The Legend of Zelda (NES) Playthrough

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Published on June 15, 2025 12:00:00 AM ● Video Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_llwe3LJDDQ

Game:

The Legend of Zelda (1986)

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Playthrough of The Legend of Zelda, Nintendo's 1986 action-adventure game for the NES. The video shows both quests and where to find all items and secrets.

1:07:05 - Start of the second quest.

The Legend of Zelda for the NES, released by Nintendo in 1986, is one of the most influential video games of all time. It introduced players to the vast and mysterious land of Hyrule, a sprawling open world filled with secrets, dungeons, and dangers. The player takes on the role of Link, a young hero tasked with rescuing Princess Zelda and defeating the evil Ganon, who has stolen the Triforce of Power. To succeed, Link must collect pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom, scattered across eight hidden dungeons.

What set The Legend of Zelda apart from other games of its time was its non-linear structure. Players were given minimal instruction and expected to explore the world freely, discovering caves, shops, and dungeons in their own order. The game encouraged experimentation and rewarded curiosity. Hidden items, passageways, and shortcuts were tucked behind destructible walls or found only through trial and error, creating a sense of wonder and mystery.

Combat is handled in real time, with Link using his sword, shield, and a variety of items such as bombs, arrows, and boomerangs. Each dungeon presents unique challenges, with enemies that require different strategies and bosses that guard essential upgrades or Triforce pieces. The difficulty is steady but fair, with players gradually growing stronger through equipment upgrades and heart containers that extend Link’s life.

Graphically, the game used simple tile-based environments with a distinctive top-down view. While modest by today’s standards, the visuals effectively conveyed the different regions of Hyrule, from forests and deserts to graveyards and mountain ranges. The soundtrack, composed by Koji Kondo, is iconic, with the overworld theme in particular becoming one of the most recognizable melodies in video game history.

The Legend of Zelda was also notable for being the first NES game to feature a battery-backed save system, allowing players to continue their adventure without using passwords. This innovation helped establish the game as a deeper, more persistent experience than most of its contemporaries. Its blend of action, exploration, and puzzle-solving laid the foundation for an entire genre and launched a franchise that continues to thrive today. The original game remains a landmark title, remembered for its sense of freedom, challenge, and discovery.