Where does Classic Zelda end and Modern Zelda start?

[mαrkαsscoρ]

Which game(s) in the series do you guys think mark the end of classic Zelda or mark the beginning of modern Zelda? Does it have to do with age or the playstyle of it? Or is it as simple as "every game up to this one is classic Zelda, and every game onward is modern Zelda"? [subject to change w/ time of course]

 

[Kirino]

I don't think there's any clear division between the two, and it's mostly subjective. That said, I'd probably consider modern Zelda as beginning with OoT since it's the first 3D Zelda and many of the later games are heavily based around it, or inspired by it. For me, personally, I might also associate Wind Waker with the start of "modern Zelda," but that's only a reflection of how I grew up and what consoles I started with.

 

[Spirit]

I don't think there's a clear cut line, but to make things as easy as possible I'd prefer to start a new era with every style shift.

So everything up to Ocarina would be 'classic Zelda'. And everything up to BotW would be 'modern Zelda', with BotW starting the next era, like, 'new Zelda' or something.

 

[twilitfalchion]

I agree with pretty much everything said so far. There's no real distinction between the two, although there are games that lean more one way or more to the other.

 

[VikzeLink]

I'd like to say it changes whenever a new game comes out. Back in the day, OoT would be considered the modern one, while the NES ones would be classic, so it'll always be changing

 

[MapelSerup]

OoT is the first “modern” Zelda in my opinion. For the 2D games, “Classic” Zelda ends with either OoX or MC. All the other 2D games after were modern. If it’s a 3D game or after OoX, it’s modern. BOTW is post-modern.

 

[Bowsette Plus-Ultra]

I'd consider Ocarina of Time to be the beginning of "modern" Zelda. It was the Zelda game that set in stone many of the formulas that the series struggled to move away from until Breath of the Wild. Elemental temples, stunning bosses with the dungeon item and hitting them three times, and Ganondorf pretending to be a villain but then disappearing until the last 5% of the game all began with Ocarina of Time.

 

[Quin]

"modern" zelda started with ALTTP. THAT was the game that set the formula in stone, and premiered a ton of classic series tropes, music/sound effects and tradition. It depends on in what way you look at it I guess, but this is definitely the way it is gameplay wise.

 

[Spiritual Mask Salesman]

I would say Classic Zelda ended with Breath of the Wild. I define "Classic Zelda" as games that adopted the Zelda formula. The original game set the cornerstone, A Link to the Past built the structure, Ocarina of Time put the roof in place, and everything else just slowly added small contributions to spoof the place up. Breath of the Wild came in and saved parts of the house, but demolished the rest. It's the first game that went against the grain rather than simply building upon the formula that was already in place, so I feel like it's the marker of the decline of Classic Zelda, at least for the time being.

 

[thePlinko]

this is just a personal thing, but I have a hard time thinking of anything after the n64 as “old school” so windwaker is where those two meet for me.

Realistically, LBW is where the series started straying away from things that made it unique in the first place, if anything SS was the last “Old School” Zelda.

I'd consider Ocarina of Time to be the beginning of "modern" Zelda. It was the Zelda game that set in stone many of the formulas that the series struggled to move away from until Breath of the Wild. Elemental temples, stunning bosses with the dungeon item and hitting them three times, and Ganondorf pretending to be a villain but then disappearing until the last 5% of the game all began with Ocarina of Time.

Literally all three of those things started LttP and prior

 

[Bowsette Plus-Ultra]

this is just a personal thing, but I have a hard time thinking of anything after the n64 as “old school” so windwaker is where those two meet for me.

Realistically, LBW is where the series started straying away from things that made it unique in the first place, if anything SS was the last “Old School” Zelda.



Literally all three of those things started LttP and prior

Not so universally. While the regular dungeon items were certainly a thing, they weren't always necessary for beating the boss. Often you could just tackle the boss with items from a previous dungeon, or go after the boss with just your sword. Bosses felt far less... routine in previous mainline Zelda games.

 

[thePlinko]

Not so universally. While the regular dungeon items were certainly a thing, they weren't always necessary for beating the boss. Often you could just tackle the boss with items from a previous dungeon, or go after the boss with just your sword. Bosses felt far less... routine in previous mainline Zelda games.

it wasnt universal in OoT either

 

[Bowsette Plus-Ultra]

it wasnt universal in OoT either

Don't you? It's been a bit since I played, but I can't recall a boss whose defeat doesn't entail stunning it with a dungeon item.

 

[thePlinko]

Gohma, dodongo king (albeit through technicality only), phantom ganon, bongo bongo, and ganon dont require the item. that leaves barinade, volvagia, morpha, twinrova, and ganondorf.

 

[Spiritual Mask Salesman]

Don't you? It's been a bit since I played, but I can't recall a boss whose defeat doesn't entail stunning it with a dungeon item.

I think Bongo Bongo is the only exception in OoT because you use the Bow which you got from the Forest Temple, and your sword. The Hover Boots aren't necessary for the combat but crucial to maintain health, and the Lens of Truth just make the battle easier. It still requires using a dungeon item in combat, just not the item found in that dungeon. Otherwise, you are correct.