart from facilitating data saving, the disk drive also added an extra sound channel on top of the Famicom's original five. This has caused the original release to sport a quite different sound compared to the more widespread cartridge release. This difference is most notable during the title screen.

The Book of Magic is known as the Bible in the Japanese version of the game. This was likely changed because it violated Nintendo of America's, at the time, very strict content guidelines which among others disapproved of any religious content or references inside games released for their systems. Interestingly enough, all depictions of the cross were kept intact. Note that the legend of the three Golden Goddesses wasn't mentioned until 1991 in The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past.

The Japanese FDS version was included in a promotional package of Charumera-brand ramen, and was only given out as a prize for a contest. It is unknown what differences this version has compared to the original release, as the only available copies are incredibly expensive.[3]

Graphics and Audio

Being a game designed for storage in a floppy disk, the game's graphics don't use too many elements; sprites are given different color palettes depending on their location in the overworld. For example, trees can be colored either green or orange; brick walls in dungeons are painted blue, green, yellow or white, and so on.

The game features three background themes: the overworld tune, the standard dungeon tune and the final dungeon tune. The first theme has become the franchise's main theme, and it is often reused in other games in the franchise. The dungeon theme is used as the theme for the Royal Crypt in The Minish Cap and in the Color Dungeon in Template:LADX. Sound samples such as the one when Link collects a new item and the one when a new path is open are also often reused in later Zelda games.

The Japanese FDS version of the game utilizes the Disk System's additional frequency-modulation synthesis chip; the music sounds more lifelike as a result.

Setting

With this game being the first in the franchise, it's the first time Hyrule is portrayed, and it's divided into numerous parts and landscapes, such as the Lost Woods, Death Mountain, a central lake, a forest, a graveyard, and a shore; as Link walks through them, he manages to find the hidden labyrinths where the fragments of the Triforce are kept. It's unknown whether or not the nameless regions reappeared in later games with official names.

Unlike most overworlds in the Zelda series, this incarnation of Hyrule is entirely explorable from the beginning, meaning that Link can go to almost any corner and space of it, with a total absence of linearity. It should be noted that the overworld remains largely unchanged in the Second Quest, with the only changes being the locations of the labyrinths and of special prizes.

Timeline Placement

According to the timeline revealed in Hyrule Historia, The Legend of Zelda takes place in the "Downfall" branch, which, in a whole, takes place after The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time. After Ganon is defeated in Template:ALTTP, the Oracle series and in A Link Between Worlds where Link and Zelda recovered the Triforce from Yuga-Ganon, Hyrule entered 'The Golden Era', in which the wise Hyrule monarchs used the Triforce to govern the land. After the king's death and the attempt of the Prince of Hyrule to assemble the complete Triforce, Hyrule was lead into the 'Era of Decline'. The Prince of Darkness, Ganon was revived, leading to the events of The Legend of Zelda. Immediately following this game, the events of Zelda II: The Adventure of Link take place.

Both this game and its sequel are linked in continuity, since the first game revolves around retrieving two of the major fragments of the Triforce, and Ganon is fought in order to rescue Princess Zelda; the second game revolves around finding the third major fragment in order to revive an incarnation of Zelda that was comatose for a very long time, and to impede the revival of Ganon.

File:LoZIntro.png

The introduction contains various mistranslations

Mistranslations

The Legend of Zelda is littered with mistranslations, direct word-for-word translations, and odd quotes.

  • The intro story is written poorly, such as saying the "Triforce with power", instead of Triforce of Power. For the GBA and Wii Virtual Console ports, the message was entirely rewritten.
  • This is the first Zelda game in which Ganon is written Gannon. The last time this spelling was used was in the credits for the Japanese release of A Link to the Past.[4]
  • The Old Man is well known for his vagueness in messages. One of his most famous quotations is "DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE", indicating the Dodongo's weakness to bombs. Another odd quote is "DIGDOGGER HATES CERTAIN KINDS OF SOUND".
  • The list of items is titled "all of treasures". The "of" was omitted in subsequent re-releases.
  • When Link pays the Old Woman behind the waterfall, she will tell him to go "Up, up, up, the mountaintop." This was corrected to "up, the mountain ahead". This refers to the path to the Lizard.
File:Credits.png

Pseudonyms are used in the credits

Credits

In the credits, all but the executive producer Hiroshi Yamauchi are listed under pseudonyms. Designer Takashi Tezuka is credited as "Ten Ten," sound composer Koji Kondo as "Konchan," programmer I. Marui as "Marumaru." At the time, nicknames were commonly used among Japanese game developers as a company measure against employee poaching.[5][6]

Producer and director Shigeru Miyamoto is listed as "S. Miyahon," a mistranscription of his name - 本 can be read as either "moto" or "hon."[6] This is widely believed to be another error in translation.[7] However, in a leaked prototype of the game, many of the staff - including Miyamoto - were credited under their real names.[8] The pseudonym "Miyahon" was thus chosen deliberately for the final release.

Completion Records

Main article: Speedrun Records
Time Performer Date Notes

Listings

Characters

Bosses

Enemies

Dungeons

Items

Credits

Glitches

Hacks

Reception

Sales

The Legend of Zelda was commercially successful, selling 6.5 million copies worldwide and being the fourth best-selling Nintendo Entertainment System game of all time;[9] it's also the second best-selling Zelda game to date, the best seller being Template:OOT, which sold 7.6 million copies.

Reviews

IGN journalist Craig Harris awarded the Game Boy Advance version of the game with an 8.0 out of 10, praising its faithful adaptation from the original version;[10] Damien McFerran from Nintendolife gave the Virtual Console version (Wii) the same score, praising the length and the complexity of the quest.[11] Nintendojo staff, when reviewing the GCN edition (Collector's Edition) praised the game for its "innovative and unique gameplay system, remarkably deep puzzle solving, and an epic score".[12] Nintendo Power, in the December 2009 issue, placed the game third in the list of best The Legend of Zelda games, citing its influence on gaming industry and praising its gameplay.

Fan Reception

The game received support from the player community as well. It currently holds an average user score of 9.1 at GameSpot,[13] as well as a current average reader score of 9.1 at IGN.[14]

Ports and Remakes

TLoZ Shield Emblem

A remake of the original game, BS The Legend of Zelda, was broadcast via the BS-X Broadcasting System. The gameplay is similar to the original, but there are some key differences. BS The Legend of Zelda is different from most other Zelda games as the game's central heroes are actually supposed to be the mascot characters of the BS-X Broadcasting System, and are otherwise supposed to be based on the player as the character's name and gender is based off of the broadcasting ID. The male character wears a green tunic, though others are later available, and a backwards baseball cap. The female character has long red hair and is otherwise almost exactly the same as the male.

In 2003, Nintendo released a bundle for the GameCube which included Collector's Edition, in which this game was playable.

In that same year, Nintendo released Animal Crossing for the GameCube; the game featured many emulated NES games, though some are inaccessible without a cheating device. The Legend of Zelda is one such unobtainable game.

The Game Boy Advance also saw a port of the game as part of Nintendo's "Classic NES Series" re-releases. The game suffers from the same occasional lag present in the original NES release, as it is an emulated version. When Nintendo launched the Wii, The Legend of Zelda was a launch title in the Virtual Console service. The game became available on August 31, 2011 as one of the games eligible for free download over the Virtual Console as part of the Nintendo 3DS Ambassador Program, a service available to players who bought a 3DS before its price dropped on August 11, 2011.[15] It was later released to the public through the Virtual Console service on July 5, 2012. The 3DS version has the original mistranslations instead of the proper translations.

Super Smash Bros. Brawl has a feature in which the player can play short demos of classic games (called "Masterpieces" in-game; a player may only play a Masterpiece for up to 5 minutes, depending on the game). The Legend of Zelda is offered as one of the Masterpieces. Gameplay time is limited to 2 minutes, which is enough time to explore a small part of the Overworld.

Legacy

The Legend of Zelda is the first installment in the Zelda franchise, and its success allowed the development of sequels. In one or another way, nearly every title in the series is influenced by this game in such ways as:

  • The distinction between an overworld and a dungeon, as well as the need of traveling across the former to enter the latter, and to clear the latter to take a further step to the game's completion.
  • The use of items to progress on the adventure, be it to beat enemies more easily or to open new ways and solve puzzles.
  • The introduction of Link, Princess Zelda and Ganon.
  • The introduction of the first two fragments of the Triforce.
  • The introduction of a number of recurring locations (e.g. Lost Woods and Death Mountain) and items.
  • The presence of a Second Quest (although very few subsequent games reused this concept).

The Moblin's quote "It's a secret to everybody" has become a popular meme among gamers over the years. It is first referenced in Template:ALTTP when Link brings a chest to a man who stands next to a sign outside of the desert. He offers to open the chest under the condition that Link will "keep it secret from everyone else". It is also referenced in Template:OOT. If Link bribes the guard at the gate of Hyrule Castle, speaking after he opens the gate will result in him saying "KEEP IT A SECRET TO EVERYBODY." And in Majora's Mask, after talking to Kafei in his home behind the curiosity shop, he says "Keep what we just talked about a secret from everybody". It is even referenced in Twilight Princess when in Center Castle Town, Link can enter a door and walk up to a balcony, where a Goron sees the golden force around Hyrule Castle. He admits that he has kept it "a secret to everybody."

Trivia

  • It is possible (although quite difficult) to make it through the game up until the final boss without a Sword, although once Ganon is reached, the player must have a Sword to damage him.
  • The last dungeon is over half the size of the entire overworld. If the entrance to the dungeon were placed directly on Spectacle Rock, the resulting world shape would be an L.
  • This is one of the only games where Link can only have a maximum of 16 hearts, the other 2 being Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
  • Most Legend of Zelda cartridges are gold, but there are very rare late releases of the game in standard grey cartridges.

Gallery

Illustrations

Box Art

Cartridge

Logos

American Ad #1
American Ad #2
Japanese Ad

References

TMC Forest Minish Artwork Names in Other Regions TMC Jabber Nut Sprite
Language Name Meaning
Japan Japanese Template:Japanese
Template:Japanese
The Hyrule Fantasy: The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda
Federal Republic of Germany German The Legend of Zelda
ERROR: You must enter a country code. Korean 젤다의 전설 (Jeldaui Jeonseol) Zelda Legend
Games

TLoZ Link Kneeling Artwork Zelda Logo BoTW Era BotW Link Shooting Artwork

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