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The Series of Zelda: GAF's Arbitration
- Thread starter Dacvak
- Start date
cartman414
Member
inner-G said:
Says the guy with the DBZ avatar. Oh yeah, I went there.
Regulus Tera said:
You're a turd!
Here's my list:
1) Link's Awakening
2) (tie) Oracle of Ages/Seasons
3) Zelda II
4) Majora's Mask
5) Link to the Past
6) Minish Cap
7) Wind Waker
8) Legend of Zelda
9) Ocarina of Time
Still need to play Twilight Princess and Phantom Hourglass.
hEist said:
The GB/C/A ones didn't count?
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
LaneDS said:
My friend and I were just talking about this. Link's Awakening is the only major Zelda game that you can't play anymore. It's not available on any re-release (DX does not count since it's for the same system), and you can't play those carts on DS. How's a fella to play LA in this day and age? Most GameStops don't even sell old GB anymore.
I'm guessing Virtual Console on the DSi will release it, though.
viciouskillersquirrel
Member
Was Wind Waker really hated back then as much as TP is now? TP is somewhere around GTAIV levels of hate at the moment and judging from what I've played of it so far, it's all unwarranted.ggnoobIGN said:
Dacvak said:
If that Virtual Console on DSi thought turned out to be true, it gets me curious as to what other great original Gameboy games I've forgotten about could also turn up.
Personally, I'd love to see them do a full-blown remake for the DS, the WiiWare, or better yet, the eventually DS successor. I'll stop imagining stuff now.
A Black Falcon
Member
viciouskillersquirrel said:
Before launch WW was really, really hated... after it came out opinions did change, but only slowly I think. And then I think that it was only somewhat recently that GAF decided that it was so amazing, and thus began to, in my opinion, overrate it in comparison to TP...
As for TP I definitely have my problems with it (I don't take back any of my criticisms of the story!), but the gameplay is fantastic, and it doesn't deserve anywhere near as much hate as it gets, particularly for art design and style. I think it looks fantastic.
But anyway, sometimes these things change (see the shift with WW), other times they don't (see Donkey Kong 64, for instance. People liked it at launch, but then everyone heard that other people hated it for being "too much of a collectathon" and decided they thought that way too now, and that's never changed. It's too bad, I always thought it was a pretty good game... but anyway, these opinions don't always change. They just sometimes do... we'll see if it happens with TP or not.
Dacvak said:
Gamestop does sell GBAs, GBA SPs, and GB Players, all of which will play the game if you have a copy. They admittedly won't sell the game, though, that is true... but they do sell systems that will play it, at least.
1. Ocarina of Time (10/10): I feel bad that, after all this time, after all my love for Twilight Princess and such... that this is still my favorite. I'm not sure what there is to say that hasn't been said. At this point, other games are facing a pretty powerful memory of the game. It has aged surprisingly well, but if I were to play through it the first time ever, I'd definitely rank it lower. Still, this was a once-in-a-lifetime sort of thing, and you really had to be there.
2. Twilight Princess (9.9/10): This was a better game than OoT. Better cast, better music, better graphics, way better dungeons, and a much more interesting overworld (there was a lot more to explore in this game, sorry). It also houses my favorite level in a video game, ever. City in the Sky was my "this topped OoT" moment in the game, the part where I realized OoT had been surpassed. Excellent fucking game.
3. Link's Awakening (9.5/10): The best of 2D Zelda. This was actually the first game in the series I played, and it was the first game I played that had a story. For a 9 year old who only had played Atari games up until then, this was a huge deal. My dad also got into the game for a while, but got frustrated at the second boss (where I also got frustrated, left the game for months, and then returned to it and wound up beating the game). I've played it so much, yet I haven't played it in so long. I should give the DX version a go, since I haven't gotten around to that yet. I still think I have this thing memorized. Heh.
4. The Wind Waker (9/10): This was the first game I proclaimed better than OoT back when it came out. Although I don't have that opinion now, I do think it will age better than most games in the series. I can't believe I ever hated the visual style when it turned out to be such a gorgeous game. The dungeons were few and easy, and there was a big bad collectathon, and the sailing got repetitious, but I loved it anyway. The pacing of the story and the ending was a highlight for the series. It's a shame it got the sequel it did.
5. The Minish Cap (8.5/10): This was the closest thing I've seen anyone, even Nintendo, come to besting Link's Awakening. In fact, if the first three dungeons were as clever as the last three were, I'm sure it would have been the better game. I honestly can't remember much aside from thinking it was the best Capcom Zelda, and wishing that the quality of the last three dungeons had held up throughout all their other games and the early parts of TMC. The TWW art style didn't hurt either.
6. Majora's Mask (8/10): Majora's Mask was a great game, but it hasn't aged well, and I don't hold the same fondness for it that I do with Ocarina of Time. It's the darkest in the series and has some of the most mature scenes in the series, but the dungeons were mediocre or worse, save for one (which just so happens to be one of the best in the series), and the boss fights weren't that great. If the game could have focused more on the people than the dungeons, or if it had integrated the dungeons into the sidequest stuff more, or if the dungeons were better in general, I'm sure this would rank higher. I'd love to see Nintendo give this sort of thing another shot though, when they don't have to squeeze out something in a year and a half.
7. Oracle of Ages (7.5/10): What can I say, I love me some time travel. I liked this a lot more than Seasons. Everything just felt better designed. I can't really explain it. The game felt sorta like Zelda fanfiction made into a video game, but Ages was all right.
8. The Legend of Zelda (7/10): Not sure what to say. I liked the challenge and the freedom.
9. A Link to the Past (6.5/10): I bought this and played through it for the first time in 2000 (when I bought an SNES). By now, I had already played the four others in the series, so this was not as impressive for me. I think this is like Ocarina of Time where you sorta had to be there to truly love it. It's not a bad game. I liked the amount and the quality of the dungeons, but it didn't leave any sort of lasting impression.
10. Oracle of Seasons (5.5/10): Yikes. There was such a discrepancy between the two Oracles, I don't know where to begin. It just feels like such a poor effort, and I know plenty of people like them both, but it just felt like the obvious lesser of the two. I know the thing that bugged me most was that Ages let you travel back and forth any time you wanted, but with Seasons, you had to find a stump, jump on the stump, and then wave the wand until the seasons changed to the correct one to solve the puzzle. It was tedious and annoying.
11. Adventure of Link (5/10): What the fuck happened here. For some reason it's a sidescrolling RPG now. Okay. And when I get a game over, I start waaaaay the fuck over at the beginning of the game, so if I have to go back to the last dungeon, it's one longass trip. So frustrating, so bad. I'm glad no one tried to follow up on this one.
12. Phantom Hourglass (4.5/10): The touch controls were all right, but were they necessary? Was any of it necessary? The game felt like it was designed around the touch controls, and it led to 1) shitty overworld, 2) shitty mode of transportation, and 3) annoying methods of control for some things (like rolling). There's also the terrible-awful Temple of the Ocean King. And the fact that they ruined Tetra after all the work put into her in TWW. And the fact that the dungeons were so short. And the fact that there was still so much goddamned traveling. This game's saving grace was its multiplayer, but even that was broken unless you were playing with someone who wasn't a jackass. I am extremely cautious about Spirit Tracks.
2. Twilight Princess (9.9/10): This was a better game than OoT. Better cast, better music, better graphics, way better dungeons, and a much more interesting overworld (there was a lot more to explore in this game, sorry). It also houses my favorite level in a video game, ever. City in the Sky was my "this topped OoT" moment in the game, the part where I realized OoT had been surpassed. Excellent fucking game.
3. Link's Awakening (9.5/10): The best of 2D Zelda. This was actually the first game in the series I played, and it was the first game I played that had a story. For a 9 year old who only had played Atari games up until then, this was a huge deal. My dad also got into the game for a while, but got frustrated at the second boss (where I also got frustrated, left the game for months, and then returned to it and wound up beating the game). I've played it so much, yet I haven't played it in so long. I should give the DX version a go, since I haven't gotten around to that yet. I still think I have this thing memorized. Heh.
4. The Wind Waker (9/10): This was the first game I proclaimed better than OoT back when it came out. Although I don't have that opinion now, I do think it will age better than most games in the series. I can't believe I ever hated the visual style when it turned out to be such a gorgeous game. The dungeons were few and easy, and there was a big bad collectathon, and the sailing got repetitious, but I loved it anyway. The pacing of the story and the ending was a highlight for the series. It's a shame it got the sequel it did.
5. The Minish Cap (8.5/10): This was the closest thing I've seen anyone, even Nintendo, come to besting Link's Awakening. In fact, if the first three dungeons were as clever as the last three were, I'm sure it would have been the better game. I honestly can't remember much aside from thinking it was the best Capcom Zelda, and wishing that the quality of the last three dungeons had held up throughout all their other games and the early parts of TMC. The TWW art style didn't hurt either.
6. Majora's Mask (8/10): Majora's Mask was a great game, but it hasn't aged well, and I don't hold the same fondness for it that I do with Ocarina of Time. It's the darkest in the series and has some of the most mature scenes in the series, but the dungeons were mediocre or worse, save for one (which just so happens to be one of the best in the series), and the boss fights weren't that great. If the game could have focused more on the people than the dungeons, or if it had integrated the dungeons into the sidequest stuff more, or if the dungeons were better in general, I'm sure this would rank higher. I'd love to see Nintendo give this sort of thing another shot though, when they don't have to squeeze out something in a year and a half.
7. Oracle of Ages (7.5/10): What can I say, I love me some time travel. I liked this a lot more than Seasons. Everything just felt better designed. I can't really explain it. The game felt sorta like Zelda fanfiction made into a video game, but Ages was all right.
8. The Legend of Zelda (7/10): Not sure what to say. I liked the challenge and the freedom.
9. A Link to the Past (6.5/10): I bought this and played through it for the first time in 2000 (when I bought an SNES). By now, I had already played the four others in the series, so this was not as impressive for me. I think this is like Ocarina of Time where you sorta had to be there to truly love it. It's not a bad game. I liked the amount and the quality of the dungeons, but it didn't leave any sort of lasting impression.
10. Oracle of Seasons (5.5/10): Yikes. There was such a discrepancy between the two Oracles, I don't know where to begin. It just feels like such a poor effort, and I know plenty of people like them both, but it just felt like the obvious lesser of the two. I know the thing that bugged me most was that Ages let you travel back and forth any time you wanted, but with Seasons, you had to find a stump, jump on the stump, and then wave the wand until the seasons changed to the correct one to solve the puzzle. It was tedious and annoying.
11. Adventure of Link (5/10): What the fuck happened here. For some reason it's a sidescrolling RPG now. Okay. And when I get a game over, I start waaaaay the fuck over at the beginning of the game, so if I have to go back to the last dungeon, it's one longass trip. So frustrating, so bad. I'm glad no one tried to follow up on this one.
12. Phantom Hourglass (4.5/10): The touch controls were all right, but were they necessary? Was any of it necessary? The game felt like it was designed around the touch controls, and it led to 1) shitty overworld, 2) shitty mode of transportation, and 3) annoying methods of control for some things (like rolling). There's also the terrible-awful Temple of the Ocean King. And the fact that they ruined Tetra after all the work put into her in TWW. And the fact that the dungeons were so short. And the fact that there was still so much goddamned traveling. This game's saving grace was its multiplayer, but even that was broken unless you were playing with someone who wasn't a jackass. I am extremely cautious about Spirit Tracks.
cartman414
Member
AniHawk said:
<sarcasm>Yeah, as if a follow up couldn't be improved in any way.</sarcasm>
Besides, there's nothing wrong with it being a sidescrolling RPG. Not to mention that Ocarina of Time is much more monotonous when it comes to getting around in general. Heck, once you knew how to get around, it rarely took very long to get from one place to another in AoL.
A Black Falcon
Member
cartman414 said:
Hey, but it did have two sequels... on the CD-i.
cartman414
Member
A Black Falcon said:Hey, but it did have two sequels... on the CD-i.
Those didn't count.
4. Wind Waker: When it unveiled, it nearly killed any interest I had left in Zelda and even Nintendo. I know I wasn't alone in thinking 'wtf?' at the time. Nowadays, the game's style is definitely fawned over, and if you don't find chibi Link appealing, you obviously have some weird male power fantasy issues (fuggin seriously now?). It's understandable that GAF has no goddamn idea about the concept of a middleground, but I expect better from Nintendo.
In any case, I actually didn't even play the game until after the first Twilight Princess trailer was unveiled. Since I went in with zero expectations, I actually found myself to be rather impressed. While I still loathed the designs, the animation and art direction for the environments was fantastic. Underground Hyrule was just gorgeous. I really loved the story as well, and the final battle with Ganondorf was surprisingly epic considering this was a game aimed at a much younger audience.
I didn't however like having to change direction in the boat by playing a song every time, too few temples, the triforce hunt really hurt the second half of the game, and a stealth dungeon in the first goddamn level? Really now?
While I don't think it's a better game than Twilight Princess, I think the experience is better.
3. Twilight Princess: This was my most anticipated Zelda and one of my most anticipated games, period. Even before I got a chance to play it, Majora's Mask never got me hyped up that much, (which was odd because after playing OoT I was dying to get more Zelda goodness) and with Wind Waker, I actually started to actively hate Nintendo. But with TP, it was supposed to be a return to form. It was supposed to be the OoT of the next generation. This was one of the two games I ever bought in my life that was brand new (yep, every other game that I have or had was used).
It's no secret that I find myself disagreeing with GAF on a lot of things. Unlike many here, the fact that TP followed the OoT template a little too closely wasn't a big deal. Hell, that issue wasn't even on the radar for me. No, for me, I really didn't like how the story seemed rather disjointed, with lots of unanswered questions, and subplots that were created but never fully resolved, it just seemed like the team wanted to cram as much stuff as they could without worrying about how to put everything together without time running out. I wasn't a fan of the wolf mechanic, ever since it first showed in the trailers actually, but I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. The music, aside from a few tracks is probably my least favorite of the series. In short, the game lacked refinement. I mean, yes it definitely refined some aspects of OoT, but it regressed in others.
Of course, the game does have fantastic dungeons as well as bosses (omg Stallord), which stand among the best in the series, smoother controls, and although not very consistent, some of the best art direction and graphics.
2. Majora's Mask: This title seems to have gained a lot of traction over the past few years. The rise in popularity is understandable, for sure, since far too many think the Zelda series is too formulaic. I've actually grown to appreciate it quite a bit more. I wouldn't really give a game points simply for being different, but in MM's case it's fine since it tends to do those things well. I really liked the story, the atmosphere was awesome, with a fantastic sense of desperation and dread. I really liked the unique Mediterranean vibe that Clocktown seemed to have as well. I used to criticize the game for not having enough dungeons, but it's actually still a surprisingly big game, nearly matches OoT in scope and has the most and best sidequests in any Zelda. While not really my cup of tea, the 3-day system was actually a pretty intriguing concept. Considering Nintendo created the game in less than 2 years, I'd have to give the team props just for the amount of stuff the QA team would have to go through!
However, I didn't seem to care for any of the dungeon masters, I didn't like the save system and having my items disappear each time, and although I can understand the intricacies that arose with the 3-day repeating cycle, it just wasn't for me, and I didn't enjoy having to do many missions all over again if I happened to run out of time. Still, I think this is probably the most cohesive of the Aonumeldas, and definitely a worthy Zelda.
1. Ocarina of Time: It's funny how one of my favorite games of all time happened to come from a game that I just randomly popped in one day as I was bored at my cousin's house one Summer afternoon. I didn't care about Zelda before OoT. This game brought me into the Zelda series, and also into 3D, not Mario 64. Everything about this game feels so cohesive, so organic, and just so damn right.Aside from the occasional annoying dungeon puzzle, never did I ever feel a moment of frustration. I always was eager to do the next thing. While primitive by today's standards, I loved searching every square centimeter of Hyrule, and was always surprised when I kept finding more and more secrets. The music was captivating, and brilliantly composed, my personal favorite out of the 3D titles. The midi quality wasn't the best, sure but the compositions were amazingly catchy and memorable, a true sign of a brilliant composer that overcomes technical limitations. Nearly all Zeldas are a coming of age story, but I think OoT executes it in the best manner so far. The dungeons were plentiful and brilliantly designed, and the bosses are some of the most memorable and awesome in gaming, and the final battle with Ganon was the definition of epic. I have yet to feel this sense of wonder, and satisfaction with any Zelda released after.
I know OoT's graphics are dated, and Hyrule Field is fairly empty, and other Zeldas may do many aspects better, but in the end, it doesn't matter because the game finds the perfect balance of things I've come to love about Zelda. I hope Miyamoto provides some more input on the next console Zelda, and maybe then it can replicate the awesomeness of OoT.
I'm too tired to do add the 2D ones, but LttP would be around OoT and the Oracles would probably be under Majora's Mask. Minish Cap just under the Oracles. I dunno where I'd put LA. I'd put it under the other 4 for sure. And I don't care for the rest.
In any case, I actually didn't even play the game until after the first Twilight Princess trailer was unveiled. Since I went in with zero expectations, I actually found myself to be rather impressed. While I still loathed the designs, the animation and art direction for the environments was fantastic. Underground Hyrule was just gorgeous. I really loved the story as well, and the final battle with Ganondorf was surprisingly epic considering this was a game aimed at a much younger audience.
I didn't however like having to change direction in the boat by playing a song every time, too few temples, the triforce hunt really hurt the second half of the game, and a stealth dungeon in the first goddamn level? Really now?
While I don't think it's a better game than Twilight Princess, I think the experience is better.
3. Twilight Princess: This was my most anticipated Zelda and one of my most anticipated games, period. Even before I got a chance to play it, Majora's Mask never got me hyped up that much, (which was odd because after playing OoT I was dying to get more Zelda goodness) and with Wind Waker, I actually started to actively hate Nintendo. But with TP, it was supposed to be a return to form. It was supposed to be the OoT of the next generation. This was one of the two games I ever bought in my life that was brand new (yep, every other game that I have or had was used).
It's no secret that I find myself disagreeing with GAF on a lot of things. Unlike many here, the fact that TP followed the OoT template a little too closely wasn't a big deal. Hell, that issue wasn't even on the radar for me. No, for me, I really didn't like how the story seemed rather disjointed, with lots of unanswered questions, and subplots that were created but never fully resolved, it just seemed like the team wanted to cram as much stuff as they could without worrying about how to put everything together without time running out. I wasn't a fan of the wolf mechanic, ever since it first showed in the trailers actually, but I decided to give it the benefit of the doubt. The music, aside from a few tracks is probably my least favorite of the series. In short, the game lacked refinement. I mean, yes it definitely refined some aspects of OoT, but it regressed in others.
Of course, the game does have fantastic dungeons as well as bosses (omg Stallord), which stand among the best in the series, smoother controls, and although not very consistent, some of the best art direction and graphics.
2. Majora's Mask: This title seems to have gained a lot of traction over the past few years. The rise in popularity is understandable, for sure, since far too many think the Zelda series is too formulaic. I've actually grown to appreciate it quite a bit more. I wouldn't really give a game points simply for being different, but in MM's case it's fine since it tends to do those things well. I really liked the story, the atmosphere was awesome, with a fantastic sense of desperation and dread. I really liked the unique Mediterranean vibe that Clocktown seemed to have as well. I used to criticize the game for not having enough dungeons, but it's actually still a surprisingly big game, nearly matches OoT in scope and has the most and best sidequests in any Zelda. While not really my cup of tea, the 3-day system was actually a pretty intriguing concept. Considering Nintendo created the game in less than 2 years, I'd have to give the team props just for the amount of stuff the QA team would have to go through!
However, I didn't seem to care for any of the dungeon masters, I didn't like the save system and having my items disappear each time, and although I can understand the intricacies that arose with the 3-day repeating cycle, it just wasn't for me, and I didn't enjoy having to do many missions all over again if I happened to run out of time. Still, I think this is probably the most cohesive of the Aonumeldas, and definitely a worthy Zelda.
1. Ocarina of Time: It's funny how one of my favorite games of all time happened to come from a game that I just randomly popped in one day as I was bored at my cousin's house one Summer afternoon. I didn't care about Zelda before OoT. This game brought me into the Zelda series, and also into 3D, not Mario 64. Everything about this game feels so cohesive, so organic, and just so damn right.Aside from the occasional annoying dungeon puzzle, never did I ever feel a moment of frustration. I always was eager to do the next thing. While primitive by today's standards, I loved searching every square centimeter of Hyrule, and was always surprised when I kept finding more and more secrets. The music was captivating, and brilliantly composed, my personal favorite out of the 3D titles. The midi quality wasn't the best, sure but the compositions were amazingly catchy and memorable, a true sign of a brilliant composer that overcomes technical limitations. Nearly all Zeldas are a coming of age story, but I think OoT executes it in the best manner so far. The dungeons were plentiful and brilliantly designed, and the bosses are some of the most memorable and awesome in gaming, and the final battle with Ganon was the definition of epic. I have yet to feel this sense of wonder, and satisfaction with any Zelda released after.
I know OoT's graphics are dated, and Hyrule Field is fairly empty, and other Zeldas may do many aspects better, but in the end, it doesn't matter because the game finds the perfect balance of things I've come to love about Zelda. I hope Miyamoto provides some more input on the next console Zelda, and maybe then it can replicate the awesomeness of OoT.
I'm too tired to do add the 2D ones, but LttP would be around OoT and the Oracles would probably be under Majora's Mask. Minish Cap just under the Oracles. I dunno where I'd put LA. I'd put it under the other 4 for sure. And I don't care for the rest.
1. Majora's Mask - best concept, nearly perfectly executed. Creepiest too.
2. Windwaker - fantastic concept, executed not so well (boat traveling, triforce hunt) BEST Ganondorf
3. Link's Awakening - greatest classic zelda
4. Link to the Past - great memories, first game that gave me a epic feeling
4. Ocarina of Time - set the bar for the new generation of zelda's
5. Minish Cap/Oracles - great homages to Lttp and Awakening, better in some ways
6. Twilight Princess - some great dungeons, some dull. Felt like a desperate grasp at Ocarina. Toon Link overshadowed the dull emotionless elf, shame to see him make a comeback. Wolf parts were kinda boring and overall too easy.
7. Legend of Zelda - Best music so hard on your first go! But I was determined to beat it. Classic.
8. Link's Adventure - second best music, loved the leveling up system and the use of dark
areas.
>Zelda
2. Windwaker - fantastic concept, executed not so well (boat traveling, triforce hunt) BEST Ganondorf
3. Link's Awakening - greatest classic zelda
4. Link to the Past - great memories, first game that gave me a epic feeling
4. Ocarina of Time - set the bar for the new generation of zelda's
5. Minish Cap/Oracles - great homages to Lttp and Awakening, better in some ways
6. Twilight Princess - some great dungeons, some dull. Felt like a desperate grasp at Ocarina. Toon Link overshadowed the dull emotionless elf, shame to see him make a comeback. Wolf parts were kinda boring and overall too easy.
7. Legend of Zelda - Best music
so hard on your first go! But I was determined to beat it. Classic.8. Link's Adventure - second best music, loved the leveling up system and the use of dark
areas.
Alundra>>>>>>>>>LandStalker>>>
AniHawk said:
Sorry, I'll let the others slide (even if I disagree with most) however I just cannot let this pass. I would have enjoyed TP significantly more if the music was anywhere near as good. Now, apologize.
Keep telling yourself that.
Iam Canadian
and have the worst user name EVER
Controverial opinions ahead!
12. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: True confession time: I hate Phantom Hourglass. I hate the touch screen controls, which I was never able to adjust to; I was wishing for button controls for as long as I played it. I hate the sailing, though not as much as I did in Wind Waker. I hate the complete lack of anything resembling difficulty. And I hate the temple that you continually have to revisit after every dungeon.
11. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: I think the fact that I completely forgot about this game in the first draft of this post says it all. Seriously, this game just bored me and I found it utterly forgettable.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: I admit it. I really do not like Ocarina of Time. The dungeons are way too easy and have entirely too few enemies to fight, making them feel barren. There's way too much unskippable text, making replays tedious. I actually enjoyed Master Quest way more, which fixed my problems with the dungeons, even if the text remained.
9. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: Zelda II was a really good idea. It's actually quite fun to play, I love how it's actually hard, and the music is really good. However, at times it goes overboard with the difficulty and it's really annoying going back to the beginning when you get a game over. I wish Nintendo would revisit this style of gameplay again.
8. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: As much as I dislike the sailing, this really did have the potential to be my favourite 3D Zelda game. The game was painfully easy, as all of the 3D games are, but the dungeons were good, the art style was appealing, and the exploration was compelling even in spite of the tedium that was the sailing.
Then I came to the Triforce piece hunt. I detest this part of the game so much that it sours my opinion of the entire game. Such a terrible design decision and it kills every attempt I make at replaying this.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons: It's not as good as Ages, but it's the closest a Zelda game has come to recapturing the more action-based gameplay of the first game.
6. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap: Okay, so it's short and it's easy. Still, this is the last Zelda game that I really enjoyed. Like Link's Awakening, there's a lot of creativity to be found here, especially in the areas where Link is small. And while I feel that almost every Zelda game released after Zelda II has too much mandatory text to read, at least Ezlo could be amusing at times.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages: I think this one is by far the most underrated Zelda game. Oracle of Ages has some of the strongest puzzles I've seen in the series and it's almost as challenging as the original Zelda just because of them. I enjoyed the time travel element, too.
4. The Legend of Zelda: I really wish Nintendo would adapt some of the elements of this title into future Zelda games. You really had to explore in this game and while it could have used a few more hints as to where the dungeons were, I liked being let loose to explore Hyrule at my own pace. But the best part is that the enemies were actually dangerous and stood a very good chance at killing you. I wish Nintendo would bring that back.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask: By far my favourite 3D Zelda game, and the only one I've even come close to enjoying as much as the best of the 2D ones. While it doesn't have as many dungeons as I'd like, the mask system is fun, especially Link's various transformations, and it has some excellent dungeons and boss fights.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX: While I think the single-screen rooms in the dungeons hurt this game a tad, it's so creative that I can't help but enjoy it. Koholint is also an incredibly appealing world for a Zelda game, far more than Hyrule. I just love the characters that appear here, from Marin to the Chain Chomp dogs.
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: While it's not as challenging as the original Zelda or as creative as Link's Awakening, this one just clicks with me in a way that none of the others do. It's probably the most vast of the 2D Zelda games, and that's a part of it, I think. But everything just works in perfect harmony: the overworld and dungeon layouts, the items, and the dual-worlds mechanic.
Edit: Lulz, forgot TP. :lol
12. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass: True confession time: I hate Phantom Hourglass. I hate the touch screen controls, which I was never able to adjust to; I was wishing for button controls for as long as I played it. I hate the sailing, though not as much as I did in Wind Waker. I hate the complete lack of anything resembling difficulty. And I hate the temple that you continually have to revisit after every dungeon.
11. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess: I think the fact that I completely forgot about this game in the first draft of this post says it all. Seriously, this game just bored me and I found it utterly forgettable.
10. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time: I admit it. I really do not like Ocarina of Time. The dungeons are way too easy and have entirely too few enemies to fight, making them feel barren. There's way too much unskippable text, making replays tedious. I actually enjoyed Master Quest way more, which fixed my problems with the dungeons, even if the text remained.
9. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: Zelda II was a really good idea. It's actually quite fun to play, I love how it's actually hard, and the music is really good. However, at times it goes overboard with the difficulty and it's really annoying going back to the beginning when you get a game over. I wish Nintendo would revisit this style of gameplay again.
8. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker: As much as I dislike the sailing, this really did have the potential to be my favourite 3D Zelda game. The game was painfully easy, as all of the 3D games are, but the dungeons were good, the art style was appealing, and the exploration was compelling even in spite of the tedium that was the sailing.
Then I came to the Triforce piece hunt. I detest this part of the game so much that it sours my opinion of the entire game. Such a terrible design decision and it kills every attempt I make at replaying this.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons: It's not as good as Ages, but it's the closest a Zelda game has come to recapturing the more action-based gameplay of the first game.
6. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap: Okay, so it's short and it's easy. Still, this is the last Zelda game that I really enjoyed. Like Link's Awakening, there's a lot of creativity to be found here, especially in the areas where Link is small. And while I feel that almost every Zelda game released after Zelda II has too much mandatory text to read, at least Ezlo could be amusing at times.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages: I think this one is by far the most underrated Zelda game. Oracle of Ages has some of the strongest puzzles I've seen in the series and it's almost as challenging as the original Zelda just because of them. I enjoyed the time travel element, too.
4. The Legend of Zelda: I really wish Nintendo would adapt some of the elements of this title into future Zelda games. You really had to explore in this game and while it could have used a few more hints as to where the dungeons were, I liked being let loose to explore Hyrule at my own pace. But the best part is that the enemies were actually dangerous and stood a very good chance at killing you. I wish Nintendo would bring that back.
3. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask: By far my favourite 3D Zelda game, and the only one I've even come close to enjoying as much as the best of the 2D ones. While it doesn't have as many dungeons as I'd like, the mask system is fun, especially Link's various transformations, and it has some excellent dungeons and boss fights.
2. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX: While I think the single-screen rooms in the dungeons hurt this game a tad, it's so creative that I can't help but enjoy it. Koholint is also an incredibly appealing world for a Zelda game, far more than Hyrule. I just love the characters that appear here, from Marin to the Chain Chomp dogs.
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past: While it's not as challenging as the original Zelda or as creative as Link's Awakening, this one just clicks with me in a way that none of the others do. It's probably the most vast of the 2D Zelda games, and that's a part of it, I think. But everything just works in perfect harmony: the overworld and dungeon layouts, the items, and the dual-worlds mechanic.
Edit: Lulz, forgot TP. :lol
cartman414
Member
Oblivion said:
Why should I when it practically is?
Iam Canadian
and have the worst user name EVER
Oblivion said:
Hey, I said my opinions were controversial!
Honestly, I've come to realize that what I demand from Zelda is vastly different from what most people want; I value replayability, challenge, and dungeon design. The games in the series that I enjoy are the ones that offer these elements to some degree.
D
Deleted member 30609
Unconfirmed Member
Twilight Princess is probably the best version of OOT released so far. It was a fantastic game.
Deputy Moonman
Member
1. Ocarina of Time - Still one of the most incredible games I've ever played
2. Legend of Zelda - Started it all
3. Twilight Princess - Finally, a true sequel to Ocarina of Time
4. Majora's Mask - Was a bit disenchanted with the whole 3 days and everything resets thing
5. Wind Waker - Riding around in a boat was not my idea of a good time, but still fun, even if the dungeons were a bit too easy.
If I had ever owned an SNES, I'm sure Link to the Past would be on this list. Still have never played it. And I despised Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, sorry longtime fans
2. Legend of Zelda - Started it all
3. Twilight Princess - Finally, a true sequel to Ocarina of Time
4. Majora's Mask - Was a bit disenchanted with the whole 3 days and everything resets thing
5. Wind Waker - Riding around in a boat was not my idea of a good time, but still fun, even if the dungeons were a bit too easy.
If I had ever owned an SNES, I'm sure Link to the Past would be on this list. Still have never played it. And I despised Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, sorry longtime fans
John Dunbar
correct about everything
1. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
3. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Zelda II is a misunderstood masterpiece. Best game on NES after Super Mario Bros. 3.
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
4. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
3. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Zelda II is a misunderstood masterpiece. Best game on NES after Super Mario Bros. 3.
Dacvak
No one shall be brought before our LORD David Bowie without the true and secret knowledge of the Photoshop. For in that time, so shall He appear.
I still don't see much in Zelda II, but every once and a while I'll talk to someone who swears by it. To each his own, I suppose. I hate Metroid Prime and Bioshock.
NintendoGal
Member
Why is there so much hate for Zelda II? I thought it was a decent game and felt proud when I finally beat it when I was a kid.
John Dunbar
correct about everything
When will Nintendo come out with a "Legend of Zelda - Dungeons Greatest Hits" disc? I'd like to replay a favorite dungeon or two from the series, or one I never got around to, but damn if I have time to replay the entire games to get to them again.
A disc like this compiling 20 or so dungeons (including maybe one NEW one) would sell like hotcakes at $20 and be pure profit.
A disc like this compiling 20 or so dungeons (including maybe one NEW one) would sell like hotcakes at $20 and be pure profit.
1: N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
I replay this game almost every year, and enjoy it still. Says enough.
2: SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Nostalgia plays a role too, but this game has two worlds, a lot of dungeons and nice graphics still.
3: GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
I just recently beat this game. Never played it with friends together, but played level by level with my little brother. We still had amazing fun.
4: GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
I also recently beat this game. I never got past the triforce hunt, so I decided to replay the game. I got stuck at the same moment :lol, but I discovered an old save of mine which was past the hunt, so I guess I did finish it sometime but didn't remember it. Anyway, the graphics are still amazing, I can only hope this style will be used again in this glory. Not the DS-glory, because that's ugly 3D.
5: Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Although it took me 40 hours to finish this game, making it the most durable Zelda of all, I recently tried to replay this and stopped just before the Sky Temple. I lost my interest. Maybe it's me getting old, but all past-OoT Zelda's just don't do the same trick. I guess OoT was too perfect back then.
The games I really didn't like are Majora's Mask (sorry GAF), which has to do with the game freezing all the time when playing it on the NGC. I'm done spending another minute into that game. Also, I didn't like the Oracle games and Minish Cap, they just didn't feel like Zelda to me. All the unmentioned are in between.
I replay this game almost every year, and enjoy it still. Says enough.
2: SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Nostalgia plays a role too, but this game has two worlds, a lot of dungeons and nice graphics still.
3: GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
I just recently beat this game. Never played it with friends together, but played level by level with my little brother. We still had amazing fun.
4: GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
I also recently beat this game. I never got past the triforce hunt, so I decided to replay the game. I got stuck at the same moment :lol, but I discovered an old save of mine which was past the hunt, so I guess I did finish it sometime but didn't remember it. Anyway, the graphics are still amazing, I can only hope this style will be used again in this glory. Not the DS-glory, because that's ugly 3D.
5: Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Although it took me 40 hours to finish this game, making it the most durable Zelda of all, I recently tried to replay this and stopped just before the Sky Temple. I lost my interest. Maybe it's me getting old, but all past-OoT Zelda's just don't do the same trick. I guess OoT was too perfect back then.
The games I really didn't like are Majora's Mask (sorry GAF), which has to do with the game freezing all the time when playing it on the NGC. I'm done spending another minute into that game. Also, I didn't like the Oracle games and Minish Cap, they just didn't feel like Zelda to me. All the unmentioned are in between.
Wow, Teddman, wow.
Majora's Mask has brilliant art direction, but I could NOT play it as a kid when it came out because it scared the shit out of me. The transformation scenes were scary, the characters were scary, and, for chrissakes, that bloody moon.
I eagerly anticipate the Wii rerelease, however. Mmm, higher resolution and better framerate minus bad keyboard controls.
Fuck man. N'Gai Croal isn't just content with ruining gaming journalism, now he must ruin games.Steeven said:
Majora's Mask has brilliant art direction, but I could NOT play it as a kid when it came out because it scared the shit out of me. The transformation scenes were scary, the characters were scary, and, for chrissakes, that bloody moon.
I eagerly anticipate the Wii rerelease, however. Mmm, higher resolution and better framerate minus bad keyboard controls.
HylianScribe
Member
The correct answer to this thread is Zelda II.
/thread
Nah.
1) A Link to the Past - I can replay this Zelda at anytime, anywhere, and I can play it through till the end with no issue and still get enjoyment. Even after playing it so many times. It took what Zelda 1 started and what Zelda II tried to achieve, and put meaning behind the quest that Link undertook. Almost every important aspect of the Zelda mythos and gameplay were established in A Link to the Past. In addition, a good chunk of its music has been recycled throughout the rest of the series, but I've always found it to have the best music aside from the original Zelda's overworld and title screen themes.
2) The Legend of Zelda - I would argue that even though ALttP took this game up a notch with more meaningful story and presentation, the original Zelda's mystique has a lot of staying power. Simply given almost no story and tossed into a massive world hasn't really been replicated to this degree until Shadow of the Colossus. SotC is basically the modern Zelda 1, sans dungeons and enemies (though one could argue trying to reach each Colossi and solving their weakpoint is as tedious as any Zelda dungeon). Except for Adventure, no other game before it did anything remotely the same, and it's still the most "hardcore" Zelda in the series along with Zelda II. It's roots, and every new Zelda game stripped down should be Zelda 1 at its core.
3) Majora's Mask - I get asked why I put this game above Ocarina of Time a lot, especially since back in the day I did "speedruns" of Ocarina of Time and played it to death. Ocarina of Time was very easy to play, and was the 3D equivalent of Zelda 3. However, aside from transferring the series into 3D, which people give it more credit than it usually deserves (it was, after all, Super Mario 64 with a sword at first, before Miyamoto took it further after he didn't want it to just be Mario 64 with a sword). Majora's Mask actually decided to deviate just enough from the established formula, yet still be a Zelda game, like Link's Awakening before it. Whereas Link's Awakening really just changed the setting and story rather than a major shift to the gameplay, Majora's Mask pushed the concept of side quests into something more meaningful. Each area of Termina had a story and a distinct theme. There was more to do before each dungeon, and the world felt more alive when exploring it. Not to mention changing between the three major masks would alter the gameplay - Deku Scrub, Goron, and Zora each came with unqiue playing styles. The time system, while some hated it, was something I still marvel at because, again, it put more life into the world. While Ocarina of Time, as well as other games, had better dungeons, everything else about Majora's Mask was superior to Ocarina of Time, supposedly the "best" game ever.
4) Link's Awakening - It's usually a tie for me between this one and Majora's Mask. Link's Awakening was the first Zelda to shift from the typical paradigm of saving Zelda and Hyrule. It still adhered to the Zelda 1 formula of eight dungeons with eight items needed to open the final area, but it incorporated the gameplay of A Link to the Past. It allowed players to jump manually again with an item, and players could use any two items at once, giving them the option to not manually use the sword for the first time. But more than anything, the mystique behind trying to solve the mystery of the very island you tried to save gave this Zelda title probably the most compelling story in the series. If you didn't feel a bit of confusion or dismay at the ending, you're not that human. Also had a great cast of characters, though it didn't quite reach the level of Majora's Mask.
5) Twilight Princess - There really isn't much to say other than this game took Ocarina of Time, the "best" Zelda game ever, and put it on steroids. It's basically fan service Zelda, and I rank it only this high because of what it managed to achieve after all the hype. However, for all its accolades, I still insist it rests way too much on Ocarina of Time's laurels, and the game tries to be too much like Ocarina of Time rather than be its own game. Also held back by a lousy quality soundtrack (sample wise, not composition wise). Ending was also pretty weak, as was the complete character meltdown by Zant - probably the most epic "drop the ball" with an awesome character since Darth Maul died without uttering a single phrase. This is also for the GCN version. Aside from aiming mechanics in the Wii version, the GCN version is superior. It's a fact.
6) Ocarina of Time/Master Quest - It's still intriguing to know what Zelda 64 was supposed to be. A 3D remake of Zelda 1. Then they turned it into a 3D remake of A Link to the Past. There was supposed to be a Zelda 64 DD version as well, which had a lot of stuff that's since been passed off into newer titles, but if it made its way out, oh man, Ocarina of Time probably would have been an even bigger deal than it was. It's still amazing to see the scope of this game, and it paved the way for more 3D action/adventure titles to come - mostly because of its success. Apparently Ocarina of Time also inspired RockStar to take GTA into the 3D "sandbox" realm...and they claim OoT is one of the first "sandbox" titles out there. I sort of disagree, but it's still a really great game.
7) The Wind Waker - Loved the presentation, and I actually liked the whole take on Hyrule was "ancient" and was buried beneath the ocean. I didn't like how there were just scattered, small islands around, and would have preferred sailing to fewer, larger land masses, but oh well. Loved the music and characters in this one as well. If the style was tweaked a bit more, I would have loved for the series to have continued with this presentation. However, the Triforce "hunt" at the end was rather ill-fated and poorly conceived. Imagine if you had eight more dungeons for that part...ha.
8) The Minish Cap - Like The Wind Waker, I just loved the presentation and story behind this game. I liked the tale of a Minish becoming corrupt and turning into the mage Vaati. I also liked how Link and Zelda had some form of a relationship, rather than being uptight figure heads who couldn't show emotion to each other. Pretty sweet soundtrack, and the gameplay was Link's Awakening turned up a notch. Main issue was how linear the game was, and how small the overworld was as well.
9) Oracle of Ages - For the longest time, I disliked both Oracle titles and actually put Seasons ahead of Ages. However, Ages really pulled off the time travel concept FAR better than Ocarina of Time ever did. With a great cast and great premise, what really fell apart for me, as with Seasons, were the dungeons. I don't know why so many people love them, but they're atrocious and too Capcom-ish for my tastes.
10) Oracle of Seasons - As I said, I used to like this one more. However, I've come to realize it has a weaker premise and story than Ages. Of course, linking both together, the Oracle games were truly good. If there were some way to remake them as one whole game, that would easily be bumped up right behind Link's Awakening. The rings were a bit too much for my tastes, too - seemed like they ran with the "Masks" concept, but overdid it.
11) Phantom Hourglass - In essence, this Zelda game is the most like Zelda 1 in the series at a certain point. You can sail out anywhere in the quadrant, and eventually, the entire sea. You can beat dungeons out of order and it is INTENDED (key word there). So why do I have this so low? While touch screen input works, and can be more precise in some cases, the fundamental element of combat was reduced to child's play. Tapping an enemy to do your attack got old fast, and wasn't all that fun. I'd rather have to rely on some skill to be good with Link's sword, and combat is one KEY element of Zelda's formula next to Exploration and Puzzles. The story was also really weak, they managed to really trivialize Tetra's screen time, and it was way too easy.
12) The Adventure of Link - This game was ahead of its time. Had Miyamoto and company had more time to develop this, and the technology, the Zelda franchise may have been a vastly different one than it is today. While some elements lived on in future games, such as towns, learning new attacks and the magic system, much of it was abandoned - in particular the more RPG elements such as the level system. Also, learning spells, though in essence has lived on, never resurfaced to the degree it did in Zelda 2, nor had such a significant role. Fighting yourself as the final boss also was a gazillion times cooler than Ganon, Vaati, or anyone else.
13) Four Swords Adventures - This game was actually pretty damn good, but two things killed it. First was forcing a single player to control four Links. Even with the system that allowed formations, it was rather tedious to control each Link independently for some puzzles. The next major issue was the fact the game was broken into levels a-la Super Mario Bros. An organic overworld would have gone a long way. Plus, only being able to use one item at a time was weaksauce.
14) BS Zeruda no Densetsu - This game I only played through a patched ROM, so it is not entirely the same experience as the original broadcast of this title. There were actually two "maps" released for this game, essentially making it the official Third and Fourth Quests of Zelda 1. Having day/night and weather cycles was awesome, and a few other small revisions made it rather fun. However, it didn't...play as well as Zelda 1. Hard to explain without just having you play it yourself. Plus, as I said, this should probably be lumped in with Zelda 1.
15) Kodai no Sekiban (Ancient Stone Tablets) - This game I've only played through thanks to a poorly patched ROM, so some of it is going based on information released about the game as well. The fact you couldn't play it all in one sitting, but had to wait for eight separate episodes stinks. However, playing as the BS mascot and having the first voice work in a Zelda game was pretty cool. You also got to compare your scores with other players, and there was a time limit imposed as well. Basically like a Master Quest for A Link to the Past.
16) Zelda's Adventure - If not for poor hit detection and having to wait for each screen to load (think Zelda 1 on PlayStation with loading times between each screen - oh yeah, that bad), this would actually be a really decent Zelda game. Unfortunately it was designed to with an emphasis on "visuals" over "gameplay", and so it's rather mediocre. However, this CD-i title is by no means "horrible", and if you can somehow play through it, I recommend it - just bear with it for the first hour and dungeon, and learn to abuse the hit detection.
17) Four Swords - The first true attempt at multiplayer Zelda, Four Swords also had the random dungeon generator feature as well. However, the setup to play this game was bonkers, and it was really short and more of a side-mode for the ALttP remake on GBA.
18) Freshly-Picked: Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland - I actually really enjoyed this one, but it's a really niche game and it's hardly like Zelda at all. Playing it through in Japanese + trying to figure out negotiation prices was ridiculously frustrating, though. Epic final boss, heh.
19) Link's Crossbow Training - Shameless re-use of Twilight Princess assets to sell a peripheral device. The only truly worthwhile aspect of this title were the "ranger" levels, which gave fans the first taste of third-person shooter Zelda. It actually was fun, but needed more substance and better execution.
20) Zelda: Wand of Gamelon - Out of this title and its sibling, Zelda's first adventure wins out simply because it didn't play as poorly as Link's quest on CD-i. Horrible production values with Microsoft Paint inspired cutscenes and terrible gameplay have relegated this relic to internet meme status. However, once you figure out the nuances, it's a rather short game to complete.
21) Link: Faces of Evil - I found Link's CD-i adventure to be the least compelling of the two that came out at the same time. Plagued by all the same issues, it had the weaker story, and Link's jumping mechanics seemed to be worse than Zelda's.
22) Zelda Game &Watch - Eh, it's one of those old Tiger style handhelds. You just dodge enemy projectiles, attack enemies, and then take on a Gleeok boss. You go up various rooms in a pyramid style dungeon. It's a grind, but yes, I've beaten it, so I can judge this game. It's not Zelda at all aside from its assets.
23) Tingle's Balloon Fight - It's just Balloon Fight. I didn't like it at all, but I put up with it till the end. Mildly amusing for a few minutes.
/thread
Nah.
1) A Link to the Past - I can replay this Zelda at anytime, anywhere, and I can play it through till the end with no issue and still get enjoyment. Even after playing it so many times. It took what Zelda 1 started and what Zelda II tried to achieve, and put meaning behind the quest that Link undertook. Almost every important aspect of the Zelda mythos and gameplay were established in A Link to the Past. In addition, a good chunk of its music has been recycled throughout the rest of the series, but I've always found it to have the best music aside from the original Zelda's overworld and title screen themes.
2) The Legend of Zelda - I would argue that even though ALttP took this game up a notch with more meaningful story and presentation, the original Zelda's mystique has a lot of staying power. Simply given almost no story and tossed into a massive world hasn't really been replicated to this degree until Shadow of the Colossus. SotC is basically the modern Zelda 1, sans dungeons and enemies (though one could argue trying to reach each Colossi and solving their weakpoint is as tedious as any Zelda dungeon). Except for Adventure, no other game before it did anything remotely the same, and it's still the most "hardcore" Zelda in the series along with Zelda II. It's roots, and every new Zelda game stripped down should be Zelda 1 at its core.
3) Majora's Mask - I get asked why I put this game above Ocarina of Time a lot, especially since back in the day I did "speedruns" of Ocarina of Time and played it to death. Ocarina of Time was very easy to play, and was the 3D equivalent of Zelda 3. However, aside from transferring the series into 3D, which people give it more credit than it usually deserves (it was, after all, Super Mario 64 with a sword at first, before Miyamoto took it further after he didn't want it to just be Mario 64 with a sword). Majora's Mask actually decided to deviate just enough from the established formula, yet still be a Zelda game, like Link's Awakening before it. Whereas Link's Awakening really just changed the setting and story rather than a major shift to the gameplay, Majora's Mask pushed the concept of side quests into something more meaningful. Each area of Termina had a story and a distinct theme. There was more to do before each dungeon, and the world felt more alive when exploring it. Not to mention changing between the three major masks would alter the gameplay - Deku Scrub, Goron, and Zora each came with unqiue playing styles. The time system, while some hated it, was something I still marvel at because, again, it put more life into the world. While Ocarina of Time, as well as other games, had better dungeons, everything else about Majora's Mask was superior to Ocarina of Time, supposedly the "best" game ever.
4) Link's Awakening - It's usually a tie for me between this one and Majora's Mask. Link's Awakening was the first Zelda to shift from the typical paradigm of saving Zelda and Hyrule. It still adhered to the Zelda 1 formula of eight dungeons with eight items needed to open the final area, but it incorporated the gameplay of A Link to the Past. It allowed players to jump manually again with an item, and players could use any two items at once, giving them the option to not manually use the sword for the first time. But more than anything, the mystique behind trying to solve the mystery of the very island you tried to save gave this Zelda title probably the most compelling story in the series. If you didn't feel a bit of confusion or dismay at the ending, you're not that human. Also had a great cast of characters, though it didn't quite reach the level of Majora's Mask.
5) Twilight Princess - There really isn't much to say other than this game took Ocarina of Time, the "best" Zelda game ever, and put it on steroids. It's basically fan service Zelda, and I rank it only this high because of what it managed to achieve after all the hype. However, for all its accolades, I still insist it rests way too much on Ocarina of Time's laurels, and the game tries to be too much like Ocarina of Time rather than be its own game. Also held back by a lousy quality soundtrack (sample wise, not composition wise). Ending was also pretty weak, as was the complete character meltdown by Zant - probably the most epic "drop the ball" with an awesome character since Darth Maul died without uttering a single phrase. This is also for the GCN version. Aside from aiming mechanics in the Wii version, the GCN version is superior. It's a fact.
6) Ocarina of Time/Master Quest - It's still intriguing to know what Zelda 64 was supposed to be. A 3D remake of Zelda 1. Then they turned it into a 3D remake of A Link to the Past. There was supposed to be a Zelda 64 DD version as well, which had a lot of stuff that's since been passed off into newer titles, but if it made its way out, oh man, Ocarina of Time probably would have been an even bigger deal than it was. It's still amazing to see the scope of this game, and it paved the way for more 3D action/adventure titles to come - mostly because of its success. Apparently Ocarina of Time also inspired RockStar to take GTA into the 3D "sandbox" realm...and they claim OoT is one of the first "sandbox" titles out there. I sort of disagree, but it's still a really great game.
7) The Wind Waker - Loved the presentation, and I actually liked the whole take on Hyrule was "ancient" and was buried beneath the ocean. I didn't like how there were just scattered, small islands around, and would have preferred sailing to fewer, larger land masses, but oh well. Loved the music and characters in this one as well. If the style was tweaked a bit more, I would have loved for the series to have continued with this presentation. However, the Triforce "hunt" at the end was rather ill-fated and poorly conceived. Imagine if you had eight more dungeons for that part...ha.
8) The Minish Cap - Like The Wind Waker, I just loved the presentation and story behind this game. I liked the tale of a Minish becoming corrupt and turning into the mage Vaati. I also liked how Link and Zelda had some form of a relationship, rather than being uptight figure heads who couldn't show emotion to each other. Pretty sweet soundtrack, and the gameplay was Link's Awakening turned up a notch. Main issue was how linear the game was, and how small the overworld was as well.
9) Oracle of Ages - For the longest time, I disliked both Oracle titles and actually put Seasons ahead of Ages. However, Ages really pulled off the time travel concept FAR better than Ocarina of Time ever did. With a great cast and great premise, what really fell apart for me, as with Seasons, were the dungeons. I don't know why so many people love them, but they're atrocious and too Capcom-ish for my tastes.
10) Oracle of Seasons - As I said, I used to like this one more. However, I've come to realize it has a weaker premise and story than Ages. Of course, linking both together, the Oracle games were truly good. If there were some way to remake them as one whole game, that would easily be bumped up right behind Link's Awakening. The rings were a bit too much for my tastes, too - seemed like they ran with the "Masks" concept, but overdid it.
11) Phantom Hourglass - In essence, this Zelda game is the most like Zelda 1 in the series at a certain point. You can sail out anywhere in the quadrant, and eventually, the entire sea. You can beat dungeons out of order and it is INTENDED (key word there). So why do I have this so low? While touch screen input works, and can be more precise in some cases, the fundamental element of combat was reduced to child's play. Tapping an enemy to do your attack got old fast, and wasn't all that fun. I'd rather have to rely on some skill to be good with Link's sword, and combat is one KEY element of Zelda's formula next to Exploration and Puzzles. The story was also really weak, they managed to really trivialize Tetra's screen time, and it was way too easy.
12) The Adventure of Link - This game was ahead of its time. Had Miyamoto and company had more time to develop this, and the technology, the Zelda franchise may have been a vastly different one than it is today. While some elements lived on in future games, such as towns, learning new attacks and the magic system, much of it was abandoned - in particular the more RPG elements such as the level system. Also, learning spells, though in essence has lived on, never resurfaced to the degree it did in Zelda 2, nor had such a significant role. Fighting yourself as the final boss also was a gazillion times cooler than Ganon, Vaati, or anyone else.
13) Four Swords Adventures - This game was actually pretty damn good, but two things killed it. First was forcing a single player to control four Links. Even with the system that allowed formations, it was rather tedious to control each Link independently for some puzzles. The next major issue was the fact the game was broken into levels a-la Super Mario Bros. An organic overworld would have gone a long way. Plus, only being able to use one item at a time was weaksauce.
14) BS Zeruda no Densetsu - This game I only played through a patched ROM, so it is not entirely the same experience as the original broadcast of this title. There were actually two "maps" released for this game, essentially making it the official Third and Fourth Quests of Zelda 1. Having day/night and weather cycles was awesome, and a few other small revisions made it rather fun. However, it didn't...play as well as Zelda 1. Hard to explain without just having you play it yourself. Plus, as I said, this should probably be lumped in with Zelda 1.
15) Kodai no Sekiban (Ancient Stone Tablets) - This game I've only played through thanks to a poorly patched ROM, so some of it is going based on information released about the game as well. The fact you couldn't play it all in one sitting, but had to wait for eight separate episodes stinks. However, playing as the BS mascot and having the first voice work in a Zelda game was pretty cool. You also got to compare your scores with other players, and there was a time limit imposed as well. Basically like a Master Quest for A Link to the Past.
16) Zelda's Adventure - If not for poor hit detection and having to wait for each screen to load (think Zelda 1 on PlayStation with loading times between each screen - oh yeah, that bad), this would actually be a really decent Zelda game. Unfortunately it was designed to with an emphasis on "visuals" over "gameplay", and so it's rather mediocre. However, this CD-i title is by no means "horrible", and if you can somehow play through it, I recommend it - just bear with it for the first hour and dungeon, and learn to abuse the hit detection.
17) Four Swords - The first true attempt at multiplayer Zelda, Four Swords also had the random dungeon generator feature as well. However, the setup to play this game was bonkers, and it was really short and more of a side-mode for the ALttP remake on GBA.
18) Freshly-Picked: Tingle's Rosey Rupeeland - I actually really enjoyed this one, but it's a really niche game and it's hardly like Zelda at all. Playing it through in Japanese + trying to figure out negotiation prices was ridiculously frustrating, though. Epic final boss, heh.
19) Link's Crossbow Training - Shameless re-use of Twilight Princess assets to sell a peripheral device. The only truly worthwhile aspect of this title were the "ranger" levels, which gave fans the first taste of third-person shooter Zelda. It actually was fun, but needed more substance and better execution.
20) Zelda: Wand of Gamelon - Out of this title and its sibling, Zelda's first adventure wins out simply because it didn't play as poorly as Link's quest on CD-i. Horrible production values with Microsoft Paint inspired cutscenes and terrible gameplay have relegated this relic to internet meme status. However, once you figure out the nuances, it's a rather short game to complete.
21) Link: Faces of Evil - I found Link's CD-i adventure to be the least compelling of the two that came out at the same time. Plagued by all the same issues, it had the weaker story, and Link's jumping mechanics seemed to be worse than Zelda's.
22) Zelda Game &Watch - Eh, it's one of those old Tiger style handhelds. You just dodge enemy projectiles, attack enemies, and then take on a Gleeok boss. You go up various rooms in a pyramid style dungeon. It's a grind, but yes, I've beaten it, so I can judge this game. It's not Zelda at all aside from its assets.
23) Tingle's Balloon Fight - It's just Balloon Fight. I didn't like it at all, but I put up with it till the end. Mildly amusing for a few minutes.
pakkit said:
If someone could guarantee a copy that wouldn't freeze, I would give it another go. But for now, I never made it past the second temple, and I lost so many hours of my life. I still get mad thinking about it :lol. But keeping the freezing issue aside, I liked the game; love the awarding quests, the pressure with the limited time you have, and the characters in the town. It feels like something that should've been in OoT already, you know, interacting with them, seeing alot of people instead of a few.
HylianScribe
Member
It's coming to VC (Japan release in April, should be in NA this year).
. I will when they announce a brand new Zelda.Dabookerman
Member
1. OOT
2. LTTP
I've played/completed, WW, PH, MC, MM. LoZ.. Dunno where to put those though.
Somewhere down the bottom : TP
Let's delay a practically finished game for a year to put on a different consoles for maximum sales.
Let's not update the game in any other way other than adding a different control scheme.
Let's not use this year to fulfill the promise of a decent soundtrack.
2. LTTP
I've played/completed, WW, PH, MC, MM. LoZ.. Dunno where to put those though.
Somewhere down the bottom : TP
Let's delay a practically finished game for a year to put on a different consoles for maximum sales.
Let's not update the game in any other way other than adding a different control scheme.
Let's not use this year to fulfill the promise of a decent soundtrack.
Yoshi
Headmaster of Console Warrior Jugendstrafanstalt
14 GBA: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords (just a 4-player affair, the bonus dungeon in ALttP isn't so great sadly)
13 NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (the change of perspective and gameplay style wasn't a great idea)
12 GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (Really fun, even when playing alone but a bit too linear)
11 GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (too short, but really well designed, I had a lot of fun with it)
10 NES: The Legend of Zelda (the classic game is the most dificult one in the series which is a plus, but it doesn't stand a chance against most later Zeldas)
9 GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (I liked both Oracles about equally, but the atmosphere of Seasons is a bit more friendly imo)
8 GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
7 GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (great style, but way too easy and sometimes not all too great)
6 NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (great new control idea, fun gameplay style. The short dungeons are a bit of a letdown, though)
5 SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (a really nice calssic with fantastic dungeon design)
4 GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX (the Game Boy was never used better, one awesome experience)
3 N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest (Really terrific experience, everyone should have played this gem - in both versions)
2 Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Ocarina of Time with a better, if easier, dungeon design)
1 N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (The most awesome sidequests, not too numerous but all the better dungeons, a relatively high degree of dificulty and the great time-based story-telling and atmosphere give this Zelda the edge)
13 NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (the change of perspective and gameplay style wasn't a great idea)
12 GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (Really fun, even when playing alone but a bit too linear)
11 GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (too short, but really well designed, I had a lot of fun with it)
10 NES: The Legend of Zelda (the classic game is the most dificult one in the series which is a plus, but it doesn't stand a chance against most later Zeldas)
9 GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (I liked both Oracles about equally, but the atmosphere of Seasons is a bit more friendly imo)
8 GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
7 GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (great style, but way too easy and sometimes not all too great)
6 NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (great new control idea, fun gameplay style. The short dungeons are a bit of a letdown, though)
5 SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (a really nice calssic with fantastic dungeon design)
4 GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX (the Game Boy was never used better, one awesome experience)
3 N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest (Really terrific experience, everyone should have played this gem - in both versions)
2 Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Ocarina of Time with a better, if easier, dungeon design)
1 N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (The most awesome sidequests, not too numerous but all the better dungeons, a relatively high degree of dificulty and the great time-based story-telling and atmosphere give this Zelda the edge)
1. Link's Awakening
great in every respect, only issue is that it only has two assignable buttons and one of those is your sword, but that's the stupid gameboy's fault
2. Wind Waker
Atmosphere out the ass. I loved sailing. only issues were the lack of dungeons and islands in general. The treasure hunt didn't bother me as much, I love me some Tingley interaction.
3. Majora's Mask
Awesome time element. Great characters and story. fantastic atmosphere, but much gloomier than WW. Didn't really care for all the mask hunting, but whatevs.
4. Link to the Past
First Zelda I played so in true Nintendo fashion this is all about nostalgia.
---------------------
Didn't really like any of the others. :\ Felt like they were re-threading old territory and really didn't offer me up anything new.
great in every respect, only issue is that it only has two assignable buttons and one of those is your sword, but that's the stupid gameboy's fault
2. Wind Waker
Atmosphere out the ass. I loved sailing. only issues were the lack of dungeons and islands in general. The treasure hunt didn't bother me as much, I love me some Tingley interaction.
3. Majora's Mask
Awesome time element. Great characters and story. fantastic atmosphere, but much gloomier than WW. Didn't really care for all the mask hunting, but whatevs.
4. Link to the Past
First Zelda I played so in true Nintendo fashion this is all about nostalgia.
---------------------
Didn't really like any of the others. :\ Felt like they were re-threading old territory and really didn't offer me up anything new.
eXistor
Member
13: Oracle of Ages/ Seasons
I just don't like these games. I started with Ages and I think I did finish it, but it's now a long fuzzy memory. You can really tell it wasn't made by Nintendo, just utterly boring, bland overworld. I played about an hour of Seasons and just gave up, I really didn't want to waste my time on another (turns out I made the right choice, most seem to think Seasons is the weakest) These shouldn't have been made.
11: Phantom Hourglass
A real disappointment for me. I love the Wind Waker and the style it bought to the series, but PH threw it all away. Gone is the freedom you need in a Zelda game. The controls work fine, but it's all just so and and uninteresting, they don't make use of WW's unique style at all. The part that I always like the most in Zelda games is exploration. I love wandering the overworld in search of hidden items and caves and such. While I like the dungeons in most games, it's usually not the part I look forward to in A Zelda game. PH was the fucking worst in this respect. There was no freedom! Even the overworld was like a dungeon, you never had the feeling you were on an adventure in search of things. This is a game that pays off hard work with a slap in the face by making you revisit the worst fucking dungeon in Zelda history time after time. Just bad and the reason I'm not looking forward to Spirit Tracks at all.
10: Four Swords Adventures
Not really a true Zelda game but I had fun with it, even on my own. It had the right atmosphere and had an air of fun to it that you rarely get.
9: The Minish Cap
This is the true middle-of-the-road Zelda for me. There's nothing really wrong with it, but it doesn't do anything particularly good. The graphics were good. I can't say I remember the music or most of the puzzles. I do remember it being short and easy. I finished it once and just never had the thought of revisiting this one. Again, just average all the way through.
8: Zelda II
A very interesting experiment. Not wholly succesful, but still quite good. When you're used to the controls, they work like a dream. Okay the towns and characters were all interchangable, but at least you had towns. The palaces were pretty cool, if very bland graphically (even the first Zelda had more diversity). Even if the overworld was largely empty, it gave the game scope. It doesn't really feel like classic Zelda, but I still feel this is a very decent game.
7: Twilight Princess
Ah, the love-and-hate Zelda for me. On the one hand I love the game: Some great graphics, some great moments, some great dungeons, a big overworld. On the other hand this game blows. Some locations looked like test-enviroments: the Gerudo Desert was the blandest, ugliest place in any Zelda ever. The game had some classic moments (the part leading up to the Master Sword is amongst my favorite Zelda moments ever), but it also had a lot of terrible ones. The whole wolf/darkworld-thing was just no fun at all. Thankfully after a while you don't have to do it so much anymore. I personally think there are too many dungeons. Lose two of them and you'll have a much more focused game. I also didn't like the bigger focus on story. I'm a firm believer that a Zelda game should be like the setup of a fairytale and that you make your own story when playing the game. I don't mind a little exposition now and then, but TP took it a step too far. My biggest complaint though is the overworld. Sure it's nice and big, but it felt incredibly artificial. I want to be able to feel like I'm really in Hyrule, this made me feel like they just randomly plopped items and locations on an empty stretch of land. It had no heart at all and I felt really disconnected from it. Still it's a good game, but it's also the game that made me realise that Zelda needs a huge makeover.
6: Zelda 1
The one that started it all. In all honesty, nowadays the game really isn't that good, but ironically, this is the game I want Nintendo to take a real hard look at for their next Zelda (they won't). You were literally dumped in the world without a clue. Just wander the land in search of items that can aid you in your quest. I love this concept and for the time it worked sickeningly well in the original Zelda. You had a true sense of exploration and accomlishment when you managed to figure out when and where to use certain items. If only the new Zelda could do something similar. A SotC-style land with hidden ruins in the mountains that you can walk right into, not knowing if this is the right dungeon for you to be in. It will never happen of course (my hope is on team ICO to provide me with this), but Zelda 1 already did it.
5: Link's Awakening
Now were getting to the really good stuff. Link's Awakening was mindblowing to me at the time. How did they manage to get this huge game on that crappy GameBoy? It was the perfect game after one of the true great Zelda's (LttP). The whole game was just a joy to play. Great music, great dungeons, cool characters. Just pretty damn great all around.
4: Majora's Mask
The weird one. I totally fell for this game. It definitel scores extra points for being so surreal and dark. Clock Town was expertly designed and truly felt alive. The whole doomsday concept and rewinding time was perfectly implemented as well. This is also the most emotional Zelda as well, thanks in part to a certain cutscene and the constant threat of total annihilation when you literally look up into the sky. I've only finished the game once, but that's only because my memory expansion is broken (that or my cart or my N64, the game keeps freezing after a few minutes at different spots). But I might revisit it soon on the Cube, I have that Zelda Collector's disc, but I hear that version is pretty buggy as well, so I might as well just wait for the VC release.
3: Wind Waker
From the mometn the game was announced I loved the game. It was a pretty big surpirse to me to see that people initially hated the look of the game, I thought it was wonderful and a great throwback to the cartoony style of older Zelda's (LttP and Link's Awakening are almost as cartoony). Thankfully the rest of the game didn't disappoint either. Sure the constant sailing could get tedious, but I never really minded, because WW has some of the best sound design I've ever heard in a game, proving how important that is. When you're out in the ocean, you really get the feeling that you're out there and when you spot a little island in the middle of nowhere, you get that elusive "omg I found something!" feeling. That is a big part of the reason why I like the game so much, but I loved the dungeons as well. Yes, the game and dungeons were too easy and there were too few of them (an issue overcompensated in TP), but they had style and I remember these dungeons way better than I remember the TP ones (which started to blend into each other after a while). Oh well, rambled long enough. WW: classic. I didn't even mind the triforce hunt in the end. Oh and it has the best main-town in any Zelda, not counting Majora's Mask.
2: Link to the Past
It boggles my mind to see that most of GAF thinks Link's Awakening is better than LttP and that some people even don't really like the game. But AniHawk makes a good point: you probably had to have been there when the game was released to see its true brilliance. I was there and it sure made an impression on me. It still has the most memorable overworld. The music is second-to-none. It has the absolute perfect balance between exploration and puzzle solving I've ever seen in any game. The difficulty was perfect. You always kind of knew where you had to go, but it was never made explicitly clear (I hate how games nowadays hold your hand with everything you do including Zelda). It had a great story (ie. it was almost nonexistant) and the only Dark World worth playing.
1: Ocarina of Time/ Master Quest
I'm still not sure if I like OoT or Link to the Past best. LttP ironically stands the test of time better than OoT due to its beautiful 2d graphics, but all in all I think OoT when I first experienced it is still one of my, if not my favorite ever gaming experiences. A lot of that has to do with the time it was released though. This was the first 3d Zelda game in a time where good 3d games were hard to come by. To finally be able to see Hyrule in 3 dimensions blew my mind. The game starts off pretty badly imo. Kokiri village is one of the worst locations in a Zelda game and you spend the first hour or so in that godforsaken place. When you get to the dungeon things start to pick up, but when you finally reach Hyrule Field you know you're in for something special. Compared to games nowadays, OoT's overworld can seem a bland and empty place, but the game manages to overcome this by having lots of little secrets in there and the fact that you really just use it as an extensive hubworld. I replayed the game not too long ago and I was surprised to see how well it held up. I know that a lot has to do with nostalgia, but I honestly felt like this was a better game than 99% of other games. The dungeons were awesome and it had that elusive sense of exploration that I need in my games. Honestly it's not the best Zelda game, but it is my favorite...maybe.
Wow I rambled on way too long without really saying much, oh well.
I just don't like these games. I started with Ages and I think I did finish it, but it's now a long fuzzy memory. You can really tell it wasn't made by Nintendo, just utterly boring, bland overworld. I played about an hour of Seasons and just gave up, I really didn't want to waste my time on another (turns out I made the right choice, most seem to think Seasons is the weakest) These shouldn't have been made.
11: Phantom Hourglass
A real disappointment for me. I love the Wind Waker and the style it bought to the series, but PH threw it all away. Gone is the freedom you need in a Zelda game. The controls work fine, but it's all just so and and uninteresting, they don't make use of WW's unique style at all. The part that I always like the most in Zelda games is exploration. I love wandering the overworld in search of hidden items and caves and such. While I like the dungeons in most games, it's usually not the part I look forward to in A Zelda game. PH was the fucking worst in this respect. There was no freedom! Even the overworld was like a dungeon, you never had the feeling you were on an adventure in search of things. This is a game that pays off hard work with a slap in the face by making you revisit the worst fucking dungeon in Zelda history time after time. Just bad and the reason I'm not looking forward to Spirit Tracks at all.
10: Four Swords Adventures
Not really a true Zelda game but I had fun with it, even on my own. It had the right atmosphere and had an air of fun to it that you rarely get.
9: The Minish Cap
This is the true middle-of-the-road Zelda for me. There's nothing really wrong with it, but it doesn't do anything particularly good. The graphics were good. I can't say I remember the music or most of the puzzles. I do remember it being short and easy. I finished it once and just never had the thought of revisiting this one. Again, just average all the way through.
8: Zelda II
A very interesting experiment. Not wholly succesful, but still quite good. When you're used to the controls, they work like a dream. Okay the towns and characters were all interchangable, but at least you had towns. The palaces were pretty cool, if very bland graphically (even the first Zelda had more diversity). Even if the overworld was largely empty, it gave the game scope. It doesn't really feel like classic Zelda, but I still feel this is a very decent game.
7: Twilight Princess
Ah, the love-and-hate Zelda for me. On the one hand I love the game: Some great graphics, some great moments, some great dungeons, a big overworld. On the other hand this game blows. Some locations looked like test-enviroments: the Gerudo Desert was the blandest, ugliest place in any Zelda ever. The game had some classic moments (the part leading up to the Master Sword is amongst my favorite Zelda moments ever), but it also had a lot of terrible ones. The whole wolf/darkworld-thing was just no fun at all. Thankfully after a while you don't have to do it so much anymore. I personally think there are too many dungeons. Lose two of them and you'll have a much more focused game. I also didn't like the bigger focus on story. I'm a firm believer that a Zelda game should be like the setup of a fairytale and that you make your own story when playing the game. I don't mind a little exposition now and then, but TP took it a step too far. My biggest complaint though is the overworld. Sure it's nice and big, but it felt incredibly artificial. I want to be able to feel like I'm really in Hyrule, this made me feel like they just randomly plopped items and locations on an empty stretch of land. It had no heart at all and I felt really disconnected from it. Still it's a good game, but it's also the game that made me realise that Zelda needs a huge makeover.
6: Zelda 1
The one that started it all. In all honesty, nowadays the game really isn't that good, but ironically, this is the game I want Nintendo to take a real hard look at for their next Zelda (they won't). You were literally dumped in the world without a clue. Just wander the land in search of items that can aid you in your quest. I love this concept and for the time it worked sickeningly well in the original Zelda. You had a true sense of exploration and accomlishment when you managed to figure out when and where to use certain items. If only the new Zelda could do something similar. A SotC-style land with hidden ruins in the mountains that you can walk right into, not knowing if this is the right dungeon for you to be in. It will never happen of course (my hope is on team ICO to provide me with this), but Zelda 1 already did it.
5: Link's Awakening
Now were getting to the really good stuff. Link's Awakening was mindblowing to me at the time. How did they manage to get this huge game on that crappy GameBoy? It was the perfect game after one of the true great Zelda's (LttP). The whole game was just a joy to play. Great music, great dungeons, cool characters. Just pretty damn great all around.
4: Majora's Mask
The weird one. I totally fell for this game. It definitel scores extra points for being so surreal and dark. Clock Town was expertly designed and truly felt alive. The whole doomsday concept and rewinding time was perfectly implemented as well. This is also the most emotional Zelda as well, thanks in part to a certain cutscene and the constant threat of total annihilation when you literally look up into the sky. I've only finished the game once, but that's only because my memory expansion is broken (that or my cart or my N64, the game keeps freezing after a few minutes at different spots). But I might revisit it soon on the Cube, I have that Zelda Collector's disc, but I hear that version is pretty buggy as well, so I might as well just wait for the VC release.
3: Wind Waker
From the mometn the game was announced I loved the game. It was a pretty big surpirse to me to see that people initially hated the look of the game, I thought it was wonderful and a great throwback to the cartoony style of older Zelda's (LttP and Link's Awakening are almost as cartoony). Thankfully the rest of the game didn't disappoint either. Sure the constant sailing could get tedious, but I never really minded, because WW has some of the best sound design I've ever heard in a game, proving how important that is. When you're out in the ocean, you really get the feeling that you're out there and when you spot a little island in the middle of nowhere, you get that elusive "omg I found something!" feeling. That is a big part of the reason why I like the game so much, but I loved the dungeons as well. Yes, the game and dungeons were too easy and there were too few of them (an issue overcompensated in TP), but they had style and I remember these dungeons way better than I remember the TP ones (which started to blend into each other after a while). Oh well, rambled long enough. WW: classic. I didn't even mind the triforce hunt in the end. Oh and it has the best main-town in any Zelda, not counting Majora's Mask.
2: Link to the Past
It boggles my mind to see that most of GAF thinks Link's Awakening is better than LttP and that some people even don't really like the game. But AniHawk makes a good point: you probably had to have been there when the game was released to see its true brilliance. I was there and it sure made an impression on me. It still has the most memorable overworld. The music is second-to-none. It has the absolute perfect balance between exploration and puzzle solving I've ever seen in any game. The difficulty was perfect. You always kind of knew where you had to go, but it was never made explicitly clear (I hate how games nowadays hold your hand with everything you do including Zelda). It had a great story (ie. it was almost nonexistant) and the only Dark World worth playing.
1: Ocarina of Time/ Master Quest
I'm still not sure if I like OoT or Link to the Past best. LttP ironically stands the test of time better than OoT due to its beautiful 2d graphics, but all in all I think OoT when I first experienced it is still one of my, if not my favorite ever gaming experiences. A lot of that has to do with the time it was released though. This was the first 3d Zelda game in a time where good 3d games were hard to come by. To finally be able to see Hyrule in 3 dimensions blew my mind. The game starts off pretty badly imo. Kokiri village is one of the worst locations in a Zelda game and you spend the first hour or so in that godforsaken place. When you get to the dungeon things start to pick up, but when you finally reach Hyrule Field you know you're in for something special. Compared to games nowadays, OoT's overworld can seem a bland and empty place, but the game manages to overcome this by having lots of little secrets in there and the fact that you really just use it as an extensive hubworld. I replayed the game not too long ago and I was surprised to see how well it held up. I know that a lot has to do with nostalgia, but I honestly felt like this was a better game than 99% of other games. The dungeons were awesome and it had that elusive sense of exploration that I need in my games. Honestly it's not the best Zelda game, but it is my favorite...maybe.
Wow I rambled on way too long without really saying much, oh well.
Oh well. Everything's IMHO, so there.
Gold: Links Awakening. Perfect size, difficulty, puzzles, story, artwork, music... this has everything. Great stuff.
Silver: Link to the Past. May be my nostalgia speaking, but I cannot help but love it. Close second to LA for me, in nearly all regards.
Bronze: Windwaker. The art design still makes me queasy, but it's utilized skillfully and the tech side of the engine is simply breathtaking. Sadly, it's an unfinished mess with some strange design decisions. For example, that sneaking part at the beginning is simply godawful. The sailing is... let's just say it's unique. This game is the perfect example of how something can be more than the sum of its parts. I hate to love this game, and I love to hate it as well. It's awesome and terrible, beautiful and ugly, unfinished and perfect, too long and too short, all at the same time.
The rest was great/good too, but those three stand out for me.
Haven't played the Oracle games except some short testplaying, so I'll refrain from including them in my judgement. Same for 4 Swords.
Obligatory heresy: I never quite got the draw of the N64 games. MM in particular just doesn't do it for me. I mean, I recognize a good game when I see it, and those
two certainly are good, but ... just not as hyped to hell and back OMG 10/10 as they are nearly everywhere.
Then again, N64 is an odd console for me. I took a break from gaming at that time because the 3D was just THAT ugly in my eyes. Still is, in fact. So having no nostalgia whatsoever probably helps lend more weight to my 3D prejudices.
Gold: Links Awakening. Perfect size, difficulty, puzzles, story, artwork, music... this has everything. Great stuff.
Silver: Link to the Past. May be my nostalgia speaking, but I cannot help but love it. Close second to LA for me, in nearly all regards.
Bronze: Windwaker. The art design still makes me queasy, but it's utilized skillfully and the tech side of the engine is simply breathtaking. Sadly, it's an unfinished mess with some strange design decisions. For example, that sneaking part at the beginning is simply godawful. The sailing is... let's just say it's unique. This game is the perfect example of how something can be more than the sum of its parts. I hate to love this game, and I love to hate it as well. It's awesome and terrible, beautiful and ugly, unfinished and perfect, too long and too short, all at the same time.
The rest was great/good too, but those three stand out for me.
Haven't played the Oracle games except some short testplaying, so I'll refrain from including them in my judgement. Same for 4 Swords.
Obligatory heresy: I never quite got the draw of the N64 games. MM in particular just doesn't do it for me. I mean, I recognize a good game when I see it, and those
two certainly are good, but ... just not as hyped to hell and back OMG 10/10 as they are nearly everywhere.
Then again, N64 is an odd console for me. I took a break from gaming at that time because the 3D was just THAT ugly in my eyes. Still is, in fact. So having no nostalgia whatsoever probably helps lend more weight to my 3D prejudices.
2D for life!