From worst to best:
5. Twilight Princess
Favorites: Goron Mines, Arbiter's Grounds, Temple of Time, City in the Sky
Least Favorites: Forest Temple
Why I think it's number five: Don't get me wrong, every 3D Zelda game is great, however, some are better than others. TP is trumped by the others in terms of dungeon design. I felt like there was too little to do in the open spaces of the dungeons and they were plagued by filler material. The bosses were colossal but they were also some of the most predictable and easy to defeat in franchise history.
4. Skyward Sword
Favorites: Skyview Temple, Lanayru Mining Facility, Ancient Cistern, Sandship
Least Favorites: Earth Temple, Fire Sanctuary
Why I think it's number four: Skyward Sword was a marvel unto itself in dungeon design. I felt that the first three dungeons were rather short, however, the second half more than made up for this shortcoming. The boss of the Ancient Cistern-Koloktos was among my favorites in franchise history. One nice cherry on top was also the fact that the boss key unto itself was a small puzzle to unravel. also, it's nice that for many dungeons, Nintendo ditched the idea of a single theme.
3. The Wind Waker
Favorites: Forsaken Fortress, Tower of the Gods
Least Favorites: Forest Haven
Why I think it's number three: The Wind Waker had less dungeons than most Zelda games, however, they were exceptionally designed. I especially enjoyed having to visit the Forsaken Fortress multiple times and seeing it change with each visit. The flooded Tower of the Gods was also a very interesting dungeon that was key to the story. The boss of that dungeon though was slightly disappointing. The last tow dungeons were also forgettable. The Wind Waker found strength in its excellent sidequests and portrayal of Ganondorf.
2. Majora's Mask
Favorites: Snowhead Temple, Great Bay Temple, Stone Tower Temple
Least Favorites: Woodfall Temple
Why I think it's number two: Majora's Mask is the epitome of how to make an effective Zelda game with very few dungeons. All of the featured dungeons were incredibly expansive and always had you o your toes especially with the game's 72 hour limit. The bosses were colossal as well but unlike those in Twilight Princess, their patterns were not predictable and taking most of them out was a pain. Also, I loved how you turned into a giant Young Link in the Stone Tower Temple boss battle.
1. Ocarina of Time
Favorites: Dodongo's Cavern, Forest Temple, Spirit Temple, Shadow Temple
Least favorites: Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
Why I think it's number one: Pure videogame bliss. That is the embodiment of all Ocarina of Time is. The child portion of the game although got you into the action right away but everything got better as Link matured. The Forest temple has arguably the best dungeon design in franchise history whereas Bongo Bongo is my favorite boss the series has to offer. The emotions you felt traversing the dungeons in Ocarina of Time were phenomenal. Also, none of the puzzles were obvious but they weren't impossible either. It's never a chore for me to replay them nowadays. For all its achievements and revolutions in the industry, dungeons was where Ocarina truly shined.
5. Twilight Princess
Favorites: Goron Mines, Arbiter's Grounds, Temple of Time, City in the Sky
Least Favorites: Forest Temple
Why I think it's number five: Don't get me wrong, every 3D Zelda game is great, however, some are better than others. TP is trumped by the others in terms of dungeon design. I felt like there was too little to do in the open spaces of the dungeons and they were plagued by filler material. The bosses were colossal but they were also some of the most predictable and easy to defeat in franchise history.
4. Skyward Sword
Favorites: Skyview Temple, Lanayru Mining Facility, Ancient Cistern, Sandship
Least Favorites: Earth Temple, Fire Sanctuary
Why I think it's number four: Skyward Sword was a marvel unto itself in dungeon design. I felt that the first three dungeons were rather short, however, the second half more than made up for this shortcoming. The boss of the Ancient Cistern-Koloktos was among my favorites in franchise history. One nice cherry on top was also the fact that the boss key unto itself was a small puzzle to unravel. also, it's nice that for many dungeons, Nintendo ditched the idea of a single theme.
3. The Wind Waker
Favorites: Forsaken Fortress, Tower of the Gods
Least Favorites: Forest Haven
Why I think it's number three: The Wind Waker had less dungeons than most Zelda games, however, they were exceptionally designed. I especially enjoyed having to visit the Forsaken Fortress multiple times and seeing it change with each visit. The flooded Tower of the Gods was also a very interesting dungeon that was key to the story. The boss of that dungeon though was slightly disappointing. The last tow dungeons were also forgettable. The Wind Waker found strength in its excellent sidequests and portrayal of Ganondorf.
2. Majora's Mask
Favorites: Snowhead Temple, Great Bay Temple, Stone Tower Temple
Least Favorites: Woodfall Temple
Why I think it's number two: Majora's Mask is the epitome of how to make an effective Zelda game with very few dungeons. All of the featured dungeons were incredibly expansive and always had you o your toes especially with the game's 72 hour limit. The bosses were colossal as well but unlike those in Twilight Princess, their patterns were not predictable and taking most of them out was a pain. Also, I loved how you turned into a giant Young Link in the Stone Tower Temple boss battle.
1. Ocarina of Time
Favorites: Dodongo's Cavern, Forest Temple, Spirit Temple, Shadow Temple
Least favorites: Inside Jabu-Jabu's Belly
Why I think it's number one: Pure videogame bliss. That is the embodiment of all Ocarina of Time is. The child portion of the game although got you into the action right away but everything got better as Link matured. The Forest temple has arguably the best dungeon design in franchise history whereas Bongo Bongo is my favorite boss the series has to offer. The emotions you felt traversing the dungeons in Ocarina of Time were phenomenal. Also, none of the puzzles were obvious but they weren't impossible either. It's never a chore for me to replay them nowadays. For all its achievements and revolutions in the industry, dungeons was where Ocarina truly shined.
