EPTWhat Started It All...
For me, the RPG genre of video games are an extremely special part of my life. To begin, the system console responsible for starting all of my gaming experiences is the legendary Super Nintendo. Fueled by 16-bit graphics and capable of displaying aesthetic two dimensional images, I've played many games, from Zelda: A Link to the Past, to one of my all time favorites, Super Mario RPG: Legend of the Seven Stars. Many gamers will probably agree with me when I say SNES will go down in history as THE classic video game system. There's so much I have to say, but I wish to spare you all from overdrive mode of the 16 cylinder turbo engine in the form of my 10 fingers, so I'll be breaking these entries up. I'll focus on SNES Zelda today.
![[image loading]](http://skolwebb.orebro.se/users/xvinor23/Nintendo/link_to_the_past.gif)
Zelda fans: bring back memories?
Indeed, I believe Zelda took my first RPG gaming experience. For me, this and one more reason is why Zelda holds a very special place in my heart. The other reason? I don't remember the details too clearly, but I do remember this: each Zelda game took me many months to complete. Yes, that's right. MONTHS! When I began SNES Zelda, it took me at least a good few weeks just to get past the Hyrule Castle (and that's just the beginning!). To demonstrate, I'll walk you through using pictures:
Castle Layout 1
![[image loading]](http://www.zeldadungeon.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10130/Hyrulecastle1.JPG)
I was determined to get through this!
So where it says entrance is, obviously, where I entered the castle. I followed the routes all the way around and about, determined to explore every nook and cranny of the castle. Well, one thing led to another...
Castle Layout 2
![[image loading]](http://www.zeldadungeon.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10130/Hyrulecastle2.JPG)
Wait...how big is this place?!
So, the castle was a bit bigger than I thought, but I couldn't let my determination waver! How could I take pride as a hardcore video game fan if I couldn't even get past this?
Castle Layout 3
![[image loading]](http://www.zeldadungeon.net/gallery/albums/userpics/10130/Hyrulecastle3.JPG)
My mind asplode...
Unfortunately for me, there was no internet back then. I suppose there were game guide magazines, but I had neither the resources nor mommy's permission to obtain such precious gems. My only hope was to rely on my own wits and persistence to plow onward to defeat the evil wizard Agahnim and perhaps a more sinister evil...OMGBBQSAUCE, SPOILER ALERT!!!+ Show Spoiler +
Ganon. Never would've guessed, huh?
As I've said before, this castle gave me a whole world of trouble. I couldn't get past the part where I had to find a secret passage from the sanctuary. Refer to the first picture from castle image 2. For the life of me, the secret wouldn't reveal itself. I swiped at curtains. I lit each (already lit) candle. I even swung my sword around every inch of the room in the four directions you can swing. That conundrum took me at least a few weeks to solve. The solution?!
rumroll*![[image loading]](http://www.gamethink.net/IMG/jpg/snes_zelda_a_link_to_the_past_secret_passage.jpg)
Ja Jan!! Yes! Push the huge, not-so-obvious looking obstacle from the left!
That was one of the few puzzles that kept me playing this game for an amount of time beyond my knowledge. Now, watch as I demonstrate how a modern day 12 year old accomplishes what I struggled over for about a month's worth of time in under 10 minutes:
By 6:10, this prepubescent brat whizzes past the obstacle that took me a month to figure out.
Now, some of you may laugh at me and call me a nOo0b...yea, I guess I was :/
Back then, I was an 8 year old kid, excited about playing a completely new type of game. I was quite used to the simplicity of the pretty colors and linear gameplay from Super Mario World, which I played since I was either two or three years old. I was suddenly forced to step up to the big boys' league. That was a monumental point in my gaming career, retrieving that shiny gray Zelda cartridge from a colorful, glossy package. To further demonstrate my point, I'll have you observe:
![[image loading]](http://www.mywii.com.au/img/game/The-Legend-Of-Zelda--A-Link-To-The-Past-1.jpg)
Oooh, pretty colors~ can you believe that cost $49.99 back in the day? (plus tax!!)
You'd expect any elementary student to wet his pants just wrapping his mind around the glorious journey that awaits during his after-school hours. Blood, sweat and tears through countless dungeons and endless puzzles kept me playing immediately after school until my 9:30 curfew. Indeed, my parents weren't too please when my grades dropped. Rather exponentially.
To Be Continued...
![[image loading]](http://www.modelguns-worldwide.com/images/rpg7a.jpg)
![[image loading]](http://www.mobygames.com/images/shots/original/1132944409-00.png)
