40 Years Ago, Nintendo Released One of the Best Games Ever Made
40 years ago today, Nintendo released a game that was so beloved and groundbreaking that it is still ranked among the greatest ever. That masterpiece was The Legend of Zelda. Here's a look at its history and legacy.
When 'The Legend of Zelda' Was First Released
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On February 21, 1986, The Legend of Zeldadebuted in Japan on Nintendo's Family Computer Disk System (A.K.A. Famicom Disk System). While it would arrive in North America more than a year later, on August 22, 1987, the public's love for the franchise began 40 years ago today. Many North American gamers still have a special affection for its iconic gold cartridge to this day.
Directed by Takashi Tezuka and the legendary Shigeru Miyamoto, The Legend of Zelda spawned one of the most celebrated video game franchises ever. A smash hit from the start, it was so successful that it got a sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, in 1987. Fans loved the game for its open world, difficult challenges that required strategy, and its traditional fairytale-style story, which still hooks players today with each new chapter.
The Legacy of Nintendo’s 1986 Classic Video Game
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Over the last four decades, the greatness of The Legend of Zelda has continued to regularly be celebrated by people who love video games. Even though the improvements in video game technology have been dramatic, to say the very least, the 1986 title is still often cited as one of Nintendo's biggest achievements ever.
In 2021, IGN listed "The Top 125 Nintendo Games of All Time." Despite all of the celebrated games that the company has published over its long history, The Legend of Zelda was named as the company's 11th best release ever. It is also interesting to note that The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was number six, and The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time took up the number three spot. That speaks to the fact that the legacy The Legend of Zelda created has inspired more greatness in its wake. Similarly, when CBR listed the "10 Greatest Legend of Zelda Games Ever Made," they named The Legend of Zelda as the franchise's best.
As fascinating as it is to look at The Legend of Zelda's legacy over the last 40 years, it is even more exciting to consider how important the game will continue to be in the future. With a movie based on the franchise it inspired in the works and more sequels inevitably coming, it seems like its impact will never stop reverberating.