The Legend of Zelda franchise has reached epic status since its launch on the Nintendo Entertainment System. Since then, the series has accrued millions of fans, and countless grand adventures have starred the series’ protagonist, Link. The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition, released in 2003, features four games from the series, and it is a true must-have for gamers who have missed out on the series as well as die-hard Zelda aficionados.
The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition - Pros
What makes The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition so special is its rich Zelda history. The disc includes The Legend of Zelda (NES), Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES), The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (N64), and The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask (N64). Each quest is fairly large, so the entire disc is a long-lasting gameplay experience perfect for Zelda fans.
The standout title on the disc is Ocarina of Time, which is considered by many to be the greatest Zelda game of all time. Nothing has been removed from this or any other game on the disc, so all four titles are complete. They are, however, reworked around the GameCube controller. But the control scheme works so well that it feels like a perfect replacement for the Nintendo and Nintendo 64 controllers.
The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition – Cons
Unfortunately, The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition isn’t perfect. The biggest disappointment is that the disc lacks The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, originally released for the Super Nintendo. This game is lauded by fans of the SNES era and Zelda fans alike, and its omission from the disc leaves a bit to be desired. Many gamers hold A Link to the Past on a pedestal like Ocarina of Time, so its exclusion is disappointing.
Another gripe with The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition is the faulty emulation. The four titles on the disc are basically saved ROMs rather than direct ports, so a few glitches, primarily in the sound, are prominent throughout the games. The Zelda series is known for its memorable music, and hearing tracks skip when Link enters a new area is downright annoying.
The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition – The Verdict
Even after seven years since its promotional launch, The Legend of Zelda: Collector’s Edition remains a beautiful piece of gaming history. It features four games from one of the most iconic video game franchises of all time all on one disc. And while there are some minor flaws with the package, that doesn’t take away from the fact that this is still one of the best video game compilations ever created.
David Sanchez - David Sanchez is a college student and freelance games jounalist. What was once a hobby for him is now a passion, and he looks to someday ...
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