The Legend of Zelda - Game cover
The Legend of Zelda

2. The Legend of Zelda

By Nintendo | Released: 1987

Few franchises in Nintendo's storied history are as famous as The Legend of Zelda. And back in 1987, the franchise started off with a bang with one of the most ambitious replica-gold-plated cartridges to ever grace the NES. What's funny about The Legend of Zelda's title was that the gamer played as a character named Link, who was in turn trying to save the famed princess named Zelda. But that didn't matter. Zelda was one of the biggest console games of the time, and that got gamers excited. Confusion aside, the game left players confounded with its intricate, wide-open design. Zelda was an action-adventure game with RPG elements, and in an age without the Internet, people were on their own about how to get through the game in one piece. Some people made maps. Others called Nintendo's own hotline for help or consulted a magazine. And some were fortunate enough to have friends who knew answers. But for the most part, early Zelda gamers had nothing but their own ingenuity to rely on. And rely on it they did, making The Legend of Zelda one of the NES' most famous games, part of a franchise that thrives to this day.

Our Fondest Memories

The NES classic is surrounded by so many standout features and moments that it's hard to decide on just one, from the collectable gold cart to its battery-powered save function. But I will always look upon Zelda fondly for sucking me into a gaming universe that sprawled in every direction in a seemingly non-linear fashion. I could whip through Super Mario Bros. in 10 minutes without losing a life, but progressing Link toward his final battle was an epic undertaking and one filled with surprises and satisfying rewards throughout.

- Matt Casamassina, IGN Nintendo Editor-in-Chief

The Legend of Zelda - Screen Shot