Gaming Zelda Fans Come Hither...

So I was a bit bored and decided to post the strengths and weaknesses of all the Zelda games, in an attempt to provide some objective insight on the games. Let me know your thoughts as well as what you think are the pros/cons of the various games!

The Legend of Zelda
Strengths: Established the franchise, sandbox playstyle
Weaknesses: Very primitive by later gaming standards, secrets hidden in arbitrary fashion

The Adventure of Link
Strengths: Music, intricate combat by NES standards
Weaknesses: Too great a departure from what made the original great, overly difficult

A Link to the Past
Strengths: Improved on top-down play style of the original, benchmark for the Zelda series for just about every succeeding title in the franchise
Weaknesses: More linear and not as exploration based as the original

Link's Awakening
Strengths: Successful without series staples of Hyrule, the Triforce, Zelda, etc.; whimsical standalone title with bittersweet plot
Weaknesses: Bound by limitations of Game Boy hardware

Ocarina of Time
Strengths: Introduced targeting mechanism and successfully transitioned series into 3D
Weaknesses: NPCs such as Navi and Kaepora Gaebora slow down pacing (especially early in game), many battles require waiting for an opening

Majora's Mask
Strengths: Dark plot, deepest NPCs and side quests of the series
Weaknesses: Time limit mechanic a deterrent for many players

Oracle of Seasons
Strengths: Season changing mechanic well implemented, interesting boss battles
Weaknesses: More derivative than Ages, plot much more simplistic

Oracle of Ages
Strengths: More plot oriented than Seasons, has elaborate puzzles
Weaknesses: Goron dance, time travel mechanic is clumsily implemented (unskippable animation each time)

The Wind Waker
Strengths: Cel-shaded animation and art style, vibrant combat system
Weaknesses: Island exploration can be repetitive, the Triforce shard quest near the end was anticlimactic

Four Swords
Strengths: Randomized stages makes for a fresh experience each playthrough
Weaknesses: Multiplayer required, unless you purchased and downloaded the Anniversary Edition on DSiWare during the relatively short window it was available

Four Swords Adventures
Strengths: Best Zelda multiplayer party game (easy to play single player too), fun formations and battles; features Shadow Link, Vaati, and Ganon
Weaknesses: Extremely linear, items can only be held temporarily

The Minish Cap
Strengths: Shrinking mechanic is well implemented, Ezlo's and Vaati's backstory is well done
Weaknesses: Game is a bit small, Kinstone fusion mechanic can be wonky

Twilight Princess
Strengths: Music, cinematic moments, Midna's character development, hidden skills to acquire, and some of the best dungeons in the series
Weaknesses: Slow start, too many sequences forcing you to play as Wolf Link, Ganondorf and Zelda feel tacked on at the end

Phantom Hourglass
Strengths: Ship navigation mechanic is good, Linebeck is a good character, and boss battles are fun
Weaknesses: Temple of the Ocean King, controls are difficult to get used to, barebones plot

Spirit Tracks
Strengths: Improves on a lot of what was lacking in Phantom Hourglass, better plot, music, and central dungeon (Tower of Spirits)
Weaknesses: Train mechanic makes travel very limiting and a chore, worse bosses, and difficult controls are the same

Skyward Sword
Strengths: Music, dungeons, one of the strongest stories in the series, interesting characters
Weaknesses: Very linear gameplay, motion controls are a deterrent (only partially resolved with HD remake), The Imprisoned

A Link Between Worlds
Strengths: Based on A Link to the Past but less linear, great music, wall mechanic is well done
Weaknesses: Mini-games are annoying, travel between Hyrule and Lorule can be cumbersome

Tri Force Heroes
Strengths: Surprisingly good music, more cooperative multiplayer gameplay than the Four Swords titles
Weaknesses: Poorly implemented single player mode, cringeworthy plot

Breath of the Wild
Strengths: Huge overworld to explore, vast amount of content, dynamic combat, beautiful art style and environments
Weaknesses: Weapon durability system, weak story (marginally improved by DLC), repetitive shrines, lacks many traditional Zelda series gameplay elements

 

Breath of the Wild 2 trailer at The Game Awards this year.

Yay or nay?

Who's placing their bets that it'll happen?

 

Apparently there's a rumor going around that there will be Remakes of the "Oracles" games.

 

This has been a dream of mine since I learned about that third installment that never saw the light of day...

 

I'd love a top-down remake of Zelda II or even in the style of BotW. I never understood the level up system, so if they could replace or improve on that, I think that would be beneficial to the gameplay experience.

 

im thinking of emulating these, never played one outside twilight princess as a.. 5yo at my cousins house.

 

If you don't haven't played or own BOTW for the Switch, now would be the time to invest in it. It's $29.99 at Best Buy. That's a STEAL!

 

If you're interested, I'd start with BOTW, to be honest.

But the story sucks so don't expect anything good in that regard.

Other than that suggestion? If you want to know the "classic" Zelda experience:

Try Ocarina of Time.

Sure, it's a trite suggestion on my part, and there are plenty more, but I feel that that's usually the best introduction to the series (that, and I usually hope that anyone that finishes that game plays Majora's Mask next as it's my favorite in the series lol)

 

Personally, I could never get into Zelda 1 or 2 as a kid, so my first Zelda was ALLTP for SNES, so I would definitely recommend that game as a starting point @ReyPrescott
If you prefer the 3D Zeldas, then I second @InterestingLurker suggestion of OOT.

P.S. I wouldn't say the BOTW story sucked but it was disjointed ... which it had to be that way because of how open world the gameplay was. Heck, you can go right to Ganon and defeat the game understanding zero of the story. So while the game could have more structured and linear with the story, I'm kind of glad it wasn't.

 

Friendship ended with The Game Awards.

Now January Nintendo Direct is my new friend.

(And my hope for BOTW 2 footage and info of any kind.)

 

Beautiful

https://www.first4figures.com/hylian-shield-exclusive-edition.html

 

Hell yeah, I'd fight with that.

 

I got myself a brand new 50 inch 4K Roku TV for an early Christmas present the other day. Once I get it installed (and find a new owner for my current TV that’s taking up space in my living room), the first game I’m going to play on it is Breath of the Wild. I can’t wait to experience that game all over again on my new toy.

 

I got "Cadence of Hyrule" for X-mas. I want to like the game, but I keep dying. Any tips/pointers?

 

I'd never played a Zelda game before, but I bought my sister a Switch and BOTW this Christmas and spent a couple of days playing it. I though it was excellent.

 

5 years ago today, I was playing BotW on the Wii U for the first time.

 

It's not even the best Zelda game but it is very good..overrated but good. Horizon was better the same year and was overshadowed.

What you should do now is play Ocarina of Time.

 

Counterpoint: Breath of the Wild is not only the best Zelda, especially if you’re new to the franchise (which I was when I played it), it’s one of, if not the best game ever made.

Lots of air quote “real” Zelda fans pretend to dislike it because they… have something against franchises evolving, I don’t know. But someone new to the series doesn’t need to worry about all that. Just kick back and enjoy impeccable gameplay in an open world designed so brilliantly you’ll still be marveling at things you uncover a hundred hours in.

Ocarina of Time, if you don’t have the necessary nostalgia required to enjoy it, is actually overrated and has aged pretty poorly. But I certainly respect the influence it had.

 

I don't dislike it. I like it. But it wasn't even the best game that year. It has almost no story which is boring.