Is Zelda going downhill?

[Triskadancer]

I really disliked Phantom Hourglass. Horrible neverending temple of time-limits aside, I just found it really gimmicky and tedious. I haven't tried Spirit Tracks yet because of how much I disliked Phantom Hourglass, actually.

However, I ADORE Majora's Mask, and Wind Waker was also quite excellent. The sidequests make each game unique and interesting, and both of those had fantastic sidequests that really made the world seem alive. I recently replayed through MM and it was just as good as when I was 10 (even though I still dislike the Great Bay Temple).

 

[Avatar Roku]

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.

Although it's rather polarizing, give Wind Waker a try. It's simply amazing.

 

[Worgen]

no, twilight princess was one of the best zeldas yet

 

[ENKC]

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.

Excuse me?

And the market has been saturated with Zelda, but it has been for the best part of ten years. Who cares though, OoT is still the most acclaimed game of all time and WW is finally getting the recognition it deserves after the mostly positive but still mixed response it initially received. Basically, just enjoy each one on its merits.

 

[Mr. Fister]

Considering that Twilight Princess is my favorite game of the last decade, I'd say they're not going downhill at all.

 

[Amnestic]

OoT is still the most acclaimed game of all time

Source.

 

[TheTim]

I would have to say zelda is downhill proof imo

 

[Avatar Roku]

Considering that Twilight Princess is my favorite game of the last decade, I'd say they're not going downhill at all.

Ha, Twilight Princess is not my favorite, but I do have to say it has my favorite Zelda character: Midna. They developed her very well, she felt like a real person, with her own motives and desires, and it was interesting seeing as those motives and desires shifted. Much as I love Wind Waker, the King of Red Lions has nothing on her.

 

[Johnnyallstar]

Don't know, but I'm playing through Twilight Princess, because I finally got around to dusting my gamecube off, and it's the best zelda I've played since OoT, and it might even be better, if the nostalgia is ignored.

It's fantastic.

 

[Avatar Roku]

OoT is still the most acclaimed game of all time

Source.

Metacritic. [http://www.metacritic.com/games/platforms/n64/legendofzeldaocarina?q=ocarina%20of%20time] Far from ideal as a source, but I at least see where he's coming from.

 

[ENKC]

OoT is still the most acclaimed game of all time

Source.

Well, here for a start: http://www.gamerankings.com/browse.html
And here: http://apps.metacritic.com/search/process?ty=3&ts=&tfs=game_all&sb=5&release_date_s=&release_date_e=&metascore_s=95&metascore_e=&x=31&y=2

The two major review aggregations both have it as number one overall. What more do you want?

Not to mention numerous magazine 'best games of all time' articles and polls which I have seen.

 

[omega_peaches]

It's not going downhill.
In Fact, it has surpassed OoT...FOUR TIMES

Four Swords Adventures
Wind Waker
Twilight Princess
Majora's Mask

 

[Amnestic]

What more do you want?

Common sense from reviewers? Guess I shouldn't ask for miracles though, so hey-ho.

 

[R0cketsauce13]

Yes it gets worse and worse i miss the old one for nes and 64

 

[Avatar Roku]

What more do you want?

Common sense from reviewers? Guess I shouldn't ask for miracles though, so hey-ho.

Well, he did say most acclaimed, not best, so he was technically right, although I disagree.

Yes it gets worse and worse i miss the old one for nes and 64

What do you dislike about the newer ones? Not attacking you, just curious.

Oh, and a bit late, but Welcome to the Escapist.

 

[Silencer_007]

I've always been a fan of the Zelda games, up to and including OoT (although Link to the Past still is my overall favorite). And it's true, each game offers a new game mechanic to play with that is interesting and changes things a bit in how the game plays out.

But (and I hear the war approaching for this), at the end of the day, no matter what way they go about it, they're still just solving a Rubix Cube using different turns of the wheel. It's the same theme, with the same city locations (usually) following the same plot to kill the same guy with the same princess. I mean at a certain point you'd assume there would be SOME kind of continuity to the series, but each one is an isolated experience. Now, does this make any of the modern games less fun? I wouldn't say that. But in much the same capacity as the new Super Mario Bros. Wii title that came out, I need and beg Nintendo to at least do something different with the classic game franchises other than what has already been done to death over and over again.

Again, I'm actually a big fan of Zelda. But I'm just tired of stomping all over Gannon time and time again waiting for him to take the hint and JUST FREAKING DIE ALREADY.

 

[Razely]

I wish the new Wii Zelda would take a lean toward the same atmosphere as MM had. The game was so gripping, haunting, eerie, depressing..... oh I could go on. I loved MM for the atmosphere and I'd love if Nintendo introduced a reincarnation of that. As long as its more challenging than TP too....

 

[ENKC]

What more do you want?

Common sense from reviewers? Guess I shouldn't ask for miracles though, so hey-ho.

Well, he did say most acclaimed, not best, so he was technically right, although I disagree.

Just to be clear, you disagree that it is worth those scores?

And to be clear with Amnestic, you're not disagreeing with me either. It *is* the most acclaimed game of all time, as evidenced. I offered no opinion on its worthiness for that title. Like anyone, I have a comprehensive list of favourite games, but people aren't likely to give them 100% scores.

One other point though. It's dangerous territory to use the term 'common sense' as equating with 'agreement with my opinion'. I don't see how 'common sense' has any relevance to OoT's review scores.

 

[Avatar Roku]

I've always been a fan of the Zelda games, up to and including OoT (although Link to the Past still is my overall favorite). And it's true, each game offers a new game mechanic to play with that is interesting and changes things a bit in how the game plays out.

But (and I hear the war approaching for this), at the end of the day, no matter what way they go about it, they're still just solving a Rubix Cube using different turns of the wheel. It's the same theme, with the same city locations (usually) following the same plot to kill the same guy with the same princess. I mean at a certain point you'd assume there would be SOME kind of continuity to the series, but each one is an isolated experience. Now, does this make any of the modern games less fun? I wouldn't say that. But in much the same capacity as the new Super Mario Bros. Wii title that came out, I need and beg Nintendo to at least do something different with the classic game franchises other than what has already been done to death over and over again.

Again, I'm actually a big fan of Zelda. But I'm just tired of stomping all over Gannon time and time again waiting for him to take the hint and JUST FREAKING DIE ALREADY.

Well, as far as continuity, there is a popular theory floating around about two timelines, splitting off from Ocarina of Time (One based on the Hero of Time warning the king by going back in time, and therefore having Ganon executed: Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess take place in this line. The other timeline says that after the Hero of Time defeated Ganon and went back to the Past, Ganon came back to life and there was no hero to kill him, leading to the Goddesses flooding Hyrule, leading to Wind Waker et al) , with each given Link and Zelda being reincarnations and Ganon being the same guy. Apparently, according to this theory, it looks like the original Zelda is near the end of the timeline, whereas Minish Cap is the one currently held up as the first. Interesting theory, but to my knowledge, Nintendo's been reasonably tight lipped about the whole thing, responding this theory just by saying that there is, in fact, a master timeline that they hold.