Legend Of Zelda Thirtieth Aniverssary.

[Andrew NDB]

I've played and beaten Zelda 1-3, Links Awakening, and Ocarina of Time.

I've owned and played... part/most of the way through, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, one of the Oracle games, and Skyward Sword. Started playing Majora's Mask but it just wasn't my thing. Too weird and too un-Zelda like for me.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

No way, Zelda 1 is easy unless you're doing the master quest or whatever harder version that was. Zelda 2 was always next to impossible to me.

Different strokes I guess. Once you get leveled up and get the timing down in Zelda 2, I think it becomes -- don't get me wrong, still hard as sh*t -- but manageable.

On the other hand, I never became very adept at navigating rooms full of six Darknuts or Wizrobes in the first Zelda, and I think it would have taken me ages and ages to get through Level 9 without a guide. That's an incredibly nightmarish maze when every room also threatens to knock off half your health. And you have no idea which rooms are "kill all the enemies" ones until you try, which doesn't exist as a concept in Zelda 2. Definitely never ended up anywhere near "easy" for me.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Cipher

I actually really like that. At the end, the game forces you to actually explore some of the ocean you could have potentially ignored up to that point. It's nicely open-ended as well.

I honestly cannot imagine dying in TP unless it's your first video game or you're doing a restricted run.


That's a huge part of why I love them. The core gameplay is fun, but they also make you feel like a god for accomplishing anything. There's a real feeling that, on top of obtaining the necessary items and upgrades and finding the next path, you may not be able to do the next part until you get better. That's an element missing from just about every subsequent Zelda.

I actually think the first game is the harder of the two. The last few dungeons are absolutely ridiculous.

Hmm, can't say I agree. When I beat the final boss(usually Ganon/dorf) in Zelda, I want to put the game back in the shelf. I prefer doing the side-quests as I progress in the game.

Well, I've managed to reach the 4th dungeon in Zelda 1, while I don't think I've even managed to get past the 2nd dungeon in Zelda 2 yet. Then again I need to dedicate more time to that game. Although I'm yet to beat Zelda 1. And that's a game that was already in my house before I've learnt how to read.

I remember vaguely watching my brother beating the game. The last dungeon's music was kinda creepy to me when I was a kid.

I had the GBA version of Zelda II, but can't find it anywhere, so I might end up buying it on the 3DS eShop someday alongside Zelda 1(my NES is dead).

I'm positive I'll beat Zelda 1 someday, but have doubts regarding Adventure of Link thus far.

You're absolutely right that such games give you a sense of accomplishment. When I beat Mega Man 2 for the first time ever, I felt like an unfinished chapter of my life had finally reached closure. And that's not even anywhere near being the hardest NES game out there. The first ever Mega Man game was hard in normal move already, imagine in the hardest level(you can do that in the Anniversary Collection). I also felt a sense of accomplishment making so far to the airport level in the NES TMNT game. Am yet to go past that part. But I'm sure I've gotten further than most people who have played that game. And I don't like it enough to beat it, anyway. Once in a full blue moon I decide "OK, gonna finally beat the game that gave me more of a hard time than any other in my childhood"... but I never seem to get past level 3. Ever beaten(or hell, played) that one, btw?

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

I've played and beaten Zelda 1-3, Links Awakening, and Ocarina of Time.

I've owned and played... part/most of the way through, Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, one of the Oracle games, and Skyward Sword. Started playing Majora's Mask but it just wasn't my thing. Too weird and too un-Zelda like for me.

I applaud Nintendo for trying something different with MM. A lot of people nowadays complain about Nintendo series, mainly Zelda and Mario, never changing formula and such, so games like MM are a welcome change up. Super Mario Sunshine was a nice idea as well, even though it still had Peach and Bowser. it's not my favourite Mario by any means, but I applaud Nintendo for doing something different.

I like how Ocarina and Mario 64 each had fairly different successors. I guess Nintendo knew it was hard to top those games in the early 2000s still, so they went for something slight different instead of trying to top the aforementioned games.

Out of curiosity, have you ever played the Super Mario Land games for the Game Boy? If so, did you find them weird as well for not feeling much like the Mario you are used to see and play?

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Prowler

Well, I've managed to reach the 4th dungeon in Zelda 1, while I don't think I've even managed to get past the 2nd dungeon in Zelda 2 yet. Then again I need to dedicate more time to that game. Although I'm yet to beat Zelda 1. And that's a game that was already in my house before I've learnt how to read.

While the first Zelda doesn't get remotely hard until Level 6, and Zelda II starts out hard right away, I think the first one caps higher.

I truly feel that if you were to attempt both their final dungeons without a guide, too, Zelda II's is far easier. They're both cryptic motherf*ckers filled with hard enemies, but by the point you reach the end of Adventure of Link, it's drilled you on that, and you can run away from a lot of the combat until you figure out the right path (even if finding the last secret passage is a little cryptic, it's nothing you wouldn't think to try). Level 9 in the original is a huge spike in difficulty from the already huge spike of the last few dungeons. No way you're getting through it guideless without drawing a map and trying pretty much everything you can do in each room to rule it out. There are Wizzrobes, Like Likes and Darknuts everywhere, and those flying-eyeball mini-bosses that always seem to sap my health. Having to grind for hearts and bombs upon failure also makes it feel like a more herculean effort.

Zelda II pro-tip for the early dungeons: Grind out a few levels on the anti-fairies, since the first few levels have one you can easily trap, then leave the room to spawn another. They're worth 250 exp. apiece, if I recall correctly, which is quite a bit early game. There's also a room in the fourth or fifth dungeon you can abuse to easily gain a huge amount of levels, which -- while not necessary -- is a huge time-saver and makes the middle of the game a little easier.

I also felt a sense of accomplishment making so far to the airport level in the NES TMNT game. Am yet to go past that part. But I'm sure I've gotten further than most people who have played that game. And I don't like it enough to beat it, anyway. Once in a full blue moon I decide "OK, gonna finally beat the game that gave me more of a hard time than any other in my childhood"... but I never seem to get past level 3. Ever beaten(or hell, played) that one, btw?

I own it and I don't think there's a huge chance of my ever grinding it out to beat it, since I also don't enjoy it enough. I won't lie, though--the satisfaction is tempting.

[Prowler]

The first Zelda game is a bit hard at first when you still have 3 hearts only. Especially if you're playing it for the first time ever in your life or your first time in countless years, meaning you barely have any memories left from it. Of course, once you get the hang of it, it becomes easier.

Apparently, there's people out there who try to beat it without using the sword. Has anyone here ever attempted that?

Nice tips. Will keep them in mind.

And you're spot on about the satisfaction of beating the first TMNT NES game being tempting. Do you happen to know how far you've gotten in the game? It seems that most people give up at the dam level. I never beat it as a kid either. But it's not that hard as an adult. A shame the jump controls in this game are so lousy.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Prowler

Apparently, there's people out there who try to beat it without using the sword. Has anyone here ever attempted that?

I'm not quite enough of a hard-game junkie to try that yet. Maybe one day. Like I said, I still find it hard enough going through normally.

And you're spot on about the satisfaction of beating the first TMNT NES game being tempting. Do you happen to know how far you've gotten in the game? It seems that most people give up at the dam level. I never beat it as a kid either. But it's not that hard as an adult. A shame the jump controls in this game are so lousy.

I've definitely gotten to, but never beaten, level three.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Cipher

I'm not quite enough of a hard-game junkie to try that yet. Maybe one day. Like I said, I still find it hard enough going through normally.


I've definitely gotten to, but never beaten, level three.

I got to the airport stage once only, iirc. Since then I've always died in the 3rd level.

A game that, for some odd reason, I managed to beat in my first ever play, but have never managed to beat it again is Final Fight 2 for the Super Nintendo... I dunno how that happened.

[PangolinFeets]

I want more handheld Zeldas...

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Prowler

Out of curiosity, have you ever played the Super Mario Land games for the Game Boy? If so, did you find them weird as well for not feeling much like the Mario you are used to see and play?

The first one, a lot. I have fond memories of secretly playing that in my bed on school nights. I remember it being incredibly difficult and frustrating.

[CyberCubed]

People never beat TMNT 1 on NES? I beat it for the first time when I was around 14-15 or so. The boss fight with the Technodrome (yes you actually fight the Technodrome itself), and then Shredder is amazing.

The fact that you only have limited continues and if you die too much you start over at the very beginning of the game again means you better play smart.

[Powder]

Originally Posted by PangolinFeets

I want more handheld Zeldas...

Here here! A Link Between Worlds was a great start. They've got a lot to make up for after those two dreadful stylus oriented DS titles.

[Cure]

A Link Between Worlds is the best Zelda since Wind Waker.

[AT-Man]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

People never beat TMNT 1 on NES? I beat it for the first time when I was around 14-15 or so. The boss fight with the Technodrome (yes you actually fight the Technodrome itself), and then Shredder is amazing.

The fact that you only have limited continues and if you die too much you start over at the very beginning of the game again means you better play smart.

I did when I was about 8 or 9, and the second time approximately 5 years ago.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by CyberCubed

People never beat TMNT 1 on NES? I beat it for the first time when I was around 14-15 or so. The boss fight with the Technodrome (yes you actually fight the Technodrome itself), and then Shredder is amazing.

The fact that you only have limited continues and if you die too much you start over at the very beginning of the game again means you better play smart.

TMNT 1 on NES remains the only attempt by any video game maker to make a a unique and versatile TMNT gaming experience. But yeah, hard as sh*t... I think I finally used a Game Genie to beat it one day.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by AT-Man

I did when I was about 8 or 9, and the second time approximately 5 years ago.

Damn, you were able to beat it so young? I couldn't even beat Mega Man 2 when I was 8-9 years old.

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

TMNT 1 on NES remains the only attempt by any video game maker to make a a unique and versatile TMNT gaming experience. But yeah, hard as sh*t... I think I finally used a Game Genie to beat it one day.

It's a great concept of a game, but not so well executed. If each Turtle was more balanced and the jumping controls weren't so bad, it could have been a pretty good game.

[Cipher]

Originally Posted by Powder

Here here! A Link Between Worlds was a great start. They've got a lot to make up for after those two dreadful stylus oriented DS titles.

Spirit Tracks is good, and probably my favorite post-Wind Waker title, narrowly edging out LBW.

The stylus controls I could leave, but they actually lead to some great puzzles with Phantom Zelda.

[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Prowler

It's a great concept of a game, but not so well executed. If each Turtle was more balanced and the jumping controls weren't so bad, it could have been a pretty good game.

Had a lot of potential in future installments. Sadly, never happened... they're all just Final Fight clones.

[Prowler]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

Had a lot of potential in future installments. Sadly, never happened... they're all just Final Fight clones.

As fun as Turtles in Time is, it's pretty overrated. Considering it a top 10 beat 'em game? Okay. But top the greatest one ever or hell, even top 3? Not a chance.

The Manhattan project is quite challenging. I need to beat that someday.

[Etsyturtle2]

Originally Posted by Andrew NDB

TMNT 1 on NES remains the only attempt by any video game maker to make a a unique and versatile TMNT gaming experience. But yeah, hard as sh*t... I think I finally used a Game Genie to beat it one day.

Wow, I couldn't beat it with the game genie.

[snake]

Well, you see I never really BEAT Zelda 1 myself. I bought it off the VC around 2008 or 9 and I wasn't too sure what I was supposed to do. I called my uncle over, who grew up with the game, and we spent a 7 hour night just playing it together and eventually he beat it for me. Pretty awesome.