The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition

"The easiest way to get your Zelda fix."

I remember when I got my original NES way back in 1987. One of the first games that I played was Zelda 2. I fell in love with it. The game made you feel like you were on a fairy tale quest. I never had a Super NES, but when I got Ocarina of Time for my N64, I truly didn't want to do anything else until I beat it. However, after I got the Gamecube, I had always wanted to play my old Zelda's again on one disk. Last year I remember I was on the Internet, and saw that The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition was coming out. I was elated, but disappointed over the way it was being sold. I remember seeing the game bundled in a store, and without thinking I bought it. I eventually sold the new Gamecube to a friend, and with that I owned every Zelda game on one disk. The disk included Zelda 1 and Zelda 2 from the NES, and Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask for the N64. Of course A Link to the Past is missing, but that is available on the GBA. What was really cool is that I only ended up paying 72 cents for my disk. I paid $105.72 for the Zelda bundle, and then sold the spare Gamecube for $105. Paying only 72 cents in tax for The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition could very well be the greatest deal ever in the history of video games.

Gameplay is what makes up one of the best parts of a Zelda game. The original Zelda's gameplay featured an overhead view with each character in the game being very simple. The gameplay however was surprisingly deep, and it was the first game to offer an auto-save feature. Zelda 2 was much different. The game kept the overhead view on the world map, but turned into a side scroller in the dungeons. The game also had some RPG elements in it which made the game very different from the first. Ocarina of Time in my opinion made Zelda the game series it is today. It was the first Zelda set in a 3D world, featured great controls, including a great lock-on system, and added tons of new weapons. With that said, Majora's Mask is virtually the same except for the fact that masks were incorporated in the game, hence the title. These masks transformed Link into different types of characters which made the gameplay even more diverse.

The story in Zelda games is the best part. They are all different, but always revolve around Link, Zelda, and Ganon. In Zelda 1 as Link you set out on a quest to find the 8 pieces of the Triforce and save Princess Zelda. In Zelda 2 you need to replace six crystals in order to access the Great Palace and break the spell put on Zelda. Ocarina of Time clearly has the best story of all. It tells the very beginning of how the Triforce came about, and Link's first adventure. Majora's Mask takes place immediately following Ocarina of Time, and in it Link is trying to save the town of Termina. This alternate version of Hyrule, will have its moon crash on it in three days. The people that Link comes across are alternate versions of people that Link met in Ocarina of Time.

The graphics in the NES Zelda's are simple, but are still very nice today. Sure they don't even compare to games that come out today, but they still hold up well. The graphics in Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask were very nice when they came out in 1998 and 2000 respectively. However, the visuals were made even sharper for the Gamecube versions, and are overall much better. The sound in all four of these games is top notch. They all carry memorable tunes that will stay in your head. The one problem with the sound is in Majora's Mask. When you go to a new area, the sound will sometimes skip. No big deal.

All Zelda games are known to be pretty time consuming. Of course it varies. The NES games can still be beaten in less than a day. Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask however are very long games, made even longer if you try to accomplish everything in the game. As for replay value, four games in one pack will offer lots of play time. Also all of these games are great, so it won't feel tedious to go threw them again.

My final thoughts on this game are of course very high. Zelda 1 and Zelda 2 are great games that still hold up well today. I'd give each a 10 out of 10. Majora's Mask would get a 10 as well. Of course people complain about the sound problems, but it isn't that big of a deal. I've also heard people say that this game freezes on occasion, but it's never happened to me, or anyone else that I know. Ocarina of Time is a 10, hands down. It's the best game ever created. Enough said. The game also has a few extras, like a 20 minute Wind Waker demo, and a Zelda history video. So, is it worth buying? Yes, besides you won't find it anywhere to rent. The Legend of Zelda Collector's Edition is awesome, especially since it was free.

Reviewer's Score: 10/10, Originally Posted: 08/05/04, Updated 05/24/06