In 1986, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto devised an adventure RPG that saw the benchmark for the genre raised to great heights. It was a game that was unusually in depth and involving and was a rare sight in the days of mid-1980s gaming. That game is The Legend of Zelda on NES, and even though the series improves with every instalment, the 8-bit classic is every bit as playable as it was back then. The NES Classics re-release is living proof.

Like Zelda 2 and A Link to the Past on SNES, the d ... more >>

In 1986, Nintendo's Shigeru Miyamoto devised an adventure RPG that saw the benchmark for the genre raised to great heights. It was a game that was unusually in depth and involving and was a rare sight in the days of mid-1980s gaming. That game is The Legend of Zelda on NES, and even though the series improves with every instalment, the 8-bit classic is every bit as playable as it was back then. The NES Classics re-release is living proof.

Like Zelda 2 and A Link to the Past on SNES, the debut instalment is played from a bird's-eye perspective in which players assume the role of a sword-equipped Link for the first time. Roaming the world of Hyrule and defeating a veritable bestiary of familiar Zelda foes, the inspiration for the entire series thereafter quickly becomes obvious.

And despite the game's simple and deceptive visuals, The Legend of Zelda is actually rather difficult. When playing retro games such as this, it's all too easy set too quick a pace and force yourself into making stupid mistakes. Like all Zelda games, the original offering requires players to take their time and explore the surrounding environments to their fullest.

It's amazing to see that a game that looks and sometimes feels so dated can still embroil its audience in a hardcore Zelda adventure. Nostalgia and retro appeal may be influencing factors, but that doesn't detract from the fact that NES Classics Zelda is a genuine classic. << less