Time into the original Zelda

[jfe2]

This whole topic is pure win! I really love the hand drawn maps and the printed out map!

I played through this on an emulator like two or three years back and didn't use an FAQ. It was definitely a hard, and sometimes frustrating experience, but it made it all the more satisfying to actually beat it.

[vash23n]

It also depends on how thorough you like to be with games. I like to find and do EVERYTHING in a video game as the thought of missing any excitement makes me sad. This is why I use a guide. I would say around 40 hours if this is you. If you are just going to get the bare minimum to beat the game, then less than 20. If you are playing the original NES cartridge and relying on the built in save feature, 120 hours because it will probably erase on you multiple times causing you to have to start over.

[emwearz]

Grab a map, chuck her in and you will never look back, its such a sweet game and has aged surprisingly well.

[vash23n]

I didnt feel like spending 10000 hours wandering around so I printed off a map complete with dungeon locations. I played it last summer but I've still got it up on my wall

Frame it! Or get it blown up onto one of those canvases like the kids are doing these days. So sweet.

[Hobie-wan]

If you are playing the original NES cartridge and relying on the built in save feature, 120 hours because it will probably erase on you multiple times causing you to have to start over.

Only if the battery is nearly dead (not been replaced) or your system/game needs cleaning or a tune up. The problem is that if you get the blinking screen because of bad contact, it is likely to erase your game when it does that.

[vash23n]

If you are playing the original NES cartridge and relying on the built in save feature, 120 hours because it will probably erase on you multiple times causing you to have to start over.

Only if the battery is nearly dead (not been replaced) or your system/game needs cleaning or a tune up. The problem is that if you get the blinking screen because of bad contact, it is likely to erase your game when it does that.

Mine erased when I was moving. I guess being jostled around was enough to do it. I wonder if it is possible to knock those batteries loose. Anyhoo, I will be playing it on the Game Cube collector's disk next time.

[Hobie-wan]

If you are playing the original NES cartridge and relying on the built in save feature, 120 hours because it will probably erase on you multiple times causing you to have to start over.

Only if the battery is nearly dead (not been replaced) or your system/game needs cleaning or a tune up. The problem is that if you get the blinking screen because of bad contact, it is likely to erase your game when it does that.

Mine erased when I was moving. I guess being jostled around was enough to do it. I wonder if it is possible to knock those batteries loose. Anyhoo, I will be playing it on the Game Cube collector's disk next time.

More likely the battery is nearly dead if its still the original. If you'd been playing it daily, it might have held on with the memory slightly fading, but I imagine a move meant it went a while without being played and the battery couldn't keep the memory going that long.

[corn619]

I have a feeling my Zelda I&II batteries will need replacing soon as well.

[Hobie-wan]

I have a feeling my Zelda I&II batteries will need replacing soon as well.

Plenty of room in NES carts to wire up a proper battery holder so it can be replaced easily next time.

[nickfil]

for the first timers that don't want to really cheat- but still want an edge after wondering around, I found a scan online of the partial map that came with the game when you bought it. I don't consider it cheating or robbing you of the experience. It'll get you started. The reverse side has dungeon maps for the first couple levels, but you don't really need them. It also gives you useless hints like "find the weak spot" under pictures of the bosses or something like that.

http://www.nesworld.com/faqs/zeldamap.jpg

I picked up a nearly complete copy of zelda for the nes about a year ago. I say nearly complete becuase it didn't come with those inserts and some collectors are strict about that kinda thing. Anyway- it came with the map, cart and manual which is what i cared about.

When i opened it up- i found that some overzealous child cartographer ran wild all over it. Pretty neat. My brother and I did the same thing to our map back in the 80s. For all i know- this is the same one, but there were probably a lot of kids did this.