In 1986, the streets were filled with amateur re-enactments of an all-Merseyside FA Cup Final, girls were swooning over Maverick and Goose in Top Gun and teenage boys everywhere were furtively drawing their curtains in the day time in order to be alone with their games consoles.

At the cutting edge of the video game revolution were Nintendo and, as pasty young things seriously risked a vitamin D deficiency wrestling daily with titles like Elite and Underworld, the Japanese trailblazers introduced a catchy little number called The Legend of Zelda.

Even the most optimistic suit at Nintendo Towers could not have foreseen the impact 'Zelda' would have. Long after those Top Gun posters had perished and the playground Gary Linekers of 1986 themselves become parents, even grandparents, Zelda is still going strong.

Through a variety of facelifts, spin-offs and platform versions, The Legend of Zelda series has amassed global sales in the region of 60 million units. It was also hugely influential in its use of detailed storytelling and soundtrack music.

Nintendo is marking the 25th anniversary of the first release of The Legend of Zelda by hosting a unique symphony concert at the Hammersmith Apollo. A 70-piece orchestra and a choir will perform new arrangements of a variety of songs from the series' 25-year history, all hand-picked by Nintendo composer Koji Kondo and his team.

The Legend of Zelda 25th Anniversary Symphony takes place at the Hammersmith Apollo on 25th October 2011, the only European date on the global tour.

We have tickets available now, priced from £33.75 to £100 for the best stalls.