ranking zelda

[civvver]

I admit, I haven't played that many zelda games compared to the amount available. It's just a really long running series and it's pretty amazing that every single one is a high quality, well reviewed game at the time of release, even with some pretty massive changes in the games format. I would love to play all of them but since they're across a bunch of platforms it's pretty hard unless you want to steam them all on emulators.

There's a bunch of rankings out there, all pretty varied except almost all have A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time and Breath of the Wild in the top 5 in some order. Here's my somewhat short list and comments on some of the ones I haven't played.

5. Legend of Zelda - this game is good, really good, but quite simply it's 30 year old NES game that just doesn't hold up today. Extremely short and shallow compared to later titles.

4. Twilight Princess - This is a really good game, it's just darker than all the other zelda titles and I didn't love the wii controls for it. Found it surprisingly hard to get into, but I owe it a more recent and through playthrough I think.

3. A Link to the Past - A really good game, holds up very well. I actually played this first on GBA years later as I didn't have a super nintendo. It has some great concepts like the dual worlds, but I don't really get why many people think it's the best zelda title ever. It's very complete but it doesn't grab me emotionally as some other zelda games do like...

2. Ocarina of Time - Doesn't actually hold up as well as link to the past I think since the 3d doesn't look as good today compared to the old 2d, but man, this game was amazing at release. Full of secrets, tons of characters I got attached too, dual worlds. I loved everything about it, and it was long compared to other zelda games.

1. Link's Awakening - Probably absurdly high on my rankings list but I feel it's so often overlooked in the pantheon of zelda games. I may be a little biased since it was the second zelda game I played, I played it at an impressionable age and I must have beaten it like a dozen times on family vacation road trips with my gameboy, but it is really charming and well paced. I also love that your shield is a usable item so you can actively block attacks and it also allows you to swap items in place of your shield. Want to use the roc feather and hooking to be a jumping hookshotting fool? Go for it. How about the bow plus hookshot for double ranged attacks? Why not! It was just awesome and had a completely different and unique story.


Not played:

Oracle of seasons/ages - I really want to play this as it seems similar in art and play style to link's awakening but it's kind of expensive on ebay and I'm worried about battery on those old cartridges. I still have my old game boy color though.

Minish cap - another gba title, looks really good.

Skyward sword - Would probably be worth getting used after a twilight princess replay.

Breath of the wild and a link between worlds - both look awesome but not enough to justify buying two new hardware platforms just for those.

 

[Robo-Star]

Any thoughts on 'Adventure of Link', 'Majora's Mask', or 'Wind Waker'?

 

[hobbsyoyo]

Link's Awakening was a ton of fun. I got the DX version and had a blast with it.

Majora's mask is also really unique and fun.

 

[Kyriakos]

I have only played a Link to the Past, for the Snes. It was one of my favourite Snes games.
That said, it isn't as good as other jrpg Snes titles, eg Secret of Mana.

Also, isn't your #5 the same game? The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past?

 

[Robo-Star]

Also, isn't your #5 the same game? The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the past?

Their #5 is the first 'Legend of Zelda', on the NES.

 

[civvver]

Zelda games aren't jrpgs. They're like top down platformers more than rpgs.

I just got a link between worlds so I'll probably be done with it in a month or so.

 

[TheMeInTeam]

That said, it isn't as good as other jrpg Snes titles, eg Secret of Mana.

"Thankfully non-silent protagonist got WHACKED!"

Secret of mana was good as an action RPG, but lacking in plot. Less popular titles like the first two Star Ocean games and Tales of Phantasia were great SNES titles as far as JRPGs go, pretty good battle/action systems with some story. Obvious picks like Chrono trigger are worth mention too.

As for Zelda games, I don't think original can fairly make the list. It started it all and that's great, but it doesn't hold up. Too much esoteric stuff, and bombing random walls in hopes of finding a secret with no indication is a weak mechanic. Design was wild west back then, I get it, but this really hurts the original's ability to hold up. 2nd quest was particularly bad in that regard.

I haven't played many of the newer titles as they're obviously Nintendo exclusives and I haven't had a Nintendo system in years. My tops in no particular order:

Majora's Mask: always underrated in OOT's shadow, I think it's the better game between the two owing to better puzzles and how the world interacted with the time mechanic, but some don't like it for the same reason.

Link to the Past: lots of future handheld games would borrow puzzles from it. This one put a small amount of skill pressure on the player in dungeons/boss fights too, but not nearly as oppressive to casual players as Zelda 2 on the NES.

OOT: it's also a solid game with good puzzles.

Link's awakening: so other people are rating it high too. I don't know why, it's a lot like LTTP above, even copies some puzzles. The 2d sections are solid, maybe it's the item interactions? I enjoyed it a lot too regardless.

Minish cap: like Majora's Mask it's nice to have a break from Ganon, but this one also had lots of interesting new interactions, fighting options, and fun items to play with.

 

[Robo-Star]

Link's awakening: so other people are rating it high too. I don't know why, it's a lot like LTTP above, even copies some puzzles. The 2d sections are solid, maybe it's the item interactions? I enjoyed it a lot too regardless.

Like Majora's Mask: the atmosphere.