Famicom Disk System and Legend of Zelda turn 30!

[Nutsy Doodleheimer]

Today marks an important anniversary for Nintendo. On February 21, 1986 the Famicom console got an add on peripheral device called The Famicom Disk System. It was announced but never released in North America and Europe. Only released in Japan it had a very long lifespan lasting until 2003 (17 years) and almost 4.5 million units sold. It's media was floppy disk cards for data storage and featured 112 KB of storage space with the oppurtunity to rewrite games over them. Quite impressive for something cheaper than an expensive cartridge with a battery back up for saving data.

 

The device is connected to the Famicom deck by plugging a special cartridge known as the RAM Adapter into the system's cartridge port, and attaching that cartridge's cable to the disk drive. The RAM adapter contains 32 KB of RAM for temporary program storage, 8 KB of RAM for tile and sprite data storage, and an ASIC known as the 2C33. The ASIC acts as a disk controller for the floppy drive, and also includes additional sound hardware featuring a single-cycle wavetable-lookup synthesizer. Finally, embedded in the 2C33 is an 8KB BIOS ROM. The Disk Cards used are double-sided, with a total capacity of 112 KB per disk. Many games span both sides of a disk, requiring the user to switch sides at some point during gameplay. A few games use two full disks, totaling four sides. The Disk System is capable of running on six C-cell batteries or the supplied AC adapter. Batteries usually last five months with daily game play. The battery option is due to the likelihood of a standard set of AC plugs already being occupied by a Famicom and a television. Later that Summer, Sharp collaborated with Nintendo to release a dual system device called the Twin Famicom. It is a 2 in 1 system with both the cartridge and disk system. And I own one of these puppies.

 

 

 

Also importantly marks the 30th Anniversary to one of Nintendo's iconic franchises. The Legend of Zelda

(Zeruda no Densetsu: The Hyrule Fantasy in Japan). It was released in North America in August 1987 and November 1987 in Europe. It was one of Nintendo's best sellers. Selling 6.5 million copies as well as being mentioned numerous times as one of the greatest and most influential video games; also to mention a spiritual forerunner in the role playing video game genre.

 

The player controls Link from a flip-screen overhead perspective as he travels in the overworld, a large outdoor map with varied environments. Link begins the game armed only with a small shield, but a sword becomes available to Link after he ventures into a cave that is accessible from the game's first map screen. And can upgrade pending the heart container amount. Throughout the game, various characters aid Link by giving or selling equipment and clues. Gamble to earn or lose rupees. Be warned some can deduct rupees for bombing and burning their doors down. These people can be found in caves scattered throughout the overworld; some are readily accessible, while others are hidden behind obstacles such as rocks, trees, and waterfalls.

Barring Link's progress are creatures he must battle to locate the entrances to nine underground dungeons. Each dungeon is a unique, maze-like collection of rooms connected by doors and hidden passages, and guarded by monsters different from those found on the surface. Dungeons also contain useful items which Link can add to his arsenal, such as a boomerang for retrieving distant items and stunning enemies, and a magic flute with magical properties. Link must successfully navigate through each of the first eight dungeons to obtain all eight pieces of the Triforce of Wisdom. Once he has completed the artifact, he can enter the ninth dungeon to rescue Zelda. Apart from this exception, the order of completing dungeons is somewhat left to the player, although they steadily increase in difficulty and some of them can only be reached or completed using items gained in a previous one. In addition, the entrances of the three highest-level dungeons are hidden. Link can freely wander the overworld, finding and buying items at any point. This flexibility enables unusual ways of playing the game. For example, it is possible to reach the final boss of the game without ever receiving the sword. After that you begin a second quest which have shops, secrets, bonus items, and newer dungeons moved in different locations. You can access it by entering 'Zelda' in the menu file screen. The Legend of Zelda ranks as my favorite NES game of all time and spent many countless hours from my childhood in the late 80's to over 25 years later today. A highly reccommended and must have game for anyone collecting for the NES.

(Don't you just hate that asshole!!)

[OldSchoolRetroGamer]

Wow nice post Keith!