Wind Waker is the worst. Boring sea sections and dungeons. TP is well balanced, but SS has best dungeons.
I think I like SS more because TP has a very bleak style.
I think I like SS more because TP has a very bleak style.
Agree.
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The Wind Waker vs Twilight Princess vs Skyward Sword
- Thread starter YolkFolk
- Start date
Twilight Princess for me.
All three games has flaws, but Wind Waker is kinda incomplete due to Nintendo promise to not delay the game and it shows later in the game and reports of the two missing dungeons. I love the premise of a giant sea to explore, but in the end there was only a few islands with a decent size, and only very few of the others had something interesting to do/see, I always expected a semi-big peninsula along with the islands, and the teasing of a submerged Hyrule you can't actually explore was a bit of a let down back in the time.
Skyward Sword is the first (and only) game in the main series I didn't have any real desire to finish: Very linear, separated areas, a bad use of the Sky map, too many "puzzle after puzzle" situations and few exploration so you feel like you're playing a bunch of minigames tied together instead of adventuring, the three times you have to fight the monster, the infamous hand-holding and Fi's excessive interruptions... Music and some dungeons were great, though. As an origin story, I expected way more lore.
Twilight Princess has a very very slow start until you get to the first dungeon and until you're free to explore Hyrule. I followed years and years of development and many things showed in early trailers didn't end up in the final game. They also didn't develop NPC as much as they could to make them interesting, but overall is the best of the three, IMO.
All three games has flaws, but Wind Waker is kinda incomplete due to Nintendo promise to not delay the game and it shows later in the game and reports of the two missing dungeons. I love the premise of a giant sea to explore, but in the end there was only a few islands with a decent size, and only very few of the others had something interesting to do/see, I always expected a semi-big peninsula along with the islands, and the teasing of a submerged Hyrule you can't actually explore was a bit of a let down back in the time.
Skyward Sword is the first (and only) game in the main series I didn't have any real desire to finish: Very linear, separated areas, a bad use of the Sky map, too many "puzzle after puzzle" situations and few exploration so you feel like you're playing a bunch of minigames tied together instead of adventuring, the three times you have to fight the monster, the infamous hand-holding and Fi's excessive interruptions... Music and some dungeons were great, though. As an origin story, I expected way more lore.
Twilight Princess has a very very slow start until you get to the first dungeon and until you're free to explore Hyrule. I followed years and years of development and many things showed in early trailers didn't end up in the final game. They also didn't develop NPC as much as they could to make them interesting, but overall is the best of the three, IMO.
All of them are really good games, but I like Twilight Princess best. Dungeons, music and atmosphere are just stellar.
Skyward Sword has the best combat of them but otherwise it doesn't feel quite as fleshed out.
Wind Waker had some special moments but in the end felt a bit rushed, and I don't enjoy the art design as much as others seem to do.
Skyward Sword has the best combat of them but otherwise it doesn't feel quite as fleshed out.
Wind Waker had some special moments but in the end felt a bit rushed, and I don't enjoy the art design as much as others seem to do.
Wind Waker has a better sense of exploration for me. It's more like an experience than a game, and the world is really rich and diverse, which is one of the reasons it holds itself so well even today. Twilight Princess on the other hand is more grounded and offers a different experience.
WW > TP > SS
WW has weaker dungeons and padding at the end, but it's overall better package for me
SS and TP are evenly for me, but SS it's more padded and some other things like Fi, flying and swimming just annoy me on replays more
WW has weaker dungeons and padding at the end, but it's overall better package for me
SS and TP are evenly for me, but SS it's more padded and some other things like Fi, flying and swimming just annoy me on replays more
Skyward Sword by far imo. Wind Waker is super pretty but lacks really good dungeons, while Twilight Princess has good dungeons but the artstyle isn't that great. Both WW and TP have overworlds that are too big for what they have to offer content-wise so SS takes it easily for me, and that's without mentioning SS's story, soundtrack, dungeons, characters, etc.
I really like Midna and Wolf Link, and have really fond memories of getting a Wii at launch and popping open Zelda.
Wind Waker has so much charm though...
Wind Waker has so much charm though...
Definitely Wind Waker, it has the best art style and environments (including dungeons) of the 3 games. A distant second would be Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword another tier below that (still good though).
I think both Windwaker and Twilight princess are great in their own ways. Skyward sword I never finished since I loathe motion controls.
I voted for WW but it could go to TP just as well. Both are great games on their own with some unfortunately glaring flaws. I think what makes people love WW that much more than TP, besides the art style, is that WW's opening hours are far more entertaining and enjoyable, but when TP gets going there's not that much to criticise.
WindWaker felt the least guided, which, growing up on NES Zelda and aLTTP is more what I want out of my Zelda experience. Don't get me wrong. There was still a lot of tutorializing and the game was far from being "difficult", but it felt like it set me out on my own a lot earlier in the game than TP or SS did. Twilight Princess is my #2 because of no forced motion control gimmick (I played on Gamecube), and SS is a distant...like 10th...I'll take either of the DS games, or pretty much any mainline/handheld Zelda (except Links Adventure and Majora's Mask), over Skyward Sword. It might even be worse than Majora's. Skyward Sword is the only one that I've ever been so bored from that I never finished it.
1. Wind Waker
2. Twilight Princess
3. Skyward Sword
somewhere down the list BotW. First Zelda game I haven't liked as far as I can remember.
2. Twilight Princess
3. Skyward Sword
somewhere down the list BotW. First Zelda game I haven't liked as far as I can remember.
As for the style, WW >>>>>>>>> everything else in gaming.
As a traditional Zelda game, TP > WW > SS. Note that's not necessarily positive, TP is so traditional it feels really derivative. I think it's the game which showed that OoT formula run its course.
As an experience SS > WW > TP. SS is very flawed, but it's also really unique with lots of good moments.
As a traditional Zelda game, TP > WW > SS. Note that's not necessarily positive, TP is so traditional it feels really derivative. I think it's the game which showed that OoT formula run its course.
As an experience SS > WW > TP. SS is very flawed, but it's also really unique with lots of good moments.
The Wind Waker and it's not even close. It doesn't even begin to be close. Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword don't even deserve to be mentioned alongside The Wind Waker other than all of them belonging to the same Zelda "trio" release-wise.
The Wind Waker >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Skyward Sword = Twilight Princess. Skyward Sword has the better soundtrack, art style, combat, difficulty balance (still not great but TP's is just abysmal), story, and characters (except for Midna). Twilight Princess has the better world structure + design and dungeons by far, though.
But The Wind Waker, despite its well-documented faults, puts both to shame in every area other than dungeons (though I would say the best of TWW's dungeons stand toe-to-toe with the best TP and SS have to offer). My favorite 3D Zelda and one of my top three Zelda games of all time, and the HD version just elevates it even further.
The Wind Waker >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>> Skyward Sword = Twilight Princess. Skyward Sword has the better soundtrack, art style, combat, difficulty balance (still not great but TP's is just abysmal), story, and characters (except for Midna). Twilight Princess has the better world structure + design and dungeons by far, though.
But The Wind Waker, despite its well-documented faults, puts both to shame in every area other than dungeons (though I would say the best of TWW's dungeons stand toe-to-toe with the best TP and SS have to offer). My favorite 3D Zelda and one of my top three Zelda games of all time, and the HD version just elevates it even further.
Twilight Princess I'd say is probably the most well rounded Zelda game of those three, but Wind Waker will always have a spacial place in my heart and be my favorite of those.
Wind Waker atmosphere, music, and style are absolutely fantastic and still hold up amazingly well.
The different islands you explore were so much fun, I never get tired of exploring the world.
Pretty much the only downside for me is the lack of dungeons. I always prefer a good overworld to dungeons in Zelda games, but even I needed like 1 or 2 more.
It's HD remake was also a disappointment because of what they did to the visuals, the bloom it added was completely unnecessary and just makes it look worse. Emulating it on PC is the only true way to play it IMO, even with the remakes quality of life improvements.
Twilight Princess I like the overworld fine, it has lots of fun dungeons, and it's a pretty meaty game, but it just lacks something that makes it truly special.
Skyward Sword I stopped playing soon after getting the sword. Really disliked the motion controls, I'd honestly take TP's waggle controls over SS's precise controls, I don't want to be swinging my arm around to do simple things like cutting grass.
Wind Waker atmosphere, music, and style are absolutely fantastic and still hold up amazingly well.
The different islands you explore were so much fun, I never get tired of exploring the world.
Pretty much the only downside for me is the lack of dungeons. I always prefer a good overworld to dungeons in Zelda games, but even I needed like 1 or 2 more.
It's HD remake was also a disappointment because of what they did to the visuals, the bloom it added was completely unnecessary and just makes it look worse. Emulating it on PC is the only true way to play it IMO, even with the remakes quality of life improvements.
Twilight Princess I like the overworld fine, it has lots of fun dungeons, and it's a pretty meaty game, but it just lacks something that makes it truly special.
Skyward Sword I stopped playing soon after getting the sword. Really disliked the motion controls, I'd honestly take TP's waggle controls over SS's precise controls, I don't want to be swinging my arm around to do simple things like cutting grass.
Soooo tough but I chose Skyward. It was either that or TP for me. Was never too huge on WW.
Skyward Sword may be my all time favorite Zelda actually.
Skyward Sword may be my all time favorite Zelda actually.
I chose Twilight but Wind Waker is great too. TP just has those giant big dungeons. And dual hook shots!
Skyward Sword is absolutely the worst 3D Zelda.
Skyward Sword is absolutely the worst 3D Zelda.
Twilight Princess starts very slow, but the second half is actually some of the best Zelda experiences to be had. Also, Midna is the best Zelda character.
Wind Waker as a whole beats it handily though. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that many/most islands are too small and meaningless. I like that there aren't too many dungeons.
Skyward Sword doesn't belong with the other two, it's way way worse.
Wind Waker as a whole beats it handily though. The only bad thing I have to say about it is that many/most islands are too small and meaningless. I like that there aren't too many dungeons.
Skyward Sword doesn't belong with the other two, it's way way worse.
For style, Wind Waker is the best, no question, but it is a chore to play through sometimes, particularly on second, or more, play-throughs. Even with its drawn-out opening sequences, Twilight Princess, on the whole, is just easier to get into and is more engaging, in my opinion. The dungeons make for the biggest advantage.
It's story and sense of adventure and exploration take a massive shit on the others though. Got so much joy out of exploring and charting islands on my map even when there was not much there.
even with old 3D Zeldas, there's more to them than just dungeons. And Wind Walkers worse dungeons are nothing compared to TP's beginning slog and boring as fuck overworld
Twilight Princess has the best dungeons in the series. Hands down. Forest Temple and Goron Mines are a little basic, though still better than most of the early level dungeons and other games. From that point on, they are all incredible.
Wind Waker has some amazing moments and is gorgeous, but it's just too damned empty. Plus, in contrast to TP it has probably the worst dungeons in the series.
As for Skyward Sword... Well is solid but just not my thing.
Wind Waker has some amazing moments and is gorgeous, but it's just too damned empty. Plus, in contrast to TP it has probably the worst dungeons in the series.
As for Skyward Sword... Well is solid but just not my thing.
Twilight Princess. And it's not even close for me. Sure, the artstyle in WW and SS is much nicer, but everything else is simply done better in TP. From enemies, to dungeons, to pacing, everything is better in TP. Only thing I hated was all the padding in the first few hours, but the other games are also guilty of this.
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I think Wind Waker has the best world, artstyle and charm while the dungeons are mediocre and unmemorable. Twilight Princess has the best dungeons but the world is boring and the artstyle is kinda ugly. Skyward Sword doesn't really excel in any particular place, but it's pretty good at everything and is the best overall package I think.
TP - Big but boring and empty world, slow start, bad item use, I didnt like dark world, great dungeons, great bosses
SS - Terrible backtracking, Annoying Fi, side quests only at Skyloft, great story, great dungeons
WW - Lacs at least one bigger island and 1-2 dungeons more, great overworld, great atmosphere, most charming Zelda game
For me:
WW>SS>TP
SS - Terrible backtracking, Annoying Fi, side quests only at Skyloft, great story, great dungeons
WW - Lacs at least one bigger island and 1-2 dungeons more, great overworld, great atmosphere, most charming Zelda game
For me:
WW>SS>TP
THIS, it's incredible how artstyle let ppl forget how poor WW is in terms of contents and quality of them... it's like an unfinished alpha...
1 thing they have in common that they're all great games and have the best dungeons in Zelda games.
I love The Wind Waker the most then Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess.
I love The Wind Waker the most then Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess.
Wind Waker's the worst but of course it's gonna win *eyeroll*. Worst dungeons and music. Worst fetch quest. Tedious sailing and wind stuff. Etc.
TP is the best. Those dungeons and that atmosphere are still a series high.
SS had amazing music and atmosphere as well.
TP is the best. Those dungeons and that atmosphere are still a series high.
SS had amazing music and atmosphere as well.
WW has better art style and general poetry
TP has (way) better dungeons
SS has (way) better "tutorial-less" beginning, way better characters, and a great dungeon-like overworld concept (the exact opposite compared to BotW)
At the end of the day, I think I enjoyed TP the most
TP has (way) better dungeons
SS has (way) better "tutorial-less" beginning, way better characters, and a great dungeon-like overworld concept (the exact opposite compared to BotW)
At the end of the day, I think I enjoyed TP the most
Wind Waker looks nice and all but I can't bring myself to ever replay it, and if I did I would just go straight between dungeons. Skyward Sword I want to give another chance, my main memory of it aside from not liking the motion controls was having to go through the same three areas multiple times and I didn;t finish it.
Twilight Princess would be my choice even if you had included the rest of the series
Twilight Princess would be my choice even if you had included the rest of the series
Do yourself a favor and skip it. It all starts to crumble after the third dungeon. The padding becomes insane at that point and it never gets better for the next 40 hours.
Wut? While i'm also not going to defend Wind Waker's fetch quest, Skyward Sword has much more filler overall and fetch quest, it isn't even a comparison.
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I find Twilight Princess much easier to replay becauses it becomes a dungeon-a- thon with 7 main dungeons and two smaller ones. The 3 Twilight Realm sections don't live to their horror potential but are not as bad as the weaknesses of SS and TWW, with the horrible Triforce quest, the faffing around in SS's 3 same areas and interesting but imperfect controls.
I know why TWW is winning, it has an ambitious story, some charming graphics and the hub Windfall Island is one of the top towns in the series, but the massive and empty ocean, Triforce quest indeed sucks and there's some of the most shallow dungeons in the series.
In my opinion TP > SS > WW , they can be occasionally great at times but overall middling Zelda games.
I know why TWW is winning, it has an ambitious story, some charming graphics and the hub Windfall Island is one of the top towns in the series, but the massive and empty ocean, Triforce quest indeed sucks and there's some of the most shallow dungeons in the series.
In my opinion TP > SS > WW , they can be occasionally great at times but overall middling Zelda games.
TWW has stellar presentation but shite content
TP has trash presentation and decent content
SS has good presentation and good content, despite some filler
Voted SS.
TP has trash presentation and decent content
SS has good presentation and good content, despite some filler
Voted SS.
Saying SS has filler feels like an unstatement to me. I think that game would have been great if a third of it was optional and would have really improved the pacing. I find the pacing in TP breezy after Lake Hylia's twilight realm.