Opinion thread: Best Zelda game and why

[Zectorman]

I thought It would be nice to hear the opinions and thoughts on what you think the best Zelda game was! I'll start: Majora's Mask
Why?
This comes from the Gameplay section of the Zelda wiki for Majora's mask and puts it better than I could

Majora's Mask is renowned as the darkest of the series, and is considered the most twisted Zelda to date, even though some feel that Twilight Princess expresses more mature and dark elements.
Notably, Majora's Mask aims itself at the depressing side of things, with lamenting melodies and darker side characters. In the game, the player is given no ultimatum and is faced with the knowledge that the world of Termina will be destroyed at the end of three days, unless the Ocarina of Time is used to return to the dawn of the First Day. In addition to this, most characters in the game are unaware of the danger and some inevitably reject the chance to save themselves.
On top of this, Link must go through this as a living breathing character, knowing that he is the only one aware of what will and has happened, Link is still shunned by most characters even though he is out to save them. This theme of the Hero of Time being ignored or rejected puts a large depressing note over the game series, but the foreboding doom of world destruction is most present in Majora's Mask. Even the world's name, Termina, is derived from several European words meaning Doom. The knowledge that events will reoccur without any hope of prevention implants a desire to change the game itself for the player and brings out real emotion and will to prevent events happening. This is contrary to most games which surprise the player with something unexpected, Majora does the opposite, filling players with regret in the knowledge that they can do little else but watch as the world gets destroyed, creating a very strong reason to complete the game.

The fact that this game dismisses the overused, everything will be alright, gameplay and takes a darker tone. So many tragedies take place in this game that only you can resolve, that and the fact that the Evil in this game was the innocent Skullkid who was left alone; taken advantage of by a demon mask. Not the stereotypical bad guy, but a chaotic manipulative mask whose only goal was to appease itself no matter the cost. That is pretty insane for what is considered to be a kids game. In reality, this game was pretty adult.

[DiddlyDark]

A Link to the Past, because nostalgia. yar.

[ZeR0199X]

I guess it would be a tie for me, Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess. Both have dark themes, though Majora was a little darker. I loved Majora's Mask's masks, from the Bunny Hood to the Fierce Deity Mask but I also loved Twilight Princess's horse combat, wolf transformation and the overall environment. So yeah I can't decide between Majora's Mask or Twilight Princess.

[Mattwensley]

1. OoT
2. MM
3. TP

1. Nostalgia, as well as adult link being able to kick more ass than a mechanical butt-seeking rotating shoe
2. The time mechanic, as well as the edginess
3. It is a Zelda that isn't cartoony but doesn't look like everyone is made out of origami

Edit: Elaboration tiiiime!

1. One thing that I love about a game is growth, and ocarina has it. On the surface, OoT what most Zelda's do - do 3 missions, get master sword, do 5+ more missions, final boss, the end. But there was a slight difference with OoT. When you get the master sword, time goes forwards 7 years. This means you have a whole new world to content with, and Adult Link is older and stronger than young Link, and more able to handle the increased challenges. When you fight the enemies you fought as YL, they are easier - not just to kill, but they are also smaller and seem more predictable compared to the tougher monsters you fight. Then, at set points, you are required to go back in time - you are forced to weaken yourself to continue, and Link does, the brave guy.

I also liked the story - you are sent by the Great Deku Tree to investigate the castle, because based on all probabilities you are the chosen one or something. The young Princess Zelda has a bad dream and plays a game with the young boy who sneaks in to see her, by picking an evil looking vassal of her fathers to be a bad guy. You go on to do more work and manage to unlock the door of time, get a sword, and are held there until you are deemed old enough. What do you know, evil looking guy was evil, and now Zelda's hopes rest on the young boy she was playing a game with.

Most of this is conjecture, but I always got the idea that Young Zelda never really believed that there was any real danger until it was too late - hence why, when you go back in time and tell her, she actually confronts her father and has Ganon sent away.

2. Majora's Mask was a creepy game, mostly for the mask seller when you tell him you don't quite have him mask yet. Still gives me nightmares. But the time mechanic, while annoying at parts, gives you just enough time to get stuff done. One part I love is when you need to wait for something to happen: You need to give away your valuable minutes to reach a set event. And the long stories, like the keaton/couples mask, are brilliant! On the otherhand, everytime I reset time and accidentally walk near that $&*$%&ing Deku merchant and hear him go on about his &%$£&^ing spot makes me want to start killing again.

3. While I didn't think the world was laid out that well, I really enjoyed how TP felt like a more fleshed out version of OoT. In OoT, basically every named character filled a role, so it was kind of predictable who was important, because they had a name and a face. But Castle Town now feels like a bustling city, and the presence of more soldiers is always nice!

Special mention to aLttP. While I really liked most of it, I hated the feeling that you were one your own so much. There was really only one village with allies in it, and apart from that, the odds against you always made me feel vaguely depressed. At least in most others, you have real direction from people who are supporting you, TP especially.

[Stal Keeta]

This question is actually pretty hard to answer. D:
My first reaction was "Pfft, easy!", my second was frowning and my third was facepalming.

After my hand and my face stopped hurting, I realized that I liked Majora´s Mask most.
And I don´t really know why, it just never gets boring.
As already noted by others, the atmosphere is great and I love the transformation masks. Goron Punch!
But the main reason for naming MM as my favorite is that I can´t come up with anything I dislike about it.

From now on, I'm not so sure anymore.
I liked TP, but only it gets boring after the Arbiter's Grounds imho. The first three temples are great, also the Arbiter´s Grounds. But after that...
I hated Snowpeak Ruins, the Temple of Time and especially the City in the Sky.
And of course the owl searching before the CitS wasn't that great either.
Twilight Palace and Hyrule Castle were great, however.

While there´s nothing special I dislike about Ocarina of Time (except the Water Temple, fuuuuuu), I feel like I played it to much.
It´s just not the same feeling I had maybe five years ago, or even 2000 when I first played it.

The Wind Waker...
I actually liked TWW a lot...
I would name either this or OoT my second fave.

Never played SS, and I don´t want to go into detail about the 2D games, but I want to mention that Oracle of Ages is my third favorite.

[PhilAO]

My favorite is probably The Wind Waker actually. I don't care if its wrong.

Its one of, if not the best overworlds in Zelda in my opinion. It's not Hyrule, something a lot of Zelda games seem to be afraid of, but it still feels alive and is fun to explore. They had really perfected the Gamecube controls for Zelda at this point, so it's has some of the smoothest combat too. The boss fights are great, Gohdan and Phantom Ganon are still some of my favorite battles in the series. I even liked the graphics that everyone seems to hate. They were artistic and different, and frankly at this point have aged a lot better than Oot or MM. There are a few weaknesses. The last act isn't really as strong as what came before it, and there weren't really a lot of good side quests. Still though, in my opinion definately the most enjoyable zelda game to play.

And yes, Ocarina of Time is a close second, so don't get angry and me for choosing the toon one over it.

[Mattwensley]

I have no major issues with WW, but it seems to have hit a lot of people's top spots. I liked the character of Link, such as the confused look he would get sometimes, but the cartoony look didn't quite do it for me. And while a lot of people like the freeroaming thing, I don't think it's something for a Zelda game. But hey, it is by no means a bad game, just my first Zelda was OoT, so for me, that was the art style that Zelda should have, which is why I was excited to see TP come out. I am also ok with SS, as it isn't so childishly cartoony, if you see what I mean. You probably don't. I suck at explaining things.

[Jav999]

in my opinion the best Zelda game was Ocarina of time, although MM is almost as stunnig as Ocarina, OOT was just epic, you begin in a beautifull forrest just going to see a giant tree, suddenly you have to go to see the princess herself, when you think you will beat Ganondorf and his scheme it turns that you just helped him. Now the world you left is changed, destroyed, in despair, and only you can fix things up. Link's friends and loved ones are either dead or in trouble.

Futhermore, at the end of a impressive and breathtaking final battle, you trusted friend Navi leaves you. Not mentioning the awesome graphics by the time, OOT had a more classic dark side than MM in the form of evil spreading to the land by Ganondorf's rule. i was the best game for me, but MM was almost as good, the others did not reach me as those did.

[Avatar of the Ice Wolf]

My opinion of top 3 Zelda games is the same as Mattwensley's. I'll elaborate when I have more time.

[zacen299]

1. Oot although my immunity to nostalgia make me realize although fun to this day it's really starting to age
2. TP I love that game so much. To me it's just another Oot (and I know people will kill me for this) but I think it might be better than Oot.
3. MM fun but in my opinion way harder than Oot.
I'd say LLtP but I haven't played it enough.

[nintendo64isking]

majoras mask!
It is a simply beautiful game with mysterious and quirky elements that aren't to found in other zeldas, the use of masks is incredible allowing for wonderful variety in gameplay and the impending sense of doom is ever present, and thats the beauty of it- time is against you. The timer system in that game which affects what is going on in termina over the three day cycle is amazing, every time you use the song of time you get to know the NPC movements which adds a layer of depth as you can only do certain side quests at certain times.
The characters are very memorable and the music is majestic, everything from the challenging dungeons to the eerie atmosphere is just wonderful. The quest has high stakes and the watchful moon ever present serves to remind the player of the danger, yet despite this the game never feels depressing or gloomy. Majoras mask itself is also a wonderful villain, a villian that you know you can face whenever you like but can only overcome once the giants are set free. I just love that game so much, it is has to me more personality through its wonderful characters like the deku of southern swamp or kafei and yet is more threatening than any zelda. It is simply a masterpiece a work of art, a triumph!

just for the record my fave five are:
1. MM
2. OOT
3. SS
4. WW
5. OOA

[Scar86]

1.MM Pros: Fresh, New, Exciting with many features and deep, engaging sidequests, Top notch gameplay and story. Cons: Short, not that difficult.

2.OOT Pros: One of the Best Zelda Stories, Good Gameplay Cons: Some of it has aged poorly, some Sidequests are needlessly difficult.

3.Zelda II (Dont care if it's wrong) Pros: Extremley challenegeing to the point of Masochistic, Fun Temples. Cons: Very diffrent and strange, takes getting used to, has aged very poorly.

4.Oracle Of Ages : Pros: Plenty of great, interesting features (a-la the rings), good story. Cons: Hard as , player is given almost no direction.

5. Twilight Princess: Good Story, good cast of characters, visually pleasant to look at. Interesting Enemy types. Decent dungeons. Cons: Way to easy, almost to the point of feeling as though you're hand is being held. Items are boring, uninspired and generally redundant. DAT ENDING

[Zectorman]

I have to agree about the cons with TP. I never really could get into it. The Twili were cool and vibrant but aside from that I felt nothing

That dam Sky city dungeon made me stop playing...and I hear the Twilight palace was beast too, oh Well I lost interest.

[Avatar of the Ice Wolf]

That dam Sky city dungeon made me stop playing...

THAT dungeon made me stop playing TP as well. I came back to it two years later, started from scratch, and then finished it. My number 1 problem with TP was the lack of difficulty. Other than that, I thought it was great. Oh and that ending... I really did not approve of Midna destroying the Mirror of Twilight, but as I said before, it brought back memories of the Happy Mask Salesman in MM saying, "When there is a meeting a parting is sure to follow. Whether that parting be forever or merely a short time... that is up to you." This created a nostalgic effect and saved the TP ending for me... however odd that may seem.

[Zectorman]

Ok that settles it. The Happy Mask Salesman needs another game! Maybe a sequel to MM! WHo knows, but I want another creepy, tragic, God I have to beat this game in one day! Zelda game.

[Xebenkeck]

THAT dungeon made me stop playing TP as well. I came back to it two years later, started from scratch, and then finished it. My number 1 problem with TP was the lack of difficulty.

Lol wat?

You quit the game because you couldnt complete a dungeon, then complain about how easy the game is, lolololololololololol.




My Favorite Zelda's:
Majoras Mask
Spirit Tracks
Minish Cap
Wind Waker
Ocarina of Time Master Quest

[Avatar of the Ice Wolf]

Lol wat?

You quit the game because you couldnt complete a dungeon, then complain about how easy the game is, lolololololololololol.




My Favorite Zelda's:
Majoras Mask
Spirit Tracks
Minish Cap
Wind Waker
Ocarina of Time Master Quest

No, I stopped playing because my baby brother placed a quarter in the Wii and the dungeon glitched. He messed up the disc. To this day it is scratched up. After that, the door would not open even after I hit the switch.. I still hate that dungeon to this day because of the time I wasted looking for an entrance that was not there. I could not continue. I spent about a week trying. Also, I was talking about the combat, not the puzzles. TP had decent puzzles. I went through every dungeon without seeing a game over screen. I died about 80 times in the original LoZ.

[kelowna]

1. OoT
2. MM
3. Tp

[Sage of Wind 890]

My fsavorite zelda is probobly oracle of seasons; the subrosians are so cute.

[Dutch-Balrog]

Only one i played is Twilight Princess.