Completely honest, this was my first game. I got it with my original NES... along with Super Mario Bros., of course, but this was truly my first game. Maybe, since I was only 4, it was the gold cartridge? Or maybe it was something more... like the sword? Or the music? Either way, I didn't understand what the heck I was doing... but I loved it. I believe it paved the way for my love of all games but primarily the adventure, rpg genres... There's just something about aquiring gear as you go and turing from peasant into hero.
