What Legend of Zelda game is the best?

[Gunstar Hero]

I was playing the original Legend of Zelda last night, and wondered, "which Legend of Zelda game is the most enjoyable?" Out of the possibly five games I've played, I enjoy the original the most. What do you think? Remember, any Legend of Zelda game counts. Debates are welcome, and please use facts, figures, or opinions to support your choice.

[Leo_A]

I think the best game in the series (And certainly the best 2D game) is Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo.

And while the love for it seems to have dampened among some over the past almost 15 years, I still say Ocarina of Time is the best 3D entry in the series and the 2nd best game in the franchise.

Skyward Sword is well liked today, but I suspect it will find its true place in people's favorites list once a few years have gone by. And it won't be above these two games.

[Cryomancer]

My vote would go to either LTTP, Awakening, or 4 Swords on Gamecube. Damn 4 Swords is awesome, they should have made arcade cabinets for that game.

[Hawksmoor]

What sort of facts or figures could one possibly cite to justify any answer to your question? Which Zelda game is best is a completely subjective determination. I'm partial to Link's Awakening for the original Gameboy, but I don't have any facts or figures to back that up.

[Tupin]

Best 2D Console Game: A Link to the Past
Best Handheld Game: Tie between Oracle of Ages/Seasons and Link's Awakening DX
Best 3D Game: Windwaker, with Majora's Mask a close second.

The only ones that aren't good are the CD-i and DS ones. Avoid those.

[Gunstar Hero]

What sort of facts or figures could one possibly cite to justify any answer to your question? Which Zelda game is best is a completely subjective determination. I'm partial to Link's Awakening for the original Gameboy, but I don't have any facts or figures to back that up.

Facts and figures could include copies sold, or perhaps if it found itself a spot on a top ten, or got a magazine article written about it, or what it's rating was from different game magazines/websites. This helps to prove that the game being talked about deserves the title of the best game for the franchise.

[RPG_Fanatic]

I would have to say the Super Nintendo's The Legend Of Zelda Link To The Past is the best Zelda game ever made.

[Gunstar Hero]

I think the best game in the series (And certainly the best 2D game) is Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo.

And while the love for it seems to have dampened among some over the past almost 15 years, I still say Ocarina of Time is the best 3D entry in the series and the 2nd best game in the franchise.

Skyward Sword is well liked today, but I suspect it will find its true place in people's favorites list once a few years have gone by. And it won't be above these two games.

I enjoy Link To The Past, however I feel it does not quite create the same feeling that the original does. Maybe it's that whole Light world, Dark world thing that throws me off. And as for ocarina of time, I feel that that should have been part of a different franchise entirely because it doesn't use the same gameplay style at all like the original and LTTP and some others do. But that's ok because Nintendo must've played the right move with ocarina of time, because it was the best selling zelda game to date, with of course my favorite the original coming in at second.

[Edmond Dantes]

"Zelda, what is best in life?"

"To slay Octoroks, see the Tektites driven before you and hear the grumblings of the Moblins!"

[SpaceHarrier]

I would have to say the Super Nintendo's The Legend Of Zelda Link To The Past is the best Zelda game ever made.

I would have to agree with this.

[Gunstar Hero]

I would have to say the Super Nintendo's The Legend Of Zelda Link To The Past is the best Zelda game ever made.

At first I was hesitant about playing this game again as I haven't played it for years because I was stuck at a part but now I picked it up and beat the part I was stuck on and now I realize how great of a game this is. Thank you for reminding me of this!!!

[nickerous]

My favorite? Link's Awakening DX for GameBoy Color. Amazing.

[frogofdeath]

Link's Awakening - especially given the fact that Zelda isn't even in the game. Now if only I could figure out the second part on backing up my purely subjective choice.

While not my favorite, I also must say that Wind Waker is quite underrated.

[old man]

A Link to the Past is the best Zelda game IMO.

[substantial_snake]

Definitely going to say Links Awakening as my all time favorite with Link to the Past coming in a super close second.

Links to the Past followed the trend for me of the Super Nintendo literally being a "Super" Nintendo in that the games in many ways were very similar but better in pretty much every way to there predecessors. I enjoyed the music, action and light story elements much more then in the NES Zelda and as a stand alone game its a fantastic way to waste a few hours. LttP is on top for me because it was the first Zelda game that I beat all the way through. I also enjoyed the characters in the game and all of the intentional third wall breaks in the game. It was a fun and solid action/adventure on the gameboy that really sucked me into the world somehow while playing it, and the ending was just awesome to my young mind.

Like any entertainment..well anything there is no "best" since its all based on personal perspective, those are just my personal favorites.

[Voliko]

I'm going to say my favorite is Minish Cap. On other days my favorite is Link's Awakening. My choice can't be backed up, I rarely see the love for Minish Cap out there :(

[JSoup]

Link's Awakening is one of my favorites, along side the Oracle games. Although, I imagine I've put more time into A Link to the Past.

[Gameguy]

I'm going to say my favorite is Minish Cap. On other days my favorite is Link's Awakening. My choice can't be backed up, I rarely see the love for Minish Cap out there :(
I liked Minish Cap overall but there were parts of it that really annoyed me, like having to match all those stones with everyone in the game which really wasted a lot of time. Some of those events are only possible at certain times in the game, if you progress too far you can't match certain stones. It just annoyed me as I tend to like completing things as much as possible so I couldn't ignore all that stuff, and I managed to miss some stuff which I can't go back for unless I start the game over again.

Out of the Zelda games I've played I'm going with Link's Awakening, it's the first one I've played and still the one I enjoy the most. I haven't played LTTP yet, it's still on my to do list.

[JSoup]

I liked Minish Cap overall but there were parts of it that really annoyed me, like having to match all those stones with everyone in the game which really wasted a lot of time.

I remember thinking "Would it really have been that hard to code in a check list for this shit?"

[Kal Zakath]

I'm partial to A Link to the Past. I really enjoyed Ocarina of Time, too, but for some reason every time I go back to replay it I get to about the first Hyrule Castle part at the beginning of the game and I'm like 'Man, I don't feel like dealing with this right now' so I give up.

[Aussie2B]

I've only beaten the first five (which are the only ones I'd consider "essential" anyway), and, really, I could go with any of the first four because each serves its own purpose. If I'm in the mood for pure exploration and adventure, there's the first Zelda. If I'm in the mood for challenging action and swordplay, there's Zelda II. And if I'm in the mood for a more polished, breezy experience with more story and direction, there are ALttP and Link's Awakening.

But if I had to pick a favorite, I'd probably go with Link's Awakening. It's basically ALttP all over again but with a lot more personality. It has a very strange, captivating, almost depressing atmosphere. As you get further in the game and learn more, you more and more start thinking "What am I doing...?" Like you feel as if you're doing something horribly wrong, but you know you must keep pursuing your task at hand. If you find it fun to be a jerk in games, you probably wouldn't care, but if you're like me and prefer to always do the right thing and be a good guy, it's a little unsettling. Not that I think Link is a bad guy in Link's Awakening. I don't think he fully realizes what he's doing and realizes that it must be done anyway. Well, enough with the deep analysis of Link's Awakening, haha.

A Link to the Past, on the other hand, feels kind of derivative to me. Like it's just the Zelda formula and nothing more. I know the problem is on my end, though, as I have to remind myself that it's the game that created the formula, so it's actually very innovative. The problem is that I never played through A Link to the Past until just this past year. It's definitely a great game, but there are plenty of adventure games that have made a bigger impression on me, as Link's Awakening did (although even then I'm not a huge fan of the Zelda series). But Link's Awakening has the advantage because it was the first Zelda game that I ever personally owned myself and played to completion.

[NE146]

As much as I love LTTP, I think Link's Awakening is the superior game. And why not? It's essentially LTTP part 2. It is the direct sequel of LTTP and was an attempt to get the essentials and improve upon that very game and it's design, but in the portable Gameboy world... which of course it did.

Link to the Past is great but I have a hard time forgetting things in it which make it easy to complete. For Link's Awakening I can go about a decade and certain parts of it get rusty in my mind, so it gets enjoyable to play again. LOL

[Ninja_with_ Glasses]

I'm gonna have to say the original.

[djshok]

I'd say Link To The Past followed by Minish Cap for GBA.

[Baloo]

Hard to choose between the 2D ones. I love both Zelda I and Zelda II, Link's Awakening on GB was a fantastic game as well. Link To The Past I've started but haven't gotten very far into yet. It seems fun though. Also just managed to get a copy of Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons for GBC, so I'm hoping that's entertaining as well.

Never found any of the 3D ones to be nearly as fun as the originals though.

[treismac]

While I have never been a huge Zelda fan, per say, I had probably some of the most fun of my video game life harassing chickens in A Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo. :) Good stuff.

[jb143]

The only ones that aren't good are the CD-i and DS ones. Avoid those.

I wouldn't lump the DS games in with the CD-i ones. Sure, I thought that playing Zelda with a stylus would kill the experience but after a few minutes I found it wasn't so bad. The games themselves were fairly enjoyable. I like them a bit better than Ages and Seasons at least.

Anyways, I'd say LTTP followed by the original would be my top favorites.

[BydoEmpire]

I haven't played every Zelda. I like the franchise, but I don't follow it religiously. I have played the original, Zelda 2, LttP, Ocarina of Time, Four Swords, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess.

I'm going out on a limb and picking Twilight Princess. I just loved the dungeons, the characters, the art direction, the pacing, controls, perfect difficulty level... everything about it was complete class. It had everything I want from an action/adventure, polished to a perfection. One of my favorite Wii games, and my favorite Zelda. After that, I'd probably say the original. Mostly because of what it was when it was released, but it also stands up as a fun game.

[TonyTheTiger]

I also have to go with A Link to the Past. It expanded the scope from the original and the series really hasn't substantially changed since. All it's done is grown in scale, which I think comes with some sacrifices, namely that many dungeons in more recent games feel padded to all hell. If I have to pick a favorite among the 3D games I'll probably go with Twilight Princess. While it suffers from "too damn long" syndrome, it doesn't suffer from the sluggishness that Ocarina of Time can sometimes succumb to.

[Frankie_Says_Relax]

I'm a sucker for the NES original. If I feel the itch to go back and play one, it's typically that one.

But if the question is: which game in the series is the "best"/has the mechanics that best represent The Legend of Zelda I'd say: A Link to the Past.

[kupomogli]

Zelda 2 with Link's Awakening and the original Zelda following very close behind. For your standard Zelda style and not counting Zelda 2 though, it'd be Link's Awakening.

I've played through the game quite a few times, half the time getting all the seashells for the level 2 sword, but always getting the boomerang so doesn't matter. Like a lot of people probably did, I found out the teleportation trick on my first playthrough because I'd follow the map a lot to see where I was going so I didn't miss anywhere, and then boom, was at the other side because I checked my map during screen changes. It was a really fun game with a lot of cool secrets to it. Stealing is bad, but it was awesome the first time I've done it on this game. I never buy the bow, but I also never step back into the store after I steal it.

One game that gets a lot of praise and I think is the worst in the series though is actually Link to the Past. I've tried to play through the game multiple times, and I've only got to the second dungeon at most. The game just bores me. I always restart a game when it's a long time that I haven't played it, and Link to the Past is no exception. It might be because of how boring the beginning of the game is it just sets in by the time I actually get into the game or what. Not only my least favorite Zelda title, but one of my least favorite SNES games.

[BlastProcessing402]

The original is still the one I always wind up going back to. It's just got a sense of wonder and exploration that none of the rest have quite matched. And I love how you can go out of order if you want. Want to try to tackle level 2 before level 1, go ahead, try. Maybe some levels need the treasure from a previous one to get through, but at least you can give it a shot, unlike so many others where there's a strict linear progression and you can't even get to the next dungeon without beating the current one. And there just aren't any boring parts in the original. No towns full of people that never change what they say, no annoying fetch quests, no lengthy introductory segments. Just "it's dangerous to go alone, take this"

I think I'd put Link's Awakening at number 2. In pretty much every way except graphically, I thought it was better than LTTP, and considering it was on the GB, I thought that was particularly amazing.

[mobiusclimber]

Out of the ones I've played, I'd say Link to the Past, followed by Link's Awakening, followed by the original. I couldn't get into Adventure of Link when I played it, but I don't think I really gave it a fair shot. I did give Ocarina a fair shot, played in for a good many hours, and just couldn't stand it anymore. I know a lot of people consider it the best in the series but lord do I dislike that game. Couldn't get into the Oracle games either, tho they aren't bad games per se. I'd say the problem is they are Capcom games, which means they get kinda brutal pretty early. I like the Zelda series b/c they tend to ramp up in difficulty slowly so that when I do get to a part that is tough to beat, I really want to beat it and keep going, and then I can feel good about myself for sticking with it. Both the Oracle games seemed to have a tough early boss coupled with a directionless feel that just made me not want to keep playing. They also just didn't feel like Zelda games, but I can't put my finger on why. (This is also my criticism of Ocarina.) I haven't played Wind Waker but I've been told I need to. I haven't given Twilight Princess a fair shake b/c I couldn't catch a damn fish in the first hour of the game. XD I'll go back to it some day but god that was frustrating. What I played of Minish Cap I liked, but can't say it would hold my interest for a full game (felt too gimmicky) but since I haven't played more than the demo, I can't really say.

Also, I just want to make an honorable mention here for Freshly Picked: Tingle's Rosy Rupeeland. This game is seriously fun, and I'm still really pissed at the so-called Zelda "fans" who told Nintendo they didn't want it released in the U.S. Dirty fuckers.

[Gunstar Hero]

While I have never been a huge Zelda fan, per say, I had probably some of the most fun of my video game life harassing chickens in A Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo. :) Good stuff.

Summing up my childhood right there :)

[Gunstar Hero]

I'm a sucker for the NES original. If I feel the itch to go back and play one, it's typically that one.

But if the question is: which game in the series is the "best"/has the mechanics that best represent The Legend of Zelda I'd say: A Link to the Past.

That is EXACTLY how I feel. For some reason I seem to have a soft spot for the original. Since I love the 2D games so much, I would have to say the BEST one would be A Link To The Past, however my personal favorite would have to be the original... Just playing it with my custom painted NES controller and 8-Bit Zelda shirt makes me feel like the man!

[Gunstar Hero]

I agree with mobiusclimber, I just never got into Ocarina of time; maybe because it strayed so far away from the Zelda gameplay I knew and loved... Guess I'm just not too much of a 3D fan overall.

[frogofdeath]

What I loved about Ocarina of Time was the fact that I could waste so much time on aspects that had no bearing on the actual game and could still find it enjoyable. A couple friends and I spent close to 2 hours fishing in Ocarina. There were other parts as well that I just love about that game and would say it's the best if not for Link's Awakening.

[Leo_A]

I'm going to say my favorite is Minish Cap. On other days my favorite is Link's Awakening. My choice can't be backed up, I rarely see the love for Minish Cap out there :(

Count me as a big fan of the Minish Cap. It's one of my favorite Zelda games and is an excellent 2D swan song for the series (Hopefully a temporary one thanks to their success with 2D Mario's over the past 5 years).


I liked Minish Cap overall but there were parts of it that really annoyed me, like having to match all those stones with everyone in the game which really wasted a lot of time. Some of those events are only possible at certain times in the game, if you progress too far you can't match certain stones. It just annoyed me as I tend to like completing things as much as possible so I couldn't ignore all that stuff, and I managed to miss some stuff which I can't go back for unless I start the game over again.

There is no missable Kinstone fusions in the Japanese and North American copies of the Minish Cap (And just a single one in Europe). For fusions not required in order to progress that would be impossible to do at a certain points later in the game, they're considered "shared" fusions. That means that they have have multiple possibilities to fuse with in order to account for things like characters disappearing from the game (Such as when the town emptys out late in the game). You can miss the Light Arrows upgrade though if you don't do the right things, but you'll be able to always complete every fusion in the game.

Many Zelda games have missable items going back to the original game (Although you have to be an idiot or intentionally be trying to miss things for many of them, such as losing out on some heart containers in the original by picking potions instead, and many others are terribly minor things barely worth mentioning). So the Light Arrows deal here isn't terribly unusual for the series, although it's one of the more important things that could be missed.


And as for ocarina of time, I feel that that should have been part of a different franchise entirely because it doesn't use the same gameplay style at all like the original and LTTP and some others do.

Ocarina of Time is essentially Link to the Past with a new perspective. So I don't understand what you're getting at in the slightest.

[InsaneDavid]

Neutopia.

[Leo_A]

Neutopia.

Golden Axe Warrior is better than the Neutopia games if we're going to talk about clones. :)

[Gameguy]

There is no missable Kinstone fusions in the Japanese and North American copies of the Minish Cap (And just a single one in Europe). For fusions not required in order to progress that would be impossible to do at a certain point in the game, they're considered "shared" fusions. That means they have have multiple possibilities to fuse with in order to account for things like characters disappearing from the game. You can miss the Light Arrows upgrade though if you don't do the right things, but you'll be able to always complete every fusion in the game.
Obviously the required fusions aren't missable, it's the optional ones that can be missed. Whenever you get a stone, just try fusing them with every character in every area until you happen to come across the right guy, and once a stone fuses try doing it all again with another stone and repeat the process with every stone you have with every character before going back to the actual plot. If you move ahead in the plot without doing all that you could miss out on a fusion. You have to do this every time you accomplish something in the game, some fusions only become available to do at certain times and you won't know when that is unless you keep going back to every character every time you progress in some noticeable way.

I have the official strat guide and I still missed some, mostly because I actually wanted to play the game instead of following a walkthrough step by step for the entire game. I actually haven't finished the game yet, before moving onto the last/final area I wanted to try fusing as many stones as possible as several won't be possible after I access the next part, I didn't feel like doing it then so I stopped playing. That was a few years ago, maybe I'll go back to the game soon just to beat it.

It's the most annoying type of side quest I've ever played in a Zelda game, I didn't mind the trading game in Link's Awakening(which was pretty simple and fun) but this one in Minish Cap just irritates me. I still consider Minish Cap to be a great game, it's just not my favourite Zelda game. Missing out on some secret that you don't know about is still ok, missing out on something that your menu keeps track of is really annoying.

[NE146]

I have to say though.. the Zelda game I've played the MOST is Zelda 2. Heck I still like to play it today and level up my attack to Level 7/8 or so. Then stop and play it again a year later. LOL

But as much as I love it I still consider it a Zelda side story.

[o.pwuaioc]

Link to the Past is #1 in my book, although Link's Awakening comes in at a close second. I've yet to play either Oracle games, although I just acquired them, so I'll get on that soon enough.

[Colorado Rockies]

Wind Waker is my favorite

[Camp]

Link's Awakening - especially given the fact that Zelda isn't even in the game. Now if only I could figure out the second part on backing up my purely subjective choice.

While not my favorite, I also must say that Wind Waker is quite underrated.
All of this.

[Leo_A]

Obviously the required fusions aren't missable, it's the optional ones that can be missed.

Again, that isn't correct.

None of the fusions can be missed. There will always be someone for that fusion available to fuse with (The entire point of shared fusions). The only exception is a single bug in the European release that makes one fusion (Along with a bottle and the Mirror Shield) able to be missed under the right circumstances (Remember that they got it significantly before the rest of the world) that was fixed for the Japanese and North American releases. Also remember that some fusions are "finicky". Going up to someone and not being provided the option to fuse doesn't mean there isn't a fusion available with that person. So perhaps that's what has given you the mistaken impression that some can be missed.

Do a search and you won't find any shortage of evidence that should confirm what I told you. Heck, I only ever fused when I encountered one and never sought any out until after finishing the game and I was able to 100% the fusions (Despite probably at least 75% of them being left undone until after finishing the game).

Still missing a heart piece (Although I did finish the figurine collection). I should go back and hunt that last heart piece down so it's really 100% done.

Edit - Some links to prove it.

http://www.zeldawiki.org/Permanently_Missable_Items

http://zeldadungeon.net/forum/showthread.php?19975-Guide-Missable-Items-for-100-Completion

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/920670-the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap/41390500

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/genmessage.php?board=920670&topic=46732829

http://www.gamefaqs.com/boards/920670-the-legend-of-zelda-the-minish-cap/48916896

http://www.zeldauniverse.net/forums/general-zelda/91860-permanently-missable-items-a-guide.html

http://touriantourist.blogspot.com/2011/01/missable-items-in-zelda.html