Speaking to you being a new collector in general, unless you have money to burn, I would slow down and not jump at a $400 copy of a game Especially when you have questions of it even being worth that amount. Slow down so you don't burn out. Hopefully you get a good rating if you grade it. If Zelda II is your jam though I'd personally sell it and get a better looking copy.
The best advice I can give you is to not waste your time and money on sealed games and especially not on the VGA money racket. Buy a nice CIB copy for 1/10th the price, it looks exactly the same on your shelf.
I am not whatsoever an expert on sealed games. It is my understanding, based on that last picture posted, that where the seams connect should pull down the seam on the side of the box when it is factory sealed. The fact that the seam on the side of the box is almost perfectly straight across especially in the middle would indicate to me that it is a reseal.
That seal does indeed look janky. Too much extra plastic (or is that glue?) in a few places. Also, like arnopoly said, the plastic should be bunched up a little just before it reaches the edge of the box. You do not have that here. I am 99% sure it's a reseal.
By your pictures, the seams look not as straight as they are normally, but I've seen non consistent seams alike before on legit sealed games. The numerous creases on the box look suspicious too. Your best bet to verified if it has chances to be legit is to look for any signs that show if the box ever got opened before. Usually, when a box is opened, there's a white crease forming to the spine where the box opens (at the back). You could also take a close shot of that spine and post it on here for us to check. This said, even if it is legit, I personally don't think it would grade for 75, more like 70 and below (I don't have huge experience in grades lower than 80, but 75 definitely sounds too optimistic).
I'll also add that you don't need to listen to the mass moralists that will tell you're insane to buy sealed games for whatever reason. You're goal of getting your 16 favorite games is not only financially reasonable, it is your concern and only yours. Some guys think that giving advices mean trying to put their head on your shoulders, which is not helping you but simply an attempt to enforce their opinions on you. This said, I would still advise you to aim for better condition sealed copies (if possible), cause not only your 16 games goal make it financially viable, but also cause in mid-long term it is a better idea to have the greatest condition copies if you ever need to part with them. Not only they are more likely to raise in price (even if it is not a concern), but it is much more easy to sell a top condition item quick than a beat up one.
Comments
this one right?
http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-ZELDA-II-THE-ADVENTURE-OF-LINK-Nintendo-NES-Sealed-w-H-Seam-Gold-/111656549158?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item19ff3fbb26&nma=true&si=90vG215JsJpuXbjDar47ipj8pGU%3D&orig_cvip=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557
I'd say that's less than 75 in condition for sure.
I'll also add that you don't need to listen to the mass moralists that will tell you're insane to buy sealed games for whatever reason. You're goal of getting your 16 favorite games is not only financially reasonable, it is your concern and only yours. Some guys think that giving advices mean trying to put their head on your shoulders, which is not helping you but simply an attempt to enforce their opinions on you. This said, I would still advise you to aim for better condition sealed copies (if possible), cause not only your 16 games goal make it financially viable, but also cause in mid-long term it is a better idea to have the greatest condition copies if you ever need to part with them. Not only they are more likely to raise in price (even if it is not a concern), but it is much more easy to sell a top condition item quick than a beat up one.