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[Why would you do that?]

I would like to start by saying that this thread came because, in all of the other Zelda threads here, there are always arguments about the series, about what Zelda needs, doesn't need, or what sucks or doesn't.

I created this thread as a tribute to the series and also as a reminder of why The Legend of Zelda is such a popular series in the first place. It's meant to be a reminiscing thread, talking about great Zelda games and their great moments.

To me, The Legend of Zelda is my favorite series in gaming, and it is quite dear to me. I've played and love 13 of the 15 Zelda games, and the other two I think are great games that I like.

Below, you'll see screenshots to all 15 regular Zelda games, plus spin-offs and BS Zelda games.


The Legend of Zelda
JPN: The Hyrule Fantasy

The first game in the series, it was revolutionary in many ways with its many hidden secrets, huge world, and puzzling levels.

NES - Wii Virtual Console - GBA (NES Classic) - Gamecube (Animal Crossing, Zelda: Collector's Edition)

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
JPN: The Legend of Zelda II: Link no Bouken

The direct sequel to the first game tried to be unique and different, with interesting, well-received results.

NES - Wii Virtual Console - GBA (NES Classic) - Gamecube (Zelda: Collector's Edition)

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
JPN: Triforce of the Gods

The wildly popular 16 bit Zelda game which many future Zelda games were modeled after.

SNES - Wii Virtual Console - GBA (Remake in Link to the Past + Four Swords)

The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
JPN: The Dreaming Island

The first handheld Zelda game puts players into a land of mystery and curiosity, also featuring many cameos from other Nintendo games.

Game Boy

Link's Awakening DX (Game Boy/Color Remake)

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

The first 3D Zelda game, was once again revolutionary in many ways.

N64 - Wii Virtual Console - Gamecube (Zelda: Collector's Edition)

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

Introducing many interesting game mechanics made this game proudly stand out from its wildly popular predecessor.

N64 - Wii Virtual Console - Gamecube (Zelda: Collector's Edition)
(Lack of good 320x240 images on the web, sorry )

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
JPN: Nut of the Mysterious Tree: Chapter of Earth

The first in a two-part handheld saga, made by Capcom's Flagship.

Gameboy Color

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
JPN: Nut of the Mysterious Tree: Chapter of Time and Space

The second in the two-part series, you can connect both games together to unlock tons of content, including a second quest in each game.

Gameboy Color

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords

Another Flagship game, this is the first multiplayer Zelda title.

Game Boy Advance (A Link to the Past + Four Swords)

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
JPN: Baton of Wind

A great game that boats a new, charming look.

Gamecube

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
JPN: Four Swords Plus

The Nintendo-made sequel to Flagship's multiplayer Zelda features GBA connectivity.

Gamecube

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
JPN: The Mysterious Hat

Capcom's last Zelda game, with unique mechanics and tons of secrets and gameplay.

Game Boy Advance

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
JPN: Twilight Princess (in English)

The latest 3D Zelda, taking many years to develop, is a darker take on the series.

Gamecube - Wii

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

The first DS Zelda game, impressive touch screen controls were introduced to the game.

Nintendo DS

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
JPN: Steam Whistle of Earth

The sequel to the first DS Zelda, this game features even more refined controls, better music, and offers a more challenging game.

Nintendo DS

Boss image (kind of a spoiler): http://i49.tinypic.com/3088s5f.png





----Spin-offs and BS Games-----


BS The Legend of Zelda

A "remake" of the Legend of Zelda, it was only played simultaneously by people who had the right equipment, and it was only ever played a very small handful of times, 1 hour at a time. It was a free, downloadable game with CD quality music and voice streamed to the player. The music to this game was unreleased, and can only be heard in old videos of people playing the game. Those who scored the most points would win prizes. The dungeons were all new in this game.

SNES (Digital Distribution with Broadcast Satellaview over the St. GIGA network)

BS The Legend of Zelda: Ancient Stone Tablets

A reimagining of A Link to the Past, it also uses CD quality music and voice, with spoken dialog by characters, including Zelda. The dungeons and the flow of this game are different from A Link to the Past. This game was also pnly played simultaneously for an hour at a time, with prizes for those who played better than others. The music from this game was released in a CD called "Zelda: Sound and Drama".

SNES (Digital Distribution with Broadcast Satellaview over the St. GIGA network)

Nintendo DS spinoff games, from Left to Right:

Freshly-Picked Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland
An interesting spinoff starring Tingle. JPN+EUR only.

Color Changing Tingle's Love Balloon Trip
The sequel to the spinoff. JPN only.

Tingle's Balloon Fight DS
A Club Nintendo Japan only remake of Balloon Fight starring Tingle. JPN only.

Too Much Tingle Pack

A 500 point DSiWare Shop game with many little Tingle-themed widgets.

Nintendo DSi, Japan only.
No pictures.

Link's Crossbow Training

A first person and third person shooter starring Link, taking place in various areas from Twilight Princess.

Wii

----------------

So that's about all, really. I don't think I'm missing anything.

So, let's talk about The Legend of Zelda, and how great it is!

 

[Mama Robotnik]

So many awesome games.

Just because they are never mentioned enough, I want to say that the two Oracle games were my favourite Zelda handheld experiences. Exploration, action, challenge, density of secrets. Playing through those two games was absolutely wonderful.

 

[Snuggles]

Ocarina of Time is the game of my childhood, so many memories. I was in love with the world of Hyrule, it was amazing at the time to be able to explore such an amazing world full of charm and adventures.
I <3 the OST: "Lost Woods"
Looking back, Majora's Mask is also a great game but at the time I was disappointed by it. I didn't like the time mechanic, it made me feel like I was being rushed.
Wind Waker is my 2nd favorite Zelda, I didn't like the visual style at first but it still looks good today and is a lot of fun.
I played halfway through Twilight Princess on the Wii, it was good but it just didn't have the magic of the earlier 3D Zeldas for me.
Someday I'll have to get a Wii of my own, I'd love to have access to the VC so I could replay these games.


Oh and Tingle is gross. Really gross.

 

[theluma]

Every time a new one comes along I am reminded why I am thankful for this series. Always, always have provided me with a thoroughly enjoyable experience.

 

[Struct09]

My favorite series in gaming. The only one I haven't completely played through is Zelda II.

 

[Mejilan]

Still consistently my favorite franchise!

 

[AniHawk]

Despite a decline in quality with the latest DS games (although ST wasn't actually bad), still my favorite series. I worry about the new game, but I hope it's good. TP, OoT, and LA are three of my favorite games ever. Even though the platforming genre is my favorite one, nothing really beats a great Zelda game.

 

[Mama Robotnik]

Re-reading the OP, I'd argue that Majora's Mask was the darkest take on the series and not Twilight Princess. The overwhelming mood of hopelessness and impending death, conveyed through effective dialogue, ruined worlds, and dear god the music, was a divine nightmare.

In all the other games, the Big Bad is usuallly after world-domination of some sort. Majora is out to physically/psychologically torture the world and its people, all the way up to its mad murder-suicide goal.

God damn, what an amazing game. More Zelda's like this please.

 

[ryan-ts]

Links Awakening DX is my favourite Zelda game and also my favourite game of all-time. It was the third game I had for my GBC, after the two Pokemon games, and I was shocked by how colorful it was in comparison. Kind of a revelation of sorts, "So this is why I got a GBC". I got the two Oracle games about a year ago and they're fun but just not as fun as LA.

I own the majority of the Zelda games but only consider myself a fan of 3 titles (LA, OoT and LoZ). The other games are obviously good but I didn't manage to enjoy myself nearly as much.

 

[Hobbun]

I'm playing OoT right now and enjoying it all over again. I've only completed up to the Fire Temple in my past playthroughs (yes, I've never defeated it). This is my 4th time starting it I just finished the Forest Temple.

The only thing I don't like about the game, and I guess you can say this with any game, is the where you have to do it "just right" to get that nice piece of equipment or piece of Heart, like in Zelda.

Like with OoT, I still need to do Dampe's race for the piece of heart and the shooting gallery in Kakariko Village for one of the Quiver upgrades. I know you don't have to do it, but don't want to pass them up, just what is required is a pain.

 

[Bigfoot]

I still play through the original NES Zelda (both quests) at least once a year. That game never gets old for me.

 

[TreIII]

I'll guess I'll be among the minority. Zelda 2 still remains my absolute fave of the series, even if it was the black sheep. :lol

Loved that it was probably the only entrant of the series that was actually a bit challenging, and the level-up system was able to make Link only but SO strong.

It wouldn't have to be Zelda-related, but I would definitely love to see Ninty revisit Zelda II's playstyle, some day. It and SMB USA still remain my all-time fave games.


As for decidedly "traditional" Zeldas? Well, Link's Awakening DX, followed by Majora's Mask. DX, because it was just a well-made game, plus had so many interesting things that would never be seen in a Zelda game again. MM, for a lot of what Mama Robotnik talked about.

Yeah, more Zelda's like these, please!

 

[EvilMario]

Despite a decline in quality with the latest DS games (although ST wasn't actually bad), still my favorite series. I worry about the new game, but I hope it's good. TP, OoT, and LA are three of my favorite games ever. Even though the platforming genre is my favorite one, nothing really beats a great Zelda game.

I think Phantom Hourglass/Spirit Tracks is its own beast, and I don't fret over what the next console release will be like. Link's Awakening, Majora's Mask, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are my top games in the series, but they're all so good. Even something like Adventure of Link holds up, and the Oracle games are the forgotten gems that so many people have next played.

edit: How did I forget Wind Waker? For shame..

 

[upandaway]

I'll guess I'll be among the minority. Zelda 2 still remains my absolute fave of the series, even if it was the black sheep. :lol

I've never seen any sort of community say Zelda 2 is bad. It's always the media making an offhand note to "how bad" it is or something. In truth, I think, many people love the game.


I noticed that I like my Zelda a bit more bite-sized and "technical". I love OoT and the other 3D Zeldas or PH/the Oracles, but it's a different kind of love entirely. The best Zeldas to me are those when I jump in, find everything in one or two game sessions and that's it. Combat is also more prominent.

Also, my favorite "style" for Zelda (and this is the only franchise in gaming where such a sentence can be said) is TP's, although I think TP had a bit too much graphical detail. Somewhere between TP and MM/OoT, with more colors and less detail that I can't interact with.

 

[oracrest]

Link to the past was my first game when I got a Ames, and I played that thing straight for a week. No Internet to figure anything out, just good old fashion trail and error.

It's still my favorite Zelda game.

 

[beelzebozo]

that original post just takes my breath away.

ZELDA was one of the first games i owned when i got my nes. i still remember how mysterious and interesting the box art was: it was that silver shield with the gold symbols. i had no clue what they meant in tandem, but i knew they meant something awesome, and that i was going to figure it out. that's to say nothing of that incredibly cool golden cartridge, which i still own to this day. the battery is dead in it, so i can't save, but i still can't bring myself to dispose of it. my papaw, my two brothers, and myself would start again every friday evening when we spent the night at his place, from beginning to end going through that ritual again to try and defeat ganon.

get 255 rupees by fighting tektikes in the rocks to the right of the start.
go buy the blue ring.
get the bracelet that lets you push rocks to warp.
get as many heart pieces on the world map as possible.
then, dungeon 1.

as i grew up, so did zelda. i was sort of middling on ZELDA 2, but like most of the other games for my new snes, LINK TO THE PAST blew my mind. my hype was through the roof. i read the nintendo power comics. before i even started, i hated aghanim (though i couldn't figure out why his name sounded so much like ganon; and where the fuck was ganon!?). i was so hyped i wrote my own fake guide for the game in lotus notes about where the cool items would be, and i drew horribly incorrect maps on graph paper based on screenshots about how the game might be. it was a game that had no chance to live up to my expectations, but it did. it was--and is--that fucking good.

even though i wasn't wild about it when i was little, i think ZELDA 2 is a good game. i think they're all good games. i play them, i have this stupid shit-eating grin on my face almost the whole time, and i can't help but thank my lucky stars that i live in a world in which a series as bad-fucking-ass as zelda exists. from the eerie sound of the whistle as i aurally tortured digdogger at five, to the horrifying realization connected to blind the thief at ten, to beating the ground and pulling my hair out at fourteen struggling to make sense of the water temple, to sixteen and sitting mouth agape at the simple beauty of a flight with the deku leaf, to audible "holy shits" at twenty-two as i busted up the desert colossus boss with the spinner. . .

very few forms of media can touch my connection with this series. i love it dearly.

i can't wait to see where it goes from here.

 

[Crash Station]

I've found something to love about every single Zelda game. Even CD-I had a purpose (where would YTP be without it). I was still disappointed by both the DS games, but that's it. Out of all my favorite series, Zelda has the best track record.

I can't wait to see what the team is cooking up for Zelda Wii. E3 should be awesome.

 

[Brandon F]

I'm still waiting for a Zelda 1 re-emergence in 3D. The past decade we only get imbalanced linear shit that practically requires zero skill.

 

[Why would you do that?]

Zelda is a series which has been consistently great, and sure, in later years, some of the games may not have been loved and praised as highly as past games, but I personally think that they're all pretty good games.

One Zelda game that I love is Link's Awakening. What I love most about it is that it is a very lighthearted game and it doesn't take itself seriously, while at the same time, it also does take itself seriously.

I love the cameos from other games. It's almost like the Parodius or Star Parodier of Zelda, where it's kind of a big, gigantic nod to Nintendo, with enemies like Goombas, Kirbies, Podoboos, and going as far to even feature music from Sim City. However, I also love the music, the setting, the interaction (like with Marin), the story, and a lot of the more meaningful parts of the game.

I'll also have to agree with Mama Robotnik and say that Majora's Mask was darker than Twilight Princess... By quite a bit, too. I just wasn't exactly sure what to say about TP. :lol

 

[Deku]

I think every young person needs to play a Zelda game at some point. The basic structure of exploration, risk/reward, and the whimsy of the worlds therein is really something unique to the franchise.

 

[Relix]

This thread brought a tear to my eye.

Greatest game franchise out there. None scratch it.

 

[Neomoto]

Indeed the greatest series in all of gaming. I still consider OoT and TP the best games I have ever played. In fact, perhaps even more so than a true 2D platformer, for me a Zelda game pretty much is what gaming is all about.

 

[AgentOtaku]

argh, that Spirit Tracks post spoiled a boss fight =(

Still, while I don't obsess and ADORE/LOVE the franchise, it has indeed followed me throughout my life. I've actually never even beaten one I don't think.
Been trying to get into the franchise full time for the past few years and am now commited to finishing as many as I can.

 

[POWERSPHERE]

Ocarina of Time is the game of my childhood, so many memories. I was in love with the world of Hyrule, it was amazing at the time to be able to explore such an amazing world full of charm and adventures.
I <3 the OST: "Lost Woods"
Looking back, Majora's Mask is also a great game but at the time I was disappointed by it. I didn't like the time mechanic, it made me feel like I was being rushed.
Wind Waker is my 2nd favorite Zelda, I didn't like the visual style at first but it still looks good today and is a lot of fun.
I played halfway through Twilight Princess on the Wii, it was good but it just didn't have the magic of the earlier 3D Zeldas for me.
Someday I'll have to get a Wii of my own, I'd love to have access to the VC so I could replay these games.


Oh and Tingle is gross. Really gross.

I agree with all this shit, but will add that Link to the Past is one of the most visually charming games ever. And just looking at those screens, OoTs outdoor field landscapes still look great, and Twilight Princess was too brown.

 

[Mac the KNife]

Much love for the series, especially Link's Awakening, my favorite of the series.

 

[bjork]

Zelda 2-2 really needs to happen.

 

[viewtiful_dru]

I thought this thread would be just about the NES game.

Anyway, Link's Awakening and Majora's Mask rank as the best, followed by A Link to the Past.

Can't really rate the rest, other than the fact that I think PH sucks

 

[Why would you do that?]

argh, that Spirit Tracks post spoiled a boss fight =(

Still, while I don't obsess and ADORE/LOVE the franchise, it has indeed followed me throughout my life. I've actually never even beaten one I don't think.
Been trying to get into the franchise full time for the past few years and am now commited to finishing as many as I can.

Whoops, sorry. Don't worry about it though, because

Spoiler

that boss is more interesting and involved than it looks, and that's about at the half-way point of the game

. Because of that, I thought it would be an okay picture to post, but I'll look for an alternative picture to post.

I thought this thread would be just about the NES game.

Yeah, a few minutes after I posted it, I realized I should have put "The Legend of Zelda Series: An Appreciation Thread" or something like that. Oh well.

 

[Sydle]

Excellent series overall (I'm slowly scrubbing out the memory of TP). LttP is my favorite.

 

[methodman]

Indeed the greatest series in all of gaming. I still consider OoT and TP the best games I have ever played. In fact, perhaps even more so than a true 2D platformer, for me a Zelda game pretty much is what gaming is all about.

Co - sign. OOT and TP are my top two ever as well.

 

[Shig]

'Bout damn for this thread, this series is so overlooked and underappreciated. ¬_¬

 

[VGChampion]

Ahh Zelda. The series where people think the guy in green is Zelda.

Zelda is one of the best series I have ever played. There isn't a Zelda game I thought was bad, obviously not counting the CDi games. Four Swords was one of the best multiplayer games last generation as well.

 

[oracrest]

Great OP by the way...

 

[Marvie_3]

My favorite series in all of gaming. The only ones I haven't loved have been the DS ones.

Zelda 2-2 really needs to happen.

I'd love it if this happened.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

The series has progressively gotten worse, but Zelda and Mario are my two favorite franchises still.

I just feel 3D Zelda games are a chore to play compared to the 2D Zeldas, but MM is an exception due to how innovating the game was.

My top three favorite Zeldas are LTTP, LA, and MM.

TP, PH, and ST are dead last.

 

[Metroid Killer]

OoT still stands as my favorite game ever. I hope the next entry will blow me away.

 

[Zihark]

Nice thread- this is my favorite gaming series along with harvest moon and fire emblem. This series got me into gaming-particularly oot. Played all titles but ST, AOL, and original. My hate for phg is so strong, that i'll never touch st.

 

[Jazzy Network]

Link to the past easily my favorite followed by Link's Awakening. I also really enjoyed The adventure of Link even though it was one of the hardest Zeldas I've played. The 3D ones were nice and Oot was a classic, but I would hvae a hard time replaying it.

 

[Mama Robotnik]

My top three favorite Zeldas are LTTP, LA, and MM.

TP, PH, and ST are dead last.

Zelda fans are usually divergent in what are the best/worst games in the (canon) series.

For the record; I feel the best games are Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Oracle of Ages/Seasons.

On the other end of the spectrum, The Legend of Zelda hasn't aged too well, but Twilight Princess is the distant absolute lowest point of the franchise in numerous ways. And even then its still an okay game.

But I'm sure everyone in the thread will have a different perspective.

 

[Forkball]

I love the series (obviously), but I never realized how terrible the Japanese titles were.

 

[Josh7289]

The 80s and 90s were so good to this series.

Also, just scrolling through that OP, there's so much color! Or rather, so much good use of color! So good!

 

[Zihark]

forgot art of zelda wii, tc. Even though game will probably look drastically different from the art.

 

[TreIII]

I've never seen any sort of community say Zelda 2 is bad. It's always the media making an offhand note to "how bad" it is or something. In truth, I think, many people love the game.

There was a Zelda 2 topic on GAF a few weeks ago. There were definitely a few who were not willing to join the love-fest, for whatever reason. XD

But any way, yeah. I could definitely go for more where that came from.

 

[Jason's Ultimatum]

Zelda fans are usually divergent in what are the best/worst games in the (canon) series.

For the record; I feel the best games are Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask and Oracle of Ages/Seasons.

On the other end of the spectrum, The Legend of Zelda hasn't aged too well, but Twilight Princess is the distant absolute lowest point of the franchise in numerous ways. And even then its still an okay game.

But I'm sure everyone in the thread will have a different perspective.

I think LoZ has aged well. The graphics are too simple and clean.

I also love OoA/OoS.

 

[Why would you do that?]

The 80s and 90s were so good to this series.

Also, just scrolling through that OP, there's so much color! Or rather, so much good use of color! So good!

I was thinking this as well, especially in the Oracle games and Link's Awakening. In retrospect, I should have posted more screenshots for each of them.

I really and truly hope to see another 2D Zelda one day... and I mean real 2D (not like Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks), as colorful as the Tingle DS games.

 

[Kodiak]

When I was little, Ocarina of Time blew my mind almost as much as Final Fantasy VII did.

My friend Don Ding had to beat the water temple for me because I refused to use a strategy guide.

 

[Snuggles]

Deserves linkage in this fine thread: Zelda Music Thread

 

[Mama Robotnik]

I think LoZ has aged well. The graphics are too simple and clean.

Its not visually that I feel the age, its more of the mechanics. LoZ introduces a lot of great ideas that become brilliantly refined as the series evolved. To play those less-refined ideas in their first form I found a little awkward, in the same way that going from Super Metroid back to the original could be awkward. Its my problem.

One of the wonderful things about this franchise is that people have such wildly different opinions of what is best/worst. Even within the consistent frameworks and context, each game has its own sense of character that gamers can really resonate with a particular entry, different to their peers.

 

[Fritz]

I too consider it my favourite series in gaming. My first Zelda experience was A Link to the Past. As everybodies first Zelda, it holds a very special place. I owned a Sega MS and was a casual gamer. A Link to the Past was what triggered my appreciation for video games and made them become more of a hobby than a waste of time. I was so attracted by the box art back then, that I wouldnt stop till my parents got me a SNES + Zelda. My whole family knew about the game. Till this day my father recognizes the series, though he has nothing to do with video games.
Well, I played the crap out of the cartridge and loved every second. For me its the feeling of being alone on a quest, exploring a wide, seamless world, what confines a Zelda game. I think that's also the core of Zelda as Miyamoto imagined it.
Ocarina of Time was the only game I owned for the N64 and I abandoned gaming afterwards. What brought me back was the Wind Waker. I was one of the few that initially loved the art style. Its probably my second favourite entry.
Im excited for Zelda Wii and while I do have certain hopes for which directions it will take, I know that Nintendo will deliver a great experience either way.

 

[Guardian Bob]

Love Zelda. Even the lows. And definitely has lows.