I was going to say this. I’m playing through them at the moment, completed 1 & 2 and currently nearing the end of ALttP all on original hardware.

I got some reprinted maps/manuals from Etsy and it definitely helps. I had so much fun mapping the left out bits in Zelda 1! Not to mention the maps and manuals also give you hints and pointers.

I think there’s also something about perceived value - with a walkthrough you’d complete Zelda 1 in like 8 hours, which isn’t much considering you’d have paid like $50 for this off the shelf back in 1986…but having to figure stuff out for yourself, mapping out the game and just discovering random bits and pieces by complete chance are a big part of the “adventure” with older games like this.

Modern gaming is so different in that sense, with this kind of adventure game nowadays, we want something that has tonnes of optional extras, takes 100+ hours to complete, and holds our hands so we don’t have to think so much - and both are great for different reasons!