How To Play NES Zelda in the 21st Century

These days, you almost need some sort of walkthrough to play through the original Legend of Zelda, and we think we've found the perfect one!
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#LegendOfZelda #Nintendo #Zelda

[@Omegapork]

I played it on an original NES with the map my mom made when she was the same age as me (14). It was a pretty surreal experience

[@That_Lady_Charlie]

your mom is amazing

[@godofthecripples1237]

That's an S-tier mom

[@HylianGeekBoy]

My mom would never do that, I always wanted to play videogames with my parents but they just don't want to anymore, last mom played was Pac-Man World and IDK about my Dad's last game but maybe the same, I mean I bought the GC and Mario Party to play as a family but they are not use to that, now they just play on smartphones but like board games

[@godofthecripples1237]

@@HylianGeekBoy I feel you. My father was just about never willing to even try games, and my mother only play games every now and then, and on the off-chance she likes that she would then play it so much as to make the game boring.

[@Freddis]

​@@HylianGeekBoy Are you sure you aren't the same? Games nowadays are not actually games you know. You're commenting under a video where there's a guy instructing you on how to AVOID playing the game. Playing games as a hobby is quite labouring and time consuming thing to do, it takes a lot of dedication.

[@burningzenithx]

“Hey sonny, take this guide. It’s dangerous to go alone!”

[@danielpurkot2801]

Up...

[@gtribejive876]

Drawing your own maps and taking notes is literally the charm of the game. It broke that wall and makes you feel like YOU are on the adventure. As far as the book goes, it would be incredible if it included Second Quest as well. Being someone who's played this game countless times and did things like a 3 heart only run and a swordless run, even I'm interested in this book. Just a different new and fun way to experience one of the greatest games of all time.

[@DragmaWanderer]

If you don't want to use a walk through, do what me and alot of peeps did, draw your own maps and label them with extensive notes. I had a huge graph paper map that was essentially a poster, and knew where everything was by the end.

[@tcroncero]

I did the same, and I'm having the same experience thanks to the joy from making my map. Plus, it's a grid system, so it's super easy to do.

[@sonnyrynsaard3567]

6:10 'my own personal yoda' Everyone without a manual or guide: THE SACRED TEXTS!

[@jumpyman9754]

What?

[@Elbels8]

Minecraft guide books: *there can only be one...*

[@nachovichoZX]

1:46 - 1:51 Actually you're wrong about the NES Classic, because it has the manuals for their games in PDF files with a QR Code that comes with the console. I played and finished Zelda in NES Classic with the PDF manual, even if it took me weeks to get all secrets.

[@christopherklipich3301]

I played this game nonstop in the 80’s. My dad bought this game for me when I was about 8. He also bought me a 1 yr subscription to Nintendo Power magazine. There was a map of Hyrule, but it didn’t tell you where the secrets were. I spent countless hours bombing every wall and rock, and burning every tree looking for secrets. Fast forward 34 years, and I finally beat the second quest. I had so much fun with this game, even in my early 40’s.

[@RadOpsTV]

First time playing this.. do you recommend playing without any guide?

[@christopherklipich3301]

@@RadOpsTV yep! That’s how I figured everything out.

[@shulkinator8732]

It took me over 7 years to beat Zelda 1 blind - after many years of frustration I started to draw the map of the final dungeon by myself and then finally managed to beat the game. Best feeling ever. This handdrawn guide looks really beautiful btw!

[@fausthanos08]

Lol just watch a walktrough

[@mosesrufai1797]

That would destroy all the satisfaction

[@mathiasmorqubus]

I got this game on my 18th birthday 3 hours before I broke my right arm and I have watched numerous people beat it in my presence, yet I never have. At this point I’m good with that because that is a memory onto it’s self.

[@viewtifuljoe99]

Sounds like a really cool project! I'm glad people are doing things like this to help bring in new players and giving context to why games of the past are still important.

[@joshstarr6400]

This looks so awesome! I really need something like this for Metroid . . .

[@joshstarr6400]

@@johncuthbertson4286 Hey that's awesome! Thanks for letting me know!

[@NA-xp2cr]

You got your wish.

[@Roboat06]

The original Metroid? That's easy, just play Zero Mission.

[@joshstarr6400]

@@Roboat06 The only logical thing to do

[@toddadams1719]

I would have been about 10 when I first played Legend of Zelda (I guess it was around '87 - '88). I have very fond memories of that instruction manual and pouring over it looking for hints while I drew my own maps. There was also some kind of tip sheet that came with the game and if memory serves me correctly, it had a partial overworld map on it. This Hand Drawn guide is absolutely stunning, and even though I can still play OG Zelda start to end without any help (I do not have such good recall over the 2nd quest), I'm going right now to pick it up. Contra and Ninja Gaiden are also great, so I'll probably grab those too. Good luck with Zelda II, that one took me until I was well past the legal drinking age before I could beat it. I recall getting it when it came out, and even getting down to Link's Shadow in the Great Palace when I was still in grade school, but I could never finish it, and usually the Thunder Spirit ended my game. When I finally did beat it though, I felt a real sense of accomplishment.

[@rsiv5156]

Thank you for this great suggestion. I’ve also never finished the game, and going back through it with this guide sounds like a lot of fun.

[@UaghBrian2000]

I’m glad you were able to beat the game after so many years. I tried in the 80s and early 90s with no success but thankfully in the late 90s with the help of emulation and save states I was able to finish it. Also like you I still haven’t finished Zelda 2: The Adventure of Link.

[@Gamer-lq4wl]

Using Save States is like cheatting to beat a game. That doesn't give you the same amount of satisfaction when you beat a game.

[@totallyfrozen]

@@Gamer-lq4wl You do know that The Legend of Zelda let’s you Save, right? It always has.

[@Gamer-lq4wl]

@@totallyfrozen Do you even know how Save States work in emulators? it has nothing to do with the way consoles save progress. Sheesh ! Save States in emulators is cheating !

[@EXPeepik]

​@@Gamer-lq4wl lets take a game ive beaten twice, megaman x. The first time i did it with save states and threw myself at bosses again and again and again until i understood their patterns and beat them. The second i went through without. If i hadnt played the game with save state going through the stages each time i died wouldve put me off the game (kinda like rn trying to get into mmx4 but thats just a me issue) and i wouldve never seen how good of a game it was. However,because i had beaten the bosses before, and i had knowledge of how the game played, i continued on and got through it. I then got through x2 and x3 without using save states at all. If i had never gone through the first game i wouldnt have seen how god of a franchise mmx is (not that it matters right now because, again, ive taken LONG hiatus from x4 and have made practially zero progress

[@EbefrenRevo]

Hi Zion !! Glad to see you back ! When i was a little kid the idea of a game so big that came with a map blowed my mind. Great times. My first NES game, the very reason i am a gamer still today.

[@AudreysKitchen]

This game is SO good. If you're reading this, you should play it. I absolutely love it, the aesthetic is wonderful, and it's quite fun and challenging too. I loved how mysterious the limitations of the dialogue and stuff made it too.

[@user-nr2cs2rq7h]

Great subject for a video! Have always wanted to play through it but a walkthrough seemed too necessary. Cheers!

[@danhart1895]

This is my favourite video that you've produced for this channel Zion. Thanks for the heads up, hopefully I can snag myself a copy of this as it looks tremendous

[@ryanlayton3868]

Just purchased. Probably wouldn’t have played this game without a guide like this. Excited I get to experience it now!

[@teds6078]

As someone who grew up in the 80s and 90s and became a graphic designer, I absolutely miss game guides and how much fun they were to follow along with. The added so much more to the game. Online walkthroughs and KZbin videos just aren't the same thing. I would absolutely love it if this caught on and people start making more game guides for great games.

[@robertwilliamson2856]

An amazing video as usual, Zion! I really appreciate the passion you put into each of your videos for the channel.

[@BlockheadJiujitsu]

This is a great way to finish the game, and ended up being and ad for this guy's beautiful guide. I feel like it'd be more rewarding to keep your own maps, but I appreciate not everyone would have the energy to bother (myself included). Would be special to do your own though, especially with your kids or siblings.

[@tvb5509]

I got this when it first dropped and beat it on the 3DS. I'm playing again on a Zelda G&W I bought and it really is super immersive. I like how it expands on various things, such as calling Link a skilled cartographer or how it explains the old man's letter as a recipe to give to the old woman.

[@paulie332]

The amount of detail in the book is awesome

[@thesilenceindustry]

I'd like to see a guidebook for the original dragon warrior.

[@bugslayerprime7674]

And Zelda 2, Final Fantasy, Kid Icarus, just to name a few. Heck, i'd love to see some for the 16 bit generation of games, even ones i know like the back of my hand, i just enjoy seeing them get this amount of love.

[@fictionalreality1010]

Wonderfully done...i love ❤ when you beat Gannon and Link gets on his boat and there is another game with in the game 😁

[@MrEPIC0CITY]

Holy Ship, I got one. I got one! The 100 physical copies sold out in first 2 minutes. Still check out digital work, Phil's guides are incredible!!!

[@sidplays77]

The link in the description only shows guides for Ninja Gaiden and Contra?

[@vodkagobalsky]

It’s available on 6/29. I believe he said that in the video.

[@kevinbenedetto5281]

I recognize that background music from somewhere but can't place it. Is it from link to the past?

[@archiemekesh3550]

Does anybody know which Zelda game the video's soundtrack is from and what's the song name? It's really beautiful

[@Fools_Requiem]

good thing I found about this 4 years later. They don't sell these hand drawn guides anymore. I do have a strat guide for the LoZ Collector's Edition for the Gamecube, though.

[@marcotuliovazquez6821]

Do you have the website to purchase the PDF guide?

[@yazminasporrong8880]

We never had any guides, and I finished the game as a kid. 🤣 It was just one of those things we were used to. I remember when the first Zelda came out, love at first sight

[@j.s.raimes3993]

I do remember completing this game as a kid. Quite frankly I don't know how I did because there was no indication as to where I should go first. I was going very blind, but somehow I completed it. Since then I hadn't played a Zelda game since recently, Twilight Princess, which I think is a great game. I may replay the first for nostalgia reasons.

[@folksurvival]

Play Ocarina of Time.

[@asplmn]

Step 1) Obtain the game (available on numerous platforms) Step 2) Play the game

[@mrselection7814]

Are they still available? Nothing on the website 😔

[@DanOneDr]

Thank you, well done Do i start a brand new game, I need a good guide like you said. Thanks

[@djayall]

Great review and want to buy the guide now that you recommend it.

[@michaelwiseman4334]

I’ve played the OG Zelda but like you I’ve never completed it. And I also don’t want to go the text wiki route with my iPad next to me. Maybe a PDF version of this would finally be the kicker to dust out the NES Switch controllers I got and finally finish this game once and for all. Would love the physical book though!

[@theovonskeletor3709]

Does the guide include the 2nd quest?

[@kalemako]

may i ask what bookcase you use? still looking for a good one .

[@danielbeiler4120]

@@denimchicken104 How could they see the bookcase if they didn't watch the video

[@denimchicken104]

I dislike being stupid.

[@xbladexgames7954]

Thank you . I have always wanted to play the first Zelda game but it was always just confusing to me.

[@Michael_Kzyv]

I have a question for you. On the website, the hard copy said that it is sold out. So will it ever be back in stock again?

[@Mite000]

It's back in stock if you're still interested!

[@viktorwolfe8333]

Is there one for Zelda II and the SNES Zelda??

[@MoistHarvester]

Thank you so much for telling me this, I am going to pick one up as soon as theyre back in stock.

[@valentinamclaughlin4468]

Dude, these books went so fast, i didn't even have time to refresh my page.

[@Mite000]

It's back in stock if you're still interested!

[@quincyschwartz2419]

@@Mite000 It's sold out again already :(

[@Mite000]

@@quincyschwartz2419 Yeah, he sold through half his stock in a few hours, and the rest in about 5 days

[@quincyschwartz2419]

@@Mite000 Has he announced when the next re-stock will be?

[@Mite000]

@@quincyschwartz2419 It's not going to be for a long time unfortunately. He expressed that he's going to be shifting focus towards making the next guide, which will be NES Metroid

[@nuktuk144]

This looks so good! Can I make a recommendation to Phillip for the next one? Pokemon Red or Blue. That'd look amazing!

[@jonathantaylor9465]

I played this game when it was brand new, never read any manual and beat the game in about a month.. soo fun. My favorite game of all time!

[@Deraphim]

So does it cover the second quest?

[@thefleshmachine3823]

Best part about this video is the fact it's not available anymore

[@tomvanzanten479]

What size is it? Like in measurements?

[@MartKart8]

Never completed Zelda 2 the Adventure of Link on NES, but did on GBA. Never completed Super Mario Bros, but did complete Super Luigi Bros.

[@alfredbixler88]

Did they make a map in the game that you play because I've looked everywhere I found all my secrets and I still haven't found the overview map so I was just wondering if they actually made one in the game that you can unlock or find somebody to let me know I appreciate it thank you

[@slashingkatie7872]

Back in my day, I bought the NES game Atlas to beat Zelda 1 and 2. Also as Phantasy Star players about drawing maps.

[@gregfrisenda9472]

There was a book like this when the game first came out...Nintendo Power. That's what we did back then *beats cane on rocking chair*

[@1980latinlover]

Where can I get that book you talk about with the handrawn book?

[@milanky2588]

Check description

[@elroysworldFR]

Also it's not available yet!

[@Compucles]

If you still want to figure out the puzzles mostly on your own, you could settle for just looking at the overworld and dungeon maps on GameFAQs for free. As for me, I use a walkthrough, as I'm not going to stand for cryptic hints and unintuitive requirements like needing to bomb a very specific wall that looks no different from any others.

[@KhaosTy]

Just wanna let you know that your video led me to the guide, and I used it to finish the game today.

[@rylar717]

I remember pre-ordeirng games at Electronics Boutique, Babbages/Software, Etc., or even Gamestop and they would offer me a discount 15% on the book/strategy guide for the game I purchased. It was always handy to have one as I had one for Ocarina of Time, Final Fantasy 7, and even Mario 64 so I can fully complete the game. The big photos are key and its great that someone out there can keep the Game Guide alive. Some people dont like reading PDFs as we are staring at monitors all the time - its nice to read and hold something physical that you can take care of and keep for ages. Then sell it at a garage sale to someone who can do the same.

[@shlimon7667]

Does on the Ganon and didn’t bother finishing it since I had played through the main game... same thing that happened to me with oot

[@tgraffam5609]

I wish I had seen this sooner! I wanna buy a copy

[@hzafary]

Wow very cool looking guide!

[@BillNey732]

Where can I buy this?

[@thesavepointdotnet]

I beat it during summer vacation of the launch year with nothing but the manual and map. Got stuck on Pol's Voice (the manual REALLY helped with that /s), "grumble, grumble...", getting past Wizzrobes safely, the pond entrance to Level 7, and a bunch of other situations. I made it through because Zelda 1 helped me form my basic exploration approach to every action/adventure/RPG/open world game ever since, explore everywhere and experiment with everything in your inventory! I bombed every wall, burned every reachable shrub, whistled on every screen, pushed every tombstone, statue, and rock (and did every rock a second time when I got the Power Bracelet), you name it, I've already tried it. Zelda 1 even taught me how to save scum since it was in the manual, so it's fair game! (which is how I was able to bomb everywhere for free). If you got the time and patience, by all means go in blind and figure everything out for the full fat experience. If you don't have the time, it's understandable if you go to a guide or walkthrough. We're taking on a lot more activities and responsibilities these days than we did over 30 years ago, so it's fine.

[@il927]

Help me I can't find the guide :( I only see ninja and contra on the site

[@il927]

Oh he said it comes out on the 29th, and pay what you want? I'll gladly pay 50$!

[@Gamer-lq4wl]

Did you beat the Second Quest too ?

[@georgie2189]

Anyway to get this still?

[@etbl.ag2nt109]

So wish I could get my hands on one of these right now 😩

[@E111DOG]

Great video Zion!

[@ryanem969]

I crushed it when I was like 8 yrs old. No guides, just rumors and exploring

[@simpchimp6443]

Damn dude, thank you for this recommendation really appreciate it! 👏

[@lameashecc467]

i beat the original Zelda. i made my own maps by using my capture card to take pictures while i played through it on my wii u of all things years ago. i also struggled through 2, that was 1,000,000x more painful than the original

[@Vulpuskinkus]

I am so sad i missed the boat on this, i really want to get my hands on this book.

[@kristianpaul7]

Yeah, i tried playing it and got stuck too... dint knew there was a manual and map :-(

[@b0ld6]

Thanks!

[@toccyrics]

how can i get that?

[@ShaneGoodson]

KZbin doesn't have GIF Comments so: {GIF of Fry from Futurama yelling "Shut up and take my money!"}

[@DanielPage]

Is this a product licensed by Nintendo?

[@kennethherrick8436]

I tried to get one. It says it' s not available. How can I get one?

[@Mite000]

Just went back in stock if you're still interested!

[@trentgaming4211]

Me and my dad beat the this game on the GameCube Zelda collectors edition in like 2007

[@jeffcross9960]

This would be great as a collector's guide. I want to see a guide for Clash at Demonhead

[@gakotoni]

I am playing this game ,currently I'm in search of the fourth dungeon, I feel proud of playing this without guide

[@lachlan_bear2243]

I might make my own guide for botw and totk

[@richardedminson4492]

I beat the game a couple of years back. I remember playing it as a kid and losing interest because I couldn't figure out what to do next. I really missed out all those years ago but damned if I don't love the game now.

[@cocomon3403]

Yes now my Nintendo switch online membership to good use

[@johnnymind4151]

Having a map, self-drawn or in a guide, can be really helpful in this game. Though to be fair, the in-game tips where much clearer in the Japanese version, so people could probably finish it with not too much problem there, at least the first quest. The second quest... yeah, let's not talk about it, it's much more ridiculous, as per old Zelda game tradition, think about Master Quest in Ocarina of Time for example.

[@nicolasforte4316]

I only had the cartridge as a kid, no manual, no map. Still beat it... but yea it was tough and you had to share info with your friends

[@hellodarren]

The PDF guide for Zelda is available for free on the link in the description! There's 3 other guides available too.

[@twilightprince8190]

where i dont see it

[@legufka]

Just beat the game with this manual, absolutely worth it

[@otakukj]

Breh I beat that game with my grandma at age 7 haha. She kept track of the important stuff like heart container locations and I did the fighting part.

[@redrumcoke2363]

Totally Awesome

[@GameboyZeroOfficial]

Need that book!!!!

[@hippiechick73]

I used to rent the Adventures of Link from the video store and it didn’t have the manual. My brother and I tried playing it so many times, but never figured out what we were supposed to do. I have actually never played any of the Zelda games after that, as my time got eaten up by Final Fantasy.

[@Scientist_Salarian]

I wish I had played Zelda on NES as a kid (I wasn’t allowed to have video games). Hand-drawing maps with notes and icons would have been right down my alley, even as a small kid. I’m trying to play it on my Switch now, and WTF it’s hard even with the manual.

[@daffyrwt]

i've been dying to play through The Legend of Zelda (NES), tried to once when I got my NES mini a few years back but I got lost and frustrated and put it down. But I'm still dying to play through it along with Zelda II, especially this year (2021). I'm weary of using guides cuz i want to experience an adventure and not a "paint-by-numbers" adventure which most walkthroughs feel like, but this guide looks like exactly what I'm looking for, sadly they're sold out of the physical copies at this point.

[@schadenfreude6274]

Felt like I just watched a 9mins commercial.

[@joeovip]

So what! Arent we in a commercial world?

[@elroysworldFR]

Umm.. I have a feeling that will be a VERY QUICK SELLER! Also.. how bout a Metroid Game guide? And Super Metroid maybe? Lol. It's been 20 years and i'm still trying to beat OoT!! Got the 3DS version and then got too excited and i'm like "I don't wanna finish it because then it's over!!"

[@Jim55324]

I hope they make a guide for Legacy of the Wizard and Battle of Olympus.

[@esmooth919]

2:39 ...i did! Just a teemager fumbling my way thru Hyrule as I explore. I admit, the game is cryptic, but I found just about everything by accident. I can only name two or three things that actually stumped me, and caused me to look up a guide... One of those things was the grumble grumble goriya (i know I spelled it wrong)

[@ImOnUToob]

I just beat the first quest for the first time moments ago - no guides no save states. Just using the official PDF of the original manual and map insert. Doesn’t feel like cheating and immensely satisfying. The only dungeon I had to draw myself was 9. Holy crap what a beast! So now onto Quest 2? Man I don’t know….