I Never Realized Two Major Nintendo Franchises Share the Same Birthday

by

February 21st is a significant date for Nintendo because two of its most popular franchises were originally released on that day, just a few days apart. For over forty years, Nintendo has been a leading force in the gaming world, creating some of the most recognizable and beloved characters and series. These characters have consistently delivered diverse gameplay experiences across many genres, solidifying their place as gaming icons.

Reviewing Nintendo’s history provides a great opportunity to consider how video games have changed and how Nintendo titles have influenced the industry. While The Legend of Zelda recently celebrated its 40th anniversary, another popular Nintendo series actually shares a similar birthday, though a few years later. It’s interesting to note that both games were key in starting major franchises and were important technological advancements for the company.

The Legend Of Zelda Turns 40

Today marks the 40th anniversary of The Legend of Zelda. First released in Japan for the Famicom on February 21, 1986, it came to North America and Europe with the launch of the NES the next year. This groundbreaking fantasy adventure is still considered one of Nintendo’s most important games. The North American and European versions were also innovative for their use of an internal battery, allowing players to save their progress – a feature that has become standard in gaming today.

When The Legend of Zelda was released, it stood out from other games due to its vast and expansive world. Directed by Shigeru Miyamoto and Takashi Tezuka, it created the kind of immersive adventure that has become a hallmark of gaming. It was also one of the first games to offer a truly open-ended experience, letting players explore and discover at their own pace. Remarkably, the team was simultaneously working on Super Mario Bros., which had already become a huge success and helped shape the modern gaming industry. The Legend of Zelda essentially laid the foundation for the action-RPG genre and continues to influence developers and delight players even now, forty years later, despite the many sequels, spin-offs, and remakes it has spawned.

Star Fox Debuted A Few Years After The Legend Of Zelda But Shares A Birthday

As a huge Nintendo fan, it’s cool to learn that The Legend of Zelda isn’t the only game with a February 21st birthday! Star Fox first came out in Japan on that date in 1993. It started as a simple flight game called NESGlider on the NES, but it really took off when it moved to the Super Nintendo. It was a really fun take on those arcade flight simulators, and it had a huge impact on gaming. What really blew me away was the graphics – they were way ahead of their time for consoles! To make it all work, they actually had to create a special chip called the Super FX. It was the first chip that helped consoles handle 3D graphics, and it seriously boosted the Super Nintendo’s power.

The Super Nintendo’s focus on 3D graphics gave it impressive processing power and helped pave the way for modern console gaming, resulting in beautifully designed games. The original Star Fox game challenged players with skill-based combat while guiding them through waves of enemy ships. This innovative approach was a significant achievement, and the game’s popularity spawned several sequels, though a new main installment hasn’t been released in years. Thanks to games like Super Smash Bros., characters like Fox remain popular with Nintendo fans, and the game’s 30th anniversary could inspire Nintendo to revisit the franchise. While Star Fox hasn’t reached the same level of success as The Legend of Zelda, it still deserves recognition as a beloved and enduring part of the Nintendo family.

Read More

2026-02-21 20:12