eleased by Nintendo in August 1987 for the NES, The Legend of Zelda introduced the open-world adventure genre to home consoles. The signature gold-foiled cartridge, gold-bordered Black Box, and battery-backed save memory made it the most technically and visually distinctive release of the NES era.
The 1987 gold-box first print is the anchor of the entire Zelda lineage. The gold cartridge — actual gold-coloured plastic, not chrome paint — is the structural feature that distinguishes the 1987-88 production window from the later gray-cart re-releases. Sealed WATA 9.4 A+ trades in the $20,000–40,000 band; the 9.6+ tier has produced the highest documented NES private sale ($870,000, 2021).
NintendoNintendo R&D41987Action-Adventure
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