History VideoGame / TheLegendOfZelda

The original ''Legend of Zelda'' was a top-down ActionAdventure HackAndSlash, with a very nonlinear setup. Originally the first game to be released for the Famicom Disk System in Japan, in North America and Europe, it was the first game for the NintendoEntertainmentSystem to use a battery-backed save feature, and was released, as a gimmick, in a gold cartridge rather than standard gray. As was not uncommon in those days, it also featured a NewGamePlus "second quest" with a remixed [[NintendoHard extra-hard]] layout. Both quests would eventually be remade as ''BS-Zelda'', an enhanced version for a satellite-based Super Famicom add-on, and the game was also re-released five times afterwards: as a hidden NES game (which only ended up being available through hacking) in ''AnimalCrossing'', on the ''Collector's Edition'' bonus disc, as a part of the Game Boy Advance Classic NES Series, on the VirtualConsole, and as part of the 3DS Ambassador Program. It is also present on ''SuperSmashBros Brawl'' as unlockable content, one of the "classic games" made available by completing a specific challenge; however, once the game is started, the player only has a limited amount of time to 'sample' the gameplay.

* KidHero: Link is extremely young in this game, to judge by the manual art and the fact that he is only 16 in the direct sequel.

** Notable because the beam, unlike later ''Zelda'' titles, carries the same power level as the blade itself. Needless to say, getting the Magical Sword as early as possible is a major boon; even the White Sword is an improvement.

* GoodBadBugs: In both the NES original and the GBA edition, immediately exiting and reentering the Level 1 dungeon will somehow unlock the first door, netting you a spare key.

* DegradedBoss: Gohma, Manhandla, Dodongos, and Digdoggers become somewhat common enemies. Dodongo and Digdogger are actually stronger than the boss versions since the former comes in sets of three in most subsequent encounters, and the latter splits into three mini-Digdoggers starting with Level 7 in the first quest. Gleeok makes a single non-boss appearance.

* Knockback: Both with Link and the enemies, some of which are sent flying all the way across the screen. Link can actually get knocked back into another enemy and take more damage.

** Arguably, Level 9 in the second quest.

* {{Oculothorax}}: You'd never guess this from the game itself, but [[http://zelda.wikia.com/wiki/Digdogger_%28The_Legend_of_Zelda%29 Digdogger]] (who hates a certain kind of sound) is one of these.

* GiantEyeOfDoom: Tektites, Digdogger, Patra, and ''especially'' Gohma.

* ExactWords: One of the old men in the cave says "Pay me and I'll talk". So, you give him a good chunk of rupees, hoping for some great information about what to do next... and he says "Boy, you're rich." Well, he ''did'' say that he would talk if you gave him money...

* NoSwastikas: Averted, as the third dungeon in the first quest forms a manji symbol. Even TheAngryVideoGameNerd lampshades this as he calls it a swastika at the beginning of his review for ''ZeldaIITheAdventureOfLink''.

* DiscOneNuke: If you know where to look, are somewhat good at evasion, and willing to grind rupees for a few minutes, it is possible to get three of the five overworld [[HeartContainer Heart Containers]] and therefore the [[InfinityMinusOneSword White Sword]], ''and'' the Blue Ring before entering the very first dungeon in the first quest. The three extra hearts and the White Sword can easily be gotten quickly and will allow you to breeze thru at least the first half of the game, but the ring is ''very'' expensive at 250 rupees (5 away from the maximum) and thus requires more time spent finding hidden rooms in the overworld for larger caches of Rupees if you want to buy it quickly (and without savescumming or rupee-farming), but it is also a major boon to have itself. (You can also manipulate the money-making game with saves, which will greatly cut down on the time necessary to farm rupees).

* DiscOneNuke: If you know where to look, are somewhat good at evasion, and willing to grind rupees for a few minutes, it is possible to get three of the five overworld [[HeartContainer Heart Containers]] and therefore the [[InfinityMinusOneSword White Sword]], ''and'' the Blue Ring before entering the very first dungeon in the first quest. The three extra hearts and the White Sword can easily be gotten quickly and will allow you to breeze thru at least the first half of the game, but the ring is ''very'' expensive at 250 rupees (5 away from the maximum) and thus requires more time spent finding hidden rooms in the overworld for larger caches of Rupees if you want to buy it quickly (and without savescumming or rupee-farming), but it is also a major boon to have itself.

* DegradedBoss: Gohma, Manhandla, Dodongos, and Digdoggers become somewhat common enemies. Notable in that they are actually stronger than the boss versions since they come in sets of three. Gleeok makes a single non-boss appearance.

* GrowlingGut: The abovementioned "Grumble, Grumble..." screen. "Grumble, Grumble" is the noise the Goriya's stomach is making.

* InvincibleMinorMinion: "Bubbles" were flaming skulls that disable Link's ability to use a sword for awhile. There was absolutely no way to kill them. This was even worse in the Second Quest, where there were two colors -- one which took away the sword ability and one which restored it. Touching the first required touching the second, which was sometimes in a completely different ''room''.

* LawOfChromaticSuperiority: If a monster has a red or orange version and a blue version, the blue version generally tougher. The only exception is the blue bubbles, which are far less annoying than the red / pink versions.

* {{Oculothorax}}: You'd never guess this from the game itself, but [[http://zelda.wikia.com/wiki/Digdogger_%28The_Legend_of_Zelda%29 Digdogger]] (who dislikes a certain kind of sound) is one of these.

* {{Unwinnable}}: In a way, possible in the second quest. Several rooms have all their doors slam shut until you defeat all of the non-Bubble enemies in them. If you get tagged by one of the pink Bubbles (which remove your ability to use a sword until you touch a blue Bubble) in such a room without a blue Bubble, then you're down to whatever subweapons you have on hand. It's quite possible to be out of uses (if you haven't gotten unlimited-use ones like the wand or the red candle yet) and stuck in the room. Fortunately, you can just quit and retry even should all those conditions apply.

* TalkingWithSigns: As Link is a HeroicMime in the series proper, perhaps this is the only way he could truly talk. He holds up sign "[[AllThereInTheManual PLEASE LOOK UP THE MANUAL FOR DETAILS]]" in the opening scroll.

** On top of that, your nice, expensive Magic Shield was nastily prone to being eaten by Like Likes, monsters that resemble a pile of evil pancakes.

* AWinnerIsYou: ''"Thank You. You Are The Hero Of Hyrule."''

* GrumblingGut: The abovementioned "Grumble, Grumble..." screen. It's the noise the Goriya's stomach is making.

* DodongoDislikesSmoke: TropeMaker and TropeNamer.

* LostForever: In the second quest, some of the old men in the dungeons ask for 50 rupees, and if you don't have that you must give up a HeartContainer. Not as in one unit of health, we mean ''one heart of your life capacity.''

* TalkingWithSigns: It's [[strike: [[{{Irony}} ironic]]]] [[HilariousInHindsight humorous]] to see Link hold up that sign ([[AllThereInTheManual PLEASE LOOK UP THE MANUAL FOR DETAILS]]) in the opening scroll after later games have so thoroughly established him as a HeroicMime.

* VillainForgotToLevelGrind: In the first quest, Aquamentus, boss of level one, returns as the boss of [[BreatherLevel level seven]] with no improvements whatsoever. Two hits is all it takes and the Magic Shield can block its beams.

* SignLanguage: It's [[strike: [[{{Irony}} ironic]]]] [[HilariousInHindsight humorous]] to see Link hold up that sign ([[AllThereInTheManual PLEASE LOOK UP THE MANUAL FOR DETAILS]]) in the opening scroll after later games have so thoroughly established him as a HeroicMime.