A modern-day review for a one of gaming's classic titles.
When the original Legend of Zelda was released, it was a landmark game. If it were the 1980's, I would give this game a 10. Pure and simple.
But it's not the 1980's. It's almost 2007. A lot of people are rating the game as if it were in the 1980's. But people buying the game now have different expectations of what makes a game great, though keep in mind that graphics and sound do not weigh nearly as heavily as gamplay in this review. Therefore, I am going to write this review as if you never played the original Legend of Zelda, and subsequently lack the nostalgia factor that really makes the LoZ really shine in the 21st century.
Graphics The graphics are not bad at all for this game; they get the job done. However, that being said, they are very simple. The colors are rich and vibrant, though, and help to allow players to overlook its simplicity. And that's all I'm going to say about that.
Sound Well, the sound in this game is great. The overworld theme expecially is extremely catchy, and the sound effects are nice, too. Though they obviously sound synthesized, they get the job done, and I myself have found myself humming the tune once in a while. The sound is probably one of the best parts of the game, in my opinion.
Gameplay The biggest problem with LoZ in the modern day is it's gameplay. It simply hasn't aged well. I may be a little biased because I have played a ton of Zeldas (I currently own 7 Zelda titles, not including this one) and my expectations are much larger. But then again, in 2007, everyone's expectations are higher. The game opens with relatively little story; you learn about Zelda, how Ganon attacked Zelda, how Zelda broke the triforce into 8 pieces, and how you set off to find them. Then you are plopped right in the middle of Hyrule and must set off. Where are the towns like Kakariko village? Where are the people to talk to? Where's the story and exposition? The map system is a joke. It's a blank grid that shows a dot to indicate where you are. But that's it. There are no landmarks. To make it worse, there is very little information about where you are supposed to go next. You are basically forced to wander the countryside aimlessly until you stumble on a dungeon. Because of this system, it's very easy to get lost, or get to dungeons you aren't even supposed to be at. It's basically impossible unless you have printed a map off the internet, which isn't too hard. In fact, the original NES version shipped with a map that helped players find out what the heck they were supposed to do. The fact that Nintendo did not upload a duplicate map with the electronic instruction manual to your Wii when you download the game boggles my mind. I mean, if people never got the NES version or didn't know about the map that came with it, they'd be screwed. Combat doesn't help either. Early on, when you only have a few hearts, it is VERY easy to die. Apparently Octorocs, Tektites, and Leevers too have been ODing on Viagra and Testosterone supplements, b/c there are tons of enemies on each screen in the game. As you wander around Hyrule for an hour looking for the right dungeon, it can be frustrating to manage all the creatures jumping/shooting things at you. The great thing about modern Zeldas has always been its stories and puzzle-solving elements, with some occasional combat thrown in for good measure. In the original LoZ, story amounts to a single screenful of text, puzzle solving equates to finding out where the hell you are supposed to go, and Kombat is King. It is the frustration factor that really hurts this game.
Many of Nintendo's franchises have aged well. Mario is still as fun to play now as it did then. Donkey Kong Country is the same. But Zelda just...hasn't. And it isn't the graphics and sound; colors are vibrant and the tunes are morbidly hummable. But the gameplay is just..."ok"...by today's standards. Unless you've played LoZ before and have that nostalgia factor, this game might not be worth your time. Don't get me wrong. I love Zelda. I am a member of the Legend of Zelda Union. I own 7 Zelda games. I live and breath Zelda; it's all I play for weeks after the release of a new title. But the series has changed a lot from it's roots, in a good way. The original Zelda is not a broken game, it just hasn't aged well. And if you are buying the game for the first time, expecting a great title, you might be dissappointed. The Legend of Zelda was probably one of the greatest games of the 1980s, a classic title beloved by all. But in 2007, to my chagrin, it isn't. At best, it is an interesting history lesson. At worst, it is a boring, frustrating game.
And that's all I have to say about that.