Majora's Cat
How about that
Zelda may be an amazing franchise, but we certainly can’t call Zelda games the greatest of all time. While games like Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask and A Link to the Past deserve such a title, other installments in the series are far from being the best of the best. To be fair, since this is a Zelda forum, everyone is expected to be at least somewhat biased towards the Zelda series. Honestly, there are several games out there that match the quality of Zelda games and some that can even go beyond.
First of all, I would like those who would like to reply to this thread to make their post by following a rubric of sorts. There’s a lot to be said about each different Zelda game, so I definitely won’t force people to write about every main game (I think three or more will suffice).
The Legend of Zelda - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Adventure of Link - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
A Link to the Past - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Link’s Awakening - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Ocarina of Time - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Majora’s Mask - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
The Oracle Series - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
ALttP + Four Swords - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
The Wind Waker - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Four Swords Adventures - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
The Minish Cap - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Twilight Princess - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Phantom Hourglass - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Spirit Tracks - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Now I’d like to fill out the rubric myself and share my thoughts on each Zelda game (remember, these are just my opinions. You do not have to share the same views, so let’s not take this too seriously).
The Legend of Zelda
We can argue that oldies are always goodies. Some may say that games truly cannot age and that all video games from the past are equal to those of the present. Aspects like visuals, music, gameplay, and presentation say otherwise. All these qualities of a video game that I have just listed improved over time, as video games as a whole are meant to advance and progress. That being said, I should compare the original LoZ to games of all ages and times.
The Legend of Zelda, although an oldie, is a memorable adventure that was way ahead of its time. The Legend of Zelda revolutionized adventure video games, creating a vast and open world that the player had to explore for themselves. As we all know, the game is primitive but still delivers that Zelda charm that we’ve all come to love. Many staples of the franchise derived from the original game, including the bow and arrows, boomerang, shield, bottle, etc. The game does not, however, feature the legendary Master Sword that has become universally known as Link’s weapon of choice. The Legend of Zelda is decidedly old-school, though, no matter how far ahead of its time the game was. The difficulty is sort of like a rollercoaster ride. Dungeons can be ridiculously easy while roaming Hyrule is more of a danger. There are also certain rooms that house eight menacing Darknuts, which definitely isn’t a cakewalk.
As stated before, the gameplay is primitive and leaves something to be desired. Link simply stabs his sword in any direction in which the player desires - up, down, left or right. The reason I said that roaming Hyrule can be more treacherous than conquering a Dungeon is because of the overly powerful enemies. Because of this, gameplay could become both tedious and immensely frustrating at times. After all, the player only has three hearts at the start of the game and he can’t really take a hit from enemies. As the game progresses, Link is able to withstand enemies more easily due to the gaining of Heart Containers and other upgrades, but enemies become more powerful to match Link. Did I mention that more spawn as well?
Yep, it can be pretty frustrating to die and have to work your way to a Dungeon from the spawn point. Without a map in the game itself, trudging all the way back to a location you were previously at was a very irritating and hair-pulling task. To make up for the enemies, though, the Dungeons are very short and easy (thought some rooms can have you stumped for a certain period of time). Hardcore Zelda fans can blow through these Dungeons like popsicle stands, but it requires a certain focus that you may not need when playing other Zelda games. The difficulty level does increase at certain points in the game and can possibly chip away at many minutes or even hours of your time.
The Legend of Zelda is based around the concept of defeating the evil Ganon and saving the beautiful Princess Zelda (who, at the time, was still a brunette). There’s really no story to be told or cutscenes in the original LoZ, since the NES didn’t have such capabilities. Still, the legend of the Hero of Time defeating the great and evil Ganon is one that will occur several times throughout the Zelda timeline. In this particular game, only the silver arrow (an item that is no longer used in the franchise) can penetrate Ganon’s hard exterior. With the aid of the Triforce of Wisdom, Link is able to enter the great Ganon’s lair in Death Mountain and fight the menace.
Now, do I consider The Legend of Zelda an all-time great? A game that blows even modern games out of the water? The answer is, sadly, no. While The Legend of Zelda was the start of a magnificent series, the game itself isn’t one that I would call absolutely stunning and on the same level as ALttP or OoT. If I were to rate LoZ overall, I would consider it a great success, as it laid out the groundwork for the series.
Adventure of Link
With profits still flowing in from the original Legend of Zelda, Nintendo releases its second epic adventure with Adventure of Link. It’s funny how little resemblance AoL bears to the LoZ considering that it is a direct sequel to it. The overworld’s graphics seem to be a step down from the original Zelda. It just looks too chunky and blocky, but the more definitive areas (towns, forests, etc.) that Link enters make up for it. These areas are several paths that lead underground scattered across the overworld that change the format from that of the original Legend of Zelda to 2D side-scrolling platforming. The player will see Link from the perspective of a bird’s eye while you’re in the overworld. However, whenever Link enters a cave or special area, the game will shift gears and the Adventure of Link will become a side-scroller.
The second installment in the Zelda series took a wrong turn early on, which is quite the shame. It’s nothing at all like Zelda games we’ve seen after it, and that makes sense. In the eyes of many, AoL is considered a mild mistake, but serves as an interesting classic game. As we know now, the Zelda franchise was never meant to be hardcore RPG. AoL, however, uses a standard RPG leveling system that includes experience points, magic spells and NPCs. Link can gain experience points to upgrade anything from his attack power to his magic spells and life. Raising a level of life (not hearts) will decrease the damage inflicted to him when hit, decrease the cost of magic spells, etc. For the first time, Link can crouch, jump, and swing his sword in directions that he could not in the previous game (after all, it is a side-scrolling view and not top-down). It’s a simple addition to the Zelda gameplay, but it goes a long way. However, players seem to like the original Zelda’s gameplay better simply because of its more traditional top-down view. AoL is also infamous for its ridiculous difficulty, raising the frustration bar much higher than it was set in LoZ. It is for this very reason many gamers are turned off by Adventure of Link and tend to seek adventure elsewhere. However, despite the game’s problems, it sold over 4 million copies.
The main adversary in Adventure of Link is Dark Link instead of Ganondorf. It’s a welcome change, but makes the game feel less epic. Boss battles are disappointingly quick, but Dark Link does offer something different in the sense that Link must fight “himself”. If you haveen’t guessed already, I’m not too huge a fan of AoL. I don’t think that it’s one of the best games of all time, but it’s still a good game (it’s a Zelda, after all). Therefore, I would have to brand AoL as a failure.
A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past was a ground-breaking game, becoming sort of like an exoskeleton for 2D Zelda games. Released in 1991, the game was a smashing success and made gamers completely forget about Adventure of Link before it. As far as the series goes, ALttP is probably the most memorable 2D installment in the eyes of many fans, and for good reason. The Legend of Zelda was the base, the foundation for the series. But A Link to the Past gave the series a hard exterior and completely polished the first two games’ gameplay and visuals. Well, A Link to the Past finally came along and fleshed out the series, and what a better way to do it but with a return to the classic gameplay style and the return of the original antagonist? I can’t possibly conceive a better decision by Nintendo, since Adventure of Link didn’t live up to expectations.
A Link to the Past has similar gameplay to The Legend of Zelda, but improves on it in a number of ways. I like to think of A Link to the Past as The Legend of Zelda with improved visuals, more solid gameplay, a refined array of items and advancement in story and presentation. The game features the same top-down view as the original (looks like Nintendo learned from its mistakes) and also introduces many staples of the franchise, improving on old items and bringing forth new. Major items such as the bomb and arrows no longer deplete rupees but are actually rely on a more traditional stock system. The graphics are clean, crisp and a smoother 16-bit (definitely an improvement over 8-bit visuals). Swordplay is greatly improved over that of the first game because Link now makes a semi-circle motion when swiping his sword. This covers a greater radius and makes demolishing enemies easier. Even the traditional sword beam got a swirling upgrade, making slaying those nasty enemies a cinch.
The RPG gameplay from AoL was ditched, but the magic meter stayed (becoming another gameplay mechanic in future games up until Twilight Princess). Several staples of the series make their first appearances in ALttP (such as the Master Sword and Link’s trusty Hookshot). Also, the fabled Pegasus Boots made running away from enemies much easier than originally intended (at least that’s what I used the Pegasus Boots for). The Flute from the game would eventually become the Ocarina of Time and Pieces of Heart were first introduced as well, as opposed to the full Heart Containers from the first two games. I love seeing the progression of items in Zelda games, and a lot of it begins with ALttP. The Dark World was also a welcome addition to the game. This alternate world is the dark version of Hyrule, which essentially like the Twilight Realm from Twilight Princess. It’s a brilliant idea that certainly enhances gameplay. Warp spots allow Link to travel back and forth between the two worlds for various reasons (for both sidequests and the main quest).
The burden of saving Hyrule rests on Link’s shoulders, and this time he must fight two nefarious villains. Agahnim is an evil wizard whose purpose is to set free the terrible Ganon. Agahnim is being used as a pawn by Ganon, and serves no purpose greater than that of Zant from Twilight Princess. Agahnim isn’t a very colorful character, and feels very much forced into the game. NPCs are in the game, but feel stale and aren’t brought to life very well due to the technology at the time. The Master Sword can be further upgraded into the Tempered Sword and then finally the Golden Sword. As the game progresses, dungeons become more difficult and even lengthier than before. One of ALttP’s greatest improvements over the first LoZ is toning down the power of enemies. Dungeons in general took complexion to a whole new level, creating a mish-mash of walkways and floor levels. ALttP is one of the more challenging games in the series, and is decidedly a huge advancement in Zelda gaming.
I view A Link to the Past as one of the three big game-changers in the Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda being the first (for laying out the groundwork of the series), A Link to the Past being the second (for fleshing out the 2D games) and Ocarina of Time being the third (for being the first 3D Zelda). So what do I think of ALttP? If you couldn’t tell, I consider ALttP to be one of the greatest Zelda games and one of the greatest games of all time, period. Nintendo delivered another gem with ALttP, so I would consider ALttP to be a smashing success.
Link’s Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was ground-breaking because it is the first handheld Zelda game to be released (in the main series). Released in 1993, the game is a direct sequel to A Link to the Past. There are no huge improvements in gameplay, if there were any. Due to the game being released on a primitive handheld device, it could not match the quality of its predecessor. Link’s Awakening would be upgraded in 1998 with color graphics, but it is still essentially the same game. One major uniqueness in LA is its setting. Link must complete this quest on the island of Koholint instead of Hyrule. Unlike in previous Zelda games, Link’s Awakening is a dream. The game was well-received but definitely not the series’ biggest success. LA is, however, recognized as one of the revolutionary handheld games of its time and known for its cutesy, light-hearted graphics and tone.
Eiji Aonuma has claimed that Link’s Awakening could very well have changed the destiny of Zelda games. He says if Link’s Awakening was not developed between A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, OoT would have been a very different game. Though LA doesn’t seem like such an influential game from the outside, it has certainly had a large impact on the series’ most beloved installment. That being said, I do view LA as a rather influential game, and it does deserve some sort of spot up there with the gaming greats. That being said, LA is (in my opinion) a moderate success.
Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the climax of all Zelda games; the peak of the series’ success and the game that is widely considered to be the greatest ever. With its extraordinarily vast overworld (that is littered with secrets and quests) and revolutionary gameplay, OoT became a staple of the N64 era and eclipsed any and all games that followed its release. Ocarina of Time has sold the most copies of all the Zelda games (with Twilight Princess following closely as second) and also serves as the series’ most successful game in terms of sales. Nintendo literally pulled out all the stops to release a game five years in the making, a game that would inspire and set the groundwork for many video games to come and become the golden - no, diamond standard that all games wish to exceed.
Link is born into the Kokiri Village, but is really a Hylian. But it becomes increasingly apparent that Link was meant to be more than meets the eye when the Great Deku Tree sends for him. Link must fight his way through nine perplexing main Dungeons with the aid of Navi the Fairy, of course. It’s all up to Link to defeat the evil Ganon, who plans to plunge Hyrule in darkness and despair for the first time in the timeline. Magic, bombs, arrows, the boomerang, the Pegasus Boots and other items make their return Ocarina of Time. However, some new items such as the Lens of Truth, Iron Boots, Mirror Sheid and different tunics make their debut in the game (and in the third dimension, no less!). Link must first retrieve the Spiritual Stones and after traveling seven years in the future, he must conquer several more dungeons to possess the Six Medallions. What I like about this game is that the Seventh Sage remains somewhat of a secret throughout the entire game. There are but Six Medallions, but those six only signify the six major Sages. Princess Zelda is the seventh, a twist that I definitely didn’t predict.
I don’t see how anyone can not love this game. From the frozen domain of the Zoras to the blinding desert, there’s no lack of jaw-dropping scenery and ever-expansive vistas. Throughout the duration of the game, there is not a moment that isn’t enjoyable. The six Dungeons in the Adult Timeline are as follows: the eerie Forest Temple, steamy Fire Temple. hair-pullingly frustrating Water Temple, the frightening and disturbing Shadow Temple, the ancient Spirit Temple and the evil, perilous lair of the great Ganon. The three dungeons in which Link must conquer in order to obtain the three Spiritual Stones reside in the Child Timeline in the beginning half of the game. The plot of the game is rather simplistic, but it is executed far more elegantly than that of its predecessors and woven seamlessly into the gameplay. Ocarina of Time is the very first Zelda game to feature full-length cinematics, therefore enhancing the telling of the story and making the player experience the game in an entirely new and innocative way. The inclusion of cutscenes also means that OoT was the very first Zelda game to feature those heartarming moments that the series is known for.
Ocarina of Time has set down a path that many games walk today. OoT has left a tremendous impact on the gaming industry by not only polishing 3D gameplay, but also by introducing such never-before-seen gameplay functions as the lock-on target. It’s only fair that OoT is generally regarded as the greatest game of all time by critics and gamers alike and has the highest aggregate review score of all time on sites like GameRankings. Whereas Adventure of Link lowered the series’ standard by just a bit, and having flat-lined at Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time brought the franchise to the peak of its success; it is a level unrivaled by any Zelda game or any other game in general since its release. Without a doubt, OoT is the series’ greatest triumph (which obviously means that OoT is a success).
Majora’s Mask
Hot off the success of Ocarina of Time, Nintendo decided to use the same engine that they crafted OoT with to create another epic: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. While not praised nearly as much as its predecessor, Majora’s Mask was still critically acclaimed and a worthy entry into the series. While the game wasn’t so appreciated around ten years ago, fans of the series and gamers alike are starting to realize the game’s true worth.
Instead of taking place in Hyrule, Majora’s Mask took place in an alternate world called Termina. The name of the land tells all because the date of Termina is sealed as an evil spirit known as Majora plans to bring the Moon down on the land. “Termina” means “to end”. It fits the theme and dark atmosphere of the game perfectly, right? Majora takes control of the helpless Skull Kid and steals Link’s Ocarina of Time, a precious item from the previous game. Our hero is led into a dark forest and emerges in the land of Termina, where he has a mere three days to stop the Moon from falling down and crushing Termina.
The game is a source of never-ending fun. I found myself coming back to Termina simply to explore the world after I 100% completed it. It wasn’t because I felt that the overworld was particularly beautiful, but the atmosphere was spellbinding. I felt like I could explore the world a hundred times over and not be bored because of the feeling I got from it. It was as if mysteries lay around every corner and you would always discover something new. Now we know that this isn’t true, but that’s the general impression that Termina gave me.
Gameplay is generally the same as in Ocarina of Time. Considering that both were N64 games, the control scheme and assigned buttons for actions were mostly untouched when transitioning between OoT and MM. Link can’t save anytime he wants this time around because the only way is to save and return to the beginning of the three days (where all minor items are wiped out). There are only four main dungeons excluding the final dungeon: the Moon. Although four doesn’t seem like an awful lot, these dungeons are a lot more complex and lengthy than those in Ocarina of Time. While many complained about how short the game was, I felt that the insane amount of sidequests and length of dungeons made MM last just as extensive as OoT.
The game focuses more on sidequests, bringing NPCs into focus. As we follow Link along for this wild adventure, we meet many side characters that have their own individual stories and roles in the game. Watching the Moon begin to fall on these everyday people brings a sense of reality to the game - there are living beings at stake in this game, and Link will get to know some of them quite well (if he decides to aid them during their times of struggle).
We may ask ourselves why Majora's Mask was the worst-selling Zelda game during its time. Why should such a brilliant game suffer slightly disappointing sales? The fact is that the release of the PlayStation 2 on October 26, 2000 (the same day that MM was released) could possibly have directed attention away from the game's release and instead towards the new Sony console. Also, MM sold for a whopping $79.99, quite a few bucks more than gamers were used to paying for standard N64 games. The additional purchase of the $14.99 Expansion Pak made purchasing Majora's Mask ever more inconvenient.
So was Nintendo’s decision to direct its attention to a darker and more story-focused game a good one? Yes. Majora’s Mask is one of the most loved games in the series (if not the most loved). It makes a powerful statement with its darker story and radically different style. It’s everything you want a game to be: bold, dynamic, immersive and even a little strange at times.
I can't really find too much wrong with Majora's Mask. The meat of the game lies more in sidequests, but it really is worth the time you spend playing the game. That being said, Majora's Mask is most definitely a success.
The Oracle Series
Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages were meant to be released on the Game boy Color along with one more game, each representing a piece of the Triforce. Unfortunately the third was cancelled and the names were changed to those seen above. I would have really liked to see the third game in said series, but it’s okay. Ocacle of Ages and Seasons turned out to be marvelous, even if their other sibling was cancelled. As the titles might imply, OoS is centered on the changing of the seasons and Ages around time. The gameplay of both games were very similar to that of Link’s Awakening, meaning that everything from the basic controls to the soundtrack seem taken right out of LA. The visuals are slightly more impressive since they’re in full color, but aside from the not-so-familiar antagonists, OoS and OoX were run-of-the-mill Zeldas (that were compatible, of course).
Onox, the General of Darkness serves as the main antagonist in Oracle of Seasons. Link is called by the Triforce to meet with a strange character named Din (AKA the Oracle of Season). Link must travel to locations in both Holodrum and Subrosia to conquer eight fearsome dungeons. Once he obtains the eight Essences, he is able to enter General Onox’s tower. The plot of Oracle of Ages isn’t so different from its sister/brother game, Oracle of Seasons. Link is instead transported to Labrynna and saved Impa from a horde of grotesque monsters. Veran emerges from Impa’s body and reveals to Link that she is the Sorceress of Shadows. She then takes control of Nayru, the Oracle of Ages’ body and wreaks havoc, distorting the flow of time in Labrynna.
The Oracle games were developed by Flagship, but unfortunately aren’t two of the more memorable games in the series. Many fans view the Oracle games as underrated and underappreciated, and it makes sense. There really isn’t anything particularly eye-catching about OoA and OoS, so I consider the Oracle games to be a mild failure.
ALttP + Four Swords
To be released in 2002 (in North America) was A Link to the Past and Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance. The game contained a modified version of A Link to the Past (see above) and a new multiplayer game titled The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. The game was the first to feature multiplayer and executed it marvelously. Link carries the Four Sword this time around instead of the Master Sword. This Four Sword Link to split into four, something unheard of previously. This new gameplay mechanic would be used in both Four Swords Adventures and the Minish Cap. Puzzles and such were designed around the capability and gave the Four Swords games a whole other dimension in terms of complexion and combat. These three released for the Game Boy were a welcome addition to the series and further expanded gamers’ interest of the Legend of Zelda, but none were landmark releases or as critically acclaimed as some previous installments. In short, the series flat-lined for a few releases in a row until the release of the most polarizing Zelda game since: the Wind Waker.
While ALttP + Four Swords was just a reboot of A Link to the Past with an add-on game, it actually sold a good amount of copies. I don’t think Nintendo put a lot of effort into this release, and they still made a good amount of dough off it. Just because of that, ALttP + Four Swords was a success. Not because it was necessarily a great installment, more because it was a pretty smart business decision.
The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003 (for North America, Europe and Australia). While the game marked a new low for sales at 2.2 million copies sold, the game itself was stand-out and, as of today, the third highest-rated Zelda game. The low sales were most likely the product of gamers’ skepticism toward the game because of the cel-shaded graphics. Nintendo’s audience probably believed that the game was too childish and would become a complete flop - which it did become. In fact, the Wind Waker plays just like any other 3D Zelda and retains the same addictiveness and brilliant dungeon design as the 3D Zeldas do. What was everyone so worried about?
The Wind Waker stars a very young and cartoonish-looking Link on the day of his birth. He is finally able to wear the garb in honor of the Hero of Time that all children on Outset Island wear when they come of age. What could go wrong on such a magnificent day? Well, everything. His sister Aryll is kidnapped and Link must join up with pirates to help retrieve her. Before he knows it, Link has discovered he is the Hero of the Winds and must defeat the evil Ganon (the very same that terrorized the world of Ocarina of Time hundreds of years before). This leads him to several dungeons: Dragon Roost Cavern, Forbidden Woods, Tower of the Gods, Forsaken Fortress, Earth Temple, Wind Temple and Ganon’s Tower.
The cel-shaded visuals of the game look downright amazing. The Great Sea is vast and gameplay is the most refreshing as it had ever been. In fact, the Wind Waker is so chock-full of sidequests; many seasoned veterans were not able to complete the game 100% because of the sheer size of the ocean and the wide space in which these sidequests and Pieces of Heart were scattered. Sailing could become a bit tedious at times, but there were enough sunken treasure chests in the ocean to keep you busy.
Many new items were introduced (and likely never to be seen again) such as the Deku Leaf, Grandma’s Soup, Wind Waker, Grappling Hook and so on. While not everyone embraced the Wind Waker immediately, gamers eventually began to warm up to the game after they released that it’s just like any other Zelda, or perhaps even better, covered with a thick layer of cel-shading. Overall, WW brought the series up a notch and was definitely a welcome (but not by all) change to the series. While there will be people that have their qualms with the Wind Waker, it still received very high marks from critics and won over the hearts of many gamers. Wind Waker, without a doubt, is a success.
Four Swords Adventures
Four Swords Adventures was developed for the GameCube and published by Nintendo in 2004 for both Japan and North America. This release would turn out to be quite the flop, though the game is still considered a Main Zelda. Sales were at a record low and the game wasn’t very popular. Critics were not too happy about the strange new format in which the game operated, and many wondered why the graphics were so downgraded. While FSA retains that classic A Link to the Past atmosphere (in terms of graphics and the soundtrack), the game is rather short and lacks what makes a Zelda game memorable: the oh-so-familiar but fine-as-it-is classic gameplay.
Instead of taking the tradition route, Nintendo decided to split the game up into levels rather than giving the player an entire overworld in which to complete sidequests and spend leisure time. These episodes make the game seem too straightforward for its own good. The game has multiplayer capabilities in the “Shadow Battle”, but a Game Boy Advance is needed to do so. The GBA could also be used when entering rooms in the game, which then transfers the action to the GBA. This is only optional and the game plays perfectly fine without Nintendo’s dated handheld (although it is needed for multiplayer).
FSA is also a direct continuation of the Four Swords game, and Vaati’s seal is weakening. Eventually Vaati is freed and able to wreak havoc on Hyrule. Ganon also makes an appearance in FSA, revealing to Link and the player that he is the mastermind pulling the strings (as is customary). The visuals are similar to that of Wind Waker’s, almost like a 2D version. Once again there is use of the Four Sword which allows link to split into four warriors. Many changes in gameplay did not receive warm welcomes from gamers. Link could carry but a single item at a time, which made gameplay slightly more tedious and puts a restraint on your freedom to select and choose whichever item applies to the situation. Gameplay is limited and Link... just doesn’t feel like Link now that he can’t travel around and do as he pleases.
As unique and strangely lovable FSA is, it sold very poorly and received the lowest critic scores of any original Zelda game. It wasn’t very well-received by fans of the franchise either, so I have to give Four Swords Adventures the title of a complete failure.
The Minish Cap
The Minish Cap was a much more successful game than Four Swords Adventures that was released in 2005 for the Game Boy Advance. The game is a prequel to both FS and FSA. The game, just like Oracle of Seasons and Ages, was developed by Flagship. And once again, Flagship proved that they could develop Zelda games just as well as Nintendo. Vaati stars as the main antagonist once again and it’s up to Link to stop him. The game bears quite a resemblance to previous 2D Zelda games but is also radically different. Items such as the Gust Jar were unheard of before MC’s release. Although odd the game may have been, gamers were certainly happy to see new races (such as the Minish) and visit wonders such as the Palace of Winds and Temple of Droplets. The Minish Cap receives very high scores from critics and is generally regarded as one of the best handheld Zeldas to date.
Seeing as the Minish Cap is generally regarded as the best original handheld Zelda game to date, I deem MC to be quite the success, though definitely not on the same scale as the 3D Zelda games or A Link to the Past, for that matter.
Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is nothing short of breathtaking. When the first video footage of the game was released at E3 2004, fans and reports alike were reduced to tears at the sight of Link riding on horseback through the Gerudo Desert. Gamers were immediately taken back to the good times they shared with Ocarina of Time was they viewed the familiarity of OoT in the TP trailer. This single trailer gave all fans of the series great hope and anticipation for the upcoming title: Twilight Princess. Unfortunately, expectations were otherworldly high and fans were just the slightest bit disappointed when Twilight Princess was released for both the GameCube and Wii near the launch of the Wii in December 2006.
Twilight Princess received extremely positive review, becoming the 11th highest-rated game on GameRankings for the GameCube version and around the 40th highest-rated for the Wii version. TP sold over 6.5 million copies, second only to Ocarina of Time. The game was also very critically successful and is also second only to Ocarina of Time when it came to critic ratings. The game was also a smashing success in the eyes of many fans, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would begin to lose its flare when gamers with over-the-top expectations got their hands on the game. Many aspects of the installment were nitpicked on, especially the beautiful but somewhat unclean graphics. Difficulty was also a question that had been raised, and that bit is very true. Though the dungeons looked more intricate and complicated than ever, gamers did have to exert less energy and use less brainpower to solve the puzzles. To make up for that, though, was one hell of a finale, gorgeous music (even though most if it’s MIDI), nine dungeons, several sidequests and an overworld on a scale that blew us away.
Twilight Princess takes the ALttP approach and adds an alternate dimension to the game, otherwise known as the Twilight Realm. The Twilight Realm is shrouded in darkness and ruled by an usurper king named Zant. Zant had usurped the throne from Link’s sidekick, Midna, and taken her rightful place as the ruler of the Twilight Realm. He then wreaks havoc on the unsuspecting citizens of Hyrule, plaguing many provinces with an evil shroud of Twilight. Once again, Link must save Hyrule from this rather hideous antagonist. But wait! Ganondorf is pulling the strings? Of course he is. After conquering eight dungeons, Link comes face-to-face with the big man once again, and this time it’s more epic than ever before.
The game is very story-driven, perhaps even more so than Majora’s Mask. Midna was not completely useless and irrelevant to the plot. Instead, her struggle pushed the game forward and gave Link reasons to trudge through dangerous dungeons and icy mountains. That’s something we like to see.
TP features gameplay unlike any Zelda before. While the GameCube version plays exactly like the Wind Waker, the Wii version added a whole new twist to the experience: the Wii Remote is Link’s sword. This added a level of depth in combat that was not present before. Aside from that, riding Epona is much easier, the controls are a bit different than before (one button controls both the targeting and shield), and there were many new items to be introduced to the series such as the Spinner and the Dominion Rod. Plus, Chu jellies took an a slug-like form.
I know I’m a bit of a Twilight Princess fanboy, but I can’t help but say that Twilight Princess is (technically) the best Zelda game to date. Everything from its stunning visuals, immersive gameplay and epic boss battles had me glued to the TV screen for a mind-boggling total of 90 hours the first time I played it. There was no greatest pleasure in my life from 2008 to early 2010 than playing Twilight Princess, and I mean it. While many don’t like TP and its popularity at the time of its release, I must say one thing: Twilight Princess is one of the greatest gaming experiences to ever grace the industry (it’s a total success in my opinion).
Phantom Hourglass
Link from the Wind Waker was just too cute to forget. That’s exactly why Nintendo decided to let him star in a daring new adventure in 2007: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Due to the Wind Waker’s satisfactory sales numbers, Nintendo decided to build off the Wind Waker fanbase and please them with another cel-shaded epic. Phantom Hourglass picked up right after the events of Wind Waker, and Link and Tetra are searching for a new Hyrule. The visuals of PH aren’t radically different from Wind Waker, but the gameplay sure is. The game was released for the DS, so the controls in the games had to be completely switched around and flipped upside-down. Link is controlled by the stylus and battle is performance by swiping the stylus every which way. The “a” button on the D-Pad is used to roll, so it’s also very inconvenient to roll with a stylus in one hand and the other holding the DS. Phantom Hourglass takes place on the Great Sea, but a different one than we saw in the Wind Waker. Bellum is the antagonist of this game, not Ganon. Dungeons aren’t too impressive due to the repetitiveness and uninspired soundtrack. Another reason why Dungeons are sort of downgraded is because the game is 2.5D, not completely 3D. Therefore the gameplay needs to be dumbed down.
Though the game still received positive reviews, it just didn’t stack up to previous Zelda games. I personally feel that Phantom Hourglass is not a strong installment in the series. Therefore, I would have to consider it a failure despite its impressive sales.
Spirit Tracks
Spirit Tracks, on the other hand, featured brilliant music and greatly improved on bosses and dungeons. Instead of taking place on the high seas, Spirit Tracks is instead set in a normal-looking Hyrule hundreds of years later, where trains become the main form of transportation. ST is, in my opinion, a much more memorable and original game than PH was (mostly because PH is sort of a rehash of WW). I don’t believe that many will be forgetting the final boss battle theme for the Malladus Beast anytime soon. The game generally received lower scores than Phantom Hourglass and also sold more copies but remains a great improvement from the first DS Zelda. This was probably due to the fact that it is Phantom Hourglass’ successor, and people had already seen the style of gameplay before.
But because Spirit Tracks improved so much on what was lacking in Phantom Hourglass, I have to call the game somewhat of a success.
Final Thoughts: Why Zelda Is Slipping
Well, those were my opinions of which Zelda games were successful and were welcomed with open arms by the general public and those that were frowned upon a bit more. The games I marked as “successes” are the ones that lived up to expectations and continued the great legacy of the Zelda series. Those that I marked as “failures” are Zelda games that did not explore their full potential and weren’t thought of as fondly as other Zelda games. The success of a Zelda game depends on whether it truly has an impact on the industry and makes gamers gasp in amazement at the sight of it. This level of accomplishment can only be achieved by a game that takes your breath away - a game that stands out above all other games released in the year - a game that is, quite frankly, the very pinnacle of quality gameplay and presentation - and last but not least, a game that is acknowledge by the gaming community as a whole to be one of the all-time video game greats. These are the only Zelda games that I consider to be successes, which very much describes how high my expectations are for each and every game in the franchise (past, present and future). Some episodes did not deliver this, which is why I do not prize them on the same scale as I do other Zeldas.
When the bar is set so high, it becomes difficult for Nintendo to continue producing Zelda games of a consistent quality. This is understandable, and we can only hope that when Nintendo does come out with a new Zelda game that they put their best effort into it, rather than slacking off a bit and trying to rake in profits with a lesser release that, through a massive amount of advertising, sells very well and contributes to the ever-growing list of lower-quality Zelda game releases. I do realize that this is completely normal among video game developers. I just don’t want Nintendo to always think it’s okay to release Zelda games that obviously aren’t their best effort, but rather a rather easy-to-produce game that do include classic Zelda gameplay but lack innovation and a true sense of grandeur. When one looks at the Zelda series, one thing sticks out: the early Zelda games are all games that Nintendo invested all their energy into. That’s why the releases were rather slow, but each and every game from the original Legend of Zelda to Majora’s Mask was a work of art. It was a good pay-off and said games sold very well compared to modern Zeldas. But as the series grew, Nintendo focused more on crafting lighthearted handheld Zeldas to connect with younger audiences and show that the series was ready to expand into a broader spectrum of gaming.
Therefore, we have had several released within the past few years. The problem is this: not all of them are spectacular and live up to the quality of older Zelda games. The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are five of the first six releases, and each and these games fared well. Now, three of the first five Zelda games are commonly viewed as the three Zelda games that shaped the series. They were the foundation for Zelda games to come. After Ocarina of Time, there was not a single Zelda game that was hailed as one of the series’ revolutions. However, we were blessed with such brilliant games as the Wind Waker, the Minish Cap and Twilight Princess, but there were many games released in between that were not met with as much appreciation. Not to say that those Zelda games were bad or even average - they were all magnificent - beyond doubt some of the best games to grace their respective consoles. But when compared to the consistency and level of quality that earlier installments presented... well... there’s just nothing to compare. There are a few stand-outs, yes, but just a select few. It all boils down to whether Skyward Sword will be as riveting as Nintendo makes it out to be and whether their developers will decide to up the quality of Zelda games. Until then, I can only hope that they don’t release a letdown of a game.
Note: An old Article of mine was going to waste, so I decided to use it as a source for this post (if anyone hadn’t noticed). I switched a great deal of it around and added several new sections to the thread, so essentially it’s not even the Article anymore. I’ve been working on this since February, and I must say that I’m delighted I was finally able to finish it. XD
First of all, I would like those who would like to reply to this thread to make their post by following a rubric of sorts. There’s a lot to be said about each different Zelda game, so I definitely won’t force people to write about every main game (I think three or more will suffice).
The Legend of Zelda - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Adventure of Link - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
A Link to the Past - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Link’s Awakening - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Ocarina of Time - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Majora’s Mask - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
The Oracle Series - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
ALttP + Four Swords - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
The Wind Waker - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Four Swords Adventures - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
The Minish Cap - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Twilight Princess - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Phantom Hourglass - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Spirit Tracks - [your thoughts on the game and why you would define the game as either a success or a failure]
Now I’d like to fill out the rubric myself and share my thoughts on each Zelda game (remember, these are just my opinions. You do not have to share the same views, so let’s not take this too seriously).
The Legend of Zelda
We can argue that oldies are always goodies. Some may say that games truly cannot age and that all video games from the past are equal to those of the present. Aspects like visuals, music, gameplay, and presentation say otherwise. All these qualities of a video game that I have just listed improved over time, as video games as a whole are meant to advance and progress. That being said, I should compare the original LoZ to games of all ages and times.
The Legend of Zelda, although an oldie, is a memorable adventure that was way ahead of its time. The Legend of Zelda revolutionized adventure video games, creating a vast and open world that the player had to explore for themselves. As we all know, the game is primitive but still delivers that Zelda charm that we’ve all come to love. Many staples of the franchise derived from the original game, including the bow and arrows, boomerang, shield, bottle, etc. The game does not, however, feature the legendary Master Sword that has become universally known as Link’s weapon of choice. The Legend of Zelda is decidedly old-school, though, no matter how far ahead of its time the game was. The difficulty is sort of like a rollercoaster ride. Dungeons can be ridiculously easy while roaming Hyrule is more of a danger. There are also certain rooms that house eight menacing Darknuts, which definitely isn’t a cakewalk.
As stated before, the gameplay is primitive and leaves something to be desired. Link simply stabs his sword in any direction in which the player desires - up, down, left or right. The reason I said that roaming Hyrule can be more treacherous than conquering a Dungeon is because of the overly powerful enemies. Because of this, gameplay could become both tedious and immensely frustrating at times. After all, the player only has three hearts at the start of the game and he can’t really take a hit from enemies. As the game progresses, Link is able to withstand enemies more easily due to the gaining of Heart Containers and other upgrades, but enemies become more powerful to match Link. Did I mention that more spawn as well?
Yep, it can be pretty frustrating to die and have to work your way to a Dungeon from the spawn point. Without a map in the game itself, trudging all the way back to a location you were previously at was a very irritating and hair-pulling task. To make up for the enemies, though, the Dungeons are very short and easy (thought some rooms can have you stumped for a certain period of time). Hardcore Zelda fans can blow through these Dungeons like popsicle stands, but it requires a certain focus that you may not need when playing other Zelda games. The difficulty level does increase at certain points in the game and can possibly chip away at many minutes or even hours of your time.
The Legend of Zelda is based around the concept of defeating the evil Ganon and saving the beautiful Princess Zelda (who, at the time, was still a brunette). There’s really no story to be told or cutscenes in the original LoZ, since the NES didn’t have such capabilities. Still, the legend of the Hero of Time defeating the great and evil Ganon is one that will occur several times throughout the Zelda timeline. In this particular game, only the silver arrow (an item that is no longer used in the franchise) can penetrate Ganon’s hard exterior. With the aid of the Triforce of Wisdom, Link is able to enter the great Ganon’s lair in Death Mountain and fight the menace.
Now, do I consider The Legend of Zelda an all-time great? A game that blows even modern games out of the water? The answer is, sadly, no. While The Legend of Zelda was the start of a magnificent series, the game itself isn’t one that I would call absolutely stunning and on the same level as ALttP or OoT. If I were to rate LoZ overall, I would consider it a great success, as it laid out the groundwork for the series.
Adventure of Link
With profits still flowing in from the original Legend of Zelda, Nintendo releases its second epic adventure with Adventure of Link. It’s funny how little resemblance AoL bears to the LoZ considering that it is a direct sequel to it. The overworld’s graphics seem to be a step down from the original Zelda. It just looks too chunky and blocky, but the more definitive areas (towns, forests, etc.) that Link enters make up for it. These areas are several paths that lead underground scattered across the overworld that change the format from that of the original Legend of Zelda to 2D side-scrolling platforming. The player will see Link from the perspective of a bird’s eye while you’re in the overworld. However, whenever Link enters a cave or special area, the game will shift gears and the Adventure of Link will become a side-scroller.
The second installment in the Zelda series took a wrong turn early on, which is quite the shame. It’s nothing at all like Zelda games we’ve seen after it, and that makes sense. In the eyes of many, AoL is considered a mild mistake, but serves as an interesting classic game. As we know now, the Zelda franchise was never meant to be hardcore RPG. AoL, however, uses a standard RPG leveling system that includes experience points, magic spells and NPCs. Link can gain experience points to upgrade anything from his attack power to his magic spells and life. Raising a level of life (not hearts) will decrease the damage inflicted to him when hit, decrease the cost of magic spells, etc. For the first time, Link can crouch, jump, and swing his sword in directions that he could not in the previous game (after all, it is a side-scrolling view and not top-down). It’s a simple addition to the Zelda gameplay, but it goes a long way. However, players seem to like the original Zelda’s gameplay better simply because of its more traditional top-down view. AoL is also infamous for its ridiculous difficulty, raising the frustration bar much higher than it was set in LoZ. It is for this very reason many gamers are turned off by Adventure of Link and tend to seek adventure elsewhere. However, despite the game’s problems, it sold over 4 million copies.
The main adversary in Adventure of Link is Dark Link instead of Ganondorf. It’s a welcome change, but makes the game feel less epic. Boss battles are disappointingly quick, but Dark Link does offer something different in the sense that Link must fight “himself”. If you haveen’t guessed already, I’m not too huge a fan of AoL. I don’t think that it’s one of the best games of all time, but it’s still a good game (it’s a Zelda, after all). Therefore, I would have to brand AoL as a failure.
A Link to the Past
A Link to the Past was a ground-breaking game, becoming sort of like an exoskeleton for 2D Zelda games. Released in 1991, the game was a smashing success and made gamers completely forget about Adventure of Link before it. As far as the series goes, ALttP is probably the most memorable 2D installment in the eyes of many fans, and for good reason. The Legend of Zelda was the base, the foundation for the series. But A Link to the Past gave the series a hard exterior and completely polished the first two games’ gameplay and visuals. Well, A Link to the Past finally came along and fleshed out the series, and what a better way to do it but with a return to the classic gameplay style and the return of the original antagonist? I can’t possibly conceive a better decision by Nintendo, since Adventure of Link didn’t live up to expectations.
A Link to the Past has similar gameplay to The Legend of Zelda, but improves on it in a number of ways. I like to think of A Link to the Past as The Legend of Zelda with improved visuals, more solid gameplay, a refined array of items and advancement in story and presentation. The game features the same top-down view as the original (looks like Nintendo learned from its mistakes) and also introduces many staples of the franchise, improving on old items and bringing forth new. Major items such as the bomb and arrows no longer deplete rupees but are actually rely on a more traditional stock system. The graphics are clean, crisp and a smoother 16-bit (definitely an improvement over 8-bit visuals). Swordplay is greatly improved over that of the first game because Link now makes a semi-circle motion when swiping his sword. This covers a greater radius and makes demolishing enemies easier. Even the traditional sword beam got a swirling upgrade, making slaying those nasty enemies a cinch.
The RPG gameplay from AoL was ditched, but the magic meter stayed (becoming another gameplay mechanic in future games up until Twilight Princess). Several staples of the series make their first appearances in ALttP (such as the Master Sword and Link’s trusty Hookshot). Also, the fabled Pegasus Boots made running away from enemies much easier than originally intended (at least that’s what I used the Pegasus Boots for). The Flute from the game would eventually become the Ocarina of Time and Pieces of Heart were first introduced as well, as opposed to the full Heart Containers from the first two games. I love seeing the progression of items in Zelda games, and a lot of it begins with ALttP. The Dark World was also a welcome addition to the game. This alternate world is the dark version of Hyrule, which essentially like the Twilight Realm from Twilight Princess. It’s a brilliant idea that certainly enhances gameplay. Warp spots allow Link to travel back and forth between the two worlds for various reasons (for both sidequests and the main quest).
The burden of saving Hyrule rests on Link’s shoulders, and this time he must fight two nefarious villains. Agahnim is an evil wizard whose purpose is to set free the terrible Ganon. Agahnim is being used as a pawn by Ganon, and serves no purpose greater than that of Zant from Twilight Princess. Agahnim isn’t a very colorful character, and feels very much forced into the game. NPCs are in the game, but feel stale and aren’t brought to life very well due to the technology at the time. The Master Sword can be further upgraded into the Tempered Sword and then finally the Golden Sword. As the game progresses, dungeons become more difficult and even lengthier than before. One of ALttP’s greatest improvements over the first LoZ is toning down the power of enemies. Dungeons in general took complexion to a whole new level, creating a mish-mash of walkways and floor levels. ALttP is one of the more challenging games in the series, and is decidedly a huge advancement in Zelda gaming.
I view A Link to the Past as one of the three big game-changers in the Zelda series: The Legend of Zelda being the first (for laying out the groundwork of the series), A Link to the Past being the second (for fleshing out the 2D games) and Ocarina of Time being the third (for being the first 3D Zelda). So what do I think of ALttP? If you couldn’t tell, I consider ALttP to be one of the greatest Zelda games and one of the greatest games of all time, period. Nintendo delivered another gem with ALttP, so I would consider ALttP to be a smashing success.
Link’s Awakening
The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening was ground-breaking because it is the first handheld Zelda game to be released (in the main series). Released in 1993, the game is a direct sequel to A Link to the Past. There are no huge improvements in gameplay, if there were any. Due to the game being released on a primitive handheld device, it could not match the quality of its predecessor. Link’s Awakening would be upgraded in 1998 with color graphics, but it is still essentially the same game. One major uniqueness in LA is its setting. Link must complete this quest on the island of Koholint instead of Hyrule. Unlike in previous Zelda games, Link’s Awakening is a dream. The game was well-received but definitely not the series’ biggest success. LA is, however, recognized as one of the revolutionary handheld games of its time and known for its cutesy, light-hearted graphics and tone.
Eiji Aonuma has claimed that Link’s Awakening could very well have changed the destiny of Zelda games. He says if Link’s Awakening was not developed between A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, OoT would have been a very different game. Though LA doesn’t seem like such an influential game from the outside, it has certainly had a large impact on the series’ most beloved installment. That being said, I do view LA as a rather influential game, and it does deserve some sort of spot up there with the gaming greats. That being said, LA is (in my opinion) a moderate success.
Ocarina of Time
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was the climax of all Zelda games; the peak of the series’ success and the game that is widely considered to be the greatest ever. With its extraordinarily vast overworld (that is littered with secrets and quests) and revolutionary gameplay, OoT became a staple of the N64 era and eclipsed any and all games that followed its release. Ocarina of Time has sold the most copies of all the Zelda games (with Twilight Princess following closely as second) and also serves as the series’ most successful game in terms of sales. Nintendo literally pulled out all the stops to release a game five years in the making, a game that would inspire and set the groundwork for many video games to come and become the golden - no, diamond standard that all games wish to exceed.
Link is born into the Kokiri Village, but is really a Hylian. But it becomes increasingly apparent that Link was meant to be more than meets the eye when the Great Deku Tree sends for him. Link must fight his way through nine perplexing main Dungeons with the aid of Navi the Fairy, of course. It’s all up to Link to defeat the evil Ganon, who plans to plunge Hyrule in darkness and despair for the first time in the timeline. Magic, bombs, arrows, the boomerang, the Pegasus Boots and other items make their return Ocarina of Time. However, some new items such as the Lens of Truth, Iron Boots, Mirror Sheid and different tunics make their debut in the game (and in the third dimension, no less!). Link must first retrieve the Spiritual Stones and after traveling seven years in the future, he must conquer several more dungeons to possess the Six Medallions. What I like about this game is that the Seventh Sage remains somewhat of a secret throughout the entire game. There are but Six Medallions, but those six only signify the six major Sages. Princess Zelda is the seventh, a twist that I definitely didn’t predict.
I don’t see how anyone can not love this game. From the frozen domain of the Zoras to the blinding desert, there’s no lack of jaw-dropping scenery and ever-expansive vistas. Throughout the duration of the game, there is not a moment that isn’t enjoyable. The six Dungeons in the Adult Timeline are as follows: the eerie Forest Temple, steamy Fire Temple. hair-pullingly frustrating Water Temple, the frightening and disturbing Shadow Temple, the ancient Spirit Temple and the evil, perilous lair of the great Ganon. The three dungeons in which Link must conquer in order to obtain the three Spiritual Stones reside in the Child Timeline in the beginning half of the game. The plot of the game is rather simplistic, but it is executed far more elegantly than that of its predecessors and woven seamlessly into the gameplay. Ocarina of Time is the very first Zelda game to feature full-length cinematics, therefore enhancing the telling of the story and making the player experience the game in an entirely new and innocative way. The inclusion of cutscenes also means that OoT was the very first Zelda game to feature those heartarming moments that the series is known for.
Ocarina of Time has set down a path that many games walk today. OoT has left a tremendous impact on the gaming industry by not only polishing 3D gameplay, but also by introducing such never-before-seen gameplay functions as the lock-on target. It’s only fair that OoT is generally regarded as the greatest game of all time by critics and gamers alike and has the highest aggregate review score of all time on sites like GameRankings. Whereas Adventure of Link lowered the series’ standard by just a bit, and having flat-lined at Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time brought the franchise to the peak of its success; it is a level unrivaled by any Zelda game or any other game in general since its release. Without a doubt, OoT is the series’ greatest triumph (which obviously means that OoT is a success).
Majora’s Mask
Hot off the success of Ocarina of Time, Nintendo decided to use the same engine that they crafted OoT with to create another epic: The Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask. While not praised nearly as much as its predecessor, Majora’s Mask was still critically acclaimed and a worthy entry into the series. While the game wasn’t so appreciated around ten years ago, fans of the series and gamers alike are starting to realize the game’s true worth.
Instead of taking place in Hyrule, Majora’s Mask took place in an alternate world called Termina. The name of the land tells all because the date of Termina is sealed as an evil spirit known as Majora plans to bring the Moon down on the land. “Termina” means “to end”. It fits the theme and dark atmosphere of the game perfectly, right? Majora takes control of the helpless Skull Kid and steals Link’s Ocarina of Time, a precious item from the previous game. Our hero is led into a dark forest and emerges in the land of Termina, where he has a mere three days to stop the Moon from falling down and crushing Termina.
The game is a source of never-ending fun. I found myself coming back to Termina simply to explore the world after I 100% completed it. It wasn’t because I felt that the overworld was particularly beautiful, but the atmosphere was spellbinding. I felt like I could explore the world a hundred times over and not be bored because of the feeling I got from it. It was as if mysteries lay around every corner and you would always discover something new. Now we know that this isn’t true, but that’s the general impression that Termina gave me.
Gameplay is generally the same as in Ocarina of Time. Considering that both were N64 games, the control scheme and assigned buttons for actions were mostly untouched when transitioning between OoT and MM. Link can’t save anytime he wants this time around because the only way is to save and return to the beginning of the three days (where all minor items are wiped out). There are only four main dungeons excluding the final dungeon: the Moon. Although four doesn’t seem like an awful lot, these dungeons are a lot more complex and lengthy than those in Ocarina of Time. While many complained about how short the game was, I felt that the insane amount of sidequests and length of dungeons made MM last just as extensive as OoT.
The game focuses more on sidequests, bringing NPCs into focus. As we follow Link along for this wild adventure, we meet many side characters that have their own individual stories and roles in the game. Watching the Moon begin to fall on these everyday people brings a sense of reality to the game - there are living beings at stake in this game, and Link will get to know some of them quite well (if he decides to aid them during their times of struggle).
We may ask ourselves why Majora's Mask was the worst-selling Zelda game during its time. Why should such a brilliant game suffer slightly disappointing sales? The fact is that the release of the PlayStation 2 on October 26, 2000 (the same day that MM was released) could possibly have directed attention away from the game's release and instead towards the new Sony console. Also, MM sold for a whopping $79.99, quite a few bucks more than gamers were used to paying for standard N64 games. The additional purchase of the $14.99 Expansion Pak made purchasing Majora's Mask ever more inconvenient.
So was Nintendo’s decision to direct its attention to a darker and more story-focused game a good one? Yes. Majora’s Mask is one of the most loved games in the series (if not the most loved). It makes a powerful statement with its darker story and radically different style. It’s everything you want a game to be: bold, dynamic, immersive and even a little strange at times.
I can't really find too much wrong with Majora's Mask. The meat of the game lies more in sidequests, but it really is worth the time you spend playing the game. That being said, Majora's Mask is most definitely a success.
The Oracle Series
Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages were meant to be released on the Game boy Color along with one more game, each representing a piece of the Triforce. Unfortunately the third was cancelled and the names were changed to those seen above. I would have really liked to see the third game in said series, but it’s okay. Ocacle of Ages and Seasons turned out to be marvelous, even if their other sibling was cancelled. As the titles might imply, OoS is centered on the changing of the seasons and Ages around time. The gameplay of both games were very similar to that of Link’s Awakening, meaning that everything from the basic controls to the soundtrack seem taken right out of LA. The visuals are slightly more impressive since they’re in full color, but aside from the not-so-familiar antagonists, OoS and OoX were run-of-the-mill Zeldas (that were compatible, of course).
Onox, the General of Darkness serves as the main antagonist in Oracle of Seasons. Link is called by the Triforce to meet with a strange character named Din (AKA the Oracle of Season). Link must travel to locations in both Holodrum and Subrosia to conquer eight fearsome dungeons. Once he obtains the eight Essences, he is able to enter General Onox’s tower. The plot of Oracle of Ages isn’t so different from its sister/brother game, Oracle of Seasons. Link is instead transported to Labrynna and saved Impa from a horde of grotesque monsters. Veran emerges from Impa’s body and reveals to Link that she is the Sorceress of Shadows. She then takes control of Nayru, the Oracle of Ages’ body and wreaks havoc, distorting the flow of time in Labrynna.
The Oracle games were developed by Flagship, but unfortunately aren’t two of the more memorable games in the series. Many fans view the Oracle games as underrated and underappreciated, and it makes sense. There really isn’t anything particularly eye-catching about OoA and OoS, so I consider the Oracle games to be a mild failure.
ALttP + Four Swords
To be released in 2002 (in North America) was A Link to the Past and Four Swords for the Game Boy Advance. The game contained a modified version of A Link to the Past (see above) and a new multiplayer game titled The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. The game was the first to feature multiplayer and executed it marvelously. Link carries the Four Sword this time around instead of the Master Sword. This Four Sword Link to split into four, something unheard of previously. This new gameplay mechanic would be used in both Four Swords Adventures and the Minish Cap. Puzzles and such were designed around the capability and gave the Four Swords games a whole other dimension in terms of complexion and combat. These three released for the Game Boy were a welcome addition to the series and further expanded gamers’ interest of the Legend of Zelda, but none were landmark releases or as critically acclaimed as some previous installments. In short, the series flat-lined for a few releases in a row until the release of the most polarizing Zelda game since: the Wind Waker.
While ALttP + Four Swords was just a reboot of A Link to the Past with an add-on game, it actually sold a good amount of copies. I don’t think Nintendo put a lot of effort into this release, and they still made a good amount of dough off it. Just because of that, ALttP + Four Swords was a success. Not because it was necessarily a great installment, more because it was a pretty smart business decision.
The Wind Waker
The Legend of Zelda: the Wind Waker was released for the Nintendo GameCube in 2003 (for North America, Europe and Australia). While the game marked a new low for sales at 2.2 million copies sold, the game itself was stand-out and, as of today, the third highest-rated Zelda game. The low sales were most likely the product of gamers’ skepticism toward the game because of the cel-shaded graphics. Nintendo’s audience probably believed that the game was too childish and would become a complete flop - which it did become. In fact, the Wind Waker plays just like any other 3D Zelda and retains the same addictiveness and brilliant dungeon design as the 3D Zeldas do. What was everyone so worried about?
The Wind Waker stars a very young and cartoonish-looking Link on the day of his birth. He is finally able to wear the garb in honor of the Hero of Time that all children on Outset Island wear when they come of age. What could go wrong on such a magnificent day? Well, everything. His sister Aryll is kidnapped and Link must join up with pirates to help retrieve her. Before he knows it, Link has discovered he is the Hero of the Winds and must defeat the evil Ganon (the very same that terrorized the world of Ocarina of Time hundreds of years before). This leads him to several dungeons: Dragon Roost Cavern, Forbidden Woods, Tower of the Gods, Forsaken Fortress, Earth Temple, Wind Temple and Ganon’s Tower.
The cel-shaded visuals of the game look downright amazing. The Great Sea is vast and gameplay is the most refreshing as it had ever been. In fact, the Wind Waker is so chock-full of sidequests; many seasoned veterans were not able to complete the game 100% because of the sheer size of the ocean and the wide space in which these sidequests and Pieces of Heart were scattered. Sailing could become a bit tedious at times, but there were enough sunken treasure chests in the ocean to keep you busy.
Many new items were introduced (and likely never to be seen again) such as the Deku Leaf, Grandma’s Soup, Wind Waker, Grappling Hook and so on. While not everyone embraced the Wind Waker immediately, gamers eventually began to warm up to the game after they released that it’s just like any other Zelda, or perhaps even better, covered with a thick layer of cel-shading. Overall, WW brought the series up a notch and was definitely a welcome (but not by all) change to the series. While there will be people that have their qualms with the Wind Waker, it still received very high marks from critics and won over the hearts of many gamers. Wind Waker, without a doubt, is a success.
Four Swords Adventures
Four Swords Adventures was developed for the GameCube and published by Nintendo in 2004 for both Japan and North America. This release would turn out to be quite the flop, though the game is still considered a Main Zelda. Sales were at a record low and the game wasn’t very popular. Critics were not too happy about the strange new format in which the game operated, and many wondered why the graphics were so downgraded. While FSA retains that classic A Link to the Past atmosphere (in terms of graphics and the soundtrack), the game is rather short and lacks what makes a Zelda game memorable: the oh-so-familiar but fine-as-it-is classic gameplay.
Instead of taking the tradition route, Nintendo decided to split the game up into levels rather than giving the player an entire overworld in which to complete sidequests and spend leisure time. These episodes make the game seem too straightforward for its own good. The game has multiplayer capabilities in the “Shadow Battle”, but a Game Boy Advance is needed to do so. The GBA could also be used when entering rooms in the game, which then transfers the action to the GBA. This is only optional and the game plays perfectly fine without Nintendo’s dated handheld (although it is needed for multiplayer).
FSA is also a direct continuation of the Four Swords game, and Vaati’s seal is weakening. Eventually Vaati is freed and able to wreak havoc on Hyrule. Ganon also makes an appearance in FSA, revealing to Link and the player that he is the mastermind pulling the strings (as is customary). The visuals are similar to that of Wind Waker’s, almost like a 2D version. Once again there is use of the Four Sword which allows link to split into four warriors. Many changes in gameplay did not receive warm welcomes from gamers. Link could carry but a single item at a time, which made gameplay slightly more tedious and puts a restraint on your freedom to select and choose whichever item applies to the situation. Gameplay is limited and Link... just doesn’t feel like Link now that he can’t travel around and do as he pleases.
As unique and strangely lovable FSA is, it sold very poorly and received the lowest critic scores of any original Zelda game. It wasn’t very well-received by fans of the franchise either, so I have to give Four Swords Adventures the title of a complete failure.
The Minish Cap
The Minish Cap was a much more successful game than Four Swords Adventures that was released in 2005 for the Game Boy Advance. The game is a prequel to both FS and FSA. The game, just like Oracle of Seasons and Ages, was developed by Flagship. And once again, Flagship proved that they could develop Zelda games just as well as Nintendo. Vaati stars as the main antagonist once again and it’s up to Link to stop him. The game bears quite a resemblance to previous 2D Zelda games but is also radically different. Items such as the Gust Jar were unheard of before MC’s release. Although odd the game may have been, gamers were certainly happy to see new races (such as the Minish) and visit wonders such as the Palace of Winds and Temple of Droplets. The Minish Cap receives very high scores from critics and is generally regarded as one of the best handheld Zeldas to date.
Seeing as the Minish Cap is generally regarded as the best original handheld Zelda game to date, I deem MC to be quite the success, though definitely not on the same scale as the 3D Zelda games or A Link to the Past, for that matter.
Twilight Princess
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess is nothing short of breathtaking. When the first video footage of the game was released at E3 2004, fans and reports alike were reduced to tears at the sight of Link riding on horseback through the Gerudo Desert. Gamers were immediately taken back to the good times they shared with Ocarina of Time was they viewed the familiarity of OoT in the TP trailer. This single trailer gave all fans of the series great hope and anticipation for the upcoming title: Twilight Princess. Unfortunately, expectations were otherworldly high and fans were just the slightest bit disappointed when Twilight Princess was released for both the GameCube and Wii near the launch of the Wii in December 2006.
Twilight Princess received extremely positive review, becoming the 11th highest-rated game on GameRankings for the GameCube version and around the 40th highest-rated for the Wii version. TP sold over 6.5 million copies, second only to Ocarina of Time. The game was also very critically successful and is also second only to Ocarina of Time when it came to critic ratings. The game was also a smashing success in the eyes of many fans, but The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess would begin to lose its flare when gamers with over-the-top expectations got their hands on the game. Many aspects of the installment were nitpicked on, especially the beautiful but somewhat unclean graphics. Difficulty was also a question that had been raised, and that bit is very true. Though the dungeons looked more intricate and complicated than ever, gamers did have to exert less energy and use less brainpower to solve the puzzles. To make up for that, though, was one hell of a finale, gorgeous music (even though most if it’s MIDI), nine dungeons, several sidequests and an overworld on a scale that blew us away.
Twilight Princess takes the ALttP approach and adds an alternate dimension to the game, otherwise known as the Twilight Realm. The Twilight Realm is shrouded in darkness and ruled by an usurper king named Zant. Zant had usurped the throne from Link’s sidekick, Midna, and taken her rightful place as the ruler of the Twilight Realm. He then wreaks havoc on the unsuspecting citizens of Hyrule, plaguing many provinces with an evil shroud of Twilight. Once again, Link must save Hyrule from this rather hideous antagonist. But wait! Ganondorf is pulling the strings? Of course he is. After conquering eight dungeons, Link comes face-to-face with the big man once again, and this time it’s more epic than ever before.
The game is very story-driven, perhaps even more so than Majora’s Mask. Midna was not completely useless and irrelevant to the plot. Instead, her struggle pushed the game forward and gave Link reasons to trudge through dangerous dungeons and icy mountains. That’s something we like to see.
TP features gameplay unlike any Zelda before. While the GameCube version plays exactly like the Wind Waker, the Wii version added a whole new twist to the experience: the Wii Remote is Link’s sword. This added a level of depth in combat that was not present before. Aside from that, riding Epona is much easier, the controls are a bit different than before (one button controls both the targeting and shield), and there were many new items to be introduced to the series such as the Spinner and the Dominion Rod. Plus, Chu jellies took an a slug-like form.
I know I’m a bit of a Twilight Princess fanboy, but I can’t help but say that Twilight Princess is (technically) the best Zelda game to date. Everything from its stunning visuals, immersive gameplay and epic boss battles had me glued to the TV screen for a mind-boggling total of 90 hours the first time I played it. There was no greatest pleasure in my life from 2008 to early 2010 than playing Twilight Princess, and I mean it. While many don’t like TP and its popularity at the time of its release, I must say one thing: Twilight Princess is one of the greatest gaming experiences to ever grace the industry (it’s a total success in my opinion).
Phantom Hourglass
Link from the Wind Waker was just too cute to forget. That’s exactly why Nintendo decided to let him star in a daring new adventure in 2007: The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks. Due to the Wind Waker’s satisfactory sales numbers, Nintendo decided to build off the Wind Waker fanbase and please them with another cel-shaded epic. Phantom Hourglass picked up right after the events of Wind Waker, and Link and Tetra are searching for a new Hyrule. The visuals of PH aren’t radically different from Wind Waker, but the gameplay sure is. The game was released for the DS, so the controls in the games had to be completely switched around and flipped upside-down. Link is controlled by the stylus and battle is performance by swiping the stylus every which way. The “a” button on the D-Pad is used to roll, so it’s also very inconvenient to roll with a stylus in one hand and the other holding the DS. Phantom Hourglass takes place on the Great Sea, but a different one than we saw in the Wind Waker. Bellum is the antagonist of this game, not Ganon. Dungeons aren’t too impressive due to the repetitiveness and uninspired soundtrack. Another reason why Dungeons are sort of downgraded is because the game is 2.5D, not completely 3D. Therefore the gameplay needs to be dumbed down.
Though the game still received positive reviews, it just didn’t stack up to previous Zelda games. I personally feel that Phantom Hourglass is not a strong installment in the series. Therefore, I would have to consider it a failure despite its impressive sales.
Spirit Tracks
Spirit Tracks, on the other hand, featured brilliant music and greatly improved on bosses and dungeons. Instead of taking place on the high seas, Spirit Tracks is instead set in a normal-looking Hyrule hundreds of years later, where trains become the main form of transportation. ST is, in my opinion, a much more memorable and original game than PH was (mostly because PH is sort of a rehash of WW). I don’t believe that many will be forgetting the final boss battle theme for the Malladus Beast anytime soon. The game generally received lower scores than Phantom Hourglass and also sold more copies but remains a great improvement from the first DS Zelda. This was probably due to the fact that it is Phantom Hourglass’ successor, and people had already seen the style of gameplay before.
But because Spirit Tracks improved so much on what was lacking in Phantom Hourglass, I have to call the game somewhat of a success.
Final Thoughts: Why Zelda Is Slipping
Well, those were my opinions of which Zelda games were successful and were welcomed with open arms by the general public and those that were frowned upon a bit more. The games I marked as “successes” are the ones that lived up to expectations and continued the great legacy of the Zelda series. Those that I marked as “failures” are Zelda games that did not explore their full potential and weren’t thought of as fondly as other Zelda games. The success of a Zelda game depends on whether it truly has an impact on the industry and makes gamers gasp in amazement at the sight of it. This level of accomplishment can only be achieved by a game that takes your breath away - a game that stands out above all other games released in the year - a game that is, quite frankly, the very pinnacle of quality gameplay and presentation - and last but not least, a game that is acknowledge by the gaming community as a whole to be one of the all-time video game greats. These are the only Zelda games that I consider to be successes, which very much describes how high my expectations are for each and every game in the franchise (past, present and future). Some episodes did not deliver this, which is why I do not prize them on the same scale as I do other Zeldas.
When the bar is set so high, it becomes difficult for Nintendo to continue producing Zelda games of a consistent quality. This is understandable, and we can only hope that when Nintendo does come out with a new Zelda game that they put their best effort into it, rather than slacking off a bit and trying to rake in profits with a lesser release that, through a massive amount of advertising, sells very well and contributes to the ever-growing list of lower-quality Zelda game releases. I do realize that this is completely normal among video game developers. I just don’t want Nintendo to always think it’s okay to release Zelda games that obviously aren’t their best effort, but rather a rather easy-to-produce game that do include classic Zelda gameplay but lack innovation and a true sense of grandeur. When one looks at the Zelda series, one thing sticks out: the early Zelda games are all games that Nintendo invested all their energy into. That’s why the releases were rather slow, but each and every game from the original Legend of Zelda to Majora’s Mask was a work of art. It was a good pay-off and said games sold very well compared to modern Zeldas. But as the series grew, Nintendo focused more on crafting lighthearted handheld Zeldas to connect with younger audiences and show that the series was ready to expand into a broader spectrum of gaming.
Therefore, we have had several released within the past few years. The problem is this: not all of them are spectacular and live up to the quality of older Zelda games. The Legend of Zelda, A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are five of the first six releases, and each and these games fared well. Now, three of the first five Zelda games are commonly viewed as the three Zelda games that shaped the series. They were the foundation for Zelda games to come. After Ocarina of Time, there was not a single Zelda game that was hailed as one of the series’ revolutions. However, we were blessed with such brilliant games as the Wind Waker, the Minish Cap and Twilight Princess, but there were many games released in between that were not met with as much appreciation. Not to say that those Zelda games were bad or even average - they were all magnificent - beyond doubt some of the best games to grace their respective consoles. But when compared to the consistency and level of quality that earlier installments presented... well... there’s just nothing to compare. There are a few stand-outs, yes, but just a select few. It all boils down to whether Skyward Sword will be as riveting as Nintendo makes it out to be and whether their developers will decide to up the quality of Zelda games. Until then, I can only hope that they don’t release a letdown of a game.
Note: An old Article of mine was going to waste, so I decided to use it as a source for this post (if anyone hadn’t noticed). I switched a great deal of it around and added several new sections to the thread, so essentially it’s not even the Article anymore. I’ve been working on this since February, and I must say that I’m delighted I was finally able to finish it. XD
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