The staggering genius of The Legend of Zelda...

...can be summed up in one simple idea.

The manual for this game included:
a) A very thorough description of how to play the game
b) Pictures and descriptions of nearly every item in the game
c) Pictures and descriptions of nearly every enemy in the game
d) Instructions on how to get to the first dungeon
e) A map that shows the way to the second dungeon

...yet, somehow, everyone's first memory of this game is getting the sword and having no idea what to do next.

The manual actually showed you how to get to the first and second level? That's pretty neat.

Fortunately, TLoZ wasn't my first Zelda game, so I kinda knew what to do from having playing ALttP and OoT.

Originally Posted by Finger

...yet, somehow, everyone's first memory of this game is getting the sword and having no idea what to do next.

I don't know about that. When I first played the game at age 9 or 10, I figured out my way to Levels 1 and 2 without much of a problem.

Originally Posted by Rew

I don't know about that. When I first played the game at age 9 or 10, I figured out my way to Levels 1 and 2 without much of a problem.

Yes, it was the same for me. But I'm talking about the general perception of the game. The #1 thing that the casual gamer associates with this game is starting it and not knowing what to do, or the more general notion of not knowing what to do next.

Haha! Nobody reads manuals! I didn't know where to go next either, but I found the first dungeon soon.

You all are geniuses.

I just followed my instincts that led me to level 1. I found level 3 before 2, however.

Originally Posted by Finger

...yet, somehow, everyone's first memory of this game is getting the sword and having no idea what to do next.

That's why they came up with Navi. "Hey! Go here! Listen! Go there!" xP

I love the NES games and their in-depth game manuals. I remember the Final Fantasy manual. It did the same thing LoZ's did; description of ALL magic spells, most enemies, and a walkthrough to the point you defeat Garland and cross the bridge. As time goes on, video game manuals have less and less stuff in them.

I followed my instincts and went into the first thing I saw. A cave. I went in the cave and got a sword than I found the first dungeon and is looking for number2. (I have only had the game for 2 hours.)

wow i still have my LoZ manual! and yeah yer right it does show you where level 1 and level 2 are...it was my first Zelda game and i was about 6 (way back when) and i remember being able to get to level 1 with no problem at all...
edit: i just looked through my old manual and it has little hints at the bottom of the pages!

The worst part for me now is that I know the game like the back of my hand. I wish I could go back in time and experience LoZ for the 1st time again........

I got to level one. Died a lot on my way to level two finally beat two and then could never find thre until I picked it up again almost ten years later.

I didn't mind it, the reason I loved that game so much was for letting me find my own way.

But I pored over the manual at that early age. I even kept it. Only I had to be stupid enough to throw out everything else from the box and keep the box itself...

Sometimes I wonder what it goes for.....

Lol, exactly for me. I remember having absolutely no idea what to do next for about 4 hours, other than roaming the overworld and seeing where I could get to without being killed by minions

I alwasy found the levels out of order too. I used to think I could beat them out of order too but that was just frustrating and made me bite my NES controller.

I bite my controller when I'm angry...

While we are on this subject...

I remember first playing this at my cousin's house when I was five or six. I kept getting killed by ****ing Leevers. They still give me trouble eleven years later

Originally Posted by wheels77

While we are on this subject...

I remember first playing this at my cousin's house when I was five or six. I kept getting killed by ****ing Leevers. They still give me trouble eleven years later

And those darn Like Likes.....eating your magic sheild at the worst possible time! Nothing worse then one taking your sheild and then 6 Wizzrobes start zapping you with magic beams.

wow "finger". this thread really blew up in your face. haha
nobody really cared.
they soon found their destinations.
with no real problems by what im reading.
i ditto with the majority.

I don't have the manual and I have no idea where level two is. I've found levels 4, 6, 1 and 3. Kind of annoying to me.