The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition

"This one should be a no-brainer for any true gamer..."

The Legend of Zelda ranks right up there with Mario Bros. as one of the most influential gaming franchises ever created. Of course, both are the brainchildren of mastermind Shigeru Miyamoto. Over the past year, the big N has given Zelda fans much love with the release of The Wind Waker on the Gamecube and ports of Ocarina of Time and the previously-unreleased Ura Zelda as a preorder bonus for fans. Now, Nintendo has decided to release a compilation of four Zelda games which will be sure to warm the hearts of Gamecube owners this holiday season. There are several methods of obtaining this collector's edition, but I won't go into much detail about that since that information is readily available just about anywhere. However, regardless of how you choose to acquire it, this collection is a must-own for any gamer with a pulse.

The original Legend of Zelda truly turned the the gaming world on its ear. Coming out of the video game crash of the early 1980s, Nintendo established itself as the top dog in the industry, ever so brutally dismissing the previously dominant Atari. Thanks to games like Zelda, Nintendo managed to stay there for a while. LoZ is one of those games which must be experienced by all gamers. The graphics may seem very primitive today, but in this port, they are true to the original, which is exactly what was needed. Before Zelda, it was easy to burn a few hours playing games and racking up high scores, but Zelda was the first game to actually immerse the player in the game's world with its high amount of exploration. The dungeons were wonderfully designed, and the enemies could be tough but fair. Of course, there is an additional quest which can be undertaken when you complete the first quest. All in all, the first LoZ offers a package which is hard to beat, even in today's gaming world.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link was sort of a disappointment for me, but it is also faithfully recreated here in all its glory. Other than the abominable CD-I version, this would probably be the only Zelda game I would give less than a 10/10. Zelda II tried to build on the success of the original, but the developers lost too much of the formula which made the original fun. Combat took place in 2D sidescrolling areas, which was a huge departure from the all-overhead style of the original. Zelda II is a fine game; it just doesn't match up to the rest of the series. Still, if you weren't old enough to catch it the first time or you completely missed your opportunity, this is the time to do it. It's a great game, but it's not one of Link's better outings.

I have already written a review for Ocarina of Time, and I have little desire to recap that information here. OoT is the first huge step for the series with the transition from 2D to 3D. This game is brilliant, and if you do not own either the N64 or the other GC port, you have another chance to snare a copy. OoT is generally mentioned among the best games ever, and deservedly so. The control scheme is ingenious and very user-friendly. When you play this one, you're in for one of the best gaming experiences ever.

Majora's Mask is the second outing for Link on the N64, and, of course, it is faithfully represented here, minus a few minor sound problems. MM also tried several innovations, making it the Zelda II of the N64 hardware. However, MM kept the same basic battle scheme from OoT, providing gamers with a nice sense of familiarity. Manipulation of time becomes even more important in MM, as you have three days in game time to prevent the destruction of the world. Certain events happen only at certain times of the day, so be prepared to restart time often. MM was looked at as not being up to OoT's lofty standards, but it is an engrossing adventure in its own right. No, it can't compare to OoT, but Majora's Mask is still worth your time.

All of these games have been pretty much faithfully reproduced for the Gamecube. Considering you can get this disk for as little as $20, it should be an essential purchase for everyone out there. It's a nice bit of gaming history, and it's also great not to have to break out the NES or the N64 when you want to play one of these classics. My only wish would be that A Link to the Past had been included, but with the GBA version being released so recently, I'm sure Nintendo felt it best to pass on it here. Still, I dare you to find a collection that will give you more bang for your buck. Go out and get your copy of this, and it will hopefully encourage Nintendo to do additional compilations.

Overall score: 10/10

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 12/01/03