I've been replaying the original Legend of Zelda on my NES, and I'm just blown away by how well it holds up. The sense of exploration is still unmatched. What do you all think? Is it still a masterpiece, or has it been surpassed by its sequels?

Totally agree. It's the sense of freedom that makes it so special. No hand-holding, just a sword and a huge world to explore. A Link to the Past is amazing, but the original has a certain magic to it.