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[BGBW]

I really don't like ranking the games as I enjoyed most of them, but if I was to list them I guess it would be:

1. A Link to the Past - down to nostalgia.
2. Wind Waker - First 3D Zelda game I played fully (never did have a(an?) N64 so I only played the previous two at a friends for a small moment). Just loved the feeling of exploration this game provided. Even with the main quest over I could sail across the seas, find new maps to lead me to new treasures. While some say the sailing is boring I found it calming. No need to rush life.
3. Link's Awakening - So good I bought it twice. Discovering the glitch world was a highlight for me.
4. Majora's Mask - Like the Wind Waker, there was feeling of life outside of the dungeons. With the three day system the feeling of having to go from one dungeon to the next was removed as you could spend those three days doing what you want. A few niggles where you had to do some sidequest more than once when you realised that one event would lead to another one

The rest I'm uncertain about. Ocarina of Time is a good game, but like I said, I didn't fully experience it at the time of release. Reading years worth of praise probably dampened my experience as it wasn't everything I thought it would be. Found myself just wanting to finish it just to say I had completed it in the end.

I enjoyed Twilight Princess a lot. Enough to be my fifth favourite maybe. I was wise not to hype myself up about it because I knew it would only lead to disappointment.

The Minish Cap is a lovely little title. Although short on the number of dungeons, I liked how it was a puzzle to just get to them, rather than the usual getting a new item opens the pathway to continue your journey.

Oracle games. I think I preferred Ages over Seasons as I'm into the puzzle aspect of the games. They were both like surreal versions of Link's Awakening with other Zelda games mixed in. Two titles I took a while to finish as I would find my attention drifting else where.

Phantom Hourglass I enjoyed, but I agree with the dungeons being a tad on the easy side, especially as the puzzle element to the games interest me the most. The main dungeon was no problem for me, as I liked to experiment with the new items I had just received. Touch screen control did add spice to the mix, but now that Nintendo knows we know how DS Zelda works, I hope Spirit Tracks gets a bit more creative and challenging. (I had no trouble with the close the DS puzzle, though I did think it was very clever)

The original two titles I will admit to never finishing. They have their charms but technology has improved the series for the better.

All this list has done is make me realise I'm very easy to please and made me want to do is play them again. Maybe I should Ocarina of Time a fair chance this time.

 

[zoukka]

Ocarina of Time: Only finished it a few years ago actually. Still topped every other Zelda pretty easily. It's gameplay is the tightest and the dungeons were great. All in all the atmosphere is probably the thing that pushes it to the top. Best ending in any Zelda. Almost shed a tear can you believe that!

Wind Waker: My first 3D-Zelda. One of the most beautiful games ever made. Sounds great and I LOVE the camera. Easily the most epic Zelda. The game suffers a big hit on additional playthroughs but the first was unforgettable. The sense of scale and grand adventure is untouchable. If it would've had more dungeons and bigger islands this would've been my favourite Zelda of all time.

Link's Awakening: My first finished Zelda game. Nostalgia talking here because I haven't been able to finish it twice for some reason.

Twilight Princess: Gorgeous game with pretty steep down/uphills. For example the first glance at the Yeti man was something magical, but some sections were downright dull. The wolf aspect wasnt't utilizied that good (Okami!) and the combat was a disappointment. Optional dungeons were plenty but boring. Forgettable ending.

Link to the Past: Loved it the first time, couldn't finish last year when downloaded it to VC. Guess I like the 3D Zeldas that much more.




Have finished all Zeldas except II and Majoras Mask.

 

[Like the hat?]

Out of that list, Four Swords is the only one I never played (I had no friends with GBAs)


#13 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

#12 The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

#11 The Legend of Zelda

#10 The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX

#9 The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

#8 The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

#7 The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

#6 The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest

#5 The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Took everything about Ocarina of Time and made it better. Plus Midna is awesome.

#4 Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Hard as hell, and glorious. Still probably the best fighting system in the series. And Error was really his name, it's not an actual error in the game like so many people that have never played this gem seem to think.

#3 The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Doesn't need any explanation

#2 The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
I don't care what anyone says. I loved every second of this game, and it was definitely a worthy follow-up to Wind Waker. Linebeck is one of the best characters ever.

#1 The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
No game has ever filled me with such a sense of wonder and amazement.


edit: i mean no slight against #6-#13. They were all great games. Then again, if it says "Zelda" on the box, odds are good I'm going to enjoy it.

 

[Deleted member 30609]

I'm going to be honest, before this thread I didn't know what "arbitration" meant.

 

[Timber]

LET'S DO THIS

12. That CD-i game I rented once
Don't remember exactly which one it was. The one starring Zelda, I think. I got about three screens in and returned it.

11. Adventures of Link
Black sheep and rightfully so. Don't care for moving from left to right and swinging a sword at baddies all the time. The towns are more like generic RPG towns than Zelda towns, but I guess that can be forgiven on the account of it being the first Zelda game that had 'em. I just never liked this game.

10. Phantom Hourglass
Zelda games haven't been very difficult or complicated for quite some time now, but this one takes that accessibility and just runs it into the god dam ground. Should've just called it My First Zelda and spared me from playing this infantile crap. Like everyone else I hated the central dungeon, and like some people I couldn't stand the controls. It has an incredibly lame game world. They managed to out-lame Wind Waker. Quite an accomplishment.

9. Oracle games
Giant yawnfests. And call it what you will, they both rely too much on a terribly unoriginal Lttp-like Dark/Light world mechanic. They lack personality, interesting gameplay concepts and interesting game worlds. Design by committee kind of games.

8. The Legend of Zelda
I like this game for nostalgic reasons only. It's the first Zelda I played and it was really fun at the time. But it's too much of an action game IMO. I've never completed it and never will. I don't feel bad about that because it's not like it aged brilliantly.

7. Wind Waker
Stupid game. The reason I don't rank it lower is that elements of brilliance shine through once in a while, and some parts of the game were excellent. But lord, Zelda shouldn't suffer from bad design, yet WW is rife with it. The sailing aspect destroyed the sense of exploration I love about the series, as the sea is just too empty and attacking the same pirate fort or giant squidmonster over and over again just gets reeeally tedious. Having to play a ditty and watch a short cutscene just to CHANGE DIRECTIONS is the most retarded thing ever. Also hated how unfinished it felt. Having to collect three whatevertheywere for that dude in the cave, going through a dungeon for the first two and then having him go "oh here I'll just give you the last one right one." Fuckin' 'ell, Nintendo. Also, Triforce hunt. And that joyless photograph sidequest. Ugh. I still wonder what the hell they were thinking when making this game. Two plus points tho: it's effin gorgeous and Windfall Island is the second best town in a Zelda game. Dungeons weren't too bad either, if not very memorable.

6. A Link to the Past
Didn't play it until years after its release, so I don't have the same connection with it that others do. Lack of nostalgia notwithstanding, this really isn't my kind of game. Too many damned dungeons. Kakariko village is cool tho, esp when not overrun by guards. Good game; it's just too much action and not enough adventure for my taste.

5. Twilight Princess
I was so damn hyped for this one. Aonuma said it would be the longest Zelda. I interpreted this as it having lots of optional content. Big mistake to make as I wasn't expecting the barren overworld, LttP-like dungeon-dungeon-dungeon structure and lack of decent sidequests. The dark world and wolf Link were useless features. Some of the dungeons were fantastic like the snow mansion one, others were terrible like the ones that follow it. Some of the characters look stupid (Link included, although that's mostly his stupid expression(s?) and not his model) but overall I thought it was a very nice game to look at with some great environments. Shame they were so devoid of activities, though. All its issues aside, I still rather enjoyed it. But I never finished my second playthough, while MM and OoT I can play over and over again.

4. Link's Awakening
This is the first Zelda I've ever completed, and the one that truly made me a fan. My Zelda experience before playing it consisted only of the original, so I when playing LA I pretty stunned to see how much the series had evolved. I loved not being in danger on every damn screen, and I loved the more elaborate puzzles. An awesomely designed game world and great atmosphere.

3. The Minish Cap
Quite a pleasant surprise after the blandness of the Oracle games! My favourite 2D Zelda, surpassing even Link's Awakening. I guess the biggest reason I like it so much it the same as why I like Majora's Mask: it's not overly reliant on dungeons and the overworld is packed with things to find. The kinstones were a nice mechanic. The Palace of Winds is possibly the best Zelda dungeon ever.

2. Ocarina of Time
Like most people, this blew me the fuck away when I first played it. Video game epiphany. I didn't buy it day one, but I remember a classmate the day after release telling me "You need to find money to buy your shield in your village first before you can really start!" and me just going "Holy shit that's the coolest thing I've ever heard." It sounds like such a trivial thing, but to me it was an example of how much this game felt like some grand adventure unlike anything I'd played before. I could sing its praises all day, but OoT's genius is well-established and everyone's heard it all a million times before. I completely disagree with the opinion that it hasn't aged well, or that it has been out-OoT'd by Twilight Princess. Also, 'early' 3D doesn't hurt my eyes half as much as it does with some people, and I think the the N64 are stylistically appealing enough to me to not consider them dated.

1. Majora's Mask
Best game ever. It does not have a time limit and the opportunity to save is never more than a minute away, so just shaddap okay? I'm not going to go in too much detail in fear of waxing poetic (or rambling, whatever you call it). It has everything I want from a (Zelda) game. Exploring the overworld and towns has always been my favourite thing about the series - probably thanks to my affinity for P&C adventures - and while MM's overworld isn't the vastest, it's certainly the most dense and rewarding of exploration. Clock Town is the best town in any Zelda game, the three day system is a stroke of genius, the masks are fun to collect and the few dungeons there are are good stuff. Most importantly it has the most beautiful game world I've ever seen. There are many locations I would linger in for much longer than necessary just to soak in the environment. I must have spent hours just swimming around in the ocean as Zora Link. The characters aren't very deep in the sense that they're not at all verbose or have complicated personalities, but they all seem to have reasons to exist in the game, as opposed to the 'cardboard cutout' characters present in most other games, Zelda series and otherwise. Like the game itself, the characters all have a pervasive sadness about them, especially the ones whose identity you assume like Mikau, and let's not forget the poor Deku Butler's son. And for some reason, going through the three-day-cycle and watching all the NPCs repeat their lines and do the same thing over and over again shapes an affinity towards them, and makes it all the more worthwhile to save them. The whole 'healing' theme is just wonderfully executed.
I really enjoy action-adventures, RPGs and GTA style games, but I never 100% them as I consider it a waste of time. Majora's Mask is the only game I really did everything in, and not just once, either.

EDIT: I forgot Phantom Hourglass. That's not necessarily a bad thing, tho.

Also, MM and OoT are 10 out of 10, MC and LA a 9, TP an 8, LttP a 7, WW a 6 or maybe a 5 I dunno, not gonna rate the original, Oracle games a 5 and the other three a terrible out of 10.

 

[rhino4evr]

Best

[*]N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest - Still a classic, though TP comes close to surpassing it IMO.

[*]Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess[/B ]- Best Dungeons in a Videogame ever created. Epic quest, amazing graphics, Dont understand the hate...at all...

[*]SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past The best Top-down Zelda

[*]NES: The Legend of Zelda - I spent many hours playing the original

[*]GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker - i like the art style, it was the lack of dungeons, challenge, and the sailing fetch quest that weakened this game.

[*]GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap - liked the collection aspect.

[*]GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX - this game is way over rated by a LOT of you..

[*]N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask - some people loved the time gimmick, others found it kind of annoying..put me in the annoying camp..

[*]NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass - i really liked this title, but maybe the sequel will provide a little more depth.

[*]GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons - puzzles in these games were great.

[*]GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

[*]NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link - a big misfire in the series. Zelda
does not work as well as a 2D side scrolling action game..especially one this difficult.

[*]GBA: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords - I dont even count these as part of the series.

[*]GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

Worst

 

[Capndrake]

1) Majora's Mask
2) The Wind Waker
3) A Link to the Past
4) Twilight Princess
5) Ocarina of Time/Master Quest (Prefer Master Quest)
6) Four Swords Adventures
7) Link's Awakening/DX
8) Adventure of Link
9) Oracle of Seasons
10) Oracle of Ages
11) The Minish Cap
12) The Legend of Zelda
13) Phantom Hourglass

Four Swords is the only one I haven't played.

 

[radioheadrule83]

• NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
  A totally different beast compared to the other games. I found myself actually stat grinding in this game to survive. Crazy hidden spot on world map = lame.
  
• NES: The Legend of Zelda
  Didn't get into this as a kid. Being a fan from LTTP onwards, went back and played it on VC and appreciated it a lot more. Its the archetype, and brilliant for it, but I won't rank it high on that basis alone.
  
• NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
  Has some of the best ideas and best novelty moments in the series. I know its not widely popular, but I liked revisiting the temple of the ocean king and finding new routes with my new abilities as well. Its only major drawback really is that its held back by the DS' hideously ugly 3D.
  
• GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
  A fine effort and a nice idea. Nice art which is less tile based than Link to the Past etc, some nice new items, and a few cool dungeons (sky dungeon etc). The end boss is hard as nails!
  
• GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX
  If this had been in at least 256 colour and if the original Gameboy mades sounds that I could find tolerable in 2009, this would be in my top 2 favourite games ever. Sadly thats not the case. For a Zelda game with only two buttons, lots of incredible creativity, great dungeons and a bittersweet story that sees you growing attached to characters that don't exist.
  
• N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
  Probably still the most popular Zelda game. The visuals and framerate have dated badly, but the core of the game is still very much fun. In retrospect I don't think they did enough with Hyrule... the overworld was vast and overwhelming in the N64 days, but really - its a barren field where nothing interesting happens. Its a hub and it feels like one -- moreso with each game thats done it better.
  
• GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
  As a single player experience there's no way I'd place this above Ocarina of Time, but as a competitive multiplayer game - I would. One of the freshest ideas ever introduced in the Zelda series -- its continued absence from Nintendo DS and WiiWare is a fucking crime.
  
• GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
  The best looking, best animated Zelda game to date. I feel it is the 3d game that best evokes the style and spirit of A Link to the Past. I'm ranking this high on that basis for the most part. We were badly let down by Nintendo on this game. It was cut short to get it rushed out as part of Gamecube's "Big Three" - and it shows towards the end of the game. Really disappointing considering what is there is so good. It annoys me that Nintendo may have mistaken critique of this games' length as critique of the style.
  
• Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
  Its Zelda by the numbers for the most part, thats why many people here don't really like it -- but I felt like it was a demonstration of how good at it Nintendo are now. How refined they've made the formula. If the wolf sections had not felt so forced and linear, and if the game had boasted an orchestrated soundtrack, it would have been one of the better adventures. Sadly some are put off before they ever reach the games' climax. Its a shame.
  
• N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
  My comments regarding Ocarina of Time apply to this game too. However this game has plenty of innovation/novelty on its side. The 3-day loop doesn't sit right with some, however it makes the NPCs more endearing when you get to know them, and the various Hyrulian-races' you can experience via the masks make for one of the best more unique games on the N64. Crazy crazy tower dungeon thing = not lame.
  
• SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
  Waking in a cold sweat, following your Uncle to the castle, saving Zelda in his stead, leaving her with the Priest, seeking out Saharasla, searching for the three pendants, drawing the Master Sword in the misty Lost Woods, watching the mist clear, bursting into the castle to face Agahnim. For me back in the 90s the adventure could have ended there and I'd have been happy. Instead, a massive epic adventure that spanned two dimensions unfurled -- and Hyrule wasn't just a hub that had a slight paint job in the other dimension. Things were notably different in the Dark World. Right up to the fantastic end credits, its one of the best games ever concieved. Zelda I and II are like the basic skeleton for this game. This is the game that fleshed Zelda out. This is the game that has yet to be fully realised or expanded on in 3D. It started all the trends we know and love in Zelda today (apart from the obvious Z targeting etc) -- the pressure is now on Aonuma and co to reimagine Zelda and create their own Link to the Past IMO.

 

[beelzebozo]

all nintendo-sanctioned zelda (including this caveat to exclude shitty cd-i games, though i don't know why anyone would mention them anyway) is good-to-fantastic. it's one of the most consistently quality series.

all zelda is good zelda.

 

[CTLance]

all zelda is good zelda.

But which one is goodest Zelda of them all. There has to be. And we'll find it. For science.

 

[cartman414]

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.

That's a bit much. Personally I think Link to the Past had a weaker overworld.

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

a link to the past is my favorite, for all the reasons stated here. http://www.gamespite.net/toastywiki/index.php/Games/Issue13ALinkToThePast i dunno if it's kosher linking to there from here, but whatever

 

[cartman414]

I visit that site and the forums, being a fan of all things Jeremy Parish, and while the article was well written, I didn't agree with LttP being the best simply because of Link turning into a bunny. Not to mention, of course, the author saying it was a good thing no other Zeldas went the Zelda II route. (If that were the case, Castlevania should have never went the Metroidvania route either.)

And on another note, for all the flak the Oracle games receive for "having no heart", they had quite possibly the best all-around item sets of any of the games in the series.

[*]NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
A totally different beast compared to the other games. I found myself actually stat grinding in this game to survive. Crazy hidden spot on world map = lame.

You didn't have to grind that much if you had the combat system down. (Not to mention that farming enemies like the floating skulls, and leveling up right before placing the gem on the altar in the palaces for a free level-up went a long way.)

 

[myDingling]

Here we go. No NES Zeldas since I haven't played them (blasphemous I know) and no Capcom Zeldas either.

7. Phantom Hourglass: This game was stupid. The most recent Zelda game I've bought and played. I haven't finished it yet because of that persistent dungeon that keeps expanding. Why did they think that would be a good idea? It has to be one of the stupidest things the series has ever introduced. Controls are fine but the world is a little blah. A very forgettable title.

6. Majora's Mask: Sorry this game was way too freaky in a i-just-saw-my-uncle-in-drag kind of way. Very random. I loved the music but the rest of it was a bit too over he top for me. I also didn't like the 3day cycle system and the masks were an annoying gimmick.

5. Twilight Princess: Beautiful game but it was a side story as far as I'm concerned. This game was about Midna and her otherworldly ish and not about Hyrule and Link. So while I enjoyed it, I never got the sense that it was a true Zelda game.

4. Link to the Past: Great game, set the roots for the series. Light/Dark world love. It was a bit short for me and no part of the game really stuck out but I can't say I didn't enjoy it.

3. Link's Awakening: My first Zelda game so I have a soft spot for it. Loved the dungeons and cohesiveness of the world. Perfect bite sized Zelda game and a great transition into a handheld.

2. Wind Waker: Awww! Few games make me laugh and smile but Wind Waker was one of them. I wish there were more dungeons but I can't complain about how imaginative and innovative it felt. The part near the end where you go to the underground Hyrule Castle, EFFING AMAZING! And we still need a game that goes back and retells the story of how Hyrule got caught in those flood waters. Eff the handhelds, I want Wind Waker artstyle in HD woot!

1. Ocarine of Time: Ocarina of mothafuckin time baby. Saria, Darunia, song of storms, Princess Ruto, skull kid, kakariko village, Dampe, ganon...fuck man this game was everything done perfectly. I lived in hyrule for two months when I got this game. Spending whole afternoons at the fishing hole. No game was as immersive and spiritually engaging as OoT was at the time of release. I'll always have a soft spot for it and I'm still waiting for the game to come that will equal that sense of calm, bliss that OoT instilled.

 

[myDingling]

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.

:O

I feel the exact same way...

 

[Iam Canadian]

Haven't played the Oracle games except some short testplaying, so I'll refrain from including them in my judgement. Same for 4 Swords.

I can't speak for 4 Swords, but I highly recommend you give the Oracle games a shot, or at least Oracle of Ages. Nobody seems to talk about them much, but they're definitely high quality 2D Zelda games, so if you like that style (and you quite clearly do), then you should definitely find a lot to love in these games.

Spoiler

2D for life!

I like you and your opinions.

 

[Dacvak]

EDIT: I forgot Phantom Hourglass. That's not necessarily a bad thing, tho.

;_;

Spoiler

Yeah, it sucked.

 

[Economan]

1. Adventures of Link (I have a tradition where I play this one at the start of every summer)
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Wind Waker
4. Link's Awakening
5. Link to the Past
6. Majora's Mask
7. Twilight Princess
8. Legend of Zelda

 

[VeritasVierge]

A Link to the Past (SNES) This is the game I hold at standard for all games. Call it blinded by nostalgia or whatever, it's still my favorite. Now for the rest of the ones I've played in order in which I like them.

The Legend of Zelda (NES)

Majora's Mask (N64)

Link's Awakening/DX (GB/GBC)

Twilight Princess (GCN/Wii)

Ocarina of Time/Master Quest (N64/GCN)

The Wind Waker (GCN)

The Minish Cap (GBA)

The Adventure of Link (NES)
Oracle of Ages GBC

Oracle of Seasons (GBC)

Phantom Hourglass (DS)

Four Swords Adventures (GCN/GBA)

Four Swords (GBA/GCN)

Link's Crossbow Training (Wii) I don't really consider this a Zelda game.

I like to pretend the following don't exist. Yes, I played them through them.

Zelda's Adventure

Zelda: Wand of Gamelon

Link: Faces of Evil

 

[RockmanWhore]

Just to clarify, I don't give a shit about the initial "wow factor", if you consider this, then Ocarina and ALLTP are clearly the more influencial title of the series. But what I care is the quality, here's my very subjective and biased ranking :

1/ Majora's Mask
Best dungeons, best side quests, nice difficulty in term of battles and puzzles, insane setting. Man, this game is a fucking masterpiece taht screams perfection in just every aspect. The only drawback I can think of is that it requires a RAM PACK, and that the GC version sucks. The fact that it's pretty short is pretty nice too, it makes it more replayable, and franckly, after playing all these Zelda games, the last thing I want in my Zelda is repetitive filler crap (take that TP).

Just writing about it makes me want to play it. Where's the goddamn VC version Nintendo? You don't want my money?

2/ Link's Awakening
Not the best in term of gameplay, but the atmosphere is amazing. Certainly the most charming of the series.

3/ Wind Waker
At first I hated it, it's easy as fuck, and it's not as awesome as MM, but the boat mechanic is damn fun (am I the only moron in the world who loves sailing? It was fun to play with the wind, and no, you don't have to change its direction every 5 seconds, you can go very fast, with the wind on your side, and it's fun to do the small move against the wind, gaining momentum, changing direction, etc...), but it fails in the dungeons, puzzle, and overall epicness. The battles are the best in the series, it's very dynamic, the items are funs to use as weapons and you can turn the camera thanks to the GC controller! Yay!

4/ Phantom Hourglass
A nice rethinking of the series, the simple fact of changing the controls changes the way you use the items, thus it changes the puzzles. In the end, I was surprised at how fresh it felt, it's not that great outside of that, and after a few hours, you forget about the stylus and it's your tipical Zelda game, but it's still nice

5/ Zelda 2 : Adventure of Link
The more I think about it, the more I think that the Zelda games should focus more on action than puzzles, it's getting really repetitive by now, and it's annoying to constantly pause the game to switch them, and since the whole concept is about how you use them, it's too repetitve, and as the casualisation of the market is progressing, the games are easier and easier, making them less intersting. So this game with it's action and RPG focus feels like a good way to go for the series. It's one of my favourite 8 bit action game too.

6/ Zelda
Freedom! Isn't it awesome to be able to enter any dungeon and clear the game the way you want? I wish we had more freedom in the modern Zelda games, especially since they never have an interesting story/scenario, it's just a fucking waste.

And that's it, I'm bored of the other Zelda games, they're way too similar or classic for my tastes. TP is too long, OoT sucks after MM (slugish framerate, lack of charm and originality, etc...). This series needs a serious rethinking, 1997's gameplay don't cut it anymore, not for me at least

 

[CTLance]

I can't speak for 4 Swords, but I highly recommend you give the Oracle games a shot, or at least Oracle of Ages. Nobody seems to talk about them much, but they're definitely high quality 2D Zelda games, so if you like that style (and you quite clearly do), then you should definitely find a lot to love in these games.

I know that they'e quite good, but I just couldn't get into them back then, and nowadays busting out my non-backlit GBA (or old GB brick) just isn't all that comfortable, and emulation... eh. Maybe when my Openpandora arrives, just to test things.

I think I'll just wait for a VC announcement though. Wish me luck.

I like you and your opinions.

 

[Gamecocks625]

Let's see...

I've played:
Zelda
Zelda II
Zelda: Link to the Past
Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Zelda: Twilight Princess
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

...but I've only had the desire to beat:

Zelda II
Zelda: Phantom Hourglass


I'd say Zelda II is my favorite, but I definitely enjoyed Phantom Hourglass and the cell-shaded, top down Zeldas.

 

[A Black Falcon]

That's a bit much. Personally I think Link to the Past had a weaker overworld.

Ages and Seasons both have dramatically better overworlds than the boring excuse for an overworld you've got in LttP... it's probably one of my least favorite in the series, really. Grids of nine squares, with lots of giant, empty open spaces! Joy!

I know that they'e quite good, but I just couldn't get into them back then, and nowadays busting out my non-backlit GBA (or old GB brick) just isn't all that comfortable, and emulation... eh. Maybe when my Openpandora arrives, just to test things.

You don't have an SP or GB Player? The brick won't work of course, Ages/Seasons are GBC only.

 

[Calcaneus]

Of the ones I've played:

2. Ocarina of time : It was one of my first n64 games, I had a little, but didn't have it for very long.
1. Link To the Past: One of the best action/adventure games ever. Its the only Zelda game I completed and it oozes quality.

Yeah, OoT is the worst Zelda game I've ever played.

 

[beelzebozo]

i think AGES & SEASONS are better games than link's awakening. i admire link's awakening for trying something different, but looking back at it as someone who played nearly every other zelda game before trying it, it's a really ugly game with weird fourth-wall breaking. the nintendo crossovers like the chain-chomps don't help give it a "zelda feel." it's like a zelda game set in a captain N episode. it feels a lot like super mario rpg in that way.

tetris aside, probably the best game boy game, though. it's zelda, so that's not very surprising.

 

[disappeared]

I've only ever finished Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker. The latter was my favorite.

 

[Oblivion]

i think AGES & SEASONS are better games than link's awakening. i admire link's awakening for trying something different, but looking back at it as someone who played nearly every other zelda game before trying it, it's a really ugly game with weird fourth-wall breaking. the nintendo crossovers like the chain-chomps don't help give it a "zelda feel." it's like a zelda game set in a captain N episode. it feels a lot like super mario rpg in that way.

Same. I'm pretty good at understanding why people like certain things better, but of all the underdog Zeldas, LA is the most difficult to comprehend. It's fairly basic, the dungeons are good, but not great enough to distinguish it from the others. The overworld is well designed, but it's only on GAF that I hear people complaining about 'wasted' space in LttP, like it takes minutes to traverse like WW's sea or something. Even the gimmicks that the other 2D Zeldas have are done much better (course, that's because LA doesn't necessarily have a gimmick, but still). It's also the least pleasing to look at 2D Zelda as well. So in the end, the main draw would be the story, which is fine mind you, but I don't think it's enough to give it god status. Meh.

 

[cartman414]

Ages and Seasons both have dramatically better overworlds than the boring excuse for an overworld you've got in LttP... it's probably one of my least favorite in the series, really. Grids of nine squares, with lots of giant, empty open spaces! Joy!

Don't forget the intrusive tree clusters! An argument for deforestation if there ever was one.

i think AGES & SEASONS are better games than link's awakening. i admire link's awakening for trying something different, but looking back at it as someone who played nearly every other zelda game before trying it, it's a really ugly game with weird fourth-wall breaking. the nintendo crossovers like the chain-chomps don't help give it a "zelda feel." it's like a zelda game set in a captain N episode. it feels a lot like super mario rpg in that way.

tetris aside, probably the best game boy game, though. it's zelda, so that's not very surprising.

I once felt that the Oracles were better games, but then arrived at the conclusion that Link's Awakening was the more consistent experience. I understand not caring for the fourth-wall breaking, but it sure beats the literal and figurative village idiots who accuse you of kidnapping Princess Zelda right after you save her.

 

[Tyrone Slothrop]

i always thought of Link's Awakening as just a really well-made portable zelda. it's one of the series' best, but i think it's a little goofy to compare it alongside the console games. as for the Oracle games, they were just more 8-bit zelda with a Link to the Past template. more is never bad, but more can sometimes be bland.

 

[Blader]

Ocarina of Time
The Wind Waker/Twilight Princess
A Link to the Past
Majora's Mask
The Minish Cap
Four Swords/Four Swords Adventures

Ocarina of Time is the best game of all time. Both Wind Waker and Twlight Princess have their flaws, but they're both still awesome. I treated A Link to the Past has a handheld Zelda than a console one (the only times I've played the game were on the GBA version), so on those grounds, I really like the game, even though it is similar to Ocarina (and yes, I know Ocarina was modeled after ALttP, but I played Ocarina first).

Minish Cap is pretty cool and the two Four Swords games are fine, but they were all kind of forgettable in the long run, so they get put at the tail end of my list.

I've tried playing the NES Zeldas and Link's Awakening, but I couldn't get into them.

 

[Dark Octave]

NES: The Legend of Zelda
At the time, I never played anything like it. Wasn't old enough to really understand it too well. Never finished it.

NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
I didn't care for it too much. The side view was strange to me, even though I loved sidescrollers like Castlevania II. So I never really got into it, let alone finish it.


SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
The opening with the rain storm and lightning sold it for me and I wasn't dissapointed when I finished the game. The ending was amazing as well. My favorite Zelda game.

GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX
Never played it. I hated the GameBoy because it was so difficult to see anything. I always felt very removed from any game I played on it.

N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
I was really hyped for this game and was not dissapointed when I finished it. It had a great ending as well.

N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
Felt like an expansion and I had already gotten my fill of "N64 Zelda" from OoT.

GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
Never heard of it.

GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
Never heard of it.

GBA: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
Wasn't interested. The four differently colored Links was too strange for me. There can only be one.

GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Loved the animations and pretty much everything about the game. Only the requirement to collect scrolls/maps, rupies, and bags to hold the rupies at the end really killed it for me. I later found out that my brother gave the game to me for this very same reason. I never finished it and niether did he.

GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
Up until now, I always thought this was the same thing as the Four Swords game on the GBA. Either way, same story as that. Too many Links, too much.

GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Seemed cool. I have it but have yet to play it past the opening. Maybe some day.

Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Was pretty cool. I even got the strategy guide which I never do for games. Stopped about 10 hours in because of boredom and lack of HD or upscaling was hurting my eyes. The tone of the game was just too dark for my liking...for a Zelda game anyways.

NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
Have yet to play it outside of the demo at Walmart. Seemed cool though.

 

[ahoyhoy]

This list is carefully crafted, although I didn't feel like putting much effort into providing long, drawn out explanations for each choice. I've thought about this for many a year, and although I have played every game on this list fully at least once, I have at least experienced it.

1) Ocarina of Time
2) Links Awakening
3) A Link to the Past
4) Wind Waker
5) Majora's Mask
6) Oracle of Ages
7) Twilight Princess
8) Oracle of Seasons
9) Four Swords
10) Minish Crap
11) Phantom Hourglass
12) Four Swords Adventure
13) Link's Adventure

 

[Jasoco]

You know what Nintendo NEEDS to do? And I don't know if it was suggested yet. But with their new Wii enhanced remakes of games like Pikmin and Metroid, they NEED to remake Wind Waker with 480p 16:9 picture, extra dungeons and new controls.

Seriously. WW is pretty much one of my favorite Zelda games because of its presentation. It just looks amazing. It deserves a chance to be finished how it should have been. And with the Wiimakes, what other excuse can you ask for?

you know? Give it controls like TP had on the Wii. Give it widescreen. Add new dungeons, and new islands, basically expand the map. Add a new row and column (To make it 9x9 instead of 8x8. Or hell, even 10x10.) to the overworld. Put in some more standard dungeon styles. Just go all out.

It's too good an idea to not come true. I really want to replay through. But I'd rather play it enhanced.

Come on, Nintendo!!!! DO IT!!!

 

[disappeared]

You know what Nintendo NEEDS to do? And I don't know if it was suggested yet. But with their new Wii enhanced remakes of games like Pikmin and Metroid, they NEED to remake Wind Waker with 480p 16:9 picture, extra dungeons and new controls.

Seriously. WW is pretty much one of my favorite Zelda games because of its presentation. It just looks amazing. It deserves a chance to be finished how it should have been. And with the Wiimakes, what other excuse can you ask for?

you know? Give it controls like TP had on the Wii. Give it widescreen. Add new dungeons, and new islands, basically expand the map. Add a new row and column (To make it 9x9 instead of 8x8. Or hell, even 10x10.) to the overworld. Put in some more standard dungeon styles. Just go all out.

It's too good an idea to not come true. I really want to replay through. But I'd rather play it enhanced.

Come on, Nintendo!!!! DO IT!!!

That would make too much sense. This is Nintendo we're talking about.

 

[cartman414]

i always thought of Link's Awakening as just a really well-made portable zelda. it's one of the series' best, but i think it's a little goofy to compare it alongside the console games. as for the Oracle games, they were just more 8-bit zelda with a Link to the Past template. more is never bad, but more can sometimes be bland.

I'm of the opposite opinion. LttP felt obsolete to me following LA and the Oracles.

NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
I didn't care for it too much. The side view was strange to me, even though I loved sidescrollers like Castlevania II. So I never really got into it, let alone finish it.

Really? I always thought of Castlevania II as a poor man's Zelda II. That the series' next attempt at a Metroidvania was a triumph only proves Zelda deserves another Metroidvania, or perhaps "Zeldatroidvania".

 

[Chris R]

I've broken my lists down into 2d/3d and only listed the games I've played.

1. SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
2. GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX
3. NES: The Legend of Zelda
4. GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons / GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
5. GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
6. NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
7. GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures


1. N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
2. GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
3. N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
4. Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

That being said, there is quite a gap between #3 and the rest of the list on the 2d side, and the same gap exists between #2 and the rest of the 3d side. I also haven't finished TP yet, so that is why it is in its 4th position. And by quite a gap, I mean going from 11/10 to 9/10 on a score scale :lol

 

[Lyude77]

1. Majora's Mask
2. Twilight Princess
3. Wind Waker/ Phantom Hourglass (WW would be higher but the Triforce quest brought it way down)
4. Link's Awakening DX
5. Minish Cap
6. Legend of Zelda
6. A Link to the Past (GBA version that came with Four Swords, I think. I played it too late to really appreciate it as I was tired of really traditional 2D Zeldas)
7. Oracle of Ages/Seasons
8. Zelda II

And yes, I will download OoT soon, don't flame me. I rented it, at least.

 

[Timedog]

Zelda II gets way too much flack. It's a great game, it's just not the typical Zelda formula. It's probably my 2nd fave after LttP.

 

[eXistor]

This list is carefully crafted, although I didn't feel like putting much effort into providing long, drawn out explanations for each choice. I've thought about this for many a year, and although I have played every game on this list fully at least once, I have at least experienced it.

1) Ocarina of Time
2) Links Awakening
3) A Link to the Past
4) Wind Waker
5) Majora's Mask
6) Oracle of Ages
7) Twilight Princess
8) Oracle of Seasons
9) Four Swords
10) Minish Crap
11) Phantom Hourglass
12) Four Swords Adventure
13) Link's Adventure

You didn't play the original Zelda?

 

[Red]

Zelda II gets way too much flack. It's a great game, it's just not the typical Zelda formula. It's probably my 2nd fave after LttP.

I agree that Zelda II is great, but it doesn't really fit the mold and seems to fit somewhere outside the series proper. That sort of colors expectations for it; well, that and the fact that many people haven't played it.

This thread reminded me that I loved the music in Twilight Princess, and further reinforces my disappointment in the dungeons and bosses.

If only they could have all been cities in the sky.

 

[Iam Canadian]

I'm of the opposite opinion. LttP felt obsolete to me following LA and the Oracles.

To me, LttP has always been the definitive Zelda game, the one that perfected the formula and was never surpassed. The Super Metroid of the Zelda series, in other words. I mean, I like all of the 2D games, especially LA and Oracle of Ages, but I just enjoy LttP more.

Speaking of which, I really wish Nintendo would make a true 2D Zelda game again. A 2D, sprite-based Zelda with actual difficulty and some of the exploration elements of the first game would just make my day. Unfortunately, since the 3D games dominate the consoles and the DS has yielded...ugh...Phantom Hourglass, I don't see it happening any time soon.

 

[ajvizzgamer101]

NES: The Legend of Zelda
NES: Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
SNES: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
GB: The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening/DX
N64: The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time/Master Quest
N64: The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
GBC: The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
GBA: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
GCN: The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
GCN: The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
GBA: The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
Wii: The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Wii: Link's Crossbow Training
NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
NDS: The Legend of Zelda: Spirt Tracks*
Wii: The Legend of Zelda Unannounced Project*

1) Links Awakening
2) Twilight Princess
3) Ocarina of Time
4) Wind Waker
5) Link to the Past
6) Oracle of Ages
7) Phantom Hourglass
8) Minish Crap
9) Four Swords Adventure
10) Legend of Zelda
11) Four Swords
12) Link's Adventure
13) Link's Crossbow Training

Majora's Mask
Oracle of Seasons

 

[Jasoco]

That would make too much sense. This is Nintendo we're talking about.

Yeah, but the remake of Pikmin made too much sense as well. So, it's a tossup.

DO IT! NOW!

Let's see...

In order of my playing...
Link's Awakening: I got this game for Christmas as my first Zelda game in the early 90's. I had wanted the other Zelda games for the NES and the one for the SNES forever but never got them. This game was and still is gold. Amazing. I even bought the color remake. I've beaten it countless times. It has my favorite character and music. Marin singing Ballad of the Wind Fish. (Waits for a remix called POWER BALLAD of the Wind Fish done in the style of an 80's Power Ballad.) The game is in my top 5.

Link to the Past: Finally, I got this game late. My grandmother bought it for me and I loved it to death. And still do. Like Awakening, I have beaten it many times. From beginning to end, or just replaying the final battle. It has some of my favorite music. The Opening Demo that plays before you press start showing the story, Hyrule Castle theme, The Forest theme when it's foggy, Dungeon theme... In my top 5.

Ocarina of Time: Got this one for Christmas. My goodness what a good game. I remember the space warping effects of the Forest Temple. Blew my mind back then. And this was years before Serious Sam. In my top 5.

Majora's Mask: I'll be honest. At the time, I didn't like this game. I guess it was too confusing. But my brother LOVED it. He played the shit out of it. He was 10 though and I was 20 by then. But I am determined to give it a run through. Thankfully I have the GameCube collectors set. So I can play it when I get a chance. Some day.

Zelda: I finally got to play the original after years of looking at maps and wondering when I found it used for $7 at GameStop in the mall. But I have never beaten it. It has always been hard. But now I learned you can beat the armored guys with bombs so one day I will replay through with an FAQ (Because how the fuck else are you supposed to know where each dungeon is? I never see any hints!) and finally beat it once and for all. I own it on GBA as well.

Zelda II: The Adventure of Link: God. Why is this game so fucking hard? I got it at the same time as the original. But have never been able to complete a single dungeon. I have watched playthroughs and said Fuck it. It's too damn hard and I will never put in the effort to torture myself with this god forsaken game! But it's pretty to look at and I have it on GBA too.

Wind Waker: Probably one of the highest in my top 5. If not right below LTTP and LA and right above Ocarina... or below Ocarina. I can't make that judgement. Beaten it a handful of times. Even started a second alternate runthrough in my PJ's but never put enough in. Next playthrough will be all pajamas, man! In my top 5.

Oracle games: I didn't have these new. I liked the idea of them adn that they looked like LA. But I never got them. Until I found them used at GameStop. At the time I only had the SP. Still, I've never been able to sit down and finish either. Probably because my SP is a shitty first gen with a light that is so dim I want to cry when I look at my DS or my Micro. Both of which can't even play GB games. Which sucks. One day I will play them through like I will Majora.

Four Swords Adventures: The game on the Cube. I was amazed at how fun it was even alone. But hated the low quality GBA styled caves even when playing on just the TV, it looked like SHIT in comparison and made me think the GBA wasn't the powerhouse I thought it was. They looked like GBC graphics. But the game was awesome. It's in my top 7. If not 6. I beat it once. It was pretty easy. And pretty pretty.

Twilight Princess: I really liked it. It wasn't the sequel to WW I wanted. It wasn't the best it could be. But it was amazing nonetheless. I've beaten it three times. And until something replaces it, it's at the bottom of my top 5.


Never played:
Phantom Hourglass: I keep hearing mixed reviews, and I'm short on cash so I can't buy it yet. But I really want to. But damn Nintendo for never lowering prices even a little bit.

Minish Cap: I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE NOW! I hear so many good things and I bet it could replace TP, but it is nowhere to be found. I would love to play this!

 

[beelzebozo]

anyone who wants to enjoy MAJORA'S MASK, don't try to do it on the zelda collector disc for gamecube.

i was just enjoying tearing through snowfall temple when my game randomly froze. fuckkkkkkk.

i'll just wait for it to come out on virtual console. christ's sake.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Minish Cap: I CAN'T FIND IT ANYWHERE NOW! I hear so many good things and I bet it could replace TP, but it is nowhere to be found. I would love to play this!

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00030GS80/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Define anywhere?

 

[Yazus]

1. Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon

FUCK THE HATERS

 

[Jasoco]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00030GS80/?tag=neogaf0e-20

Define anywhere?

Physical store. Brick and mortar. As opposed to buying online where I can't return it if I hate it. It's just a thing I have. I'm more inclined to buy things when I can walk out with them immediately. I hate waiting.

 

[pakkit]

Speaking of which, I really wish Nintendo would make a true 2D Zelda game again. A 2D, sprite-based Zelda with actual difficulty and some of the exploration elements of the first game would just make my day. Unfortunately, since the 3D games dominate the consoles and the DS has yielded...ugh...Phantom Hourglass, I don't see it happening any time soon.

I refuse to believe Nintendo would let WiiWare go through its cycle without releasing a 2 or 2.5D Mario, Zelda, or Metroid game. It just makes too much sense.

 

[Skellig Gra]

Physical store. Brick and mortar. As opposed to buying online where I can't return it if I hate it. It's just a thing I have. I'm more inclined to buy things when I can walk out with them immediately. I hate waiting.

You hate waiting, yet you are trying to find an old ass GBA game at a retail store? Hmmm.


Edit: Just buy the damn game online. It is awesome.

 

[Jasoco]

You hate waiting, yet you are trying to find an old ass GBA game at a retail store? Hmmm.

$119.94? What? I'm not buying a used one if I can't return it to a store, and I'm not paying $120 for a new game. See? This is why. Right there. Amazon is like eBay. I don't eBay anymore.

It's a rare game and people are charging out the ass. Fuck that! I don't trust buying from online auctions anymore. I'd rather place an order with Amazon itself and not people who are selling and setting their own prices.