The Legend of Zelda - 1st Quest

About The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda is a high-fantasy action-adventure video game series created by Japanese game designers Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka. The first game in the series, The Legend of Zelda, was released in 1986 for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES).

The original Legend of Zelda introduced many elements that would become staples of the series, including a fantasy setting, an open world to explore, dungeons filled with monsters and puzzles, and the collection of items to progress through the game.

The game follows the adventures of Link, a young hero who must rescue Princess Zelda and save the kingdom of Hyrule from the evil Ganon by collecting the eight fragments of the Triforce of Wisdom.

Game Features:

• Open world exploration across Hyrule
• Eight dungeons to discover and conquer
• Various weapons and items to collect
• Hidden secrets and passages throughout the game
• Save system using battery backup (revolutionary for its time)
• Second Quest with more difficult dungeons after completion

ROM Download

Download Links:

Legend of Zelda NES

Recommended Emulators:

• Nestopia - High compatibility NES emulator
• FCEUX - Feature-rich NES emulator with debugging tools
• Mesen - Highly accurate NES/Famicom emulator

Installation Instructions:

1. Download and install your preferred emulator
2. Download the ROM file
3. Open the emulator and load the ROM file (typically via File → Open)
4. Configure your controls in the emulator settings
5. Enjoy the game!

Game Manual

The original Legend of Zelda manual contains valuable information about the game's story, controls, items, and enemies. Below is a complete digital recreation of the manual:

The Legend of Zelda Manual Contents:

• Game Story
• Controller Functions
• Game Controls
• Items and Equipment
• Enemies
• Game Screen Information
• Saving Your Game

Basic Controls:

• D-Pad: Move Link
• A Button: Use sword/primary weapon
• B Button: Use selected secondary item
• Start: Pause game/access inventory
• Select: View map (when map item is obtained)

Maps & Locations

Overworld Map

Original Overworld Map

The overworld of Hyrule consists of a 16x8 grid. Each screen contains various secrets, entrances to dungeons, shops, and enemies.

Dungeon Maps

Level 1 - Eagle

Level 2 - Moon

Level 3 - Manji

Level 4 - Snake

Level 5 - Lizard

Level 6 - Dragon

Level 7 - Demon

Level 8 - Lion

Level 9 - Death Mountain

Secret Locations

Cheats & Tips

Name Entry Cheats

When starting a new game, entering these names will grant special abilities:

• ZELDA - Start with the Second Quest (harder dungeon layouts)
• LINK - No special effect, but it's the canonical name

Hidden Secrets

• Burn single trees with the candle to potentially reveal secret entrances
• Bomb suspicious-looking walls in both the overworld and dungeons
• Push on walls in dungeons to find secret passages
• Use the whistle on the lake to reveal a secret stairway
• The Magic Key can open any locked door without being consumed

Enemy Weaknesses

Game Genie Codes

Complete Walkthrough

Level 1 - Eagle

Located in the northeast area of the overworld. This dungeon introduces basic gameplay mechanics.

Key Items:

• Bow - Required for defeating the boss
• Boomerang - Useful for stunning enemies
• Map and Compass

Boss: Aquamentus

This dragon boss shoots fireballs from its mouth. Use your newly acquired bow to defeat it from a distance. Once defeated, collect the first piece of the Triforce.

Level 2 - Moon

Located in the northwest area of the overworld. You'll need to use bombs to find the entrance.

Key Items:

• Magical Boomerang - An upgrade to the regular Boomerang
• Map and Compass

Boss: Dodongo

This dinosaur-like enemy can only be defeated by feeding it bombs. Wait for it to open its mouth, then quickly lay a bomb in front of it. It will eat the bomb and take damage.

Level 3 - Manji

Located in the southern area of the overworld, hidden behind a burnable bush. Bring a candle to reveal the entrance.

Key Items:

• Raft - Allows access to new areas across water
• Map and Compass

Boss: Manhandla

A large plant-like creature with multiple heads that shoot projectiles. Attack each head with bombs or your sword. Bombs can destroy multiple heads at once if timed correctly.

Level 4 - Snake

Found in the eastern forest area. You'll need the Raft from Level 3 to reach the dungeon entrance, located on an island across the water.

Key Items:

• Stepladder - Essential for crossing small gaps and reaching previously inaccessible areas
• Map and Compass

Boss: Gleeok

This multi-headed dragon becomes more dangerous as each head is destroyed. Attack the heads one at a time while avoiding fireballs. The Stepladder can help maneuver around hazards in the boss room.

Level 5 - Lizard

Located in the center of the overworld, just below the mountain range. Bomb a wall to reveal the entrance.

Key Items:

• Whistle (Recorder) - Used to uncover hidden secrets and warp between dungeons
• Map and Compass

Boss: Digdogger

Digdogger is impervious to normal attacks until you use the Whistle, which causes it to shrink. Once small, you can defeat it with your sword. Watch out for its quick movements after shrinking!

Level 6 - Dragon

Found in the graveyard area in the northwest of the overworld. Push a specific tombstone to reveal the hidden entrance.

Key Items:

• Magical Rod - Allows you to shoot magical projectiles; effective against many enemies
• Map and Compass

Boss: Gohma

This giant crab-like creature has a single eye that opens occasionally. Wait for its eye to open and shoot it with an arrow to defeat it quickly.

Level 7 - Demon

Located in the southwest corner of the overworld. Use the Whistle near a lake to drain the water and reveal the dungeon entrance.

Key Items:

• Red Candle - Can be used multiple times per screen to burn enemies and reveal secrets
• Map and Compass

Boss: Aquamentus (Again)

This dungeon features a rematch with Aquamentus. The fight is similar to Level 1, but the path to the boss is more complex and filled with tougher enemies. Use ranged weapons to stay safe while attacking.

Level 8 - Lion

Located in the southeast, behind a burnable bush near the coast. Be well-stocked with bombs and potions before entering.

Key Items:

• Magical Key - Unlocks any door without needing regular keys
• Book of Magic - Enhances the Magical Rod's projectiles with fire
• Map and Compass

Boss: Gleeok (4-Headed)

This stronger version of Gleeok has four heads, making the battle much more intense. Focus on one head at a time, and be prepared to dodge numerous fireballs as detached heads continue to attack.

Level 9 - Death Mountain

Located in the far north of the overworld, behind a bombable wall on Spectacle Rock. You must have all eight Triforce pieces to enter this final dungeon.

Key Items:

• Silver Arrow - Required to deal the final blow to Ganon
• Red Ring - Cuts damage taken by 75%
• Map and Compass

Maze Walkthrough:

Level 9 is a massive, complex dungeon filled with fake walls and hidden passages. Here’s a simple route to get through the maze and reach Ganon efficiently:

1. From the entrance, go up until you can't anymore.
2. Look for bombable walls and hidden passages in the upper-left quadrant of the dungeon to find the Red Ring.
3. Backtrack and head to the upper-right quadrant to find the Silver Arrow.
4. From the central path, navigate toward the bottom-right quadrant. Use the compass to track Ganon’s room — it flashes on the map.
5. You'll need to bomb a hidden wall to enter Ganon’s chamber. It’s often one room west of the room where the compass starts blinking aggressively.

Final Boss: Ganon

Ganon is invisible at first and teleports around the room. Swing your sword around to hit him by luck or pattern tracking. Once he takes enough damage, he turns visible. Quickly equip your Silver Arrow and shoot him to deliver the final blow. After defeating him, grab the Triforce of Power and push the stone to rescue Princess Zelda!

Additional Resources

Item List

History of The Legend of Zelda

The Legend of Zelda was first released in Japan on February 21, 1986, for the Famicom Disk System. It was later released in North America on August 22, 1987, for the Nintendo Entertainment System. The game was designed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, with music composed by Koji Kondo. It introduced players to the fantasy land of Hyrule, the young hero Link, Princess Zelda, and the evil Ganon. With its mix of action, puzzle-solving, and exploration, the game became a groundbreaking title for the action-adventure genre.

The success of the original game led to a direct sequel, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, released in 1987 in Japan and 1988 in North America. It took a different approach with side-scrolling gameplay and RPG elements. Although divisive, it still contributed to the series’ growing popularity.

In 1991, The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past was released for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System. It returned to a top-down perspective and introduced many of the elements that would become staples of the series, such as the Master Sword and parallel worlds. It is widely regarded as one of the greatest games of all time.

In 1993, Nintendo released The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening for the Game Boy. It was the first Zelda game not set in Hyrule and featured a unique story with a mysterious dream world. It was later remade for the Game Boy Color in 1998 and the Nintendo Switch in 2019.

1998 marked a major milestone with the release of The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time for the Nintendo 64. It was the first game in the series to feature 3D graphics and revolutionized action-adventure games with its innovative lock-on targeting system and cinematic storytelling. It became a landmark title, often cited as one of the greatest video games ever made.

Its direct sequel, Majora’s Mask, followed in 2000. It used the same engine but featured a darker tone and a time-based mechanic where players repeated a three-day cycle to prevent the moon from crashing into the world. Though polarizing at release, it has since gained a cult following.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker arrived in 2002 for the Nintendo GameCube. It featured a cel-shaded art style that was initially controversial but later praised. The game focused on ocean exploration and introduced new lore and characters to the franchise.

Twilight Princess was released in 2006 for both the GameCube and the new Nintendo Wii. It featured a more realistic art style and a darker narrative, along with motion controls on the Wii version. It was a commercial and critical success.

In 2011, Skyward Sword launched for the Wii and explored the origins of the Master Sword. It relied heavily on motion controls and divided fans, though its story and character development were praised. It was later remastered for the Nintendo Switch in 2021.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds released in 2013 for the Nintendo 3DS as a spiritual successor to A Link to the Past. It introduced a unique mechanic that let Link merge into walls and provided more open-ended gameplay.

In 2015, Tri Force Heroes brought multiplayer dungeon-solving to the 3DS, though it received mixed reviews for its reliance on cooperative play.

In 2017, The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild launched for both the Wii U and Nintendo Switch. It marked a radical reinvention of the series, offering an expansive open world with freedom of exploration and physics-based gameplay. It received universal acclaim and won numerous Game of the Year awards. It became the best-selling game in the series, surpassing 30 million copies.

Its highly anticipated sequel, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, was released in May 2023. It expanded on the open-world formula, added sky islands, underground areas, and new crafting mechanics. It was praised for its creativity, scale, and storytelling.

Over nearly four decades, The Legend of Zelda has evolved across multiple generations of consoles and has become one of the most iconic and influential video game franchises of all time. With dozens of games, spin-offs, remakes, and an enduring legacy, it continues to shape the landscape of gaming.

Timeline of The Legend of Zelda Series

• 1986 – The Legend of Zelda (Famicom Disk System / NES)
• 1987 – Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
• 1991 – A Link to the Past (SNES)
• 1993 – Link’s Awakening (Game Boy)
• 1998 – Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
• 2000 – Majora’s Mask (Nintendo 64)
• 2002 – The Wind Waker (GameCube)
• 2004 – Four Swords Adventures (GameCube)
• 2006 – Twilight Princess (GameCube / Wii)
• 2007 – Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
• 2009 – Spirit Tracks (Nintendo DS)
• 2011 – Skyward Sword (Wii)
• 2013 – A Link Between Worlds (3DS)
• 2015 – Tri Force Heroes (3DS)
• 2017 – Breath of the Wild (Wii U / Switch)
• 2019 – Link’s Awakening Remake (Switch)
• 2021 – Skyward Sword HD (Switch)
• 2023 – Tears of the Kingdom (Switch)