Inspired by Spiritofzant's thread weighing the peaks and troughs of the Mario franchise in its various dimensions I decided to create a similar topic with respect to Zelda.
The 2D Zelda games are without a doubt more difficult than their 3D counterparts. Enemies are littered far less mercifully and bosses seldom fall victim to the traditional stun, hack-and-slash pattern found in more recent installments. Perhaps above all magic played a larger role in the 2D titles. Adventure of Link boasted a great variety of spells including the shield, fire, thunder, and reflect derivatives. A Link to the Past translated this purer use of the magic meter to its items. Never before or since has Link's arsenal been so dependent on the gauge. These included the fire and ice rods, lantern, and Canes of Somaria and Byrna to name a few.
The 3D installments, on the other hand, offer a deeper and more engaging narrative with a slight shift away from gameplay. While the environments are aesthetically richer, the difficulty gradient in these games is noticeably lower. The extra dimension allows for more docile dodging of enemies. Following the N64 games and to a less extent The Wind Waker magic was ditched in favor of a more physical approach to combat. Musical instruments play a part in this form of the medium like never before ranging from the ocarina to the most recent harp. One personal gripe is Nintendo's refusal to break from the norm and traditionalist conventions in designing dungeons with the added layer. Only with the final dungeons of both Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword did the Japanese entertainment behemoth endeavor something more. Hyrule Castle featured a large optional area, a bonus room, and a branching pathway. Skykeep added its own flavor to the mix by allowing players to alter the room formation if the dungon. But why should innovation be limited to the end?
Which do you prefer-2D or 3D Zelda games? Or are they both equally stellar? I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding each below. Also be sure to cast your vote in the above poll for documenting purposes.
The 2D Zelda games are without a doubt more difficult than their 3D counterparts. Enemies are littered far less mercifully and bosses seldom fall victim to the traditional stun, hack-and-slash pattern found in more recent installments. Perhaps above all magic played a larger role in the 2D titles. Adventure of Link boasted a great variety of spells including the shield, fire, thunder, and reflect derivatives. A Link to the Past translated this purer use of the magic meter to its items. Never before or since has Link's arsenal been so dependent on the gauge. These included the fire and ice rods, lantern, and Canes of Somaria and Byrna to name a few.
The 3D installments, on the other hand, offer a deeper and more engaging narrative with a slight shift away from gameplay. While the environments are aesthetically richer, the difficulty gradient in these games is noticeably lower. The extra dimension allows for more docile dodging of enemies. Following the N64 games and to a less extent The Wind Waker magic was ditched in favor of a more physical approach to combat. Musical instruments play a part in this form of the medium like never before ranging from the ocarina to the most recent harp. One personal gripe is Nintendo's refusal to break from the norm and traditionalist conventions in designing dungeons with the added layer. Only with the final dungeons of both Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword did the Japanese entertainment behemoth endeavor something more. Hyrule Castle featured a large optional area, a bonus room, and a branching pathway. Skykeep added its own flavor to the mix by allowing players to alter the room formation if the dungon. But why should innovation be limited to the end?
Which do you prefer-2D or 3D Zelda games? Or are they both equally stellar? I'd like to hear your thoughts regarding each below. Also be sure to cast your vote in the above poll for documenting purposes.