The Legend of Zelda

The Original Zelda
The Legend of Zelda was the very first Zelda game released. It came out as early as 1986 for the Famicom in Japan, and was later released in the western world, including Europe and the US in 1987. It has since then been rereleased several times, for the GameCube as well as the GameBoy Advance. The Japanese version of the game on Famicom was known as Hyrule Fantasy, abbreviated as HF. Some use this title to keep people from getting confused with the other games in the series.

Story
A long, long time ago the World was in an age of Chaos. In the middle of this chaos, in a little kingdom in the land of Hyrule, a legend was being handed down from generation to generation, the legend of the 'Triforce'; golden triangles possessing mystical powers.

One day, an evil army attacked this peaceful little kingdom and stole the Triforce of Power. This army was led by Ganon, the powerful Prince of Darkness who sought to plunge the World into fear and darkness under his rule. Fearing his wicked rule, Zelda, the princess of this kingdom, split up the Triforce of Wisdom into eight fragments and hid them throughout the realm to save the last remaining Triforce from the cluthes of the evil Ganon. At the same time, she commanded her most trustworthy nursemaid, Impa, to secretly escape into the land and go find a man with enough courage to destroy the evil Ganon. Upon heraing this, Ganon grew angry, imprisoned the princess, and sent out a party in search of Impa.

Braving forests and mountains, Impa fled for her life from her pursuers. As she reached the very limit of her energy she found herself sourrounded by Ganon's evil henchmen. Cornered! What could she do? ... But wait!

All was not lost. A young lad appeared. He skillfully drove off Ganon's henchmen, and saved Impa from a fate worse than death. His name was Link. During his travels he had come across Impa and Ganon's henchmen. Impa told Link the whole story of the princess Zelda and the evil Ganon. Burning with a sense of justice, Link resolved to save Zelda, but Ganon was a powerful opponent. He held the Triforce of Power. And so, in order to fight off Ganon, Link had to bring the scattered eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom together to rebuild the mystical Triangle.

If he couldn't do this, there would be no chance Link could fight his way into Death Mountain where Ganon lived. Can Link really destroy Ganon and save the Princess Zelda? Only your skill can answer that question. Good luck. Use the Triforce wisely.

Trivia

 * There is a well-known glitch in the first dungeon, the Eagle. When you first walk in on the First Quest, there will be a locked door at the top of the screen.  Should the player leave the dungeon  and go back in right away, the lock on the door will be gone.
 * The Old Man has become notorious for his vague and/or badly translated hints for the player to progress in the game. One of his most famous quotations is "DODONGO DISLIKES SMOKE," indicating the Dodongo's weakness to Bombs
 * The Moblin's quote "It's a secret to everybody," has become a popular catchphrase among gamers over the years. It is even referenced in Twilight Princess when in Center Castle Town, you can enter a door and walk up to a balcony, where a Goron sees the Golden force around Hyrule Castle.  He admits that he has kept it "a secret to everybody." It is also referenced in Ocarina of Time. If Link bribes the guard at the gate of Hyrule Castle, speaking after he opens the gate will result in him saying "KEEP IT A SECRET FROM EVERYBODY."
 * It is possible (although quite difficult) to make it through the game up until the last dungeon without a sword.
 * Sold over 6.5 million copies on its first run.

Dungeons

 * Eagle Labyrinth
 * Moon Labyrinth
 * Manji Labyrinth
 * Snake Labyrinth
 * Lizard Labyrinth
 * Dragon Labyrinth
 * Demon Labyrinth
 * Lion Labyrinth
 * Death Mountain Labyrinth

Items

 * Wooden Sword
 * White Sword
 * Magical Sword
 * Magical Shield
 * Rupee
 * Heart
 * Heart Container
 * Fairy
 * Key
 * Magical Key
 * Stepladder
 * Raft
 * Dungeon Map
 * Compass
 * Letter
 * Red Ring
 * Blue Ring
 * Clock
 * Boomerang
 * Magical Boomerang
 * Bombs
 * Bow
 * Arrow
 * Silver Arrow
 * Power Bracelet
 * Red Candle
 * Blue Candle
 * Recorder
 * Food
 * Life Potion
 * 2nd Potion
 * Magical Rod
 * Book of Magic
 * Triforce

Overworld Enemies

 * Tektite
 * Octorok
 * Leever
 * Peahat
 * Moblin
 * Armos
 * Ghini
 * Lynel
 * Zola
 * Boulder

Underworld Enemies

 * Zol
 * Gel
 * Rope
 * Vire
 * Keese
 * Stalfos
 * Wallmaster
 * Goriya
 * Wizzrobe
 * Darknut
 * Pols Voice
 * Lanmola
 * Like Like
 * Gibdo
 * Moldorm
 * Patra
 * Bubble
 * Traps
 * Stone Statues

Bosses

 * Aquamentus
 * Dodongo
 * Manhandla
 * Gleeok
 * Digdogger
 * Gohma
 * Ganon

Trivia

 * Due to bad translation, in the English release of The Legend of Zelda, Shigeru Miyamoto is miscredited as Shigeru Miyahon.