So, I've played this Zelda before, and I think it might have been the first Zelda I ever beat. I had a ton of help from walkthroughs my first time because this game is CRYPTIC to a determinantal level. Despite that, I've always had a fondness for this one in particular and I think it has a kind of magic that is never really captured again for this series(Link's Awakening gets pretty darn close tho). Most of my knowledge comes through that playthrough I had in high school so I'm not going in blind here, but I REFUSE to look up anything else about this game besides the manual.
For this playthrough, I'm playing on original hardware with one of my favorite cartridges. I love this heckin' thing dude. It straight up looks like a relic from the past, while OOZING charm from the late 20th century with its cheap-ass plastic and gold paint. However, I got bummer news gamers. As of right now, I don't own a CRT tv and don't have a capture card, so I'm just taking pictures of the game through my flat screen. Hopefully, in the coming months I'll be able to capture these games in the most authentic way possible: Through a shitty camera pointed at a crusty CRT.
Here's Freak, he's ready to kick major ass, dude.
(Charlie Brown lookin' fucker)
I blasted through the first three dungeons on muscle memory and struggled a bit with the fourth dungeon before finally pulling through with a magic potion (sorry Robby). It was around this point I realized I should be exploring the overworld to get better equipment so I went ahead and
Spoiler!
There are a ton of little moments that teach the player mechanics, and this is one of my favorite examples. The circle enemies are called Bubbles (dumb name) and they make Link temporarily lose the ability to swing his sword when they hit him. At this point in the game, you probably found the boomerang, and if you run out of bombs that is the only tool left at your disposal (unless you're a freak that bought the bow and arrows already and actually use it). The slime-looking guys are called Zols and when they get slashed they turn into smaller slimes called Gels. These enemies and the bats in the room make the perfect opportunity to show the player that boomerangs can kill these weaker enemies. It's really smart stuff.
She is the worst dude. This FIEND will steal your cash if you don't pick the middle option in some spots. The absolute worst man. Also, no game should have a beeping noise that plays constantly when you are low on health. Probably the biggest thing we all hate to some degree is that this game will have spots that need to be bombed or burned that are hardly telegraphed, and that's a bummer. I've yet to stumble onto one of real significance but in the late game, this experience turns sour if you don't know where the secret areas are. That's about all my complaints though. I can't think of anything els-
So far this second playthrough has been a blast. I'm having a ton of fun rediscovering all the secrets and areas littered throughout this world. Let me tell you, there is no greater joy than sitting on the floor staring at these funky little pixels while eating buffalo chicken pizza and drinking Dr. Pepper late into the night. It OWNS.
<- Fergus.