[Game] Zelda Series Guide (Part 1)

The Legend of Zelda is one of the most successful series that Nintendo has created. Originally appearing on the NES, there have been about 15 sequels and spinoffs in the last 23 years on every Nintendo system you can think of. This is part one of a three-part series guide, and this one will go over the Zelda games from NES, SNES, and Nintendo 64.

The Legend of Zelda
Platform: NES
Release: 1986

This game needs no introduction. When it was released, The Legend of Zelda on NES was unlike any game before it. There was a huge world to explore, dungeons to fight through, and tons of secrets to uncover. it also introduced the Triforce, as well as Link, Zelda and Ganon (who have been in nearly every Zelda game that has followed). The game comes in a badass-looking Gold cartridge, and was the first game to use a battery backup to actually maintain your progress after you turned the game off. (see: Saving). It also has an amusing intro that tells the game's backstory with a laughably bad English translation.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Platform: NES
Release: 1987

The second Zelda game was completely different from the first (which is surprising, considering how successful the first one was). Instead of an adventure game, Zelda 2 was more like an Action RPG. You only had an overhead view on the world map (yes, now there's a world map), and whenever you went into a town or encountered an enemy, the game would become a side-scroller. You even had to level up Link instead of collecting heart pieces and other items. The game was also well-known for it's insane difficulty (Seriously, it's hard). Like the original, Zelda 2 came in a gold cartridge and allowed you to save your progress using a battery backup. Why haven't there been more Zelda games like this?

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Platform: SNES
Release: 1992

The first and only Zelda game on SNES went back to the gameplay style of the original Zelda, only this time everything recieved a major improvement. There was a bigger world (or should I say "worlds") to explore, more secrets, improved graphics and sound, a much needed map screen, and the ability to save anywhere (without having to kill yourself). This is probably my favorite Zelda game.

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Platform: Nintendo 64
Release: 1998

With the Nintendo 64 being Nintendo's first true 3D console, naturally the next step was to make a 3D Zelda. Ocarina of Time was in 3D, but the gameplay was mostly unchanged from A Link to the Past. You could lock-on to your enemies and assign three items to the C buttons (rather than just one in past games), The two main new additions were the Ocarina, which allowed you to play songs that all do different things, and the fact that you can travel between two different time periods seven years apart from each other (just like A Link to the Past where you traveled between two different worlds), but this was basically the same gameplay, only in 3D.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Platform: Nintendo 64
Release: 2000

Majora's Mask is one of the more interesting Zelda games. It actually requires the expansion pack (you can't play it without it). The game also has a time limit of three days. Once three days are up, you're dead. Of course, you can just play a song on your ocarina at any time to start the three days over again with all of the progress that you made, which was really interesting. You also had to collect masks that all did different things. This is one of the better Zelda games in the series.

and the fact that you can travel between two different time periods seven years apart from each other (just like A Link to the Past where you traveled between two different worlds), but this was mostly just the same game in 3D.

^ I call boelshit >_>

Trying to get a slice of my gaming history pie are we?

You're not the first Pepsi.

Jofra was I think, and he actually copied that idea from somewhere else too.

I was joking anyway.