The Legend of Zelda (video game)

The Legend of Zelda is the very first and titular game within The Legend of Zelda series. It is an action-adventure game that released on the same day as the Family Computer Disk System, in February 1986, and was then released internationally for the Nintendo Entertainment System in 1987. It stars Link, who has to acquire the eight missing pieces of the Triforce and save Princess Zelda from Ganon. At the time, the game was renowned for its large overworld exploration and dungeons each consisting of their own unique puzzles.

The game's sequel is Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, which released for the same console in the respective regions. Aside from overworld exploration, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link favors platforming gameplay over action-adventure like The Legend of Zelda. Since The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, the The Legend of Zelda series has taken the gameplay format of The Legend of Zelda. However, two spinoff games for the Philips CD-i, Link: The Faces of Evil and Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon, are closer to Zelda II: The Adventure of Link gameplay-wise. However, Zelda's Adventure, another game for the same system, plays like The Legend of Zelda.