The Definitive Legend of Zelda Review Thread 2008

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

It's back! The Definitive Legend of Zelda Review Thread makes a triumphant return to The Hylia to pit every Zelda game against each other to find out once-and-for-all (or, for this year at least) what is the best Zelda game of them all?

For those who played along last year, the rules remain unchanged. For those who are new (or need a refresher), here's the rules:

We have 14 Zelda games. The official games. All you have to do is rank them in order of your favourite, to your least favourite. In Eurovision style, your top game gets 13 points. Your second game gets 12 points. Your third game, 11 points. And so on, all the way to your final game which unfortunately gets nil points. Unlucky 14... (That worked better last year with only 13 games to rank, obviously. )

Don't worry about adding your score to previous posts or whatever- or even including the pts in brackets. So long as your order is clear enough to read. I'll monitor this all myself and make a regular update on the running scores for each in an Excel Spreadsheet of Wonder. When the game closes (September 1st at present), the final scores will be revealed and the definitive rankings of the Zelda games according to Hylia users will be revealed.

Want to see what I mean? Well, normally I would give a demonstration myself with my list, but at the moment that just ain't possible. I'll explain why another day. Hopefully though, one of the "old hands" of the Defintives will be able to show how it should be done. But hopefully, you get the idea.

Comments and discussion of people's lists is welcome, but I'd rather the flaming was kept to a minimum (like, there was none). This thread is all about opinions, no matter how crazy they may be.

Recap of the rules:
- List all the Zelda official Zelda games (reminder below) from 1 to 14. 1 being your favourite, 14 your least favourite. Haven't played them all? Well, you've got the Summer or make some educated judgements.
- Don't worry about working out points, I can handle that.
- Discuss and comment on lists as much or as little as you want, but don't go hurting anyone's feelings.
- Post your list only once, and give it totally honestly. There is to be no score changing unless in very exceptional circumstances.
- Closing Date for Entries: September 1st 2008 (Although this may change, this gives you at least the Summer to catch up with any games you may have missed and old and new members can join in the fun.)

Recap of the games:

- The Legend of Zelda (NES) - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES) - A Link to the Past (SNES) -
- Link's Awakening (GB) - Ocarina of Time (N64) - Majora's Mask (N64) -
- Oracle of Ages (GBC) - Oracle of Seasons (GBC) - The Wind Waker (GC) -
- Four Swords (GBA) - Four Swords Adventures (GC) - The Minish Cap (GBA) -
- Twilight Princess (GC/Wii) - Phantom Hourglass (DS) -

[Glyphic Facade]

Yippi !!

1) Ocarina of Time
2) Links Awakening DX
3) Majora's Mask
4) Oracle of Ages
5) Wind Waker
6) Oracle of Seasons
7) A Link to the Past
8 ) The Minish Cap
9) Zelda I
10) Twilight Princess
11) Phantom Hourglass
12) Four Swords GBA ( As a mini-game, it's cute )
13) Zelda II
14) Four Swords Adventures ( that crappy GameCube version )

[Negoogunogumbar]

(01.) A Link to the Past (SNES)
(02.) Ocarina of Time (N64)
(03.) Majora's Mask (N64)
(04.) The Wind Waker (GC)
(05.) The Legend of Zelda (NES)
(06.) Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
(07.) Link's Awakening (GB)
(08.) Phantom Hourglass (DS)
(09.) Twilight Princess (GC/Wii)
(10.) Oracle of Ages (GBC)
(11.) Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
(12.) The Minish Cap (GBA)
(13.) Four Swords Adventures (GC)
(14.) Four Swords (GBA)

You forgot the 's' at the end of FSA by the way. Also I feel really bad because I don't think anyone is going to give the original two games the respect that they deserve. Example A:

12) Four Swords GBA ( As a mini-game, it's cute )
13) Zelda II

This is just wrong in every possible way.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

You forgot the 's' at the end of FSA by the way.

Thanks Negoo. Now hitting myself since I checked through the post three times for typos before posting but still managed to get a  in there...

[SmashBrawlZelda]

Entering my first Definitive...!

Hmm, ok lets see:

1 - A Link to the Past (SNES)
2 - Majora’s Mask
3 - Ocarina of Time
4 - The Wind Waker (GC)
5 - Link’s Awakening (GB)
6 - Phantom Hourglass (DS)
7 - Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
8 - Oracle of Ages (GBC)
9 - Twilight Princess (GC)
10 - The Minish Cap (GBA)
11 - The Legend of Zelda (NES)
12 - Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
13 - Four Swords Adventures (GC)
14 - Four Swords (GBA)

[Fairy penguin]

1 Majora's Mask
2 Links Awakening DX
3 The Wind Waker
4 Four Swords Adventures
5 Adventure of Link
6 The Minish Cap
7 Phantom Hourglass
8 Twilight Princess
9 Legend of Zelda
10 Oracle of Seasons
11 Oracle of Ages
12 Four Swords
13 Link to the Past
14 Ocarina of Time

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

10 Oracle of Seasons
11 Oracle of Seasons

Oops, FP?

[Glyphic Facade]

Also I feel really bad because I don't think anyone is going to give the original two games the respect that they deserve. Example A:

12) Four Swords GBA ( As a mini-game, it's cute )
13) Zelda II

This is just wrong in every possible way.

What are you talking about, Zelda II was freakin' annoying and frustrating. I don't hate it, but I don't consider it anything special.

1 Majora's Mask
2 Links Awakening DX
3 The Wind Waker
4 Four Swords Adventures
5 Adventure of Link
6 The Minish Cap
7 Phantom Hourglass
8 Twilight Princess
9 Legend of Zelda
10 Oracle of Seasons
11 Oracle of Seasons
12 Four Swords
13 Link to the Past
14 Ocarina of Time

Wha.....WHAT!! Ocarina in 14th !!?? FLAME WAR TIME..............Lol.
But seriously, how can the greatest game ever made be on someones worst zelda game rank??

[hupla]

Majora's Mask (N64)
Link's Awakening (GB)
Ocarina of Time (N64)
A Link to the Past (SNES)
The Wind Waker (GC)
 Phantom Hourglass (DS)
 Twilight Princess (GC/Wii)
Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
The Minish Cap (GBA
Four Swords Adventures (GC)
Oracle of Ages (GBC)
Four Swords (GBA)

[Negoogunogumbar]

People seem to be making typos after Link's Awakening. Is DX some obscure emoticon that I'm not aware of at the moment? Seriously though, black and white is the only way to play.

Majora's Mask (N64)
Link's Awakening (GB)
The Wind Waker (GC)
Ocarina of Time (N64)
A Link to the Past (SNES)
Phantom Hourglass (DS)
Twilight Princess (GC/Wii)
Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
The Minish Cap (GBA
Four Swords Adventures (GC)
Oracle of Ages (GBC)
Four Swords (GBA) 

How was Oracle of Ages that much worse than Seasons? They were pretty much the same game.

What are you talking about, Zelda II was freakin' annoying and frustrating. I don't hate it, but I don't consider it anything special.

Zelda II was difficult, but it wasn't overly so if you tried. And even if you don't find it to be special there is no reason to put it behind the virtually unplayable Four Swords.

[hupla]

Majora's Mask (N64)
Link's Awakening (GB)
The Wind Waker (GC)
Ocarina of Time (N64)
A Link to the Past (SNES)
Phantom Hourglass (DS)
Twilight Princess (GC/Wii)
Oracle of Seasons (GBC)
The Legend of Zelda (NES)
Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
The Minish Cap (GBA
Four Swords Adventures (GC)
Oracle of Ages (GBC)
Four Swords (GBA) 

How was Oracle of Ages that much worse than Seasons? They were pretty much the same game.

I hate the charcters and dungeons in ages. And Din is in seassons.

[NinJa]

1. Ocarina of Time.
2. Twilight Princess.
3. The Wind Waker.
4. Majoras Mask.
5. Phantom Hourglass.
6. A Link to the Past.
7. The Minish Cap.
8. Four Swords.
9. Four Swords Adventures.
10. Links Awakening.
11. The Legend of Zelda.
12. Oracle of Ages.
13. Oracle of Seasons.
14. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link.

[Poewarrior]

Yay!  I will inject my opinions into you all!

1.  Majora's Mask
2.  Link's Awakening
3.  A Link to the Past
4.  Ocarina of Time
5.  Wind Waker
6.  Phantom Hourglass
7.  Twilight Princess
8.  Four Swords Adventures
9.  Oracle of Seasons
10.  Oracle of Ages
11.  Minish Cap
12.  Legend of Zelda
13.  Adventure of Link
14.  Four Swords 

[Faceless]

1. Ocarina of Time
2. The Wind Waker
3. Majora's Mask
4. Link's Awakenning
5. Phantom Hourglass
6. A Link to the Past
7. The Minish Cap
8. Twilight Princess
9. The Adventure of Link
10. Oracle of Seasons
11. Oracle of Ages
12. The Legend of Zelda
13. Four Swords Adventures
14. Four Swords

This list was really difficult for me this time around.

I almost want to switch TWW and MM around, but every time I do I can't help switching them back with the feeling I'm not giving TWW justice.

PH and ALttP was another difficult one for me. I loved the control scheme of PH, and it felt really fresh, but ALttP has always been a favourite of mine and in the end it was a toss up between the two.

MC and TP was yet again a difficult one for me... There are parts of TP I loved, and parts I loathed. In the end I gave it to MC for consistancy, a hint of originality and because I love the way it looks.

The others just fell into place.

[hisak]

Ballot coming....right after my PH playthrough. Which should be sometime this summer.

1 Majora's Mask
13 Link to the Past
14 Ocarina of Time

See now, I don't think you get the point of the thread. It's to get people's actual opinions, not to go to extreme lengths to make sure your favorite game wins. Because I have yet to hear an opinion for putting OoT and/or ALttP last that doesn't involve "THAR NOT AS GOOD AS MAJORA BUT MOAR PEOPLE LYKE THEM BETTER SO THEY SUCK". From what I remember, people's opinions weren't put into any edition of either game. Stop acting like they are.

[Ezlo's Apprentice]

*agrees with hisak*

I also find it very hard to believe that you could rank two very accessible, incredibly deep games lower than one which you have admitted is virtually unplayable:

... FS is on there? Who the hell wrote this? *finds idiot and goes stab-happy*"A game many fans cherish"?! How are we supposed to cherish that we can barely play?

I wasn't sure about your voting for ALttP last year to be honest:

13= A Link to the Past. I nver liked it, since it was so short, and it had the same basic plot as LOZ, since it's still save the princess.

12 Dungeons = Short? Save the princess = Same storyline as every Zelda game, barring one (curiously enough, MM).

I could let it slide, but then there's reducing OoT from 5th to 14th. Which will require quite a bit of justification.

Further digging into the last competiton, I come up with this from the Results thread:

*Despises OoTs spot, will always despise it now because of overratedness".

Now, this does seem to confirm hisak's theory that you're deliberately exaggerating your negative score for OoT to influence the outcome... I would rather not get all hardass with this and get everyone's opinion fairly, and most importantly have fun doing it. But such seemingly obvious attempts to manipulate the result of the competition will not be tolerated. Unless you can seriously justify this placement I may have to void your ballot, FP.

Lighter note: Thanks to everyone who has posted their ballots so promptly.

[SmashBrawlZelda]

1 Majora's Mask
2 Links Awakening DX
3 The Wind Waker
4 Four Swords Adventures
5 Adventure of Link
6 The Minish Cap
7 Phantom Hourglass
8 Twilight Princess
9 Legend of Zelda
10 Oracle of Seasons
11 Oracle of Seasons
12 Four Swords
13 Link to the Past
14 Ocarina of Time

:O

*EDIT:  Just curious....what was/is it about these two games that you placed them last for?

Wha.....WHAT!! Ocarina in 14th !!?? FLAME WAR TIME..............Lol.

I really will have to agree. XD

Those two were just....too epic to be placed....well, last.

[Fairy penguin]

MM- Great game. Loved it.
LA- one of the more original storylines, some great characters, etc.
TWW I like the sailing. I don't like Ganon much, but for some reason I never really thought of him as the villian. It was easy, but fun.
FSA- I really liked the Death mountain, coast, and several other levels. Plus having four Links all with bows versus a hoard of enemies.
AoL- I liked learning moves and just found the game enjoyable
TMC- is playing it three times through enough reason to put it here?
PH- I liked manually steering the boat in TWW, and Bellum wasn't that good, but I liked its control scheme.
TP- Interesting how I put this as 1st last year and no one called me on that even though it fell nearly as far as OoT, but anyway- Has some great level design, but when enemies are this stupid (smashing into walls WTF), and the way Ganon got in, It seriously decreased.

LoZ- not much in the way of story, but it was still good, but not as good as the ones listed above.
OoS- I like action better than puzzles. Rocs cape is good.
OoA (fixed my other one) I played it through and thought it had a pretty good end sequence, but not as good as OoS
FS- I didn't play it much (What am I supposed to do when the one person I know who has the game doesn't like it?), but what I did play, I thought was rather good. I'm not going to put it very high because I couldn't play it that long.
LttP- Honestly, I didn't like any levels except the second one and the ice dungeon in the dark world, but I thought the overworlds were put together very well, and many of the items were fun.
OoT- After all those, this just fell to the bottom. It had its good moments (2nd level, Spirit temple) and brought in Zoras as a good species, I don't like it any more. The dungeons reapeated themselves in style (forest, fire, water, forest fire, water), and I didn't like how the characters didn't really feel alive. When I actually look back at my memories of each game and examine them, I have the fewest good memories of OoT.

So tell me- why does it matter what I said last year? Is it so hard for you to accept that I'm a very different person?    

So are we going to start interrogating everyone who has a dissenting view from the rest of the community?

[Poewarrior]

To Fairy Penguin:

Yes yes, 'tis your opinion and I don't mean to say that they are invalid... but I don't see how ALTTP and OOT are on a lower rank than the two NES games.  ALTTP is the original LOZ plus tons more.  It has essentially everything that LOZ has, and then adds tons of awesome new stuff (e.g. walking diagonally!!! :O :O :O, lots more dungeons!  An explosm of inventory items!)  and OOT is like 3-D ALTTP.  Can't go too wrong there. 

[hisak]

OoT- After all those, this just fell to the bottom. It had its good moments (2nd level, Spirit temple) and brought in Zoras as a good species, I don't like it any more. The dungeons reapeated themselves in style (forest, fire, water, forest fire, water), and I didn't like how the characters didn't really feel alive. When I actually look back at my memories of each game and examine them, I have the fewest good memories of OoT.

That's better than what I expected, but that doesn't explain why TWW (which had two forest-themed dungeons), LA (with only two or three decent NPCs), AoL, LoZ (neither of which had any good NPCs), TMC (which repeated the wind theme), and FS (which isn't playable) don't fall under the same scrutiny.