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[Biggest-Geek-Ever]

I, for one, can't wait until mathematicians find an equation that can perfectly quantify the quality of a game. To hell with opinions and the like!

 

[Regulus Tera]

Why does it always become a battle of exaggerations on message board debates?

Because manchildren!

exactly, that's why people advocating for sucking out all the humanity in reviews rubs me the wrong way.

I see no reason for why he can't be excited to play the game.

I think there is a point for avoiding any semblance of impartiality towards the review-making process if solely because of the history of video game criticism, but actual deed shouldn't be taken as evidence of the sin itself.

 

[BY2K]

exactly, that's why people advocating for sucking out all the humanity in reviews rubs me the wrong way.

I see no reason for why he can't be excited to play the game.

Heck, to be able to review a game, I think you already need a certain degree of passion for gaming.

 

[Nintaiyo]

An opinion cannot be impartial by definition. The problem is when opinions are swindled into one way by a third party. A reviewer liking a game series shouldn't necessarily be detrimental to his criticism of that particular game series as long as he can stay as close as possible to an objective viewpoint during his write-ups.

Good. We're in agreement. I guess I'm a bit more anal-retentive about such things.

That would be the classy argument to make.

 

[Codeblue]

Totilo must not have played Spirit Tracks. The train was like a cleverly crafted transportation from Hell.

Just enough to where you can't get up and leave but not enough to make traveling remotely interesting. It forced you to be bored. Nothing can be worse than that.

 

[Red]

Totilo must not have played Spirit Tracks. The train was like a cleverly crafted transportation from Hell.

Just enough to where you can't get up and leave but not enough to make traveling remotely interesting. It forced you to be bored. Nothing can be worse than that.

At least with the boat, you could excuse yourself to go make a few sandwiches.

 

[Lunar15]

I found it absolutely frustrating to be honest.

It just feels tacked on, which can't be said for the rest of the controls.

Edit: You're probably right that it'll feel better when just casually flying around, but for the bird chase it was a pain.

Given that Tolito had (presumably) just started the game, I think he was definitely talking about the Bird Chase part as his "series low". And judging by the E3 footage, I can't say I disagree. I think it's a badly designed way to introduce someone to the flying mechanics. It looks comparable to the god-awful Goat Herding game at the beginning of TP, which was also a bad example of how horse riding would actually play out. But in the end, riding the horse around Hyrule was plenty of fun, and not nearly as bad as that first, horrible sequence.

My only hope is that, this is one of the few sour marks on the overall experience. Other reviewers seemed a little miffed by the flight at the beginning, and then it sounds like they forgot about any problems. I'm blaming this on the Bird Chase.

 

[DeathbyVolcano]

At least with the boat, you could excuse yourself to go make a few sandwiches.

Screw that, for the five-ten minutes it took to sail from one place to another, I was hopping the fuck out of that boat. Hopping in time to the Great Sea theme...

I'm a loser.

 

[Lunar15]

Sometimes I feel sad that I'm probably the only person that thinks Spirit Tracks is the best Zelda game since MM.

 

[Red]

Sometimes I feel sad that I'm probably the only person that thinks Spirit Tracks is the best Zelda game since MM.

It's got a good soundtrack. And it's not the worst looking DS game.

That's the best I got.

 

[Lunar15]

It's got a good soundtrack. And it's not the worst looking DS game.

That's the best I got.

I'll take it. Not asking for anyone to declare it GOTY. At least you recognize that it DOES have a pretty awesome soundtrack.

 

[timetokill]

ST had some really fun dungeon design, in my eyes. Really the train stuff was the only part I didn't like. I loved Zelda's characterization in it, and the dungeons were a treat.

 

[Red]

I'll take it. Not asking for anyone to declare it GOTY. At least you recognize that it DOES have a pretty awesome soundtrack.

The overworld theme is one of the best in the series.

 

[Poyunch]

I'd say the soundtrack for ST has more memorable songs than TP.

 

[Franchuzas87]

I'll take it. Not asking for anyone to declare it GOTY. At least you recognize that it DOES have a pretty awesome soundtrack.

The best since Wind Waker for my taste.

And Tower of Spirits had some really great puzzles.

 

[Red]

I'd say the soundtrack for ST has more memorable songs than TP.

TP's best originals were boss themes.

 

[Like the hat?]

You think that's bad? I think Phantom Hourglass is the best handheld Zelda period, with Minish Cap being no. 2. LA is fourth, with oracle of Seasons being third.

List wars gogogo

 

[JasoNsider]

Welp, this thread eventually had to start posting spoilers I guess. Sigh. Time to bail, catch you guys after I'm finished this game.

 

[Franchuzas87]

You think that's bad? I think Phantom Hourglass is the best handheld Zelda period, with Minish Cap being no. 2. LA is fourth, with oracle of Seasons being third.

List wars gogogo

Something died inside me.

 

[Crumpet Trumpet]

Were a lot of reviewers saying this about TP? I mean the best 3D Zelda game ever. I feel like some were at least.

Yeah, I clearly remember multiple reviewers claiming TP was the best Zelda game everrrrr. hah.

Time to temper expectations.

 

[KrawlMan]

I remember lots of people sucking at this at E3—literally, standing in line was painful to watch—and then I got up and nailed it first try, and quickly too. There's nothing wrong with the section, only the players who can't deal with it.

I'm happy for you. And guess what, I also knocked out those sections of the game handily, but the experience wasn't terribly fun.

If "lots of people" were sucking at it, that should be a pretty big flag that something about that method of control is flawed or difficult to grasp.

 

[Meikiyou]

You think that's bad? I think Phantom Hourglass is the best handheld Zelda period, with Minish Cap being no. 2. LA is fourth, with oracle of Seasons being third.

List wars gogogo

My tastes would go close to that. PH>MC>LA>OoA>OoS>ST>FS

 

[Boney]

ST had some really fun dungeon design, in my eyes. Really the train stuff was the only part I didn't like. I loved Zelda's characterization in it, and the dungeons were a treat.

I'll say it anytime I can, but I absolutely loathed Phantom Zelda mechanic. Absolutely ruined the whole pacing of the game.

Worst Zelda ever.

 

[brandonh83]

Yeah, I clearly remember multiple reviewers claiming TP was the best Zelda game everrrrr. hah.

Or maybe some of them honestly think so. I think it's at least the best 3D Zelda. I certainly don't think they're misguided for saying that. It's not like Twilight Princess was some awful game that makes people who liked it sound ridiculous with irrelevant opinions.

 

[oatmeal]

Screw that, for the five-ten minutes it took to sail from one place to another, I was hopping the fuck out of that boat. Hopping in time to the Great Sea theme...

I'm a loser.

That was me, too.

 

[Lunar15]

I am okay with all of these opinions. Such is your life when you really like Spirit Tracks. I'm in no place to argue with anyone else's ideas of good zelda taste.

 

[Poyunch]

I'll say it anytime I can, but I absolutely loathed Phantom Zelda mechanic. Absolutely ruined the whole pacing of the game.

Worst Zelda ever.

No that would be Twilight Princess Zelda. She did nothing.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

Or maybe some of them honestly think so. I think it's at least the best 3D Zelda. I certainly don't think they're misguided for saying that. It's not like Twilight Princess was some awful game that makes people who liked it sound ridiculous with irrelevant opinions.

shameful

Spoiler

Ok i'll stop now

 

[Boney]

No that would be Twilight Princess Zelda. She did nothing.

I mean game.

ST Zelda was pretty neat.

 

[Poyunch]

I mean game.

ST Zelda was pretty neat.

I know. I was being a weeny. :3

 

[Crumpet Trumpet]

Or maybe some of them honestly think so. I think it's at least the best 3D Zelda. I certainly don't think they're misguided for saying that. It's not like Twilight Princess was some awful game that makes people who liked it sound ridiculous with irrelevant opinions.

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that these reviewers' opinions of TP are irrelevant, I just mean to say pre-release hype has a tendency to be....hyperbolic. lol

 

[EmCeeGramr]

Spirit Tracks was a good game. Good dungeons, good characters, good story, good puzzles, good controls, good music, good game.

 

[Boney]

Spirit Tracks was a good game. Good dungeons, good characters, good story, good puzzles, good controls, good music, good game.

But Phantom Zelda!

 

[timetokill]

I'll say it anytime I can, but I absolutely loathed Phantom Zelda mechanic. Absolutely ruined the whole pacing of the game.

Worst Zelda ever.

Aw, I really enjoyed it, personally. Added a new touch to the dungeon puzzles. IT was the first Zelda in a while where I actually had to stop and think about a few puzzles.

 

[Crumpet Trumpet]

Wait what was wrong with Phantom Zelda? I lahved her :'(

 

[Lunar15]

But Phantom Zelda!

I found phantom zelda to be a really fresh new mechanic. It was used in some creative ways.

 

[EmCeeGramr]

But Phantom Zelda!

Really fun and good puzzle mechanic, and it was a neat and creative way to have her with you at all times.

 

[WiiredShawn]

In my eyes, Phantom Hourglass fails to be as "good" as Minish Cap for three reasons: 1) the side-quests (Kinstones) are more tangible and rewarding; 2) the 'regular' dungeons are more inventive (PH dungeons, not counting the Ocean King's Temple, were incredibly simple to me, and I'm not usually someone who complains about Zelda difficulty); and most importantly, 3) PH utterly wastes the character development of Wind Waker.

This frustrated me the most, I think: in Majora's Mask, I felt Link's change, however subtle: he was a young boy who had already undergone great trials and lost his childish naivety as a result. PH Link, even though he stabbed a 300-year-old sorcerer in the head before the gods washed away the land of his ancestors, continues to act like, well, a child. I feel like my experience with Wind Waker was shortchanged as a result. Really, PH should never have been a sequel to Wind Waker - it's an okay game in its own right, but poor in comparison to its predecessor, in terms of dungeons design, characters (with the exception of Linebeck), story, villain, etc., etc.

Minish Cap had a lame villain, but fun cameos, a cool sidekick hat, rewarding side-quests, pleasing 2D graphics and didn't have any expectations that could be crushed. But that's just me.

 

[Franchuzas87]

I always thought Phantom Zelda was a mechanic brilliantly exploited in puzzles.

The only really weak point of ST for me is the damn train.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

nvm

 

[Lunar15]

So, does anyone think that NOA will run some type of contest to get those dang Master Swords? I want one pretty bad.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

If anyone is interested.

Live Stream of Oracle of Seasons Speedrun

Perfect for me cause i never played this game and i'm in mood for a Zelda live stream.

 

[Hot Coldman]

If anyone is interested.

Live Stream of Oracle of Seasons Speedrun

Perfect for me cause i never played this game and i'm in mood for a Zelda live stream.

Link's on a kangaroo

WHAT IS THIS

 

[pramath]

Sometimes I feel sad that I'm probably the only person that thinks Spirit Tracks is the best Zelda game since MM.

The only thing that was good about it was the music. The music was gorgeous in that game.
I only wish the rest of the game had not been as God awful as it eventually turned out to be.

 

[Socreges]

By the way,

I'd like to use this thread to argue that Link's Awakening is among the worst Zeldas. I've beat the first two dungeons and travelled the overworld a fair amount. I'm not terribly impressed. The dialogue scroll is annoying as fuck (and often pops up repeatedly when I've already heard the message a hundred times), the item/equipment management is clunky and tiresome, the areas are even smaller than I thought (ie, the squares on the map). The game isn't unplayable by any means, but it sure is tedious and annoying. I was afraid that the primitive design would hurt the experience and it definitely does for me.

Thankfully the items and dungeons are fun. But at this point it's far too easy for me to stop playing and not return for days.

 

[Codeblue]

I thought the puzzles were pretty inventive and cool. Exploration is about half the fun for me, so ST and PH felt hollow outside of dungeons.

 

[Sn4ke_911]

Link's on a kangaroo

WHAT IS THIS

That's awesome mang and it's even more awesome watching someone playing this game when he knows what he's doing.

Speedrunning a Zelda game? ...some crazy people live on this planet.

 

[brandonh83]

Oh, I didn't mean to imply that these reviewers' opinions of TP are irrelevant, I just mean to say pre-release hype has a tendency to be....hyperbolic. lol

Perhaps. But the problem is that everyone is going to see the comments and scores as hyperbolic if they're at all positive. I don't think they should have to pretend to like the product less just so that they can be taken more "seriously."

 

[Pai Pai Master]

By the way,

I'd like to use this thread to argue that Link's Awakening is among the worst Zeldas. I've beat the first two dungeons and travelled the overworld a fair amount. I'm not terribly impressed. The dialogue scroll is annoying as fuck (and often pops up repeatedly when I've already heard the message a hundred times), the item/equipment management is clunky and tiresome, the areas are even smaller than I thought (ie, the squares on the map). The game isn't unplayable by any means, but it sure is tedious and annoying. I was afraid that the primitive design would hurt the experience and it definitely does for me.

Thankfully the items and dungeons are fun. But at this point it's far too easy for me to stop playing and not return for days.

Sounds like you're letting the perspective of a modern gamer get in the way. Consider that this was one of the first games of its kind for the Gameboy. The freakin' Gameboy!

 

[Hot Coldman]

That's awesome mang and it's even more awesome watching someone playing this game when he knows what he's doing.

Speedrunning a Zelda game? ...some crazy people live on this planet.

Oh yes, it's definitely awesome, I've just never seen it before. Oracles looks cool.