As per the criteria of 1980s console games, ‘The Legend of Zelda’ on NES had an extensive world. Decades ago, it was a common practice to draw one’s own map in order to keep track of each dungeon and secret. However, various alternative techniques are available now. For example; 3D printing a replica of the game’s complete overworld.
The creation was bought by Willard McFarland who shared the picture given below on Twitter. The piece was purchased via a Facebook group known as “Trade Sell Collect Retro”. McFarland told that the person he purchased it from that he had devoted six months assembling the map in “Minecraft”. Later, it was used by them to develop a file for a 3D printer. After 24 hours of printing and six hours of painting, the result looked like this;
Mike Matei, Retro gamer and web series producer, then carried on to upload and share a series of higher resolution pictures of the map that he received from McFarland. Ranging from the game’s various dungeons and notorious graveyard to small tunnel entrances and river docks, several minute details have been shown in the zoomed in pictures below.
Consigned to the pages of ambiguous and difficult to find magazines, such as “first issue of Nintendo Power” and copies of “Nintendo Fun Club #2”, quality 2D maps of Nintendo’s first Legend of Zelda have been rare in the past. However, even the treasured artifacts like the above “Minecraft”-inspired rendering don’t really capture the game’s vibrant setting. Nonetheless, nothing can be ever as loveable as the hand-drawn map of Legend of Zelda created by someone’s aunt.
Which version of the map would you prefer? Do you have your own maps for the amazing and addictive game? If yes, then don’t hesitate in sharing and keeping the gaming spirit alive!