The Legend of Zelda (game)

This article is a short summary of The Legend of Zelda (game). Zelda Wiki features a more in-depth article.

This article is about the game. For information about the series, see The Legend of Zelda.

The Legend of Zelda

THE HYRULE FANTASY ゼルダの伝説 The Hyrule Fantasy: Zeruda no Densetsu

Developer(s): Nintendo R&D4 Publisher(s): Nintendo Platform: Famicom Disk System, NES Category: Action-adventure Players: 1 Predecessor: N/A Successor: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

Release dates N. America: August 22, 1987 (NES) Japan: February 21, 1986 (FDS) Europe: November 15, 1987 (NES) Australia: December 7, 2006 (VC) S. Korea: March 31, 2009 (VC)

Ratings ESRB: E (GBA/VC) CERO: A PEGI: 3 (GBA) 7(VC) USK: 0 ACB: G

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The Legend of Zelda is an adventure game originally released as a launch title for the Famicom Disk System in Japan in 1986 and later released for the standard Nintendo Entertainment System hardware in other regions the next year. As the first installment of The Legend of Zelda series, this game was given a direct sequel, titled Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, also released for the NES/Famicom Disk System in 1987/1988.

Original NES copies of the game at retail were packaged with a partial map of the game's overworld and a strategy guide.

Blurb

Nintendo eShop

Experience the original smash-hit adventure on the NES! Ganon, the King of Evil, has broken free of the Dark World and has captured Hyrule's beloved Princess Zelda. But, before she was caught, Zelda managed to shatter the Triforce of Wisdom and scatter its eight pieces throughout Hyrule. You begin your adventure by finding a small wooden sword in a dark cave. Then, as you grow in stature, experience, and strength, so do your weapons. Help Link collect the captured pieces of the Triforce, rescue the princess, and thwart Ganon's evil plans!

Story

Many years ago, the Prince of Darkness Ganon and his minions invaded the land of Hyrule and stole the Triforce of Power. Fearing Ganon's rule, Princess Zelda breaks the Triforce of Wisdom into eight pieces to keep him from obtaining it before being captured. She then sent out her nursemaid Impa to find one with the courage to defeat Ganon, though Ganon sends out his minions to stop her. As she is surrounded, however, a boy named Link appears and drives off the monsters. After Impa tells him the story, Link sets out on a quest to obtain the pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom, defeat Ganon and save Zelda

Gameplay

The Legend of Zelda is a top-down adventure game in which players control Link, journeying around the land of Hyrule. Players can go to each of the eight dungeons in any order, in which players must solve puzzles to collect items or upgrades for Link, reach and defeat the boss and collect one of the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom. After clearing the eight dungeons players can access the ninth level to fight Ganon. On the overworld are a number of hidden areas in which players can find Rupees for money, items or shops to buy items, and Heart Containers to increase health.

The Legend of Zelda is one of the earliest NES games to have a save feature via battery backup, allowing players to save their game when they game over, or at any point by pausing and pressing up and A with a second controller. After clearing the game, the player has the option to play "Second Quest", a more difficult game in which the dungeons are redesigned and enemies are stronger.

Technical details

Technical details Media: Famicom Disk System Disk Card NES Game Pak Game Boy Advance Game Pak Digital download (Wii, Nintendo 3DS, Wii U) Download size: Wii: 22 blocks 3DS: 47 blocks Wii U: 65.4 MB Supported features: Off-TV Play (Wii U) Input / compatible controllers: NES/FDS: NES Controller / Famicom Controller GBA: Game Boy Advance Wii: Wii Remote, Classic Controller, Nintendo GameCube Controller 3DS: Nintendo 3DS Wii U: Wii U GamePad, Wii U Pro Controller, Classic Controller, Wii Remote (+ Nunchuk)

Other releases

Title	Cover art	Platform	Release date(s)	Notes
THE HYRULE FANTASY ゼルダの伝説 1 (The Hyrule Fantasy: Zeruda no Densetsu 1)		Family Computer	JP: 1994	A re-release of the game in Japan for the Famicom cartridge format, using a slightly modified version of the NES cartridge version of the game.
The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition		Nintendo GameCube	NA/JP/EU: 2003 AUS: 2004	A collection of ports of four previous The Legend of Zelda titles, including this one.
Classic NES Series: The Legend of Zelda / Famicom Mini: Zeruda no Densetsu		Game Boy Advance	2004	A direct port of the game released for Game Boy Advance.
The Legend of Zelda		Wii (Virtual Console)	WW: 2006 KR: 2009	A direct port of the game released as a digital download on the Wii Shop Channel.
The Legend of Zelda		Nintendo 3DS (Virtual Console)	Ambassadors: 2011 Release: JP: 2011 WW: 2012	A direct port of the game released as a digital download on the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS, allowing for special emulator features.
The Legend of Zelda		Wii U (Virtual Console)	2013	A direct port of the game released as a digital download on the Nintendo eShop for Wii U, while allowing players to use special emulator features.

External links

• The Legend of Zelda on Wikipedia
• The Legend of Zelda guide on StrategyWiki