Is Zelda going downhill?

[Brainst0rm]

Hey guys, first thread on these forums for me. Be gentle?

So: do you think the Zelda series has gone downhill the past few years (from Wind Waker onward, let's say)? Will we ever surpass Ocarina of Time, or was Twilight Princess the greatest thing since the invention of the action-platforming-puzzle game?

I'm asking because I just finished Spirit Tracks, and loved it as well as any Zelda I've played. And although it was critically not received as well as Phantom Hourglass, I liked Spirit Tracks a LOT more. Childhood fantasies of being a train conductor aside - it was more challenging, and didn't have the Temple of the Sea God of the Worst Idea Ever Implemented into a Video Game.

I'd hate for this to just be a matter of whether or not you like the cel-shaded style, so don't make it that

 

[Daxrus]

I'd say that, while I'll always be a major fan of Link to the Past, the new DS ones are nice.

 

[Composer]

i consider the games linear
they've stayed the same which is fine with me

 

[General_Potatoes]

They'll never go downhill. there such great games

 

[BlumiereBleck]

I played Twilight Princess for the gamecube and found it to be the best Zelda game i've ever played. But all this toon link bull is causing the series to die, i think nintendo should stop it now, but hey that's like convincing the earth to stop moving.

 

[lacktheknack]

ANY series automatically goes downhill after four or five entries. It's almost a law at this point.

 

[WorldCritic]

Personally, I liked Twilight Princess the best. It's just a shame that Nintendo don't really care for innovation, I mean they don't really need it since their games are so popular but sooner or later people will get bored with them.

 

[Plurralbles]

no. Ocarina is insultingly overrated. I loved the wind waker. It was awesome.Twilight Princess was easyl but it completely was awesome and was a perfect spiritual successor to ocarina an dhad a lot of additions that improved the franchise.

 

[Generator]

Twilight Princess seemed more like a remake of Ocarina than anything, just like Ocarina was essentially a remake of A Link to the Past, and that was a remake of the original. Granted, there are some vast differences between each, but it seems like whenever Nintendo gets their hands on some radically new hardware, they feel like they need to fall back into that formulaic Zelda.

As far as best goes, it's entirely subjective so I can't really say; my personal favorite is Majora's Mask, but I know a lot of people couldn't get into the time system. But I'd wait for the next Zelda game (the one that's allegedly coming out for the Wii later this year, though I kind of doubt it) before reserving judgment on the series' fate, as apparently major innovations are to take place.

 

[Amnestic]

ITT: Nostalgia-gilded rose-tinted glasses.

They're not going downhill at all, you just remember the earlier ones more fondly because of your nostalgia.

 

[LeonLethality]

OoT was surpassed by its sequel Majora's Mask.
And they are not going downhill at all. They are as good as they ever where.

though I will say this: leave the handheld ones to Capcom, Minish Cap was amazing.

 

[CoverYourHead]

After Majora's Mask no Zelda game has grabbed my attention so well, held it for so long, and brought me back so many times.

Damn it all I freakin' love that game.

 

[Biosophilogical]

I've only played two (Link's Awakening and Twilight Prinecss), so I'm a bad judge, but I thoroughly enjoyed both and am currently replaying TP.

 

[Lust]

I'd say that, while I'll always be a major fan of Link to the Past, the new DS ones are nice.

Same here, A Link to the Past will always be my favorite, Ocarina coming in second. Hopefully a new installment will have me giddy with excitement. I'd like to see Link tough it out on his lonesome again.

 

[Feste the Jester]

I would definetely not say they are going downhill. The games still largely feel really fun. However, I'm really hoping that the new Zelda can throw in some fresh ideas to really take the series forward.

 

[Souplex]

Let's consider: Ocarina of time is the nadir (Not counting CDI) of the series. Minish cap is the zenith. Minish cap was after Ocarina of time. Therefore; Zelda is improving.

 

[Avatar Roku]

I don't really consider it as downhill, I just consider as making a few mistakes after they made Wind Waker, the best Zelda game.

Agreed, Wind Waker is my current favorite, I love it so.

I played Twilight Princess for the gamecube and found it to be the best Zelda game i've ever played. But all this toon link bull is causing the series to die, i think nintendo should stop it now, but hey that's like convincing the earth to stop moving.

Out of curiosity, have you played one of the Zelda games with Toon Link? Because they're amazing, don't let the graphics get in your way.

no. Ocarina is insultingly overrated. I loved the wind waker. It was awesome.Twilight Princess was easyl but it completely was awesome and was a perfect spiritual successor to ocarina an dhad a lot of additions that improved the franchise.

Ha, I actually love that TP was easy, I'm using it as an intro to gaming for my girlfriend. It's just the right mix of ease and epicness.

 

[Brainst0rm]

Twilight Princess seemed more like a remake of Ocarina than anything, just like Ocarina was essentially a remake of A Link to the Past, and that was a remake of the original. Granted, there are some vast differences between each, but it seems like whenever Nintendo gets their hands on some radically new hardware, they feel like they need to fall back into that formulaic Zelda.

As far as best goes, it's entirely subjective so I can't really say; my personal favorite is Majora's Mask, but I know a lot of people couldn't get into the time system. But I'd wait for the next Zelda game (the one that's allegedly coming out for the Wii later this year, though I kind of doubt it) before reserving judgment on the series' fate, as apparently major innovations are to take place.

I hadn't noticed that before, but you're totally right. Even Phantom Hourlgass, with it's radical new control scheme, stuck to the basic formula and the tried and true sailing mechanic. If this new Zelda is to be the Wii's equivalent of Majora's Mask, then I'm even more hyped for E3 that I already was.

Oh, and Majora's Mask is my favorite as well :3