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Every Legend of Zelda Game Ever Ranked by USGamer
- Thread starter Deleted member 249
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There weren't many games like it before - other than the original TLOZ of course.
They basically dumbed it down in multiple ways while adding usual SNES bells & whistles like better graphics, "engaging" story and characters and more content. Otherwise it's a regression in multiple ways.
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I mean , I remember a lot of dislike for SS when it came out, it's not even a bad game but Holy hell did it receive hate. TP also got a lot of hate on release but at least it is now fondly remembered. Only recent Zelda game that wasn't bashed on release was BOTW and even then...
Controversial opinion : link to the past isn't that great & ocarina of time is the most overatted.
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Personally can't get over how shallow the games are. The combat is the most middling at best thing that devolves into a basic wait attack routine. And the puzzle solving has only gotten worse over time in that series until.
2d zelda isn't exactly some bastion of complexity. But the combat stays more engaging by virtue of micro position n enemy placement, and the puzzle solving is better tied to the exploration of a dungeon in those games.
Ocarina and it's sequels is a whole lot of condescending npcs telling you everything, cutscenes, and core mechanics that never engaged me even when I was a kid.
Cannot wait until younger writers start getting seniority on these lists and we don't have the doddering old mid to late 30s people (one foot in the grave tbh) giving LttP a billion nostalgia points.
It'll be fine, It can still slot in at like 7 or 8. Maybe even 6 on a good day.
It'll be fine, It can still slot in at like 7 or 8. Maybe even 6 on a good day.
Twilight Princess shouldn't even be allowed on the list. That game is an abomination.
Love the rest, though. It's like trying to pick your favorite child; they're all special. Skyward Sword should at least be way higher. And they nailed the top 5, although not necessarily in the right order.
Love the rest, though. It's like trying to pick your favorite child; they're all special. Skyward Sword should at least be way higher. And they nailed the top 5, although not necessarily in the right order.
Looking forward to the articles reminiscing over herding goats and fishing for cats.
Hopefully.
A solid 13th place ranking right behind Minish Cap seems fit for ALTTP.
I haven't beaten enough Zelda games to have much to say, but I would put Minish Cap higher. That's one of my favorite games in the series.
I wish I knew how to communicate it and help you see it. Breath of the Wild was magical for me, and I'd love for everyone to have that experience with it.
I wish I knew how to communicate it and help you see it. Breath of the Wild was magical for me, and I'd love for everyone to have that experience with it.
Not bad! I'd rearrange the top 5 and swap Wind Walker for Link's Awakening to get this if it were my rankings:
- Ocarina of Time
- Link to the Past
- Breath of the Wild
- Link's Awakening
- Majora's Mask
Of the 4 I've played:
1. Breath of the Wild
2. A Link Between Worlds
3. Ocarina of Time
4. The Wind Waker
Only ever got 20 hours into Majora's Mask, but if I go back to it and finish it, iti'll probably be 3rd. Not a bad list by USGamer, although I personally found The Wind Waker to be a bit of a drag.
1. Breath of the Wild
2. A Link Between Worlds
3. Ocarina of Time
4. The Wind Waker
Only ever got 20 hours into Majora's Mask, but if I go back to it and finish it, iti'll probably be 3rd. Not a bad list by USGamer, although I personally found The Wind Waker to be a bit of a drag.
Seems like I always post in Zelda threads :D I think it's because I'm so passionate about the series--this would be my list:
It's really hard to rank all the games but I ultimately chose the following list based on my 3 main criteria: bosses, dungeons, and the key/unique items to obtain.
It's really hard to rank all the games but I ultimately chose the following list based on my 3 main criteria: bosses, dungeons, and the key/unique items to obtain.
- The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
- The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
- The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
- The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
- The Legend of Zelda
- The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
- The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
- The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Oracle of Seasons
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild
- The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventurers
- The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
- The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
- The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
- The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force Heroes
- Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
I'd implore anyone that hasn't to get a friend or two and play Triforce Heroes. Even after reading their review of it I just can't see how the game is that low. I played the game for the first time last year with one friend and online randoms for a third player and connections were always pretty nice with no interruptions (and this is a North America to South America to ???? connection). The game itself is also a blast since it had the right amount of humor in its general setup but still had very inventive stage designs on top of a communication system that really tied things together into a sublime package. For our playthrough specifically each stage ended up feeling like its own little journey, since depending on the skill/communication with the random third player it would either be a relief or bittersweet having to part ways after the boss.
I know having people you know to play/chat with in multiplayer games kinda unfairly enhances the perception of a game, but I feel regardless there's a lot of quality content and silly yet genuine enjoyment in Triforce Heroes that could be getting passed on if the general sentiment of the game is like this article implies.
I know having people you know to play/chat with in multiplayer games kinda unfairly enhances the perception of a game, but I feel regardless there's a lot of quality content and silly yet genuine enjoyment in Triforce Heroes that could be getting passed on if the general sentiment of the game is like this article implies.
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I don't think there is anything to recognize when the game you prefer is actually the better game.
I played the entire game over Skype with the rest of the GX crew and felt almost nothing from it (but hey, our reviewer felt differently, so there you go). The only thing that I truly enjoyed was this amazing track
Yeah, I loved playing through Skyward Sword. Loved the motion controls and that Ancient Cistern dungeon with Koloktos was one of the best dungeon/boss combos in any Zelda game.
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Skyward Sword's dislike comes from its awful pacing, forced tutorials, and linearity and total lack of exploration. And motion controls, of course.
Dungeons were one of the things the game did well.
I'm genuinely shocked at how low skyward sword ranks on most of these lists. That game is def I my top 5. It had so many interesting systems and story beats, and the sword play was (obviously subjectively) really fun once you acclimated. It's easily my favorite Zelda art wise, and princess wise, and sound wise.
In terms of pure puzzle solving Skyward Sword is the best Zelda game period.
I think the dungeons are only forgettable for some because of the mostly generic settings (which is the same as every other Zelda but it gets tiring after so many games) and general mediocre art style of the game but otherwise they are the best in the series for me.
Im my mind, Majora's Mask took the unconventional plot and artistic nature of Link's Awakening and really went the distance. The games are just so similar to me. Am I alone on this?
Anyway, though I would switch LTTP with MM, I can't deny how much joy the former has given me.
Anyway, though I would switch LTTP with MM, I can't deny how much joy the former has given me.
But the combat isn't the main focus in either 3D or 2D Zelda nor is it particularly noteworthy in either of them. It's just competent and works. But the puzzle solving is one I feel a lot more complex and interesting in 3D Zelda titles over the 2D ones as the 3D space allows for that, especially for something like Skyward Sword or Majora's Mask, which have some of the most well designed and engaging dungeons in the entire franchise. Same for traversal, story, etc., which I feel are also handled a lot better. I personally could never get into how simple most of the 2D Zelda titles are and how stiff they feel, especially the NES titles, which more or less require a guide to progress anywhere
More amazing aspects from Skyward Sword:
- Ability to upgrade your key items
- The time stones in the desert dungeons, very cool puzzles with those
I mean I do sort of understand the love, it just didn't grab me the same way at all.
But I don't have a problem with it being ranked at #2 because I know I'm in the extreme minority. And at the very least it's a beautiful game that will move the series forward.
Yea, I finished it 100% the weekend it came out and remember fuck all about it. Was shocked at how many were calling it the best Zelda yet at the time.
I didn't dislike it and it was a fine way to spend 8-9 hours of my life, but there wasn't anything that wonderful about it either. A novel gimmick(flat Link) that was a bit overused to solve damn near every puzzle and the item shop that didn't really improve the linearity problem much given how segregate each tool was in the world itself. I recall hoping the availability led to more synergy in their application during the game, but nope. You have the boomerang dungeon, the arrow dungeon, the hammer dungeon....not much really changed other than progression choice.
these lists are always difficult to judge. personal experience and all that
i will always have a special love for the oracle games myself. even if they get easily overshadowed
i will always have a special love for the oracle games myself. even if they get easily overshadowed
I don't get the love for A Link to the Past. It seems recently it has taken the place of OoT at the top of most Zelda lists. I didn't play it until well after release, and the whole game just felt 'slow' to me to the point where I got bored and felt I had to force myself to keep playing. I actually had more fun with the original on NES.
But Skyward Sword was my favorite Zelda, so what do I know.
But Skyward Sword was my favorite Zelda, so what do I know.
How is Majoras Mask far too low if its number 3? Just curious.
As for the list Ocarina is still number one in my book even if Breath of the Wild is a better game. ( like how Batman Begins is a better "Batman" movie than The Dark Knight, which us the better overall movie)
However if Breath of the Wild could have had better bosses or dungeons it (and a hookshot) it would be head and shoulders above the other games.
