The Legend of Zelda Oddities
A 25th-anniversary look back at a dozen strange sidelights of Nintendo's classic fantasy game.Posted by Benj Edwards | Monday, February 21, 2011
The First Save Game Cartridge
Zelda first launched in Japan on a disk system that allowed the player to save his or her progress on the disk. This posed a problem while localizing the game for the US market, whose NES didn’t have a disk system accessory.
Nintendo had a groundbreaking solution: It let games save data on the cartridge via a battery-backed SRAM chip, which retains its contents after the system powered off using a constant trickle from a lithium battery. This technology, which first debuted in The Legend of Zelda for the NES in 1987, worked so well that it appeared in hundreds of games over the next decade. (Battery-backed save carts did exist before Zelda, but not with games built in. See Mini Memory for the TI-99/4A.)
(Photos by Triforce 14 and Benj Edwards)
February 21st, 2011 at 1:33 pm
Or you could just play the flute and freak them out.
February 21st, 2011 at 2:49 pm
"Or you could just play the flute and freak them out. "
February 21st, 2011 at 4:58 pm
""Or you could just play the flute and freak them out. ""
February 21st, 2011 at 5:34 pm
"""Or you could just play the flute and freak them out. """
February 21st, 2011 at 6:06 pm
A save slot in slide six! What an honor.
February 21st, 2011 at 6:55 pm
You know it, man. I think I stumbled across the Technologizer community Zelda cartridge. 🙂
February 21st, 2011 at 7:04 pm
I remember that 1987 commercial all too well. I was 11 and the only thing in the world I wanted was to buy an NES to play The Legend of Zelda. I saved for almost a year and bought it at my local Sears. Remember when Sears had a toy section?
February 22nd, 2011 at 11:26 am
There was a second cartoon produced in the 90s as well.
February 22nd, 2011 at 7:02 pm
I still Have the First NES and the Zelda game set. I get it out some times and play just to see if i still remember all the hidden items. My dad has the first Atari and a lot of the games for it. Does that tell my age.
February 27th, 2011 at 7:06 pm
My friend Jazzy, who collects games/game consoles said:
I’m surprised they didn’t include in that list the CD-i Zelda games! there were 3 Zelda games that were released on the Phillips CD-i – the only Zelda games to appear on a non-Nintendo console!
July 10th, 2011 at 7:07 pm
I believe I am the only human to have never played The Legend of Zelda and Final Fantasy. I have a Wii, is it worth getting? Maybe I will rent it for one night first.
August 11th, 2011 at 1:34 pm
LOOOVE zelda @ Arnum it is VERY worth it to get! These are rpg classics that should never disappear.
October 20th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
What a great read, this was truly an entertaining article.
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October 20th, 2011 at 6:25 pm
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November 6th, 2011 at 11:04 pm
Nice for share about this article. I like it and appreciate for you.
December 19th, 2011 at 10:13 pm
happy anniversary to you.
January 11th, 2012 at 10:36 am
What a fantastic game. it is nice article I was surprised to know about the CD_i zeldge game. Best of luck for you in future.
January 20th, 2012 at 7:08 am
Q: How do you make a Goron go insane?
A: Give one a bag of M&M's and tell him to alphabetise them!
January 27th, 2012 at 4:41 am
The Legend of Zelda is such an epic game! And it never gets old! Superb images and provided information, thanks a lot for sharing. minted poker review
January 27th, 2012 at 7:08 pm
Arrows kill Pols Voice easily, 1 arrow will go through a row of them.
February 3rd, 2012 at 1:44 am
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February 20th, 2012 at 6:01 am
What a nice post. Thanks for for bringing back good memories! I am glad I stumbled upon this.
February 23rd, 2012 at 6:10 am
I know when I first read about Pol's Voice weakness, I immediately thought "use a bomb – that'll be loud", and it seemed to work. Never even knew about the microphone on the Japanese Famicom at the time.