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Which Zelda game had your favorite setting and atmosphere?
- Thread starter SolVanderlyn
- Start date
whalleywhat
Member
Link's Awakening, easy.
Magic Mushroom
Member
Yep. Should have been the first post.
Falchion
Member
Yeah it was amazing. Getting to meet up with pirates, sail the seas, explore all these tiny islands..... so good.
Favourite atmosphere: I recently realized how great the atmosphere in the early parts of Twilight Princess is. It's a slow start, but the atmosphere is great.
Overall, though, the atmosphere of Majora's Mask is the one I like the most. The looming sense of apocalypse is fantastic.
My favourite setting? Koholint Island in Link's Awakening. It's a strange and intriguing world. The Minish Cap has my favourite depiction of Hyrule, however.
I know you didn't ask, but The Minish Cap has the best lore. Love the Minish and Vaati. I also like the way The Wind Waker ties to Ocarina of Time, and how Spirit Tracks ties into The Wind Waker
Overall, though, the atmosphere of Majora's Mask is the one I like the most. The looming sense of apocalypse is fantastic.
My favourite setting? Koholint Island in Link's Awakening. It's a strange and intriguing world. The Minish Cap has my favourite depiction of Hyrule, however.
I know you didn't ask, but The Minish Cap has the best lore. Love the Minish and Vaati. I also like the way The Wind Waker ties to Ocarina of Time, and how Spirit Tracks ties into The Wind Waker
HollowCentral
Member
The Wind Waker. Call me whatever you want, but I think it has the best art style of any Zelda game, and that makes it feel like a legitimate adventure. And the sailing makes the world seem bigger than it probably is.
My favourite setting has to be in Ocarina of Time. From the desert temple to Lake Hylia, Kokiri Forest to Death Mountain, from Gerudo Fortress to Hyrule Castle, from Lon Lon Ranch to Zora's Domain. Wonderful setting.
Best atmosphere is definitely Majora's Mask, though Wind Waker is great in this area as well.
Best atmosphere is definitely Majora's Mask, though Wind Waker is great in this area as well.
Majora's Mask Clear First
Skyward Sword Skyloft Second
Ocarina of Time Third
Honestly, it's weird for me. There was one thing that elevated Ocarina was, one time I was playing, going down one of the back streets after getting the third spiritual stone and seeing one of the soldiers give me his dying words and pass away. That really added a level of atmosphere to the impending destruction of Hyrule for me.
Skyward Sword Skyloft Second
Ocarina of Time Third
Honestly, it's weird for me. There was one thing that elevated Ocarina was, one time I was playing, going down one of the back streets after getting the third spiritual stone and seeing one of the soldiers give me his dying words and pass away. That really added a level of atmosphere to the impending destruction of Hyrule for me.
Chronospherics
Member
I really enjoyed the trailers and atmosphere for twighlight princess, I didn't like the actual game that much though, largely because of the shadow realm bits.
Darkstorne
Member
Wind Waker, for the amazing sense of discovery and exploration.
Majora's Mask is easily my LEAST favourite, because **** games with time limits. I even hated the countdown clock at the top corner of the screen in Sonic, let alone a giant moon-faced bastard constantly oppressing me. Leave me be and let me take my sweet time exploring!
Majora's Mask is easily my LEAST favourite, because **** games with time limits. I even hated the countdown clock at the top corner of the screen in Sonic, let alone a giant moon-faced bastard constantly oppressing me. Leave me be and let me take my sweet time exploring!
laserplane
Member
Adding to what others have already said, I would also vote for Link's Awakening. I have always loved the weird "alice in wonderland" lost in a dream feeling it suggests to me and the excellent music helps tie it all together. The mario tie ins and side scrolling sections also made it seem surreal and different.
SatoAilDarko
Member
1. Skyward Sword
2. Twilight Princess
I need to finish Majora's Mask so that could totally get up there.
2. Twilight Princess
I need to finish Majora's Mask so that could totally get up there.
I'm a little torn.
Wind Waker (at least until BotW
) has probably one of the best realized settings and actually took every advantage it could that the whole flooded world thing afforded to it. Plus the actual atmosphere just exudes an amazing sense of wonder.
That said, I think I love the idea of Skyward Sword's setting more, which felt like the one that leaned hardest into the idea of being a weird fantasy world. Even if the game itself didn't take as great advantage of all that, it still has some of my favorite areas/designs in the entire series.
Meanwhile, LttP is also the first game I can think of with a setting that actually felt and looked alive to me, and so it's always going to occupy a special place.
Wind Waker (at least until BotW
) has probably one of the best realized settings and actually took every advantage it could that the whole flooded world thing afforded to it. Plus the actual atmosphere just exudes an amazing sense of wonder.That said, I think I love the idea of Skyward Sword's setting more, which felt like the one that leaned hardest into the idea of being a weird fantasy world. Even if the game itself didn't take as great advantage of all that, it still has some of my favorite areas/designs in the entire series.
Meanwhile, LttP is also the first game I can think of with a setting that actually felt and looked alive to me, and so it's always going to occupy a special place.
awesome_pants
Banned
Wind Waker for the, as-mentioned, feelings of discovery and adventure. Sailing on the high seas, discovering islands and finding their secrets as well.
Runner-up would be the original Legend of Zelda.
Runner-up would be the original Legend of Zelda.
Wind Waker.
I love games set on/in in the ocean. Just these wide expanses of blue dotted by islands and other sundry things, nothing but the wind at your back and whatever sea-life decides to pop up nearby. A lot of people whined about the lengthy sailing in WW, and I fully understand why especially towards the end of the game when you've already explored most of the map, but I still found it to be incredibly soothing for some reason. It was such a massive change of pace from Majora's Mask where you have to rush around everywhere because of the time limit. WW let you take your time and drink the atmosphere in and I loved it for that.
Despite this, I still loved the atmosphere of MM. Just the oppressiveness of it all. It was very effective at making you feel hopeless at the beginning.
I love games set on/in in the ocean. Just these wide expanses of blue dotted by islands and other sundry things, nothing but the wind at your back and whatever sea-life decides to pop up nearby. A lot of people whined about the lengthy sailing in WW, and I fully understand why especially towards the end of the game when you've already explored most of the map, but I still found it to be incredibly soothing for some reason. It was such a massive change of pace from Majora's Mask where you have to rush around everywhere because of the time limit. WW let you take your time and drink the atmosphere in and I loved it for that.
Despite this, I still loved the atmosphere of MM. Just the oppressiveness of it all. It was very effective at making you feel hopeless at the beginning.
Astral Dog
Member
Wind Waker and Majoras Mask
It's hard to choose between these two, but yeah, no other Zelda games are even worth mentioning alongside these.
Wind Waker for me. I really appreciated the idea that at first it seemed like a whole new setting, which is then later revealed to be a flooded Hyrule, where the people have made an new island society above, while the old Hyrule exists below trapped in time. I found the various seafaring people to be interesting, and of course in terms of a vibrant visual aesthetic, Wind Waker is my favorite. There was just something so cool about watching the sunset and sunrise over the ocean that never got old for me. Though I do also agree with Majora's Mask, which for me comes in right behind Wind Waker as my favorite Zelda setting.
Triggerhappytel
Member
Link's Awakening was my first Zelda and is still my favourite in a lot of ways; not least of all due to its setting and atmosphere. I love the slightly surreal, dreamlike tone it has, I grew really fond of a lot of inhabitants of the island and the ending is extremely bittersweet.
I also really love the setting of The Wind Waker (and later the revelation that it's
), but I really wish it had a couple more major landmasses to explore. It just felt like there needed to be some more substantial islands that weren't dungeons.
I also really love the setting of The Wind Waker (and later the revelation that it's
all atop a flooded Hyrule
Jason's Ultimatum
Member
MM and LTTP
Not talking about level design or gameplay, just art style and overall "theme," I have to go with this:
The thing they nailed most in SS was the paint-like visuals and music. I loved the way the graphics looked. Even though I also loved Wind Waker and Link to the Past, I think I give SS the slightest of nods as having the best art style in the series (until BotW comes out). UI was a bit of overkill though.
Really though, there's not a single game in the series that I don't think is visually appealing... other than the Twilight Realm of Twilight Princess (too much bloom... it's gross). I also really really love the look of Minish Cap by the way. It looks really good on my CRT when run in proper 240p via GBI.
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The thing they nailed most in SS was the paint-like visuals and music. I loved the way the graphics looked. Even though I also loved Wind Waker and Link to the Past, I think I give SS the slightest of nods as having the best art style in the series (until BotW comes out). UI was a bit of overkill though.
Really though, there's not a single game in the series that I don't think is visually appealing... other than the Twilight Realm of Twilight Princess (too much bloom... it's gross). I also really really love the look of Minish Cap by the way. It looks really good on my CRT when run in proper 240p via GBI.
Twilight Princess is extremely immature. I don't blame anyone who thinks it's mature (it also depends in what way you view the word), but for me it reeks of "ow, the edge" in its every facet. The dark atmosphere is well built, but it's just that: built. It doesn't feel natural at all, especially when you have cutscenes like this one with all these "creepy" elements and moments (the white eyes, the dark Links, spinning Ilias falling upside-down while laughing creepily etc.) where it's obvious any potential meaning or symbolism was secondary to it looking dark and "mature".
Majora's Mask to me is a lot more mature in that it better matches the dark imagery with story and content that's genuinely emotional and grown-up. The side quests in general has some really heavy stuff concerning loss, fear and love for example.
I'm really enjoying the atmosphere we've seen in Breath of the Wild so far. It looks like a really mature game. For me it has a lot to do with the music; while especially the last trailer has a really soaring and epic score, most of the stuff we've heard in-game is very restrained and classy. The piano is a great choice of instrument, it adds a very special feeling when used in this minimalistic way, often on its own as well. I'm hoping the interactions and relationship with Zelda (and others) is as multi-faceted and touching as I think it could be based on the little footage we've seen; if so it could be the most mature Zelda yet.
Deckard Chapel
Banned
I'm actually playing through Ocarina of Time again right now, so I would definitely say Ocarina of Time! The dungeon design is the best in the series so far and they're incredibly atmospheric - plus the game has a foreboding sense about it at times and a gleeful, joyful sense at times. The atmosphere is very palpable in the dungeons/temples.
NormalFish
Banned
Only 3 mentions of minish cap. Truly the most underappreciated member of the Zelda family.
MissCauthon
Member
A Link To The Past.
GiantBreadbug
Member
Skyward Sword for its beautiful colors and music. I loved the atmosphere.
The Third Heat
Neo Member
Majora's Mask. It was the first time I FELT the stakes in a Zelda game, and that changed how I played it. Adding a face to the moon was genius to boot, because it gave you an antagonist that you could look at at all times during the game (in the overworld, at least). Had it just been a moon getting closer, I doubt it would've had the same impact.
Aaaand I think it's time I replayed Links Awakening. Should I play DX? I originally played it in greyscale on my brick GB.
RobFox64tm
Member
Tough to say, but for me it's between Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask.
yeah DX is great
Wind Waker, by a mile. Just gorgeous. The sense of 'possibility' was rich, everywhere, with the wind carrying you to your next destination in a vast open world.
I found OOT/Majora dreary and lo-fi AF. The world, despite its literal size, somehow felt dead and closed. I actually found myself feeling depressed playing either game.
I found OOT/Majora dreary and lo-fi AF. The world, despite its literal size, somehow felt dead and closed. I actually found myself feeling depressed playing either game.
I had no idea I wanted this so badly. Amazing.
Hippopuncher12
Member
Wind Waker probably for me.
Rock And Roll
Member
Wind Waker, despite all of its flaws. Traversing the open seas was a fantastic, relaxing experience and visiting all the islands was superb. The story of Hyrule being flooded have an underlying sense of sadness to a game that appears to be cheerful on the surface.
Honorable mentions to MM, LA and I kind of enjoy SS.
LttP is still the greatest Zelda of all time though
Honorable mentions to MM, LA and I kind of enjoy SS.
LttP is still the greatest Zelda of all time though
Magicpaint
Member
Yep. Ocarina's dungeons atmosphere are the best in the series by far.
moozoom
Member
I'd have to say
1°- Wind Waker
2°) Link's awakening
3°) Skyward sword
1°- Wind Waker
> For the timeless visuals and the various NPC's you meet on the islands. I loved the exploration, and the changing colors of the seas and sky when the time and weather change. The music and sound design also helped make this world a very different and special place.
2°) Link's awakening
> Koholint is great, and all the characters have great personalities - which makes the end all the more heavy. The DX version had all those little illustrations that were funny and helped make you love this place and characters. This was the first time I had some empathy for Link as a character. Before that, I liked the games but I found him bland and uninteresting compared to other JRPG heroes that had more personality.
3°) Skyward sword
> Love the world, the various characters and enemy designs. Too bad the sky islands were empty for the most part (I'm sure they had time constraints that made them ship the game with some parts unfinished ) I found the general aesthetic and color choices really beautiful, and the world a coherent place with the overworld also being a dungeon - before the dungeon.
TransTrender
Gold Member
OoT - Dunno how to describe it.
A Link to the Past - Feels serious a desperate at all times
A Link to the Past - Feels serious a desperate at all times
Labrynian Rebel
Member
Majora's Mask hands down. I've never been so entranced by a video game world and characters before.