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What's the worst Zelda game?

Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks...hard to pick a least favorite. I'll go with PH because of the awful backtracking in the Ocean King Temple.
 
Zelda II I guess. It just isn't really what I want from a Zelda game.

I feel Spirit Tracks is a bit underrated. The train instead of a real explorable overworld is a bummer, but I really liked the latter dungeons and just love that game's version of Zelda. She is super funny.
 
Zelda II I guess. It just isn't really what I want from a Zelda game.

I feel Spirit Tracks is a bit underrated. The train instead of a real explorable overworld is a bummer, but I really liked the latter dungeons and just love that game's version of Zelda. She is super funny.
I agree.
 
Now this is an opinion I've honestly never heard before. Wow...I can't say I agree at all. I found the open structure refreshing, and I don't think the method by which you gain items has any effect on the difficulty of the puzzles. Care to elaborate on how those two things connect?

I'm glad you asked. Typically these games are linear and you acquire tools in a set order. Since you get the items in a set order, the game designers know exactly what you have at all times and can design the puzzles and dungeons around that. So, naturally, the further you get in the game, the more complex it gets because there are potentially more items you need to consider. That doesn't even take into account that you may need to use different combinations of items in sequence.

Conversely, ALBW has a more open structure. Thus, you can have an combination of items at any time. The game stupidly accounts for this by putting a giant sign with one item on it outside each dungeon. And that's the one item you need to use in that dungeon. You know that saying, "When you only have a hammer, everything looks like a nail?" That's the dungeon design. Just use the item on the sign and you'll get it right away. That's shaving off a great deal of complexity. And all of the dungeons are like that. They never get more complex. It's a totally flat puzzle curve, and it's completely unsatisfying.

If you come to Zelda for dungeons and puzzles (which you might not, I guess, if you're weird), then it is a complete and utter failure.

Compared to Spirit Tracks? No way. What "puzzles" there were were solved by the sign posted in front of the puzzle.

Easily the most brain dead Zelda game ever made.

I haven't played ST in like seven years, but I'm not sure what you're talking about with the signs. I remember them being fairly complex, and really enjoying the sand dungeon in particular.
 
Phantom Hourglass, by far. The controls were annoying, but the central dungeon was just awful. One of the worst design decisions in a major game ever.

Still haven't played Spirit Tracks (it and Tri-Force Heroes are the only ones I haven't played), but it can't possible be worse.

Also, fuck Skyward Sword haters. That game is so good.

Link to the Past is by FAR my least favorite Zelda game. I hate it, while I hate no other Zelda games.

Wind Waker is my least fav 3D Zelda game, but I still like it quite a bit.

Everything is wrong with you.

EVERYTHING.
 
Probably Zelda 2. Though Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword deserve a mention.

I pretty much agree with this. Zelda 2 isn't bad... it just isn't all that amazing to me, either. It's not something I ever yearn to go back and play again sometime like I do with a lot of the other games in the series. The other two games mentioned would probably follow Zelda 2 for me. I don't really dislike any of the main Zelda games but there are some that I just don't really want to go back to.
 
Laughing at the people calling Zelda 2's controls bad when in actuality they are perfect. The entire game is a masterpiece compared to the unbalanced, technical mess that is Mega Man 2 people love to hold up as the golden boy of NES action games.

Zelda 1 was groundbreaking for its time, but with it so thoroughly surpassed by its successors, there's not much reason to go back to it. Like Monster Hunter 1, it's worth checking out as a piece of gaming history, but you'll just wish you were playing one of the much better designed games in the series the longer you play it.
 
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Never liked the co-op stuff in some Zelda titles and having a whole game based around it just doesn't work for me. Four Swords > Triforce only because the story in FS is better and it can be played alone without being horribly tedious.

For console it's going to be Skyward Sword. Loved it my first time through but it's the only console Zelda I have never been able to beat more than once. It's a tough go playing it all again but it does have its' high points, it's just the lows are worse than any of the others.
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the goddamn Oracle games (the only one I've played is Oracle of Ages, but I can't imagine Seasons being much better). My God, they are so freaking boring and repetitive.

On a side note, I actually liked Phantom Hourglass quite a bit, and it's one of my favorite handheld Zelda titles (that and it was also my first Zelda game).
 
Probably Sprit Tracks. For me it feels like the furthest stretch in terms of narrative. Basically the more mind gymnastics I have to do in order to get on board with an idea or setting in a game the less I'm going to like it.

That given, Sprit Tracks is a really, really good game still. Worst Zelda game would be a bloody medal for the vast majority of games released from most AAA studios out there.

Edit: I've decided that my first ever thread on Neogaf is going to be an RTTP for Skyward Sword, or maybe all of the Zelda games (has been down I know, I still wanna do it). Now all I need is to become a full member... at this rate I should be done by late 2025.
 
Sad to see Skyward Sword mentionned so much. I loved the controls personally but that's understandable if it doesn't please to everyone
 
Skyward Sword, no contest. It's never been that easy to answer this question. To this day, I refuse to call it "Zelda". And the controls weren't the problem, just everything else.


PS: Fuck your tadtones.
 
Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.
The Controls in PH just didnt work for me and the setting was not interesting enough. I then never bothered to buy ST.
 
I would say either Twilight Princess or Skyward Sword. Those are the only main Zeldas I haven't finished yet because of how boring they get at times. Painfully long intros with silly tutorials and lot's of handholding and annoying quests that are not enjoyable at all. Praying to the gods all of that would be gone on Zelda UNX.
 
Spirit tracks felt like Zelda Lite: For Dummies edition. Hated that turd. Also I think I'm growing tired of the series. Each game since ocarina has just been ocarina with different dungeons and items.
 
The only Zelda game I can never see myself replaying is Skyward Sword, I haven't played any of the DS ones though.

Zelda 2 best Zelda.
 
I'm surprised nobody has mentioned the goddamn Oracle games (the only one I've played is Oracle of Ages, but I can't imagine Seasons being much better). My God, they are so freaking boring and repetitive.

I already did. Link's Awakening is in the same category.

I just remembered Minish Cap. That's a different level suck. More like wasted potential and lackluster dungeon design.
 
Skyward Sword by a huge margin. Awful controls, a Navi that wasn't half as cute and 20x as annoying, and that dude with the tongue.
 
The DS games. I had a phenomenal time with Skyward Sword, although that initial hump was REALLY tedious.
 
Laughing at the people calling Zelda 2's controls bad when in actuality they are perfect. The entire game is a masterpiece compared to the unbalanced, technical mess that is Mega Man 2 people love to hold up as the golden boy of NES action games.

Zelda 1 was groundbreaking for its time, but with it so thoroughly surpassed by its successors, there's not much reason to go back to it. Like Monster Hunter 1, it's worth checking out as a piece of gaming history, but you'll just wish you were playing one of the much better designed games in the series the longer you play it.

Yeah, if only Zelda 1 really was surpassed by any of its successors, that would have been nice. It's kind of sad that it's actually still the best.
 
Either Phantom Hourglass or Spirit Tracks, and that control scheme alone would be enough to do it. With Skyward Sword's controls you can at least understand the choices they made with the controller, but with the DS games I can't fathom why using the stylus to move and attack seemed like a good idea. Everything else in those games just cements the placement. Of the two, I don't know which one I'd choose. Probably Spirit Tracks, just because the trains destroyed any ability to explore the world. At least Linebeck's ship let you sail around wherever you wanted.

Twilight Princess is my least favorite and I think it's a huge piece of shit, but at least the game controls well.

I hardly played any Triforce Heroes, so that's the only one I can't comment on.
 
Gameplay wise, Skyward Sword. I guess its fair to mention that I have not played the DS games, but I have played the 3DS games.
 
Spirit Tracks is the worst for me. First Zelda I ever quit without finishing. The lqck of real overworld exploration really dampened my enthusiasm for this game. Strangely, I really liked Phantom Hourglass, I think the ocean gave an illusion of exploration that the train track system just couldn't.
 
Best 2D - A Link to the Past, obviously
Worst 2D - 4 Swords Adventures

Best 3D - Skyward Sword
Worst 3D - Majora's Mask
 
I enjoyed Skyward Sword far more than the forgettable Wind Waker. SS furthermore had the best Zelda-OST in ages. The actual worst ones imho might however be the portable ones; Phantom Hourglass, Spirit Tracks, didn't even finish those. The Minish Cap was good though.
 
I could conceive an argument for any of the games, yes even Ocarina.

The obvious answer though is Zelda II

I haven't played Skyward Sword though that's probably the real answer
 
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