MAMEWorld Forums - The Loony Bin - Re: Legend of Zelda without a sword

> Impressive people actually beat that game without a guide (or Internet) and spent a
> large time trying to find the hidden paths when it came out.
>
> I was just talking about this with a friend the other day. Gaming today is weird in
> that if you pay more money, you get more unlocked, more weapons, etc. which makes the
> game easier.
>
> Growing up with an Atari 2600, NES, and Genesis and playing the games now....those
> games were ruthless and unforgiving. You had to pretty much do everything exactly
> right to the point where you memorize everything about the game.
>
> I could just imagine if the first Legend of Zelda came out on modern consoles instead
> of the NES, you'd be able to buy (with real money) swords, heart containers, bombs,
> and items if the game was getting too hard.

It was kind of the same thing back in the day, though. They didn't have the technology for in-game purchases, so instead they sold you strategy guides and mags like Nintendo Power. Nintendo also ran that tip line for years, where "game counselors" would talk you through the hard parts.

I remember at the height of the NES in the late '80s, they were really pushing their luck with more-or-less requiring outside help to finish the game. Castlevania 2 had all of those nonsensical clues and stuff that you pretty much weren't going to figure out on your own. And I think it was Milon's Secret Castle that was basically unplayable without the tips that were printed in Nintendo Power.