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Happy 30th birthday Zelda!

I had “almost” forgotten that “Zelda” and “Metroid” were both released back in 1986 (Zelda in February, and Metroid in August). So yes, that means that both game series will turn 30 years old this year (don´t forget to read my Metroid´s 30th Anniversary article). In the matter of fact, Zelda´s 30th anniversary is today! (or yesterday, depending on your time zone). Yes, that´s correct. As the very first Zelda game launched to the NES console on the 21st February, 1986. And I think that´s something that really deserves to be celebrated. Especially since Shigeru Miyamoto (director), Takashi Tezuka (director) and Koji Kondo (composer) wrote video game history when they created “The Legend of Zelda” for the NES.

Because not only did Zelda sell over 6,5 million units in total, “Zelda” is also considered to have broken a lot of technical and creative barriers in terms of expanding and revolutionizing the RPG/adventure/action genre. Not to mention the fact that “Zelda” has inspired and influenced a lot of games and game developers (titles such as “Terranigma“, “Illusion of Gaia”, “Secret of Mana” and new titles like “Hyper Light Drifter and “Bastion” has all been inspired by “Zelda”).

Sure, I´m more than aware that not everyone likes the “Zelda” series. Even so, I think that most Gamers would still like to wish “Zelda” a happy 30th birthday today. On a personal level, “Zelda” has meant a whole lot to me. So I´m going to share some of my childhood “Zelda” memories with you all, here and now.

Zelda and I, a plus 25-year-old love and hate relationship

I was about six years old when I played “The Legend of Zelda 1” (this great Gaming moment took place around 1991 or 1992 sometime).

As I was saying. “Zelda” had a huge impact on me while growing up, because I was about six years old when I got the chance to play “Zelda 1” on my best friends NES console. And at the time I had just played some SEGA Master System games, and none of them looked or felt anything quite like “Zelda”. I was also somewhat surprised to find out that I could explore the open world of “Zelda” as I pleased (within reasonable limits of course). However, I do remember that I had problems with the game´s difficulty (let´s just say that I died a whole a lot). I also struggled to understand all the English information, which was presented to me throughout the game. Even so, I always came back for more. As my urge for action, exploration and adventure was much greater than my fear of failure. Besides, once I begin my first grade at school.

I soon learned that the older kids knew much more about “Zelda” than I did. So paid close attention to their tips and advice. In fact, my best friend at the time were one of those “older” kids, and he was also one of the few who subscribed to the Swedish version of the Nintendo Power magazine (Nintendo Magasinet). In other words. My friend had an upper hand when it came to knowledge about “Zelda” (how find stuff, solve puzzles, win over bosses and so on), truth be told though. I did not finish “Zelda 1” before I was about 10 years old, because for some strange reason (which I can´t remember at the moment) I just left “Zelda 1” unfinished.

I had quite a few “rage-quit” moments while playing “Zelda II” as a little kid.

I think I know why the young version of me did that though, because I do recall playing a lot of “Zelda II” around that time (1993-1994). And let me tell you what, if someone had recorded me playing “Zelda II” as a kid. Then there would have been a lot of swearing, outbursts and rage quit moments for sure (pure AVGN material right there, with no doubt). For example, I do remember that I thought that “Zelda II” was even harder than the original game (just the random encounter’s thing alone was a pure pain in the ass).

And once I faced Dark Link. It was the point of no return for me. I just had to beat him. Luckily enough for me though, I had already started to become a hardcore Gamer before I picked up “Zelda II”. You see. One of my class mates introduced me to “Ninja Gaiden” (that´s a story for another time though). So I had already unlocked the “diehard stubbornness” achievement. And that sure came in handy while playing “Zelda II”.

Even so, it took a lot of effort and time for me (and my friends) to complete “Zelda II”. Since the game is full of “What a horrible night to have a curse” a la “Castlevania 2” moments, in my opinion (you know? The moments that annoy the living hell out of you?). Sure, I can´t say that “Zelda II” is all rotten to the core. Nevertheless, I would lie if I said that I enjoyed the game more than “Zelda 1”. As I never really liked the side-scrolling and random encounter elements of the game.

I still think that “A link to the past” are THE best Zelda title to date.

So I literally jumped up and down due to pure happiness when I found out that “The Legend of Zelda: A Link To The Past” would go back to Zelda´s roots again (the overhead perspective view). There was one tiny little problem though. I did not own a Super Nintendo, and neither did any of my friends. So we could just look at all those fancy and good-looking 16-bit magazine photos of “A Link to the past”, and sigh loudly for ourselves. However, our luck changed when one of our common friends received an SNES console for his birthday. And guess three times which game he got as well? You guessed it, Zelda A Link To The Past (I think the console was bundled with Super Mario World and A Link to the past?).

So as you might imagine, we got pretty excited once the game booted up on our friends SNES. And “A Link To The Past” sure wouldn´t let us down, because as soon as we saw the in-game graphics. Our jaws dropped to the flow, and Koji Kondo´s beautiful music could make a full-grown man cry for less (I get all sentimental when I hear the “Crystal song“). And the game is HUGE (at least we thought so at the time). I actually spent two summers playing ZALTP non-stop (minus soccer, lunch, breakfast and sleep stops). It couldn´t help it though, because I had way too much fun. And there are so many things that you could do in the game as well. Since there are plenty of items to find, people to talk to, Easter eggs, bosses to fight and quests to complete. Not to mention the exploration part (that one alone kept me occupied for days!).

When “Ocarina of Time” got released for the N64 back in 1998. I was so excited that I could explode.

And “Zelda: A Link To The Past” are actually one of the very few games which I have returned to over and over again since its release (“Super Metroid, “Deus Ex 1″, Fallout 2″, System Shock 2” and “Resident Evil Remake” could be added to that list as well). So I really love ZALTP whole heartily. And even though I love “Ocarina of Time” a whole lot, “A Link to the past” is still number one in my book.

Nintendo has released 17 (soon 18) Zelda titles since 1986 (the picture has been borrowed from Wikipedia).

Then Vs now

I don´t know if you’re familiar with the old-school Zelda CD-i games? (check out AVGN´s videos for more information). Well, I played “Link: The Faces of Evil”, “Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon” and “Zelda’s Adventure” at a Gaming convention as a kid. And it was nothing less than a pure horror experience for me (yes, the games are that bad). In fact, Nintendo learned the hard way that it was not a good idea to hand over their much-loved IPs to just about anyone. Since the Zelda CD-I games are still talked about today (and not in a positive kind of manner).

Link has gone through many transformations since 1986 (age and look).

One can´t help to like Linkel, since she´s so adorable, likable and darn cute.

The reason why I bring this subject up is because the Zelda series has had quite a few ups and downs over the years (quite a few of the “Zelda” fans believe that the series went down hill after “Ocarina of time”). And I´m not just talking about grades and sales figures. No, I´m also talking about things such as character designs. Well, I don´t know about you, but I never liked the childish and feminine design of Link (“Wind waker”, I´m pointing my finger at you!). As I prefer to have a very masculine look to Link (hey, we got Linkle now. So there is no need to make Link look like a female). That seems to be the look that Nintendo has gone for in the new “Zelda” (2016) title though (and thank god for that!).

I have lost count over how many times people have confused Link with Zelda.

Even so, Nintendo still needs to tread carefully. As they have a Zelda legacy that needs to be handled with great care and respect. And even though I enjoyed “Twilight Princess and “Skyward Sword” quite a bit. I didn´t pick up on “Triforce Heroes” all that much. “A link between worlds” on the other, are pure Gaming gold. So I´m quite curious to see what Nintendo will be able to pull off with “Zelda” 2016 to the Wii U (will the game top ZALTP or “Ocarina of Time”?).

Because in a way it feels like Nintendo have been trying top “Ocarina of Time” since its release (the Zelda series has been standing in its shadow for years, kind of like in the case with Guns N Rose´s “Appetite for Destruction” album). Time will tell I guess. I just hope Zelda 2016 will become more mature again, and that I will get the same kicks which I got from “Ocarina of Time” and ZALTP.

With that said, how will you celebrate The Legend Of Zelda´s 30th anniversary? And do you have any Zelda memories that you could share with us? Leave us a comment or two in the comment section down below!