The Legend of Zelda

The Good
Zelda is the very first RPG I ever played, back in the "good ol' days". Aside from "Super Mario Bros." I think this was probably one of the most purchased and loved games on the console.

The gameplay, controls, and story stand the test of time. The game is still challenging and enjoyable after all these years.. and I would even say that from a conceptual perspective, this game is superior to many present-day RPG's.

The Bad
Not much bad with Zelda. The only really disappointing part was that some of the puzzles were so complicated that you needed a guide to find the proper solution.

The Bottom Line
There are few games that can stand the test of time and become classic. This one, I think, was destined from the start. It's in a gold cartridge for cryin' out loud! This is definitely a must-have for the avid collector.

The Good
There was never a game quite like the original "Legend of Zelda" for it's time. From the anime-style illustrations that highlighted the instruction manual, to the haunting version of the "Zelda" theme that graced the title screen, the excitement for this game built before the player ever pressed "Start".

The gameplay was so unique. A (then) huge and sprawling world filled with hidden caves and temples, oceans to cross, graveyards to explore, deserts, mountains, forests.... This game was extremely diverse in the terrain Link could cover. There were secrets everywhere, a smart item management system, and just as many different types of enemies to fight.

The music for this game remains one of my favorite all-time soundtracks. The Overworld and Underworld themes are about as good as it gets in the old-school memory department. The graphics for its time were very impressive, and in many respects hold up now. It's a different experience from being a kid when this was the latest technology, but it retains a simplistic charm now.

And who could ever forget the "cool" factor of the gold cartridge, or the Second Quest?

The Bad
In light of today's games, it doesn't quite feel as "epic" as it once did. But this is also an 18/19-year old game now. That said, the gameplay remains remarkably solid.

There were also nothing worse than the shield-eating Like Likes, or the heart-draining Darknuts. Some called it "challenge". I called it "frustrating". There was nothing worse than having to buy a new Magic Shield.... Or having to pay a fine for blowing up some Old Man's door.

If the criticisms seem lame.... Well, there's not a lot of negative to be said about this game, really.

The Bottom Line
This particular entry in the "Legend of Zelda" series remains of my favorite games of all-time. Anyone who needs a lesson of Miyamoto's brilliance in game design should look no further than here. It's a beautiful title that has so many things going for it even now. And while more "charming" than "epic" these days, it still provides solid challenge, and an interesting connected world to explore. No game was like this for it's time, and only Sega's original Phantasy Star contended as a truly worthy rival.

If you've never played it, do yourself a favor, and find the Gamecube or Game Boy Advance versions. Without this game, the standard never would have been raised so high for action/adventure games.

In my opinion, the original "Legend of Zelda" stands as one of the most important and prolific titles in video gaming history. One romp through the lands of Hyrule, and you'll see why.

The Good
This was one of the first games I got for the NES. Though the graphics were not particularly good, even for the time, it was designed quite well and was / is highly addictive.

It plays like a cross between an overhead scrolling platform game and an RPG. Its not truly either but borrows from both genres. Its a unique formula that has been copied by many successful games.

The Bad
The graphics on the Legend of Zelda show its 20 year old age. They are primitive, with repetitive sprites. Even compared to later NES games the graphics aren't very good.

The depth of the gameplay and the music more than make up for this.

The Bottom Line
Wondeful game. And there is a 16 bit version of it which is a hacked version of BSZelda that you can find on the internet. It lets you enjoy the game play of Zelda with well drawn graphics. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the SNES is also something you would probably like.

There are also some other games I'd recommend that are good knock-offs of Zelda: Crusader of Zenty for the Genesis, Golden Axe: Warrior for the Master System, Neutopia 1 and Neutopia 2.

Neutopia 1 and 2 are probably the best Zelda style games around next to A Link to the Past. In fact, I like them better.