Zelda 1989

About

Zelda is a multiscreen Game & Watch game that was only released in English as a stand-alone system pre-loaded with the single game. It has dual screens which fold in a clamshell design, similar to the Nintendo DS. It was re-released as part of the Nintendo Mini Classics line in 1998 and 2007. The complete game can also be unlocked in Game & Watch Gallery 4 for the Game Boy Advance and Wii U Virtual Console. Its core formula is based on that of the original The Legend of Zelda, where Link must fight through eight dungeons and obtain the eight shards of the Triforce of Wisdom. However, it bears more gameplay similarities to The Adventure of Link, since it is 2D and from a side-on perspective. The game features an original, though minimal storyline.

Story

As the eight dragons cannot live in peace with humans, they decide to take over the world. Eventually, they kidnap Princess Zelda and lock her in a dungeon which can only be opened with the Triforce. Each of the dragons is located in their own labyrinth, and each guards a different fragment of the Triforce. Link sets out to destroy all eight dragons and reassemble the Triforce to free Zelda from the dragons' dungeon. Once Link defeats the last dragon, he reassembles the Triforce and frees Zelda from her prison.

What is happening now

The Legend of Zelda began as a Game & Watch title in 1989 and has since become one of Nintendo's most enduring franchises, spanning numerous platforms and iterations. The series remains a touchstone for adventure game design, with its influence visible across indie and commercial releases alike. Recent coverage has centered on remake speculation and expanded Zelda media. An Ocarina of Time remake for Switch 2 has generated substantial fan interest, though it did not appear in Nintendo's Gamescom 2026 lineup, casting doubt on release timing. Meanwhile, Nintendo is developing a live-action Zelda film as part of a broader push to extend the franchise into cinema. The franchise continues inspiring fan projects and commercial spin-offs - including a co-op adventure launching on Switch and free-to-play titles blending Zelda design with other franchises. Industry discussion has also turned to design history, exploring past constraints like Shigeru Miyamoto's initial reluctance to let players unequip Link's sword, a limitation eventually overcome in later entries.