RF Generation Message Board

PARTICIPANTS:
Addicted
bickman2k
Disposed Hero
douglie007
Duke.Togo
Fleach
GrayGhost81 (JAWS only JK)
JerryGreenwood
MetalFRO
Pam
RetroRage
shaggy (Jaws only...maybe...we think he could be playing this time...I dunno)
singlebanana

CHECKPOINTS:
ZELDA
Week 1: Finish Dungeon 5 (1st quest)
Week 2: Finish the game and press start to begin the 2nd quest.
Week 3: Start 2nd quest, finish Dungeon 5
Week 4: Finish 2nd quest; finish Jaws by month's end

JAWS
- no checkpoints, play at your leisure and discuss all month long.

ACHIEVEMENTS:

ZELDA
1. Acquire the blue ring
2. Acquire the white sword
3. Acquire the magical sword
4. Acquire the Power Bracelet
5. Summon a tornado and dodge it
6. Use the raft and ladder to acquire two outland heart containers
7. Find the proper use for the Enemy Bait
8. Acquire all of the heart containers
9. Finish the 1st quest
10. Finish the 2nd quest

JAWS
1. Collect 7 shells in a single round of the mini-game
2. Reach Power Level 5
3. Acquire the mini-sub
4. Defeat Jaws
5. Defeat Jaws by using only one strobe

Finally we can all play Dark Souls.

I literally was only 1 boss away from beating Dark Souls. If I beat that boss then I can play through again with you guys.

I should clarify that I hope it's Dark Souls.

It ain't................Use your anger. Good. GOOD!!

[img width=700 height=393]https://cdn0.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/6gz6Kol3a2iZDbCVccRsNbnWScY=/47x0:1207x653/1280x720/cdn0.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46774104/emperor.0.0.jpg[/img]

However, I don't think that most of you will be disappointed with this pick.  We hope you'll tri it with us. :)

Its Tri force heroes isn't it...

monster hunter tri?

Not quite.  You're gonna need a bigger console for this playthrough.

Triple Action for Intellivision?

[img width=360 height=202]https://i.imgflip.com/d68xm.gif[/img]

Batman VR for Crabby?

Announcement hit the front page today!  ;)

More excited about JAWS than Zelda.

COME AT ME.

I love Jaws. No hate here homie.

Dang, I have Jaws and now I have a reason to play it.  More excited about that than in Zelda.  I will try to find my copy (You know the drill by now).  I heard that you can beat Jaws within 5 minutes if you know what you are doing but I don't want to know how!  I want to try to figure this out on my own.

I own Jaws and have come close to beating it. I know what needs to be done, I just have never seemed to be able to pull it off.

Excited for August! These are two games I've always wanted to play but never got around to. Happy to have a pressing reason to play them.

Time to fire up the FDS for some fun.

Reminding me, that I should get more than just Metroid, for mine.

Jaws...also known as welcome to RNG. It's certainly possible to do in 5 minutes, shaggy, but the randomness of the game rarely allows for that speed. You may be able to beat LoZ before Jaws, to be honest.

Jaws is legendary for its frustrating "finale."  Best to all with that, and....stay out of the shallows. 😃

I'm in, just have to find Jaws :)

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

I'm in.


Really? I'm not aware of how random the game is, but I can't see it taking longer than 20 minutes. Guess we'll put it to the test.

It's random in terms of the boat crashing and getting attacked by Jaws between moving from port to port to power up.  Glad you're joining us Jerry.

RNG?

Random Number Generator. Start praying to RNGesus now.

Ah, gotcha.  On another note, I took a look at the NES games at my house and I couldn't find Jaws. :(  I'll give you one guess where it's at.

Found another box and not in there either. :(  Sadly, I think it is in my parents storage.

Ha, guess where I went today?  My parents!  I found Jaws in storage.  I'm in for Jaws!  Yes!  You can't keep me away.

Anyone looking for a copy of Legend of Zelda can find it here on Duke's sell thread: http://www.rfgeneration.com/forum/index.php?topic=8906.0

I should also have a copy of Jaws around the house if anyone needs it.

I've got a couple of Legend of Zelda carts in my sale thread if anyone is looking for a copy.

Yep, put up your link a few posts back. Thanks Duke and Shadow!

How is this working? Zelda for the first 3 weeks and Jaws in week 4? Or a total free-for-all?

Plan is half of Zelda the first week, finish the 2nd week, 3rd week start quest 2, and 4th finish quest 2. Play Jaws entire month.

Count me in :)

I found my copy of Jaws last night. If I can squeeze some time I'll try to play Zelda as well. I'm getting my game room ready for a facelift...

Banana, you can add me for Jaws.

Okay, you're added...

I'm going to play the Legend of Zelda instead.... I jumped the gun and finished Jaws.  :-\  ;)

[img width=700 height=525]http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/cvanderhoef/Mobile%20Uploads/IMG_20160722_0620470_rewind.jpg[/img]

Take that, Banana! 

That photo could be from anywhere. 😁

Dammit, I knew you would say that.

Is this proof enough for you?

[img width=700 height=933]http://i201.photobucket.com/albums/aa293/cvanderhoef/Mobile%20Uploads/2015-06/IMG_20160722_1856271_rewind.jpg[/img]

LOL can I pay you back $0.99 for on of the Sunday Fundays :)

I couldn't wait to get started, so I got going with Zelda. I finished up through the third dungeon.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/98A0BC92-54CA-428A-BF79-557D02F5AAD3_zpscoaojqyz.jpg[/img] (http://s1023.photobucket.com/user/jackcrow2000/media/98A0BC92-54CA-428A-BF79-557D02F5AAD3_zpscoaojqyz.jpg.html)

I bet you were one of those kids that had to open Christmas presents early. ;)

Give me presents NAOW!

I am sad to admit that I have never finished the original Zelda.. so its about damn time I did :) I cant deside if I will play it on the NES or the NES classic GBA version. 

Do the NES and get the original, full screen experience. ;)

Oddly enough, no cheats on the Retron 5 for LoZ. Haven't checked for JAWS yet.

TL;dr I'm not playing LoZ.

Will do! Nes it is

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Round 1 done.
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/7B8C3104-D105-4051-881A-E621F64C62C9_zpss6qjokdi.jpg[/img] (http://s1023.photobucket.com/user/jackcrow2000/media/7B8C3104-D105-4051-881A-E621F64C62C9_zpss6qjokdi.jpg.html)

Doesn't count. Wasn't in August. :P

This will be my chance to finally finish the 2nd quest. If you consider the year that LoZ was released, the 2nd quest is probably the greatest easter egg/bonus/extra/secret in video game history. Until this, what was it, the negative zone in SMB? That's just one level that is unfinishable.

Spent way too much time (about 3 frustrating hours) on Jaws and it was not very good, lots of back and forth, and the end ... really?

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=700 height=393]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160802/79d70eb92134448cba57d796a01cb1ee.jpg[/img]

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

Great right? I know. ;)

That was just mean to put jaws with zelda ;) well I've started zelda and going to get the hearts hidden around. And get my sword and shield upgraded, then bed time.

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I'll start Zelda soon.

Jaws complete:

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=700 height=525]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/RF/jaws_finish_zpssjuzokki.jpg[/img]

Nice work! I thought that with the awkwardness of the "kill screen" a few of you might have trouble with this. Glad to see some completions. Thoughts on the game Addicted?

They should have skipped the open world elements and made it a side scrolling shooter. The back and forth to power up makes the loop of the game too repetitive. The Jaws tracker is one of the most worthless upgrades in any game as the giant shark fin will tell you Jaws is near. Despite its reputation I liked Jaws for what it is a shoot em up with a collection/travel mini game.

Spoiler (hover to show)

You can front load and make the game easy by keeping your power level at one and collect the maximum amount of shells. Then you just bee line it back an forth until you reach at least level 3. From there you wait until Jaws it at the first line, hit the flair and wait to see that white belly.

Jaws was not a bad game just frustrating sometimes.  But I have been grinding at Zelda, and now just finished the 5th dungeon. I should have played it more when I first got it, I did the mistake of buying 2 red medicines and wasted 70 rupees, oops :) so far so good. [img width=700 height=393]http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160803/9ecdfd652b9f365d14f595379424ec81.jpg[/img]

Also I was thinking if I finish Zelda early I will try some of the rom hacks, I bought an everdrive just to play the homebrews and hacks

Don't forget, we're playing the 2nd quest as well.

So I tried jaws for a few minutes this morning and ran into an island and got taken to a shooting part.  I couldn't figure out how to get out of that screen until suddenly I was back on the boat so apparently you just shoot the various water life until you get zapped back to the boat.  From what I can figure out:

Stars = Points
Shells = Some sort of money?
Crabs = ?

I did get hit by Jaws and I kept shooting him like crazy but eventually he ate me.  I will delve into this more later in the week.

Correct.  Your boat striking something makes you go into a timed underwater event.  You basically just have to survive to move on in your boat. At a later part in the game, this will play a different way in that you will only have that allotted amount of time to take down all of Jaw's energy.  Starfish are points, shells are currency, which you trade to power up at the ports, and the crabs I believe increase your swimming speed (could be wrong here and going from memory).  The smaller sharks always drop shells.  Try to collect these items before they hit the bottom, since you'll later encounter jellyfish that go from the bottom of the screen to the top and can surprise you.  I think you have to power up at the ports at least 3 times before you can have a chance to take down Jaw's energy within the time limit. However, if you're a new player, you probably want to power up 4 times.

Anyone found the mini-sub yet?

@Shaggy:

Crabs=

Spoiler (hover to show)

 Speed. The more you grab the faster your diver goes.

@singlebanana:

Spoiler (hover to show)

 Every 30,000 points. 

AHHHHHHHHHHHHH, so that's when that appears?  Had no idea, but that's good to know. ;D

My highest score so far is just above 61,000.  So from playing this, here is assumption of how to play the game.  Do you always have to get the tracker?  I assume so, even though it is useless.  I'll list it as a spoiler in case anyone wants to figure this out on their own.

Spoiler (hover to show)

So my assumption is you go between the two ports, first to get the tracker and than each time after that to power up?  I finally figured out if you run into Jaws just avoid him and continue shooting the other sea creatures to speed up, get shells, and get points.  After your power up enough go for Jaws.  Am I right in this assumption?

When does the Bonus Scene kick in?  For me it's kicked in after I had a small shark but not every time I had one in the shooting sequence.  Is that the trigger?  I finally figured out in the Bonus Scene that you can actually slow down and  speed up the play by pushing left or right but it doesn't help too much.

I take it the mini sub appears randomly on the screen after 30,00 points?  I found it once but it wasn't in the same spot the next time.  It also sucks that each time you die that you lose the tracker, 1 power level, and a number of shells (5, I think).

High score: 79,360

@Shaggy: You are correct in your assumption.

Every time you die you lose:

Speed
Half of your shells
1 Power Level

You always have to get the tracker.

Sub appears every 30,000.

BUENOS NOCHES JAWS!

[img width=700 height=393]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/IMG_20160803_190355831_zps3k32fmg4.jpg[/img]

@singlebanana: Conglatulations! You have finished a great game.

I think I'm going to plug away at Zelda and try Jaws on those when I have less free time. Going back to the first Zelda game has been tougher than I thought. Maybe being so familiar with Link to the Past has made this harder.

Like ridin' a bike for me.  Let me know if you have any questions or need any hints. Happy to help.

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=700 height=393]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/IMG_20160804_193906000_zpsycz2uh6s.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=393]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/IMG_20160804_193833662_zpstae2utwn.jpg[/img]

Also beat Jaws again last night.  Took a longer time with the game and worked to get the mini-sub. ;D

For those of you having a tough go at The Legend of Zelda, here's a bit of a guide to get you started to make the game the least frustrating as possible.  So here's a Beginner's Guide to Least Frustration:

1. Get bombs and a blue candle early - You should pick up some bombs on your way through the first dungeon, but the blue candle will need to be purchased from a shopkeeper.  In the outworld, there are several bushes that can be burned by the candle that reveal stairs and some rocky formations that can be bombed to reveal shops and people who will give you gems. However, be careful, since going down some stairs will cost you rupees (door fee). However, there are a few heart containers in some of these spots and having more life goes a long way, especially early.  You will need to find these hidden heart containers if you want to max out your hearts (but it's not necessary). If you get super frustrated, maps to these treasures are readily available online.
  
2. Get the blue ring early - one of the best, but most expensive items in the game is the blue ring. This ring reduces the damage you take by half.  It can only be found in one place in the outworld (in an easy to access location), but costs 250 rupees!!  Collecting this many rupees when they typically appear 1 to 5 at a time seems tasking, but there are at least two places where you can quickly get 100 rupees each.

Spoiler (hover to show)

A. Go to the farthest northeast you can go. There should be many peahats and a tree there that you can enter where you can play the money-making game. Don't play it!  Instead of going in the tree, go to the very center, top of the screen and push up (try different spots); one spot is an invisible path that will lead up to the next screen. The guy there will give you 100 rupees.

B. Another 100 rupees can be found close to the start. From the beginning screen go up and then east. On one of the screens with all of the green bushes and octoroks, you can burn a bush with a candle and that will lead to another 100 rupees. But be careful, one bush in that area is a door fee...  After getting these two sets of rupees, you can simply grind a little for the remaining 50.

The blue ring is located from the start, go north, two screens left to the screen with the cave with the old lady, and north 3 screens to the dead end with the statues. Tap on the back of the top center statue. It will come alive and reveal stairs to the shopkeeper that sells the ring.

3. Acquire the Letter to the Lady to get medicine - For newer players, it's important to get the medicine early.  Blue medicine fills all of your life upon use, and red medicine fills all of your life as well and turns blue after the first use (essentially, red is two fills). However, in order to get medicine, you have to find the letter to give to the lady first.  The letter can be found...

Spoiler (hover to show)

In a cave at the top of some stairs in the very upper northwest. I typically grab this on the way to the 100 rupees in the northwest mentioned above. After you get it, go back down to the starting area. Go north one screen, and continue west (three screens I believe (you'll cross a small bridge on your way). There will be a cave with an old lady in it who does not speak. Equip the letter and press B to show it to her and she will now sell you medicine.

4. Upgrade your sword ASAP - Doing mas damage is always important in LoZ. Being able to dispatch many enemies quicker will help you clear rooms in dungeons faster and help you maintain hearts.  It's important to note that being able to acquire a new sword is not based on how many dungeons you complete (though you get a new container for beating the last dungeon boss in each), but by how many heart containers you have. You need 5 containers total for the white sword and 12 for the magical sword. This means acquiring the hidden outworld containers early is great because it means you can get your swords much earlier, even upgrading to the white sword before the first dungeon!  

5. NPCs give good advice - Unlike many early games, the NPCs in LoZ give good advice and it's typically not too cryptic so that you can figure it out. Pay for it when needed or consult a walkthrough. Just don't get discouraged.

Hope this helps some of you.  If you have any questions, need advice, or feel stuck, please ask for help or send a PM.  Good luck!

Added some achievements for fun!  If any of you experienced players can think of any I missed or want to add some, let me know. ;D

Here's a tip for beginners. Never, ever, ever, EVER pick the Red Potion over the Heart Container.

YES!!!!  Read my mind.  I neglected to add this, but thought about it when doing the write-up.  Thanks for the mention!

Jaws reminds me so much of Friday the 13th, as it should seeing both were developed by LJN.  In both games you meet the final boss randomly throughout the game and must power up enough to defeat them.

That's a good point. One is a shooter and the other is a bit "shooterish".  However the final boss encounter isn't so random in Jaws as it is in F13.  You can park your boat at any time and just wait on him to attack you. Still, I like the comparison. ;)

True, Friday the 13th was truly random but in Jaws it was more like an RPG random but I see a similar styles between the two games, which is believable seeing they were both made by LJN.

Friday the 13th and Jaws, only shared LJN as a publisher. Fun Fact: Friday the 13th was actually developed by Atlus.

Doh, you're right.  The games are still similar. :P

Okay, I'm going to tackle TLoZ.  I didn't get that far in LttP, but I have more of a feel for the gameplay style now, so I want to go back to the original and see what all the fuss is about.  I'm in!

Cool!

Completed all of these: (Next stop Star Ocean 4)

ZELDA
1. Acquire the blue ring
2. Acquire the white sword
3. Acquire the magical sword
4. Acquire the Power Bracelet
5. Summon a tornado and dodge it
6. Use the raft and ladder to acquire two outland heart containers
7. Find the proper use for the Enemy Bait
8. Acquire all of the heart containers
9. Finish the 1st quest
10. Finish the 2nd quest

JAWS
2. Reach Power Level 5
3. Acquire the mini-sub
4. Defeat Jaws
5. Defeat Jaws by using only one strobe

1st Quest:

Spoiler (hover to show)

 

[img width=700 height=525]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/RF/1stquest_2_zpsz0dqzq6f.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=525]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/RF/1stquest_1_zpsufmmadfq.jpg[/img]

2nd Quest:

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=700 height=525]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/RF/2ndquest_1_zpsi5r94lng.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=525]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/RF/2ndquest_2_zpsggyrydhk.jpg[/img]

[img width=700 height=525]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v136/cisco678/RF/2nd_qust3_zps8jfyai3h.jpg[/img]

For the achievements I have done 1 thru 6, I don't know what the tornado did so I dodged it :) how many heart can you get? I also used my note to get a red medicine, after I used it the notes back and the old lady doesn't want it... what can I do to get more red medicine with the note in the way?

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@douglie007: There are a total of 16 hearts.

You should be able to buy medicine from any old lady. You only need to show the note once to any of the old ladies.

Correct and correct.

Congrats Addicted!  Im currently through dungeon 4 in the 2nd quest. Frustrating at times, but fun!

I played and beat Jaws today. That sure was repetitive. I think I'll do a review on it at some point.

Yeah, not a lot to Jaws, but still one of the games from my childhood that I look back on very fondly. Still holds up pretty well for me. Love to see a Pam review. :)

This 6th dungeon is not my friend, I have died so many times

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New achievement for Jaws.  Shaggy actually found the game for the playthrough and played it!

@singlebanana:

Thanks and good luck! The 4th dungeon starts with those annoying red bubbles.

Yes.... Funny I remember blue and red bubbles mentioned in the original manual, but never saw them. Only the temporarily disable bubbles appear in the first quest.

The general opinion of Jaws is that it's a bad game. I like to think of it as an enhanced version of Seaquest from the 2600. Seaquest was one of my favorite games on Atari, thus, I like Jaws.

It's also one of the few games of it's time where being in the water doesn't suck. I hate water levels in SMB, I hate the water level in TMNT, hate the water in Blaster Master, etc.

Good call on Seaquest for the 2600. Definitely a huge similarity

Well, I beat this game at power level 5 and a score of 32,000 and something.  What the heck is up with the ending?!?!?!?!?

I rented this as a kid and had no manual and couldn't figure out what to do or I sucked at it.  Take your pick.  Playing this again, it is a short, relatively easy game but I strangely like it.  I started playing again after I beat the game.  On another note, I also think Friday the 13th wasn't that bad except for the fact I didn't know what I had to do to kill Jason.  This game has no depth at all but I had fun once I got to the underwater shooting.  Now that Jerry mentions it, it is like Seaquest.

Jaws: Achieved 1-4.  Used 5 strobes to beat Jaws.

@Shaggy:  Congrats! The ending does suck but it's still an entertaining game.

Still a better ending than Karnov...

I don't find the ending so much. I love the shark sinking to the bottom. Compare it to Contra and basically the only difference is a credit roll.

@singlebanana: The ending of the Famicom version of Karnov is better. There are three different endings:

http://www.vgmuseum.com/end/nes/a/karj.htm

I've kind of been live Tweeting my experience with The Legend of Zelda, since it's my first time playing through it, but I haven't shared here yet, so here are the achievements I've completed so far:

2. Acquire the white sword
3. Acquire the magical sword
4. Acquire the Power Bracelet
6. Use the raft and ladder to acquire two outland heart containers

No idea where the blue ring is, or how to summon a tornado yet, and I'm only through half of the dungeons so far.  I'm really liking this game, and having a lot of fun, though it can be frustrating at times, when you randomly walk to the next screen and are almost immediately assaulted by an enemy with an unblockable attack, and you lose your sword throw ability!

@FRO: Buy a large shield. You'll be able to block almost all attacks then.

I've completed objectives 1-9 on LoZ, and hope to get started on the second quest for a little bit tonight.

Nice job FRO. I've been following most of your live tweets.

And as for you Duke, here's your motivation.

[img width=700 height=393]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/IMG_20160810_202235844_zpsfcjw4h6c.jpg[/img]

Up to Dungeon 8 on the 2nd quest.

I have the large shield, but it isn't blocking the Zora's attacks, nor does it block the swords thrown by those centaur-looking pieces of excrement.  Is there a specific shop with a shield that I need to buy to ward off that stuff?

If you can't block those things, you don't have the large shield. You can look at Link and tell the difference. If you bought one in the past, you might have had yours eaten by a Like Like (ravioli looking monster).

+1 the Like Likes can eat it, but if you defeat them quick enough when they gooble you, you can save it

I am so mad, went to play Zelda and my save is gone the other two's fine but mine is gone

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Hey guys, super late to the party here. Started LoZ last night and just completed the third dungeon.

Using a walkthrough and the Retron 5's handy save state feature to cheat and cheese my way through the game because I am modern filthy casual trash.

The gameplay is kind of addictive but the music gets annoying fast. I don't want to turn it off though because I love the sound effects.

Did you hold reset while turning off the power? That warning is no joke.

I think I found out what happened.. I was playing it on my Messiah NEX and I think that corrupted the save. but yes I always held the reset.  The only time I dont is if I was playing on my Retro Duo portable.

I just started today. I beat my first dungeon, in a creepy tree, and then spent 30 minutes wandering around the overworld map not knowing how to get to another dungeon. I may have to look up a map.

Yeah, expecting those who have never played LoZ to beat it in a month is asking a great deal. Especially, adults with adult responsibilities. We've never discouraged or chastised members for using maps or walkthroughs. Our number one rule for participating is play how you want to maximize your enjoyment.

Level 2 is far east and a little north. Around the green forest with the Moblins. Good luck and please post any questions for help here any time!

The game came with a partial map and hints. Go for it.

Guess who finished the 2nd quest?
[img width=700 height=525]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/61048C20-B2BF-4ABD-B705-720D827725F3_zpsj01ukgfu.jpg[/img] (http://s1023.photobucket.com/user/jackcrow2000/media/61048C20-B2BF-4ABD-B705-720D827725F3_zpsj01ukgfu.jpg.html)[img width=700 height=525]http://i1023.photobucket.com/albums/af356/jackcrow2000/DA76D466-32AC-4A6D-8ADB-D612CAAF3E63_zpssg81vqyt.jpg[/img] (http://s1023.photobucket.com/user/jackcrow2000/media/DA76D466-32AC-4A6D-8ADB-D612CAAF3E63_zpssg81vqyt.jpg.html)

Nice work Duke ole buddy

I'm now midway through the 5th dungeon. Overall, I'm enjoying it a lot. The dungeons in particular are my favourite.

I've always been a big fan of Star Tropics and I knew that was greatly influenced by Zelda, but it's amazing just how much they borrowed. Almost all the enemies in ST are exactly like enemies in Zelda both in appearance and behaviour.

One thing I don't like, which isn't zelda-specific rather a complaint I have about a lot of retro games, is all the secrets. I think secrets can be well done but imagining playing this in the 80s, trying to blow up random walls and somehow finding out you need to burn the 5th bush from the right with a candle just seems ridiculous. I looked up a walkthough and picked up extra heart containers and the blue ring. With those things, the dungeons have not been very difficult. However, without them, it would probably be quite tough. The idea of completely missing upgrades and items because they're very difficult to find bothers me.

Other than that, the only thing that really bugs me gameplay-wise is the knockback when you get hit by something. I've experienced being bounced between two enemies a few times and it sure is annoying.

Having played these games back in the 80s, what you say is true. It was difficult to find out all of the secrets, and that's how they added "value" to the games back then in some cases. Where many NES games can be quickly beaten, getting a game that would take you hours and hours to play through made you feel like you got your money's worth. I played games like this and Metroid to death back then, and if you got stuck you had the Nintendo hint line, Nintendo's own guide, or Nintendo Power. Probably the best part was just sharing stories and tips with your friends at school. Once one person figured something out, the word got around really quickly. Different days.

+1. Those days were incredible. I remember these school yard and lunchroom conversations vividly. Good times.

Just did the last regular dungeon and completed the triforce.

The difficulty spike in this one was kind of absurd. Room full blue Darknuts with and four projectile statues? No problem!
 :grrr:

For a while there, the frustration completely took the wind out of my sails. However, I know I'm at the end of the game, and even if the final dungeon sucks even worse, which I'm sure it will, at least I'm almost done.

Finished!

Nice one to cross of the list.

Final dungeon was not too bad. The blue Wizzrobes were pretty frigging annoying with how they spammed their wand projectiles at you, but I'm still sticking with "room fulla blue Darknuts" as the most tedious and annoying thing in the game.

One thing that kind of annoyed me is how the secondary weapons like the bow and arrow and magic wand just flat out don't work on a lot of enemies. Maybe it would have made the game too easy, but it made me feel like I had all these cool toys that I just couldn't do anything with.

Lastly, here was my loadout when I got to Ganon. I thought I got every item the game had to offer, but out of curiosity, did I miss something that belongs in the inventory next to the warp whistle, or does that just stay empty?

[img width=512 height=448]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/grayghost81/The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%20USA%20Rev%20A-7_zpsfz98sjzt.jpg[/img]

That spot is just for the food/bait, which you probably didn't buy again after level 7.

Ah! Right! Forgot about that.

On another note, I just beat JAWS for the first time in my life. That game is awesome.

Was just messing around with BS Zelda just to see what it looks like. It is really beautiful, and makes me wish Nintendo gave the original game the Super Mario All-Starts treatment so you could play it like this. Plus you can play as Zelda!

[img width=512 height=448]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/grayghost81/The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%20-%20A%20Link%20to%20the%20Past%20USA-0_zpsolx90l52.jpg[/img]
[img width=512 height=448]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/grayghost81/The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%20-%20A%20Link%20to%20the%20Past%20USA-1_zps0vb0p7cb.jpg[/img]
[img width=512 height=448]http://i60.photobucket.com/albums/h32/grayghost81/The%20Legend%20of%20Zelda%20-%20A%20Link%20to%20the%20Past%20USA-2_zpski1qfxvb.jpg[/img]

Wow, that's pretty neat!

I've seen some repro carts of this out there, but never played it. Looks really nice.

I seen the BS Zelda Translated ROMS, I might try that.  in other news got back to the week one check point.  but Im playing it on my 3DS VC this time.

Hope everyone's doing well with Zelda. New checkpoint is up and we are starting the second Quest this week for those interested.

Question - is there a map for the overworld that's findable in game at all?

No there isn't. However, there was one that came with the game at retail.

Here's essentially the one that came with the game. This one has overlays for where to find things though, so I've hidden it behind the spoiler tag. Applies to Quest 1 only.

Spoiler (hover to show)

http://www.nesmaps.com/maps/Zelda/ZeldaOverworldMapQ1.png
[img width=700 height=226]http://www.nesmaps.com/maps/Zelda/ZeldaOverworldMapQ1.png[/img]

nesmaps.com is a good resource if you are ok with it.

I never knew this existed.  Very cool.

Here's the Spoiler free quest 2 map:  http://nesmaps.com/maps/Zelda/ZeldaOverworldQ2BG.html

I finished Dungeon 5 last night, including finding the flute, and beat the dragon in Dungeon 6 and found the heart container and Triforce piece, but I didn't locate the magic want thingy, so I'm going to have to go back and tackle that again.

I can't think of an example where the wand is needed, but it can be handy, especially with bubbles around.

If only it worked on Wizzrobes...

Nice work FRO!  You're really working your way through it. :)

Or Darknuts...

I think in every instance the bow and arrow is a better choice. I guess if you have the magic book, you can pin mummies back...


Anyway, I've completed the 2nd quest and I'm pretty sure this is the first time I've ever done so.

[img width=700 height=393]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/20160817_192707_zpsnvyvj3pe.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/20160817_192707_zpsnvyvj3pe.jpg.html)

I remember trying to do this in my youth before the internet. Nintendo Power helped a little, but not enough. I think I bombed and torched every square inch of the game and I still got stuck half-way through.


I'd like to talk about something near and dear to me from my childhood - the manual to LoZ.

There wasn't a lot of to-go entertainment in the late 80's and the best way I could think of to escape boredom on long car rides to Grandma's house was to bring NES manuals with me in the car. LoZ easily took the cake. It was in full color, it was thick, it had story, and best of all, great art work. This art work enhanced the game for me as a kid. Link was not the same size as an Octorok, Darknut, or Wizzrobe, like he is depicted in the game. He is a small fry in massive labyrinths battling behemoths. This really got my young imagination going and truly made LoZ a better experience for me.

In the spoilers are some pages of art from the manual...

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=600 height=315]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/ce55f038856eb77f7401bfa9bb059a30_zpssnbdf8wy.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/ce55f038856eb77f7401bfa9bb059a30_zpssnbdf8wy.jpg.html)

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=400 height=258]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/50ba3d4737ef63227c83f51c5ad1e553_zpsyr3afwyv.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/50ba3d4737ef63227c83f51c5ad1e553_zpsyr3afwyv.jpg.html)

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=311 height=162]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/index_zpsv6rf3uhm.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/index_zpsv6rf3uhm.jpg.html)

Spoiler (hover to show)

[img width=700 height=270]http://i1033.photobucket.com/albums/a420/JerryGreenwood/z1manual-37-38_zps6oepupmm.jpg[/img] (http://s1033.photobucket.com/user/JerryGreenwood/media/z1manual-37-38_zps6oepupmm.jpg.html)

@JerryGreenwood: Congrats!

I highly recommend everyone checks out the site Legends of Localization:

http://legendsoflocalization.com/the-legend-of-zelda/

Thanks addicted. I checked out that website and I saw something that reminded me of a question I wanted to ask...

What's with the 1992 from the 'Copyright 1986 1992 Nintendo' on your final screen shot?

That's a great question. I was playing the re release version. A couple of the FDS titles were ported over to Famicom carts. If you have a chance try the Japanese version. It's the one of the only times where yelling at the game will help you.

You can see a scan of the game with the copyright 1992 here:

http://www.rfgeneration.com/cgi-bin/getinfo.pl?ID=J-027-S-03740-A&type=gs

Its crazy all the little changes done between the regions. Why not leave the music and graphics the same?

Final checkpoint, while obvious, is up. ;)

No joke!

Obtained achievements 5, 7, & 9.  I'm just starting the 2nd quest, though with my wife home from her trip, I doubt I'll get a ton of game time in before the end of the month, so going after the 2nd quest may just be a leisure activity for me at this point ;D

I'm currently in the 5th dungeon. I wasted my bombs looking for secret passages then came to a room with Dodongos, which I now can't kill to open up the next passage. The idea of leaving the dungeon and finding a shop to sell me more bombs (or going back to a previous dungeon to find a key I must have previously missed) is very unappealing, so I haven't played it in over a week.

Usually when you need bombs in a dungeon, the room itself or rooms close by will drop a bomb when you kill all the enemies. That is a good tip that you have something to look for.

Also, if you obtain the map in each dungeon, you can better eliminate which walls are probably not bombable. According to the instruction booklet (which everyone should take a moment to look over because it's fascinating), each dungeon takes on a certain shape.  Never had to leave a dungeon to get bombs and never had to buy bombs or a key in this game.  

Also, in the first quest, you never have to go back to another dungeon to find a key. All dungeon keys are self-contained in the first quest.  The key is to take your time and explore the dungeons fully.  This is not a game that is meant to be played through quickly for first timers (unless you use a walkthrough).  Games were meant to last back in our day.

GET OFF MY DAMN GRASS DUKE.TOGO!

Whippersnappers...

Even when you were still a young green banana? I've run out of bombs plenty of times in the 2nd quest due to not knowing where the secret rooms that are not labeled on the map are and because I find them very handy in a room full of darknuts.

Nope, never.  If I run out of bombs, I simply grind for them. Never purchased them from the shop.  I ran out of bombs several times in one of the 2nd quest dungeons this month.  I just kept circling around the dungeon and grinding for them.  Enemies repop at an okay rate.  Also, I never use them on Darknuts. I've become really accustomed to their patterns over the years and take them down relatively easy.  Wizzrobes are the bane of my existence...

Hmm, I backtracked in the dungeon hoping an enemy would drop me some bombs (or I'd find a key) but I didn't have any luck. I'll look harder.

Use a dungeon map if you get stuck.  Please do what you can to enjoy the game during the month.  As I think I've mentioned, a month is not really enough time to fully explore and finish the game as a new player without a guide.  This game took me months and months to finish as a kid.

WOOOOOOOOO HOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!

Second Quest down!

[img width=700 height=393]http://i1029.photobucket.com/albums/y359/necrom99/Playthroughs/IMG_20160824_242655268_zpscq9ijbaq.jpg[/img]

Went back to give dungeon 5 another shot and... realized I had forgotten to save after dungeon 4. Dammit. Replayed that, then when I went into 5 fresh, I had no issues with bombs or keys and got through rather easily.

Dungeon 6 seems like a huge step up in difficulty though. Lots of rooms filled with those Wizard things and I think my good shield got eaten at some point. I may need to go grab a red potion.

The looping overworld music is starting to get on my nerves.

@singlebanana: Congrats!

Playing it on my 3DS doesn't have the same feel as the nes

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G930A using Tapatalk

You are correct in that Dungeon 6 is a bit of a climb in difficult; Wizzrobes are my least favorite enemies. I would even argue that Lvl 5 is a giant step up, since I have vivid memories of how difficult it was to obtain the flute when I was a kid (damn rooms full of Darknuts).  I will say that some of that difficulty falls off in the last two dungeons before you hit the last dungeon; maybe Miyamoto was feeling generous.  Level 7 brings back some easier familiar enemies and besides Darknuts, Lvl 8 is more of the same (with multiple bosses). However, I'm pretty sure you don't encounter Wizzrobes again until the final level.

@Banana - Only 12 deaths in the 2nd quest? Very impressive!

I think you're at the point, especially since you're new to the game, where you will be buying a TON of Red Potions. Maybe even needing to restock 2, 3, or 4 times per dungeon. That tends to be frustrating for a beginner because grinding for rupies can take a bit of time unless you know which bushes to burn and mountains to bomb for the secret Moblin spots.

Really, the music? I'm not saying it's the greatest song in the VG world, but it is one of the most iconic. At least it doesn't loop as quickly as the dungeon music.