The Legend of Zelda LCD games

Last updated


Several LCD games based on Legend of Zelda game series have been released. The first, Zelda (Game & Watch), released in 1989, was developed and manufactured by Nintendo; later LCD games were licensed to other developers. The Legend of Zelda game watch (1989) is a wristwatch game produced by Nelsonic as part of their Nelsonic Game Watch series. Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce [lower-alpha 1] is a fighting game produced by Epoch Co. for the Barcode Battler II [lower-alpha 2] platform, and was released only in Japan.

Contents

Game & Watch: Zelda

Zelda
Zeldagameandwatchcover.jpg
Cover of the Zelda Game & Watch
Developer(s) Nintendo Research & Development 1
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Platform(s) Game & Watch, Nintendo Mini Classics
ReleaseGame & Watch
Mini Classics
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

The Zelda [3] Game & Watch (model number ZL-65) [4] is a multi-screen Game & Watch system developed by Nintendo and released in North America in 1989. [1] Its gameplay was heavily inspired by Nintendo Entertainment System game Zelda II: Adventure of Link , and it featured an original story described on the manual.

Unlike the other LCD games, this was made by Nintendo and appeared on a Nintendo platform. The handheld console would be Nintendo's penultimate release before the release of the Game Boy (the last being Mario The Juggler ).

Gameplay

Players control Link and fight through labyrinth chambers on the Game & Watch's lower screen. In the labyrinth chambers, Link faces Poe-like Ghosts, up to four Stalfos, and a Moblin-like Goblin mini-boss. [5] Stalfoses and Ghosts cannot be defeated and must be dodged and blocked with the shield respectively. The Goblin must be killed in order to complete the lower-screen labyrinth. [3] Once the Labyrinth is complete, stairs appear and the action shifts to the Dragon's Lair in the upper screen. Here Link battles a dragon on the right hand side of the screen while avoiding its fire and tail attacks. The left hand side of the screen displays the dungeon map and items such as the Tomahawk item [3] —unique to this game—that Link gains while fighting the dragon. [5] Upon defeating the dragon, the game starts again with quicker enemies and retaining the player's high score. [1] This Game & Watch game also features a continue button that allows players to continue the game in the event of the player's death. [5]

Plot

Eight unruly dragons are creating havoc in the world. After they kidnap Princess Zelda, it is up to Link to defeat them and rescue the princess. [1] The dragons have imprisoned Zelda behind a seal that requires all 8 pieces of the triforce to unlock. After defeating each dragon, Link gains one piece of the triforce. [3]

Development and release

The Zelda Game & Watch was developed by Gunpei Yokoi and Nintendo R&D1.

Reception

Zelda is thought to have pushed the limits of what is possible on the Game & Watch LCD format, though the gameplay is far simpler than the NES original. [1] The game was noted in particular by Famitsu as having achieved the excitement and role-playing game-feel of the original series, but the game was criticized for being too easy if the player attained too many power-ups during play. [5] Retro Gamer rated it Number 5 in their "Perfect Ten Games" for Game & Watch, noting that "it did capture the feel of the world it was played in". [6]

Today the game frequently fetches high prices on the secondary market with auction values ranging from £25 to £60. [4]

Ports and re-releases

In 1998, Toymax Inc. was licensed to make the Mini Classics series, keychain-sized remakes of the Game & Watch series, one of them being Zelda. It has a significantly smaller screen size. This keychain version, along with Oil Panic and Donkey Kong, was only released in Europe. By early 2007, Stadlbauer and It's Outrageous! began distributing the Mini Classics version in select locations within the United States, using art from A Link to the Past and Four Swords Adventures .

In October 2002, Nintendo included a port of the game as a hidden unlockable extra in Game & Watch Gallery 4 for the Game Boy Advance. This Zelda minigame is the most difficult to unlock, requiring the player to have beaten all other games (and to have earned all 160 stars). [7] Due to limitations of the GBA hardware, the visuals were changed. To fit everything on-screen at once, the screen where the action is not taking place is reduced to about two-thirds of that of the original height.

The Legend of Zelda (Game Watch)

The Legend of Zelda
Zeldawatchgamebox.jpg
The Legend of Zelda game watch box
Developer(s) Nelsonic Industries
Publisher(s) Nelsonic Industries
Platform(s) Nelsonic game watch
Release
Genre(s) Action-adventure
Mode(s) Single-player

The Legend of Zelda [10] game watch is a multi-purpose wristwatch made by Nelsonic (re-released for European markets by Zeon in 1992) as part of their Game Watch line. [11] It tells the time and allows players to play a game. It runs on one battery, size #364 (black watch) or #392 (red watch). The game is based on the NES's original The Legend of Zelda , and it was manufactured in black, red, white and pink colors.

Gameplay

The player controls Link as he defeats enemies in caves to retrieve pieces of the Triforce. The game consists of four levels with four cavernous rooms each. In each cave, Link has to collect a boomerang and sword to defeat several enemies. Defeating all of the enemies in the cave grants Link a key to the next room which, on entering, causes Link to lose all of his weapons so that he can collect them again in the new cave. Once all enemies in the fourth cave are killed, the Dragon—the level's boss—appears. After Link defeats the Dragon, a Triforce fragment appears, giving him access to the next level. After collecting all four pieces of the Triforce, the game ends. [10]

Plot

Plot details for the game are scant to nonexistent. According to the manual, Link enters a cave where he is immediately attacked by Iron Balls, Ferocious bats, and fire breathing Dragons. [10] After obtaining weapons to defeat the enemies presented in each of the 4 caves per level, Link finds a key and fights the fire-breathing Dragon that serves as the boss of the level. [12] When the Dragon is defeated he leaves Link with a piece of the Triforce. After progressing through all 4 levels, Link collects all 4 pieces of Triforce and wins. [10]

Reception

The game was well received by critics for its stylishness as an article of clothing, but the game was considered to have been largely unsuccessful in evoking the original NES title. While the game was praised for its ability to give the illusion of multiple screens, the gameplay was criticized for its simplicity and the game as a whole was found to be "unrelated to its namesake" and generally "very poor". [11] Positive aspects touched on by reviewers included the game's relatively low price and its portability. [9]

Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (Barcode Battler II)

Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce
BBII TLoZ KnT.jpg
Cover art for Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce (Barcode Battler II)
Developer(s) Epoch Co.
Publisher(s) Epoch Co.
Platform(s) Barcode Battler II
Release
Genre(s) Fighting
Mode(s) Single-player

In 1992, Epoch Co. was licensed to print a series of Nintendo-themed cards for their Barcode Battler II platform. Card sets were printed with both Mario and Zelda themes. [14] Functioning similarly to an LCD e-Reader, the Barcode Battler II required players to swipe barcodes printed on cards across a visual input in order to enter characters, enemies, items, and spells into the console. The Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce set features 30 software-only cards, [lower-alpha 3] [15] and is based on the SNES's original The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past .

Gameplay

Played in the C2 mode on Barcode Battler II, Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce set allows the player to play as either Warrior or Wizard. After choosing the hero card (either "Link" or "Link(Magic)"), the player scans it into the Barcode Battler II where its stats are recorded and displayed on the LCD screen. For each battle, the players choose an enemy and swipe it in to fight against the hero. The battle is conducted based on an algorithm within the Barcode Battler, and the results of the fight are displayed in new character stats on the LCD screen. If the enemy is defeated, the enemy card is discarded and the next enemy card is swiped in. At any point between fights, the player may choose to swipe in and discard one of the ten item cards. Item cards provide a variety of benefits to the hero including boosting weapon stats, restoring life, and increasing defensive stats. Discarded item cards may be returned to the player from the discard pile upon defeating a Wizard enemy. After all other enemies are defeated, the player must swipe the "Ganon" card to fight the final boss. If Ganon is defeated, the player has won. [16] [ citation needed ]

Plot

Ganon has transformed the sacred land into the "World of Darkness" and is now plotting to take over the "World of Light" (i.e. Hyrule). To achieve this end, the evil priest Agahnim strives to sacrifice the daughters of the seven sages to break the seal holding Ganon in check.

Link must venture through the Worlds of Light and Darkness to defeat Ganon. Along the way numerous puzzles and monsters await. [17]

Reception

Both the Zelda no Densetsu card set and the Mario card set were released as Nintendo-licensed special-edition cards for the Barcode Battler II. The system itself was popular in Japan, [18] [19] inspiring the creation of a comic book series as well as the commission of products for Falcom and NTV.

Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda

Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda
Game & Watch The Legend of Zelda.png
Developer(s) Nintendo
Publisher(s) Nintendo
Composer(s)
Series The Legend of Zelda
Platform(s) Game & Watch
Release
  • WW: November 12, 2021
Genre(s) Action-adventure, compilation
Mode(s) Single-player

Nintendo released the limited edition Game & Watch: The Legend of Zelda unit featuring a full-color pixel screen, fully playable NES/Famicom versions of both Japanese and international of The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link , Game Boy version of Link's Awakening in various languages, and a new Zelda-themed variant of Vermin which looks very different from the Game & Watch: Zelda.

The size and shape of the external hardware is similar to the original Game & WatchWide Screen series, but with the addition of a cross-shaped d-pad like the one featured in the Game & Watch: Zelda. This unit was released on November 12, 2021. [20] [21] The Game & Watch has a very similar concept to the Game & Watch: Super Mario Bros. , but it instead has 4 games and unlike the Mario one, it has a useable and playable clock and timer, a hidden game difficulty for the Game and Watch Game, and a light on the back of the handheld in the shape of the Triforce.

Notes

  1. ↑ Japanese: ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース
  2. ↑ Japanese: バーコードバトラーII
  3. ↑ Japanese: 専用カードソフト

Related Research Articles

<i>The Legend of Zelda</i> Video game series

The Legend of Zelda is an action-adventure game franchise created by the Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. It is primarily developed and published by Nintendo, although some portable installments and re-releases have been outsourced to Flagship, Vanpool, and Grezzo. Its gameplay incorporates action-adventure and elements of action RPG games.

Universe of <i>The Legend of Zelda</i> Fictional universe

The Legend of Zelda is a video game franchise created by Japanese video game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka and mainly developed and published by Nintendo. The universe of the Legend of Zelda series consists of various lands, the most predominant being Hyrule. The franchise is set within a fantasy world reminiscent of medieval Europe which consists of several recurring locations, races and creatures. The most prominent race in the series are the Hylians, a humanoid race with elfin features identifiable by their long, pointed ears. The series' lore contains a creation myth, several fictional alphabets, the most prominent being Hylian, and a fictional universal currency, the rupee. Most games in The Legend of Zelda series follow a similar storyline, which involves the protagonist Link battling monsters to save Princess Zelda and defeat a villain, which is often the series' main antagonist, Ganon. Nintendo developed the series' lore into a timeline that spans thousands of years across its history.

<i>The Legend of Zelda</i> (video game) 1986 video game

The Legend of Zelda, originally released in Japan as The Hyrule Fantasy: Zelda no Densetsu, is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo. The first game of The Legend of Zelda series, it is set in the fantasy land of Hyrule and centers on an elf-like boy named Link, who aims to collect the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom in order to rescue Princess Zelda from Ganon. The player controls Link from a top-down perspective and navigates throughout the overworld and dungeons, collecting weapons, defeating enemies and uncovering secrets along the way.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</i> 1991 video game

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It is the third game in The Legend of Zelda series and was released in 1991 in Japan and 1992 in North America and Europe.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker</i> 2002 video game

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. An installment in The Legend of Zelda series, it was released in Japan on December 13, 2002, in North America on March 24, 2003, and in Europe on May 2, 2003.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons</i> and <i>Oracle of Ages</i> 2001 video games

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons and The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages are 2001 action-adventure games in the Legend of Zelda series. They were developed by Flagship and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Color.

<i>Zelda II: The Adventure of Link</i> 1987 video game

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link is an action role-playing game developed and published by Nintendo. It is the second installment in the Legend of Zelda series and was released in Japan for the Famicom Disk System on January 14, 1987—less than one year after the Japanese release and seven months before the North American release of the original The Legend of Zelda. Zelda II was released in North America and the PAL region for the Nintendo Entertainment System in late 1988, almost two years after its initial release in Japan.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Links Awakening</i> 1993 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening is a 1993 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy. It is the first installment in The Legend of Zelda series for a handheld game console. Link's Awakening is one of the few Zelda games not to take place in the land of Hyrule, and it does not feature Princess Zelda or the Triforce relic. Instead, the protagonist Link begins the game stranded on Koholint Island, a place guarded by a whale-like deity called the Wind Fish. Assuming the role of Link, the player fights monsters and solves puzzles while searching for eight musical instruments that will awaken the sleeping Wind Fish and allow him to escape from the island.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Triforce</span> Fictional artifact in The Legend of Zelda series

The Triforce is a fictional artifact and icon of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game franchise. It first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda video game (1986) and has appeared in every subsequent game in the series. It consists of three equilateral triangles that are joined to form a large equilateral triangle. In the fictional history of the series, it represents the essence of the Golden Goddesses named Din, Nayru and Farore who create Hyrule. Imbued with divine power, it is capable of granting any wish to anyone who possesses it.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Princess Zelda</span> Video game character

Princess Zelda is a character in Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game series. She was created by Shigeru Miyamoto for the original 1986 game The Legend of Zelda. As one of the central characters in the series, she has appeared in the majority of the games in various incarnations. Zelda is the elf-like Hylian princess of the kingdom of Hyrule, an associate of the series protagonist Link, and bearer of the Triforce of Wisdom.

Link (<i>The Legend of Zelda</i>) Protagonist in The Legend of Zelda

Link is a character and the protagonist of Nintendo's video game franchise The Legend of Zelda. He was created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto. Link was introduced as the hero of the original The Legend of Zelda video game in 1986 and has appeared in a total of 20 entries in the series, as well as a number of spin-offs. Common elements in the series include Link travelling through Hyrule whilst exploring dungeons, battling creatures, and solving puzzles until he eventually defeats the series' primary antagonist, Ganon, and saves Princess Zelda.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ganon</span> Video game character

Ganon is a character and the main antagonist of Nintendo's The Legend of Zelda video game series and franchise, as well as the final boss in many Zelda titles. In his humanoid Gerudo form, he is known as Ganondorf. A massive and malevolent pig-like creature, Ganon first appeared in the original The Legend of Zelda game in 1986, while his alter ego, Ganondorf, was introduced in Ocarina of Time. He has since appeared in the majority of the games in the series in various forms. He is the archenemy of the protagonist Link and Princess Zelda of Hyrule and originally the leader of the Gerudo, a race of humanoid desert nomads before becoming the ruler of his demon army.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures</i> 2004 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures is an action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the GameCube. It is the eleventh installment in The Legend of Zelda series. It was released in 2004 in Japan on March 18, and in North America on June 7. In 2005, the game was released in Europe on January 7, and in Australia on April 7. The Game Boy Advance handheld game console can be used as a controller when using the GameCube – Game Boy Advance link cable bundled with the game in North America and Europe.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past</i> and <i>Four Swords</i> 2002 video game

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past and Four Swords is a compilation of two action-adventure games co-developed by Nintendo R&D2 and Capcom and published by Nintendo for the Game Boy Advance. The game was released in December 2002 in North America and in March 2003 in Japan and Europe. The cartridge contains a modified port of A Link to the Past, originally released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System in 1991, and an original multiplayer-only game titled Four Swords, which serves as the 9th installment in The Legend of Zelda series.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Barcode Battler</span> Handheld game console by Epoch Co.

The Barcode Battler is a handheld game console released by Epoch Co. in March 1991.

Satellaview games from <i>The Legend of Zelda</i> series 1995 video game

Between August 6, 1995 and May 30, 1999, Nintendo, in collaboration with St.GIGA, broadcast three different The Legend of Zelda titles to fans for download via the Super Famicom's Satellaview subsystem. BS Zelda no Densetsu, BS Zelda no Densetsu: MAP2, and BS Zelda no Densetsu: Inishie no Sekiban all featured SoundLink narration which was the first time that Nintendo-sponsored Zelda titles made use of voice-actors to provide vocal tracks. As the first SoundLink Game released via Satellaview, BS Zelda no Densetsu in particular was identified by Nintendo as the world's first integrated radio-game. Also broadcast during this time, starting on March 2, 1997, was a non-SoundLink port of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, known as Zelda no Densetsu: Kamigami no Triforce in Japan. Broadcasts of Kamigami no Triforce continued periodically throughout the tenure of Nintendo's partnership with St.GIGA, after which St.GIGA independently broadcast the game until May 29, 2000.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds</i> 2013 video game

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds is a 2013 action-adventure game developed and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The game is the 17th in The Legend of Zelda series and is a sequel to the 1991 title The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past. Announced in April 2013, A Link Between Worlds was released in Australia, Europe, and North America in November, and in Japan a month later.

<i>The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes</i> 2015 video game

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes is a 2015 action-adventure game developed by Nintendo EPD and Grezzo and published by Nintendo for the Nintendo 3DS. The second original Nintendo 3DS entry in The Legend of Zelda series after A Link Between Worlds, this game is the third installment in the franchise to prominently feature a multiplayer campaign after Four Swords and Four Swords Adventures, albeit this time with only three players as opposed to four, wireless and online connectivity as opposed to the prior games' use of link cables, and a stronger emphasis on cooperation rather than competition.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Retrospective: Zelda Game & Watch". IGN. 2006-05-17. Archived from the original on August 19, 2012. Retrieved 2008-04-07.
  2. ↑ "The Return of Retro". Zelda Universe. 2007-01-30. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  3. 1 2 3 4 Zelda Instruction. Nintendo Co., Ltd. 1989.
  4. 1 2 Feature: Hardware - Watch A Go Go: Price Guide. Retro Gamer. Issue 10. p. 88. November 2004.
  5. 1 2 3 4 第15回　ゲーム＆ウォッチ(後編)　ゲーム人生回顧録 - 乱舞吉田 . Famitsu. 14 April 2002.
  6. ↑ Retrospection: Game & Watch - Perfect Ten Games: Zelda (Multi Screen). Retro Gamer. Issue 55. Pg 50. October 2008.
  7. ↑ "Game and Watch Gallery 4; Blast from the Past" . GameFAQs. Retrieved 13 December 2008.
  8. ↑ "The Legend of Zelda game watch". IGN. Retrieved 2009-01-18.
  9. 1 2 Jarratt, Steve ed. News - Wrist action!. Total!. Issue 5. Pg.6. May 1992.
  10. 1 2 3 4 The Legend of Zelda 8321. Nelsonic. 1989.
  11. 1 2 Bielby, Matt, ed. No. 1 Nintendo Game Watches. Super Play. Issue 2. Pg. 21. December 1992
  12. ↑ Rice, Chris ed. Great Value Nintendo Merchandise - Lowest Prices!!, SNESForce, issue 10, Pg.75, March 1994.
  13. ↑ K. Takiya (1992). "バーコードバトラーII ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース". Epoch Co. Archived from the original on 2011-07-26. Retrieved 2009-09-28.
  14. ↑ Conveni Wars - Barcode Battler II . Epoch, Co. 1993.
  15. ↑ マイコレクション Archived 2008-09-06 at the Wayback Machine . King of Games. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  16. ↑ Nintendo Cards - Rules . BarcodeBattler.co.uk. Retrieved 27 September 2009.
  17. ↑ K. Takiya. ゼルダの伝説 神々のトライフォース ストーリー Archived 2011-07-26 at the Wayback Machine . Epoch, Co. Nintendo. p.1. 1992.
  18. ↑ Zelda Collectibles and Merchandise
  19. ↑ Handheld Classics: Retro Roundup
  20. ↑ "Game & Watch™: The Legend of Zelda™ System – Nintendo Product Details - Nintendo - Official Site". www.nintendo.com. Archived from the original on 2021-06-15.
  21. ↑ "GAME & WATCH: THE LEGEND OF ZELDA". Official Zelda Product Page. Archived from the original on 23 January 2022. Retrieved 22 June 2021.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.