Review by Daphnes

The Legend of Zelda was created by Shigeru Myamoto in 1987 for the Nintendo Entertainment System. It featured a vast, open world to explore, and a neat little thing called a save file where players could save their game. There have been many other games spanning the past twenty years, and this was the one that started it all.

[B]Story:[/B] You are Link. Link is a dashing traveling swordsman who saved an old woman named Impa, and learned of the Triforce, and a captured princess. Now Link must find and conquer nine dungeons, get the Triforce of Wisdom, and defeat Ganon who holds the Triforce of Power.

The objective of the game is very simple: Find eight pieces of Triforce, and save the princess. Completing this objective is complex, though. You have an open world with very little direction. The main thing is exploration, whether it’s in the over world or deep inside a labyrinth. Have fun!

[B]Game play:[/B] You start out with a small shield that deflects rocks and arrows. In your starting area you can enter a cave and get a sword from an old man. The old men in these games are often helpful.

Right from the start, you have access to almost the entire land of Hyrule. You must scour this land for dungeons, though you don’t always have to go in precise order from 1 to 8.

In each dungeon, there are special items that will help you on your quest. Some of them are needed for game completion, like the bow, raft, and ladder. Some are simply optional, but still helpful like the wand, red flame, and boomerang. There are also a few items found outside of dungeons, like hidden heart containers and the power bracelet.

The labyrinths themselves are underground mazes. You will need keys to get through many locked doors, and sometimes even need to use bombs to blow holes in walls to reveal hidden passageways. Luckily, hidden in each labyrinth is a map and compass. Even though Link makes his own map as he explores a labyrinth, the map he finds will reveal rooms he hasn’t gone through. Some rooms will still be hidden, though, so if you’re stuck you might try to find rooms hidden even to the labyrinth map. The compass will show the location of the Triforce piece you’re after, and the boss will be in an adjacent room.

The bosses themselves can often be tough. Sometimes only a sword can defeat a boss, though other times a secondary weapon is needed as well.

If you find yourself stuck in a labyrinth, you may want to explore the over world. There are things like heart containers that give you more health, sword upgrades, and even a parchment to give an old woman so she will sell your health potions. It’s a wide world to explore, full of caves, hidden grottos, and other secrets. Also, be sure to check shops for items that can help you.