The History of Zelda - Part 2

By Keza MacDonald Published 29 November, 2006

Gratuitous Linkage.

A brief word of warning: Anyone who hasn't played Wind Waker yet (where have you been?) should be aware that there are rather hefty spoilers nestled in the first and last paragraphs. If you don't want the ending ruined for you, you might want to avoid it. And another brief word: Looking for part one? Da-da-Da-DAAAH!

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask, 2000

"He embarked upon a secret and personal journey..."

Majora's Mask was burdened with what is quite possibly the most difficult task that any videogame has ever had to bear: being an adequate successor to Ocarina of Time. So, newly-appointed director Eiji Aonuma did the only sensible thing and sent it in a completely different direction. It is almost certainly intentional that Majora's Mask is so different enough from Ocarina of Time (and, indeed, every other game in the series) as to render direct comparisons somewhat irrelevant.

This beloved anomaly is a much more surreal and even more atmospheric game than Ocarina of Time, and a much darker one too. Where the player is distanced from Hyrule's demise in OoT, trapped for seven years whilst it deteriorates and festers, here the prospect of imminent disaster is all too immediate. The demonic, grimacing moon that looms ever larger over Termina as the game progresses is one of the most affecting and enduring pieces of imagery in videogaming, and the strange alternate world it threatens to destroy is very different from OoT's Hyrule; it's more compact, more alive, and in many respects much more likeable. This is one of the only Zelda games where it is possible to truly engage with the characters, and it is irresistibly tempting to take part in their lives as they go about their perpetual three-day routines. Reuniting mothers, sons, lovers and friends and witnessing the stubborn denial, mad panic or abject terror of Clock Town's citizens in the face (quite literally) of the oncoming disaster, it is difficult to remain distanced from Termina. It is bleak, and unexpectedly beguiling.

'The History of Zelda - Part 2' Screenshot 1

Despite this human aspect, Majora's Mask is a lonely game. Link is disorientated and friendless in this surreal world, robbed of his identity by a Skull Kid's malicious trick and forced to relive the same three days over and over as the only one with the ability to prevent the catastrophe. He is pitiable here, slightly vulnerable, much more of a character than he has ever been elsewhere. Majora's Mask begins with him wandering alone in the Lost Woods in search of Navi, his 'beloved and invaluable friend', whom he never finds, and ends as he rides off into the distance whilst the rest of Termina enjoys the Carnival of Time. Majora's Mask is strange and sad, and seemed to signal a change in direction for the Zelda series that, most disappointingly, never really materialised. It was a definite sidestep for the series, and playing it again today, it opens the eyes to just how essentially similar the other games are to each other in comparison. Its strangeness, surreal, angular beauty and uniquely compact, varied gameplay make it stand out as a brave and different entry into Zelda canon. Majora's Mask is a game of tremendous worth, and it's really only now that it is beginning to be fully appreciated, both within the context of the series and without.

The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages/Seasons, 2001

"My sense of time is all out of whack"

It feels wrong to group Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons together without pointing out that the differences between them were not just aesthetic; these are two quite separate games, but played together they become one of the most complex and intelligent titles in the entire series. Each has its own plotline, but completing one yields a password that opens an alternative quest in the other, which in itself has its own separate tale to tell - it revolves around the resurrection of Ganon, and ties up a lot of loose ends following Ocarina of Time. Together, Ages and Seasons form a giant adventure spanning four seasons, two time zones, an awful lot of bonus passwords and about forty hours of play, and the fact that they didn't turn out a confusing, over-complicated mess says a lot for their excellent, concise design. Despite the simplistic graphics and very retro, NES-reminiscent gameplay, Ages and Seasons are among the most ambitious games in an extremely ambitious series.

'The History of Zelda - Part 2' Screenshot 2

The story of their development explains a lot about why Ages and Seasons are so curiously reminiscent of the original The Legend of Zelda. Working under Capcom, developer Flagship was originally licensed to produce three games (the Triforce Trilogy), two of them being remakes of the first two games in the Zelda series and the third, a unique creation. When it became apparent that such an effort just wasn't going to work, the Triforce Trilogy became three separate Oracle games, the third of which was eventually cancelled. Oracle of Seasons bears the greatest residual resemblance to TLoZ - it is more action-orientated than Ages, many of its dungeon designs are oddly familiar and it shares six of its bosses with its primitive forebear.

Ages and Seasons have a rather disorientating effect on the player. The strangely retro gameplay, complicated season and time-switching, link-up elements and unusually challenging puzzles all undoubtedly play a part, but there is something more subtly odd about them too - Flagship's new ideas are juxtaposed with a fastidiously loyal transposition of Nintendo's own 2D-Zelda template. They feel at once fresh and old-fashioned, familiar and novel - it almost makes you wish that Nintendo farmed out Zelda spin-off titles to trustworthy second-parties on a more regular basis in order to keep things fresh. Until you remember the frankly terrifying abominations that were Wand of Gamelon and The Faces of Evil, and have to go wash your eyes out with carbolic soap.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker, 2002

"Wow. What's with that get-up?"

Zelda games have actually always been innovators in terms of their artistic direction and general style, but Wind Waker stands out as the most controversial of the series' aesthetic transformations. Bad things were said when Link's flat-faced new look was revealed to the world, but it turned out to suit the game's spirit perfectly and will probably be remembered as a standout example of artistic style in videogames. Wind Waker will never age; by simplifying its appearance, it manages to make everything look perfect in its own way, and because it doesn't attempt realism, there are no jarring rough edges or imperfect landscapes or robotic-looking characters. It looks seamless and gorgeous from beginning to end, and the style conveys gloom and atmosphere just as well as the endless blue sea and bright sun of the overworld - the moment were Link descends into the sunken ruins of Hyrule Castle is, visually at least, the most spectacular set-piece in the series.

The new look wasn't the only surprise that Wind Waker had in store for Zelda fans. It did away with Hyrule entirely (or so it seemed), throwing players into an unfamiliar, flooded world with no Triforce or Ganon or Zelda and a boyish, innocent new Link quite unlike OoT and Majora's Mask's vaguely troubled, orphaned hero. It readjusted the balance between action and puzzling and placed an even greater emphasis on exploration than any Zelda before it. Charting the seas at leisure and discovering lost islands is the greatest pleasure that Wind Waker has to offer. It feels very back-to-roots; Wind Waker reemphasises the importance of childish pleasures in games, pleasures like waiting until a mean old miser wanders out of earshot before breaking all his plates, or throwing pigs into the sea to see how far they float, or sailing off in any direction at all just to see what might be out there.

'The History of Zelda - Part 2' Screenshot 3

Generally, Wind Waker isn't defended as vehemently from criticism as Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask. Critics lambast Wind Waker's relatively short lifespan and half-baked later dungeons, it wasn't as enormous an evolution for the series as OoT, and trawling for Triforce pieces later on in the game was enough to put some people off it altogether. But despite all of that, if I were to choose a favourite from among the Zelda games, it would probably be Wind Waker. Released at a time when games were beginning to get a little bit stale for me, it reinvigorated my love of gaming, and I liked that it was shorter and marginally less demanding than its predecessors - it felt more inclusive. It goes right back to the little pleasures and the childish messing about that make the Zelda games special, giving you an enormous selection of bright, colourful things to play with and different things to do. Wind Waker is very true to itself, and true to its heritage - it wasn't pretending to be all clever and grown up and mature, as was amply demonstrated by the bright and beautiful cartoon-influenced visual style. It was bold and fun and gloriously childish. As the old Hyrule was swept away by a massive rush of water at the end of the game, along with its king and its age-old tormentor, it felt like a farewell to the ancient story of Ganon and the Triforce - a signalling of a new beginning for the series after nearly twenty years. It takes some bravery to change things so drastically within a series as well-loved and long-established as Zelda, but Wind Waker pulls it off.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures, 2004

"It looks familiar, but in truth it is very different"

Four Swords Adventures is perhaps the most underrated of the Zelda games. Many fans dismissed it as a spin-off, and given the truly ludicrous amount of Nintendo equipment needed for the multiplayer (four GBAs, four link cables, a copy of the game, a GameCube and a reasonably big telly), very few people actually got to experience it as it was intended. However, with at least two excitable friends and a few free Friday nights, this is probably the most fun that can possibly be had with any Zelda game. Competitive and co-operative in equal measure, Four Swords Adventures is riotously enjoyable with friends - if you've never experienced it, I really must urge you to pick up some GBAs and link cables and give it ago. Three extra GBAs would probably only cost you about thirty quid these days.

'The History of Zelda - Part 2' Screenshot 4

This is the only game that ever really took advantage of the link-up capabilities between the GBA and the GameCube, dropping Link into the GBA screen whenever he entered a cave or stepped on a portal to the Dark World. It requires some remarkable co-ordination sometimes - the best puzzles need one or two players to figure something out on the main screen whilst the others wandered around the Dark World on their GBAs, explaining what needed to be done. Having four minds at work adds a whole extra dimension to the classic Zelda puzzles and necessitates a new way of thinking that is consistently delightful to fans and newcomers alike. Four Swords is probably at its best when everyone is working together to think around a puzzle, but it's equally enjoyable when you're falling over each other in a mad race for Force Gems or ganging up on the one who's hogging all the glory or arguing over which way to go next or who gets to have the Fire Rod or which cave to explore ('No really, in Link to the Past there were ALWAYS secret things under bushes, trust me!'). It really is fantastic fun, and one of the most rewarding multiplayer experiences in existence.

In many ways, Four Swords Adventures is like a multiplayer version of Link to the Past, and in my opinion it's just as good (if considerably more short-lived). Aesthetically, it is a splendorous coming-together of Zelda past and Zelda present, blending LttP-esque sprites and design and environments and music with beautiful Wind Waker colouring and swirl effects and cel-shaded 3D. It looks absolutely glorious, like a Zelda artistic-direction Best Of, and it plays like a series Best Of too - here are all the best elements of Link to the Past, but, wonderfully, you can really share them with other people rather than just babbling on about them to uncomprehending friends. It might not be the most influential or significant of the games in the Zelda series, but under the right circumstances, Four Swords is easily the most downright fun of them.

The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap, 2004

"But surely, this is not the end..."

'The History of Zelda - Part 2' Screenshot 5

Unlike every other handheld Zelda, The Minish Cap actually stays in Hyrule for its duration, but it's not entirely clear where it fits in with the rest of the games. This is a Hyrule untroubled by Ganon and the Triforce, the same Hyrule as that of Four Swords Adventures and the GBA Link to the Past 'bonus' Four Swords multiplayer element. It manages to transpose Wind Waker's visual style into 2D admirably well, although as a result of the GBA's relative feebleness, it doesn't come close to the beauty of Four Swords Adventures.

Without the Four Swords Adventures' multiplayer hook to distract you from the plot and setting, though, Minish Cap's premise feels noticeably flat compared to the console games' epic quests and the other handheld titles' strange little parallel universes. Thankfully, all the other hallmarks of a 2D Zelda are there, including the huge amount of side-quests and optional diversions, and the Four Sword and miniature Picori dimension are noble attempts to reinvigorate what is now a very old (though still tremendously enjoyable) template. Minish Cap is the most expansive handheld Zelda yet, and indeed it may well be the very last true 2D Zelda now that the DS has made 3D handheld adventuring possible (at least in part).

No new Zelda game has been released since Minish Cap, and it seems that it might be the last of the old-fashioned Zeldas. Though Twilight Princess undeniably hearkens back to Ocarina of Time in its artistic direction and slightly dark atmosphere, it seems to me that we are nonetheless standing on the brink of something new for this series, a new energy that was abundantly evident in Wind Waker. Fifteen years since I first played a Legend of Zelda game, this superb series is still surprising and delighting me as much as it did when I was seven, where even Mario and Sonic have faltered. It's astounding, it really is.

Picture of Keza.

About Keza MacDonald

Read more articles from Keza by visiting the Keza MacDonald archive page.

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Comments (63) Latest comment 5 years ago

Comments threads automatically close after 30 days, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • lambtron #1 5 years ago

    Windwaker was awesomo and anyone who doesn't like the graphical style should be shot. In the face ;).

  • Tejstar #2 5 years ago

    Woot!

    I love Zelda!

  • blender #3 5 years ago

    smeg head

  • Eraser #4 5 years ago

    Windwaker was awesome. I fully agree with lambtron. It's such a lovable game.

  • Triggerhappytel #5 5 years ago

    I haven't played all the Zeldas in this whole article, but I personally preferred ALTTP and LA to any of the 3D versions. I'm still really looking forward to Twilight Princess though - on the 'Cube.

    I also think The Adventures of Alundra on PS1 was better than any 2D Zelda game. I really wish Sony would continue the series.
    Edited by 1 at 29/11/06 @ 09:33

  • Steroyd #6 5 years ago

    yeah but the triforce searching pissed me off particularly the one in the ghost ship.

    Zelda WW is the only Zelda I havn't completed twice.

    And it was a chore getting 2 people to play Zelda 4 swords not to mention the attention Span of a goldfish so I couldn't enjoy it for what it's worth. :(

  • Kay #7 5 years ago

    I've only missed out Four Swords Adventures in that article. Multiplayer won't be possible, though - is it any good in single player?

    Agree to an extent about Wind Waker - at the time I absolutely loved it. But the truth is that, as well as being ridiculously unchallenging, it was almost a half-baked Zelda game. 5 measly dungeons (out of which only the last two came remotely close to the dungeons in OoT or MM), plus a lot of meaningless backtracking and item-collecting just to advance the storyline. I love the sidequests in Zelda games, but most of them are desgined to be an optional extra - in WW some of them were forced on you, which was really annoying. It is still a glorious game, but definitely the weakest of the 3D Zeldas for me.

    Majora's Mask is brilliant though. It uses a slightly flawed and odd concept, but pulls it off remarkably well. It's very similar to OoT, but at the same time massively different. It's the perfect example of an ideal sequel.

    K

  • plok #8 5 years ago

    Currently playing Minish Cap and loving it. This has been a great set of articles Eurogamer! :-)

    /continues to try and convince self he doesn't need a Wii and TP because he can't afford it :-(

  • Rambaldi #9 5 years ago

    I've just realised that I can play the only Wii game I'm interested in on a £20 second hand Gamecube!

    Sweet!

  • [maven] #10 5 years ago

    I quite like these editorials as they provide insight into the character and feel of the games they talk about.
    Much appreciated (although I'm not sure I will ever really "get" Majora's Mask, I just found it confusing and difficult when I tried it).

  • Carpathian #11 5 years ago

    I must admit that I joined the "got fed up with all the Triforce finding/sailing" at the latter end of WW and stopped at that point. Fantastic title which far exceeded the ridiculous squealing from people due to the change in art direction. If only these people would wait and *play* the titles first ! {rolls eyes}

    That extended sailing section was a tad out of line with the rest of it though, for me anyway - just felt forced and poorly thought through, especially at a point in the game where the story is really building - deflates the atmos somewhat. Maybe one day I'll fire it up and try to get through it but I must admit I'm more liable to be playing TP on the Wii or OoT on the Cube again first.

    Still, the history really is pretty special when you read through both parts of this......

  • Jesus: Action Figure #12 5 years ago

    Oh the joy of right clicking on this article on the front page and choosing "Open *Link* in new tab"

    :p

  • jimbob101 #13 5 years ago

    Majora's Mask has to my favorite. First few hours were bind boggling, but once you've worked out the 3 day system and how to save it's a pleasure to play. So many side quests, one that takes more work than the actual game. The constant feeling of pressure both from the time limit and the moon bearing down on you. Brilliant stuff.
    And you got to meet Tingle (for the first time?)

  • foxy2006 #14 5 years ago

    the moments at sea where the seas would start to boil and the clouds darken.
    Awesome game.

  • itamae #15 5 years ago

    It will be interesting to see how Twilight Princess keeps up with Okami. That game has raised the bar for action adventures quite considerably, so if TP isn't absolutely stellar it might be somewhat of a disappointment.

  • lennon #16 5 years ago

    I had no problem with the graphical style of Wind Waker just the yawn tastic travelling around that the game made you do.

  • Carpathian #17 5 years ago

    "the moments at sea where the seas would start to boil and the clouds darken"

    Indeed. As much as I tired of the Triforce sailing, that wasn't to knock the actual feeling of moments like that. The first time that happened it was one of those "wow" gaming moments that catch you somewhat off-guard......

  • Steroyd #18 5 years ago

    I've only missed out Four Swords Adventures in that article. Multiplayer won't be possible, though - is it any good in single player?

    No it's absolutely shite playing on your own, it's a completely different game when your playing with a friend same goes for Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles.

    I'm hoping on the Wii that if these games get re-launched then they would have some sort of online multiplayer co-op or even better be able to access the game online via a DS.

    But given Nintendo's online service it's highly doubtful the latter is possible. :'(

  • kincaide #19 5 years ago

    Soooo - the Twilight Princess review?

  • AcidSnake #20 5 years ago

    IMO
    Wind Waker has to get special praise for the music...The classic zelda theme remix when you start sailing is incredible...
    And I get goosebumps every time I let the intro sequence run and you ree the mural of 'the hero of time' with his sword held high in front of Ganon...
    Sniff...

    Particularly good was Majora's Masks final dungeon where you had to solve puzzles by flipping the whole level upside-down...

    Roll on Twilight Princess and the very fortunately placed Italian holiday this december 8th...Need to stock up on food though...

  • JonFE #21 5 years ago

    Thank you EG for this articles.

    As I realized just the other day, Zelda is the only gaming franchise I bought 4 games in the last two months and already have three (if you include both GC and Wii versions of TP) more on pre-order...

  • MrFlintBlackman #22 5 years ago

    Tis true about the Wind Waker, the graphics are lovely but sailing from place to place is a chore!

  • lemonfist #23 5 years ago

    Wind Waker is fucking sweet. Playing through it (for the third time) right now, and I think I prefer it to Ocarina despite the Triforce-hunting. The feeling you get when setting sail (as pointed out above, greatly helped by the incredible music) cannot be matched.

  • varsas #24 5 years ago

    Another great article and I completely agree with the commenting about Four Swords. I brought it around to my aunt's place last Christmas and played it with my younger cousins and friends. It was really, really good fun. Don't any of you guys have relatives, cousins or siblings, with GBAs or SPs? It's well worth it. Hopefully I'll be able to set it up this Christmas and complete the game! :D

  • varsas #25 5 years ago

    @Steroyd:

    But given Nintendo's online service it's highly doubtful the latter is possible. :'(

    What's so bad about their online service? Playing MK DS is great fun online and the Wii's online experience seems to be pretty seemless like Live.

  • snackbreak #26 5 years ago

    I don't know why nobody likes the triforce-hunting. It's an essential part of the series and to me, it just brings back memories. Like looking for Transformers or something...

  • Kay #27 5 years ago

    Particularly good was Majora's Masks final dungeon where you had to solve puzzles by flipping the whole level upside-down...

    Agreed - worth playing through the game just for that dungeon. Seeing the sky and moon/ sun below your feet for the first time was a truly great moment. It was the MM equivalent of OoT's Water Temple, and the music was fantastic too. Made it all the more disappointing that none of the dungeons on WW were as awe-inspiring or challenging - I'm hoping TP has a few tricks up its sleeve.

    I remember the sailing part in WW, where the classic theme from LttP kicks in - it only happens once in the game, after you finish the second dungeon and weather is permanently stormy. WW had quite a few nods to LttP in terms of style and music (especially the underwater castle), more so than OoT. Which was great.

    K
    Edited by 1 at 29/11/06 @ 11:12

  • kiroquai #28 5 years ago

    Fantastic articles - realy enjoyed reading them both! Has got me in the right mood for Twilight Princess, whenever stock allows me to actually play it...

    Majora's Mask was and still is my favourite Zelda game, followed by Ocarina. The whole weird atmosphere going on in Majora's really sets it apart in my opinion. Likewise, the transformation thing really worked in my opinion. Wind Waker was great until the Triforce part, but as most people have said that anyway I will stop to avoid sounding like a broken record.

  • Steroyd #29 5 years ago

    @varsas no i don't have enough relatives that have GBA's or the same interest in what games i like either.

    @Varsas 2 from my experience of Ninty's online service, you can't join lobby's per se, and you can only invite people via Friend code although if the later games with online play have these features please do tell.

    I just have that feeling that wirelessly connecting to the Wii would require a patch which the DS doesn't do so you'd have to be required to buy the DS version of the game or something.
    Edited by 1 at 29/11/06 @ 11:13

  • AcidSnake #30 5 years ago

    Anyone remember the bit in Majora's Mask where you had to guide Kafei through a mini-dungeon against the clock?
    Anyone ever notice that you can't pause the game when you're doing it?!
    The phone rang and I tried to pause it to no avail...Scared me...

    All in all I see a lot of love (deservedly) for the whole series, mostly because it really has smart and beautiful set pieces. N64 & Cube games in particular...
    Ah bliss....not long to go...

  • sharpkiddie Verified Lead Developer, Eurogamer Network #31 5 years ago

    I didn't find the sailing laborious either. I almost got sick of it but then I found the warp tune, which is pretty much how all Zelda's work (they give you the warp as the explorable world expands to a certain size). One thing I did find was that it was much more fun if you kept a little copy of the map on paper and marked on it places to revisit.

  • Ceatlan #32 5 years ago

    I agree with a lot of the views in these articles and comments threads, however one thing that I think must make me quite strange is the fact that the only Zelda game I played and never really got on with, was Ocarina Of Time. I mean it was the only reason I bought an N64, I wanted to love it, but I just never could. I don't know whether it was the muddy, blurry graphics, the controller I never really got on with or something else, but I never actually got very far into it before giving up. Wind Waker however has to rate as one of the stand out moments of my 25 years odd gaming. It really was a stunningly crafted and beautiful game.

    Ceatlan

  • dbeamish #33 5 years ago

    I loved the graphical style in the Wind Waker and wil lbe re-buying it when I get a Wii

  • Muddtallica #34 5 years ago

    *WARNING - SPOILERS AND LONGWINDED GUSHING ABOUND*

    Great articles, EG! I hope they're followed up by a nice high score for TP! :D These have really got my Zelda juices flowing, and I would be a little disappointed if this lovely story ends with "...but the new one sucks."

    The Majora's Mask piece is ace, sums up everything that was so wonderfully brave and different about that game. The atmospherics of that game are never better illustrated than when you let the clock run down to the final six hours, the sky turns purple, and the most haunting, melancholy, apocalyptically tragic music starts playing as the world awaits its demise. Sooo good...and that's not even mentioning the ingeniuity of some of the design, both dungeons (Stone Tower Temple. Upside down. Nuff said) and the interactions made possible by the three day cycle. It's bewilidering at first, but persevere, and it's absolutely one of the top ten games ever made IMO, probably top five.

    Wind Waker was quite fantastic too, just marred a bit by the clearly half-baked third act. You could see clearly where they'd obviously taken out a whole dungeon and replaced it with a dialogue scene (Jabun's Cave, where he just GIVES you that blue pearl thing, when you had to fight through a dungeon to get the other two), and enough has been said about the Triforce map hunt. Nevertheless, like the artcile says, the game is just...fun, and had a really liberating feel. People bash the sailing, but I loved the feeling of sailing this huge sea, watching islands pull into view, with that rousing music...it really pulled you right into it. And then there was the elegant and really surprising way that it linked into OoT's plot. Like most people, I thought that it would be a clean slate, plotwise, but then comes the Tower of the Gods (awesome), then...the castle frozen in time, the King, the stained glass murals of OoT's sages...ooooh. :D And the BRILLIANT use of Link to the Past era music cues, from the spine-tingling slow version of LttP's Hyrule Castle theme, and then, when Zelda shows up, the use of LttP's intro music...and then WW's intro!! OK, I'll stop talking now. I forgot how much I did like this game til I started talking...:p

    Oh, and a word in for Four Swords, too. Don't bother with single player. Get the equipment, get at least two friends, and it is SO much fun. It really is LttP, but with four people working together, or frequently, against each other. Which reminds me - be warned that this game is WILL test friendships. For every moment where you feel all warm and fuzzy because you've all just worked together in a harmonious tag team to defeat a difficult boss, there are about ten where you just hate the person sat next to you, even if it's your best friend, either because he threw you off a cliff to get an item first, or because he looted your corpse when you died and were waiting to respawn. I thought two of my friends were actually going to kill each other when the latter incident happened once. But then later, we got stuck on a hard puzzle and were playing late into the night, so one of my friends fell asleep, so we had to take turns carrying his Link to the end of the level. :) It all works out.

    I loooove Zelda.

  • Pac #35 5 years ago

    Will I have a problem playing my american Game Cube games in a GB Wii?

  • KingOfSpain #36 5 years ago

    Im going to start WW up again tonight.

    It was the first zelda I ever played and I couldnet believe that people didnt like the art. It looks amazing. Playing TP is going to be very strange because its now looks "normal". I want my cell shading back.

    Oh, and Phantom Hourglass look fantastic!

  • nightsparkle #37 5 years ago

    in my opinion the zelda games have gone downhill ever since the first game was made with every following game. granted, it's more like downmountain. except from the 3d zelda's i like windwaker best (with the exception of sailing). but my point is, the newer the zelda's, the less they left over for your imagination and exploration, (worlds are smaller, bomblocations are marked) and definitely the lesser of a challenge they left over for you. dammit you can just walk pas enemies!!!! and you don't even need the extra hearts!!! there's a feeling of unexcited boredome when i play these zelda's, but also i have to keep playing.

  • floppylobster #38 5 years ago

    (1) Majora's Mask
    Dark and sad. I love a good tragedy.

    (2) Wind Waker. As good as Majora's Mask. I too was bored with gaming when this came out. I loved the fact it was shorter and simpler. I no longer had the time to go on huge quests. The flat face of Link allowed a great range of expressions on Link's face and I never realised how much that added to the game until I played a version without it. Who can forget those eyes moving left and right while sneaking up to corners?

    (3) Link to the Past. It was the game that made me realise Nintendo wasn't rubbish afterall (as I had been brainwashed back in my Megadrive days). What a fool I was. It lacks an amazing story but it has eveything else.

    (4) Minish Cap. It's all good. Only smaller. I prefer blue hats, I prefer red.

    (5) Four Swords. Might rank higher if I could find someone to play with.

    (5) Ocarina of Time. I can't be the only person who felt this on was a bit empty and a bit too spacious. Talk about fishing up tri-force in WindWaker, what about those damn Skulltullas!

    (6) Legend of Zelda (NES). Played right through recently for the first time on a chipped Xbox running an emulator.

    (7) Zelda 2 (NES). Almost played right through recently for the first time. Just got bored in the final dungeon. (actually I died and couldn't be bothered doing it all over again). I will go back one day but I doubt I'll be rewarded for my effort.

    Not played
    Oracle of Ages
    Link's Awakening (played half through)

    Anyone heard the System of a Down song 'Legend of Zelda'?
    "Link, he come to town
    Come to save the princess zelda
    Ganon took her away
    Now the children dont play
    But they will when link saves the day
    Hallelujah!

    Now link, fill up your hearts
    So you can shoot your sword with power
    And when youre feeling all down
    The fairy will come around
    So youll be brave, and not a sissy coward

    Now link has saved the day
    Put ganon in his grave
    So now zelda is free
    And now our hero shall be
    Link! I think your name shall go down into history!"

    There's a reason Robin Williams named his daughter Zelda and not Golden Axe Warrior. These games all rule.

  • Steroyd #39 5 years ago

    That's because you're too used to Zelda.

    It's gotten to the stage where you know for a fact.

    Find item
    Use item to enter dungeon
    Find another item to complete rest of dungeon
    Use that same item to kill boss or exploit it's weak spot.

    Wash rinse and repeat.

    I dunoo there's something about the Zelda series that doesn't make it feel like a sequel to one another.

    Very strange indeed when I think about it.
    Edited by 1 at 29/11/06 @ 12:26

  • Steroyd #40 5 years ago

    (5) Ocarina of Time. I can't be the only person who felt this on was a bit empty and a bit too spacious. Talk about fishing up tri-force in WindWaker, what about those damn Skulltullas!

    Not only did you label number 5 twice, but the Gold Skulltulas weren't something you HAD to find like the triforce pieces.

    Although i used a cheat/exploit to get all 100 the reward at the end was crap i think it was a Bombchu refill if you wanted to know.

  • varsas #41 5 years ago

    @Steroyd: I guess I'm quite lucky in that I have a good number of male cousins my age or younger and so are interested in gaming!

    Wrt the online service, Nintendo's servers automatically match you up with players. With other online services you normally have to create a game/match room and wait for people to join; you also normally see lots of lurkers around the lobby who don't join and lots of half full rooms; taking that aspect away from users makes it more seemless but it doesn't engender much of a community.

    I don't think the DS will need to be patched at all. The Wii should be able to act as an access point like the ones you see in the shops, the demo pods. It's meant to be able to distribute DS demos from what I've read.

    @Pac: I don't think we know just yet but I think it should work because I've seen a video of someone playing emulation games on the Wii by using an Action Replay. I hope the Freeloader works!

    @nightsparkle: You're saying the LTTP is worse the TLOZ?

  • Roamer #42 5 years ago

    Almost brought a tear to my eye reading that. Best written Zelda retrospective ever?

  • SlackMaster #43 5 years ago

    Minish Cap and Majoras mask were probably the only two Zelda games I couldn't play through. Link to the Past was probably my favourite Zelda. OoT was great thos although I prefer Wind Waker.

  • Tiger_Walts #44 5 years ago

    My Four Swords thread. I played with kids as young as 8 who had never played a Zelda game before and they picked it up instantly.

  • Steroyd #45 5 years ago

    Damn you varsas I knew people with gameboys and love games... just not Zelda.

    and yes I have disowned them.

  • andyk #46 5 years ago

    Majora's Mask is my favourite - What about the tree at the end with the Skull Kid! I so wasn't expecting to see that. Very poignant.

    I too did not collect the tri-force pieces in WW. Are they at random locations, or does someone have a link to a good map/walkthrough with descriptions of where they are? Would love to see the ending, but just can't bring myself to sail around trying to remember the geography.

  • Tiger_Walts #47 5 years ago

    andyk: I'm pretty sure they are at fixed locations bar the ghost ship one. You should be able to find a treasure map or another method for each one and another map to help find the ghost ship.
    Edited by 1 at 29/11/06 @ 14:11

  • Moonprince #48 5 years ago

    Although the Tri-Force part of the game is a right bore, the Gannon boss fight in WW, for me, is the best one so far in any Zelda game.

  • AcidSnake #49 5 years ago

    The triforce pieces are in fixed locations...
    And are actually there the whole time, problem is to keep you away from them the waters are filled with sharks...
    Until you actually need to find them, then the sharks just disappear...Migrating to the south is my guess...

  • Keza #50 5 years ago

    I guess I'm quite lucky in that I have a good number of male cousins my age or younger and so are interested in gaming!

    I played it through with my girlfriends. My best mate and I had been playing Zelda since we were little kiddies, but Four Swords was the first experience of the series for the other two people in our party - and they had a fantastic time with it.

  • Danbojones Verified Senior Staff Writer, GamesIndustry.biz #51 5 years ago

    @floppylobster: I'm pretty sure that the Zelda song you mentioned was done by Mike Patton or Mr Bungle, spose soad might have covered it though...

    http://ww w.sinteticor.com/artist_m/mr_bu...

  • pretence #52 5 years ago

    Zelda is a bit like heroin... You'll always remember your first hit.... The first time you come to terms with the game play mechanics... Unforgettable

    Nice article, very emotive!

    .... but em.... the em ... cough cough.... review....? 0_o

    /realises it won't be today..... weeps

  • Moonprince #53 5 years ago

    Winners don't use drugs!

  • pretence #54 5 years ago

    ... or don't get caught ....;)

  • Moonprince #55 5 years ago

    Heh ;)

    Just in case, you did play arcade games in late 80's early 90's riiight?

  • smelly #56 5 years ago

    Minish cap : too hard/too long
    Wind waker : too easy/too short

    TP : Just right

    Although I'd have prefered TP to have WW style graphics. And more "town exploration" ala WW/OT, And not take so long to "get going"

    So TP is brilliant, but by no means perfect (but what game is?)

  • Steroyd #57 5 years ago

    Minish cap... too hard?
    ... too long?

    What Minish cap did you play?

  • smelly #58 5 years ago

    Maybe i was in a drunk addled stooper when i played it.

    But its the only zelda i've ever gotten REALLY stuck on and had to resort to using a faq :-)

    Maybe because it was handheld game i just didnt bother so much? Dunno.


  • smelly #59 5 years ago

    Oh, and I've played most of the zelda series (inc 4 swords), but never the 2nd one.

    My favourite is drawn between OOT and the snes one. BUT TP might be up there (not finished it yet.. think i'm about to do the last boss 40 hours in)

  • pretence #60 5 years ago

    @ Moonprince .... I did.... I get it buddy, I get it...:)

  • Raiftel #61 5 years ago

    Wow, I never knew Majora's Mask was so popular. I remember buying it for Christmas years ago and just having a blast playing it even abandoning my family at the dinner table to have another crack at the swamp level. While at first it was a little clunky and confusing as soon as you got used to everything it offered up some of the richest gameplay the series had. I still have fond memories of Snowhead Mountain, the mad beaver race, the Gerudo fortress and the mad vertical climb to Stone Head temple. I've just given my Gamecube and The Wind Waker to my cousin to give to her 4 year old for Xmas and all this talk is really making me miss it. Hopefully when the Wii system gets going they'll have Majora's Mask to download and maybe it'll have a graphical rehaul like Master Quest got (making it less blocky and foggy). I tried to replay MM recently and couldn't get past the graininess....

  • sonmi451 #62 5 years ago

    bollocks to Nintendo. i cannot believe they're releasing the GC Zelda a week after the Wii Zelda. ok, it's only an extra week on top of a two year wait, but it still pisses me off.

  • fletch93 #63 5 years ago



    I was enjoying the article until I got to "Despite this human aspect, Majora's Mask is a lonely game. Link is disorientated..."

    Disorientated is not a word. I do believe you're looking for "disoriented". I would expect anyone writing for a respectable website would have a decent grasp of the English language. It's almost as bad as the people who say "For all intensive purposes"...