The Legend of Zelda

[SephYuyX]

With the release of Skyward Sword just around the corner, there has been lot of discussion that has begun about the Zelda franchise again; which was best, where the series has failed, how Skyward Sword will end up, and what does the future hold for the series.
So this is just a thread for general discussion. What you liked, hated, what you hope will come of Skyward Sword, etcetc.

So how about a poll (sorry only 10 slots). What was your favorite Zelda game? I know it may be hard to pick a favorite, but try. Why was it your favorite? What elements do you like in general? Music? Story? Puzzles? Which didn’t you like, and why? If you had to rank them in order, what would it be?
What about Skyward Sword?

[SephYuyX]

My personal feelings of the franchise have been probably been affected a lot by nostalgia. Though when it comes to a Zelda game, I think that’s ok.
I played the first Zelda around the same time I first started playing Mario and FF1 as well, when I was 6 years old, and didn’t really like it lol. Zelda II didn’t really help the cause either, it was even worse. However, LttP and Link’s Awakening? Both amazing games.. I can’t say which one I like more really, though I remember playing LA at least 10 times from start to finish over the years, maybe because it was portable and I could take it everywhere. So my #1 will go to LA, with LttP tied with OoT as #2, with OoT nudging over LttP. The worst Zelda game? Obviously CD-I, but Zelda II wins that prize, with Zelda I, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks right next to it.

MM was a good game, so were the Oracle games, as with WW, TP, and Minish Cap. Out of that category I really liked MC, it was a fun game. I felt these we're the odd ball games of the franchise, without completely sucking like the others. These we're fun games, but just had something that I couldn’t say they we're super awesome best ever games, however I played each of them at least a couple times.

My favorite elements? Music of course and the puzzles we're always fun. Zelda stories we're always so-so, but they weren’t horrible at least .The way the intergraded music in to the gameplay was a great move I always though, and probably one of the reasons why I have such an affinity for music today. The puzzles always reminded me of one of my other favorite games, Lufia II, and with the mix of action and adventure Zelda brings; it just compliments it all around.


Moving on from the past to the present/future..
I personally had no hype for the new game, but the more I’ve been hearing about it, and see all the new screens and videos, I find myself anticipating it a lot more. I really do hope it’s a big hit, as I just can’t find it in me to hate a Zelda game. It will be interesting to see how the new equipment upgrade system will be, I hope it’s good!

[Tekki]

When discussing "Which Zeldas are the best" I always come to the same conclusion. Link's Awakening, followed by Link to the Past then Ocarina of Time.

Those 3 were revolutionary on their respective consoles. OoT brought together incredible elements for an action/rpg in a 3D environment that are used even today. Link to the Past proved that you could have deep gameplay (2 different worlds on the same game!) and a rich storyline in a video game, despite visuals.

But Link's Awakening takes the cake for innovation for me. It cleverly takes advantage of the Game Boys disadvantages (Locked into a grid based traveling system and being black and white only) to create a truly challenging adventure game that will make you want to play it over and over again. The brains behind the original game boy game were second to none. And for being very basic in visual form, it had some great moments. It really stood out from the "rescue zelda" as well.

I have to admit their is a lot of nostalgia in my vote. LA wasn't my first Zelda, but it was the first Zelda I fell in love with. But setting it aside I can still say its the best because its the one that tried the hardest and exceeded all expectations, in my opinion. It also paved the way for the oracle series which drew on some of the same ideas of implementing mobile gaming mechanics into an awesome adventure game.

PS: Did you know there is a 3rd one in the Oracle series? Apparently its a complete game too, and unreleased...

[Mjd]

OOT just blew my mind when it came out.

Awakening is up there too (Roc's Feather).

After OOT the series went down hill however.

[Mjd]

Sorry for double 3G internet and all.

[Arvin]

uh what

majoras mask was a great game, in fact it was more difficult than most of the series and it was fun.

[Sonomaa]

link to the past, while OoT was great, lttp was a revelation for me

[Pharaun]

I had to go with Link to the Past, but it was a hard choice between that and Majora's Mask/Twilight Princess.

[Kipling]

Loved OoT immensely, but I try to not let nostalgia goggles ruin seeing what great games MM and TP were (and what Skyward Sword looks like it is going to be).

I voted MM. I know that brings a lot of hate, but I just enjoyed it the most of all the ones I've played. I loved the story/environment and the different feel the game had to it. Agreed with what was said about it being challenging as well. OoT is a close second, followed by Wind Waker/TP.

[Not Kuno]

My list:

LttP
OoT
Awakening
MM


Links awakening lost a lot of points for me because there was one puzzle I was stuck on for years because you had to kill a staflos before the keese or whatever the enemies names are and I had no fucking clue how to progress in that dungeon. Yay for being like 10 with no internet or however old I was at that time.

[Denmork]

A Link to the past, though Wind waker is a really close 2nd it actually makes me a bit sad i'm one of the few that loved that game.

[Tekki]

The first time i ever looked anything up was the path in the final dungeon, within the egg. It wasn't until years later, i accidently ran into the library wall and got the book that showed you the path

[Salodin]

A Link to the Past is one of those games you give to your children and force them to play while they initially cry because you chained them in front of the tv with no food or water, then start going once they get an hour into it.

[Chun Liroy]

mm > OoT

OoT was revolutionary, MM was just plain better.

TP would probably be my favorite if it actually had more difficult bosses. I liked the story and it used the wii-mote flawlessly imo (Not too much, and and not completely abandoning it)

[chiyio]

link to the past here as well. One of the few games I play through every 5 or so years. Maybe it's just that it came out at the right time for me (I'm 33 now), but none of the ones after captured just how great it is.

[SephYuyX]

Links awakening lost a lot of points for me because there was one puzzle I was stuck on for years because you had to kill a staflos before the keese or whatever the enemies names are and I had no fucking clue how to progress in that dungeon. Yay for being like 10 with no internet or however old I was at that time.

It's stuff like that I miss.
Remember the days where we actually had to figure shit out? Now a days if we get stuck for more than 5 minutes we go look up the answer online.

I cant explain how frustrating, but yet how rewarding it was to bet some of those hard puzzles in Awakening or Lufia II.
Thats what added the fun of the games back then.

But anymore? I dont have time for that shit lol.

[Qeomash]

I've liked them all. But, to pick a favorite, it is definitely A Link to the Past, with Ocarina a very very close second. The only difference being that I honestly do prefer the top down, sprite graphics to 3D models. If OoT were done with ALttP's engine, it would be the greatest game ever made.

Majora's Mask was nice in that it was a departure from the other games: it really felt like the whole world was falling apart at the seams both physically and mentally.

I also really enjoyed Minish Cap as it was a return to the top view, and Vaati was refreshing to have as a new villain (Four Swords doesn't count!) in a full game.

I guess if I had to pick a worst Zelda game it would have to be Phantom Hourglass. I did not enjoy it as much as any of the others, and it was a chore just to finally finish it. I'm almost offended it's listed with Minish Cap.

[Pharaun]

So were any of the other LttP fans mad at the GBA remake when you found out that they adjusted the puzzle in the ice dungeon so you couldn't skip it by getting the cane from the swamp dungeon first? I'll admit that it annoyed me since that ice dungeon puzzle was just a bunch of back tracking for no good reason.

[Syntex]

LttP followed by OoT are my favorites.

I hated MM because I thought the mask system was stupid.

Bring on the flames

[Kurstone]

MM for me, recycled content/shitty CS aside, it was pretty awesome. Liked the race against the clock thing, replayable dungeons and so many side quests for the masks. Love how each culture/region of termina had its own culture. Actually playing as a goron and rolling/smashing things on the field, freely swimming as a zora in the sea, and hopping on water/popping from a deku flower as a deku scrub. Termina field music ftw.


PS. Whats that about a third part for Oracle series? :3 my nostalgia is very interested.