The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda
Developer: Nintendo Publisher: Nintendo Platform: NES Released in JP: February 21, 1986 (FDS), February 19, 1994 (NES) Released in US: August 22, 1987 Released in EU: November 15, 1987 This game has unused enemies. This game has regional differences. This game has revisional differences. This game has a notes page This game has a prototype article This game has a prerelease article

The Legend of Zelda features Link on a quest to save Zelda from the evil Gannon (sic!). On his way, he gets no help at all except for the Old Man who gives him a random stick he picked up somewhere (plus some vague hints), and is on his own in the vast land of Hyrule.

Unused Enemy Values

Monster modifier: 0350

• 18 - Strong enemy that resembles Digdogger, only completely graphically corrupted
• 26 - Nothing? (Puff of smoke) (may be replacement data for cleared-out rooms)
• 29 - Nothing? (Puff of smoke) (may be replacement data for cleared-out rooms)
• 42 - Gleeok with one head.

Unused Spawn Type

Via the use of world scrambler codes, you can force enemies to spawn from an unused configuration; all the enemies will rush out from a single cloud of smoke.

Unused Microphone Data

There is some functionality of the Famicom Microphone leftover in the U.S. version. Using the microphone will allow you to instantly kill any of the Pols Voice enemies that linger in the game's dungeons.

NES Revision Differences

To do: Other differences?

Title Screen

PRG0	PRG1

The PRG1 version adds a trademark symbol to the title screen.

Save Option Screen

PRG0	PRG1
It's empty, but surely nothing could corrupt my save data

The PRG1 release of the game adds a small warning to the continue / save / retry screen.

Version Differences

Detailing the changes between the Famicom Disk System, Nintendo Entertainment System and Famicom cartridge versions of the game.

Graphical Differences

FDS	NES / Famicom

The alphabetical characters were changed from a thinner, unique font, to the common font used in many other NES games.

FDS	NES / Famicom

A black outline was added around the Zora sprite to make it more visible. The eyes and mouth were also redrawn.

Title Screen

FDS	Famicom

The original Japanese version's title is "The Legend of Zelda", while the re-release on cartridge is "The Legend of Zelda 1". The graphics were repositioned to accommodate for the longer title.

The copyright information was updated, and the Disk Side B message was replaced with "Push Start Button."

Prologue

FDS	NES / Famicom

The title of the story was changed from "Legend of Zelda" to "The Legend of Zelda."

FDS	Famicom

For the North American release of the game, the Bible was renamed Book of Magic. The Japanese cartridge version keeps this US name change, but the Katakana text still says Bible.

Game Over Menu

FDS	Famicom
Retry doesn't mean what you think it means	The 2P trick makes this easier

The Game Over menu options are spaced further apart in the Famicom cart version.

You picked something!

The NES / Famicom cart versions text flashes when you select something. This does not happen in the original game.

Map Changes

Two rooms in the game have additional enemies in the NES / Famicom cart version.

FDS	NES / Famicom

Five Keese were added to this otherwise empty room of Level 4.

FDS	NES / Famicom

And again, there are seven Keese here in the NES / Famicom cart version, but none in the FDS version.

2003 Version

The GBA, Gamecube Collectors Disk and Virtual Console ports of this game are all altered with a new translation, in an attempt to reduce the amount of Engrish.

Dialogue:

NES	2003 Version
LET'S PLAY MONEY MAKING GAME!	LET'S PLAY A MONEY-MAKING GAME!

NES	2003 Version
SECRET IS THE TREE AT THE DEAD-END.	A SECRET IS IN THE TREE AT THE DEAD-END.

NES	2003 Version
PAY ME FOR THE DOOR REPAIR CHARGE.	PAY ME FOR THE DOOR REPAIR.

NES	2003 Version
DIGDOGGER HATES CERTAIN KIND OF SOUND.	DIGDOGGER HATES CERTAIN KINDS OF SOUND.

NES	2003 Version
SECRET POWER IS SAID TO BE IN THE ARROW.	A SECRET POWER IS SAID TO BE IN THE ARROW.

NES	2003 Version
ONES WHO DOES NOT HAVE TRIFORCE CAN'T GO IN.	ONES WHO DO NOT HAVE TRIFORCE CAN'T ENTER.

NES	2003 Version
EYES OF SKULL HAS A SECRET.	THE EYES OF THE SKULL HAVE SECRETS.

NES	2003 Version
SOUTH OF ARROW MARK HIDES A SECRET.	SOUTH OF THE ARROW MARK HIDES A SECRET.

NES	2003 Version
FINALLY, PEACE RETURNS TO HYRULE. THIS ENDS THE STORY.	FINALLY, PEACE RETURNS TO HYRULE. THE END.

To do: Find screenshots