Poll: Legend of Zelda

[Pandaman1911]

When the series went to 3D, the whole thing went to hell. I really, really, really don't like any of the 3D games. At all. Loved Link's Awakening, Oracle of Ages/Seasons, Link to the Past, Minish Cap was okay, Spirit Tracks was eh, Phantom Hourglass was okay... just any of the 3D games never really struck a chord with me. No idea why.

 

[waj9876]

I didn't play OoT first, it's not my favorite, and I still love this series.

I played Seasons and Ages first. And then I played OoT. Then Majora's Mask.

I like Majora's Mask more than OoT. I played more of it as a kid, and just generally had more fun. I love when a game series has that one game that's way darker than the others. (Majora's Mask did a much better job of that than Twilight Princess.) Heck, I even like Seasons and Ages better than OoT. Whenever I think of OoT, I think of it as "that one game that set up a feeling of nostalgia, making Majora's Mask that much creepier."

 

[Nami nom noms]

I loved OoT. I really want to love the others... but I just can't get into them like I did with the N64 one (and it was not my first).

 

[Dandark]

I alway's enjoyed it. It isn't God's gift to gaming as some people think it is but I think of it as a pretty good series.

I played OOT and thought it was a pretty good game when I did play it although I doubt I could play through it again now.

Majoras mask was pretty cool and had some really cool ideas that were pretty unique.

Wind Waker is easily one of my favorite Nintendo games, I found it to be incredibly fun and still play it now sometimes, the graphics aged really well IMO.

Twilight Princess is like a newer OOT, very fun game that I enjoyed playing.

I have also played some of the gameboy games that I liked just as much including Link's awakening(My first Zelda game) which was a lot of fun as well as both Oracle of Ages and Seasons(The game you meant OP).

It's been a lot of peoples first game or first memorable game that they really enjoyed so it's pretty popular.

 

[StriderShinryu]

I want to like them, and they used to be some of my favourite games.. but I just can't get myself to care now. Regardless of the actual changes, each iteration of the series just feels the same to me. I know that if I actually played the games I would likely enjoy them but I just don't have any desire to play somrthing that looks like it will be a prettified version of the same game I've been playing for 20+ years already again.

 

[Zantos]

It didn't make it up to my favourite game ever, but I did really enjoy a few of the Zelda games. It does seem to get massively overhyped, as any game with a big following does, but at the end of the day they're pretty fun.

 

[dimensional]

I do like the series but I dont rush out and buy any new Zelda game released I have only played

Link to the Past
Ocarina of time
Wind waker
Four swords adventure
Twilight princess

I have tried a few others such as the original and skyward sword but didnt play enough to form much opinion (except the controls keep decalibrating in skyward sword and the text is very slow).

Out of those my favourite is Four swords adventure (with friends) but single player it is twilight princess, although I would have to say really the best is Link to the past and my least favourite is Ocarina it put me off Zelda until the next gen and I only finished it many years later (I actually enjoyed it more playing years later than at release).

Yeah its a good series but pretty formulaic I would say Okami is the best Zelda game ever (of what I have played of the series) except its not Zelda.

 

[kyogen]

Kind of: The combination of gameplay elements is a real landmark in the history of game design, but the level design and lore of the series are a bit too repetitive for me, so I prefer playing games inspired by Zelda rather than Zelda itself, particularly Okami/Okamiden.

 

[Something Amyss]

I used to, but the series kind of wore on me.

 

[Tiger Sora]

I haven't finished any of the games. They get extremely tedious and I just lose interest and quit.

Still until that they're fun on the bun.

 

[redrefugee]

I'd played Links Awakening, The Legend of Zelda, and A Link to a Past before OoT, yet OoT is still easily my favourite (although Links Awakening and A Link to a Past were both brilliant). As far as I'm concerned the series continued to improve since its introduction (Excluding Zelda 2) and peaked at OoT and MM.

Since MM, I've been less enamoured with the series as I didn't like Windwaker or Skyward Sword (although Twilight Princess grew on me the longer I played it it lacked innovation. Midna was the best helper character ever though)

 

[xPixelatedx]

He thinks it's because that I started playing Majora's Mask first before Ocarina of Time. I don't really understand why that is, and he couldn't really explain why.

I am assuming what you are really asking is why people like the Zelda series, and here is the best answer I can give.

Zelda is the closest thing to a modern-day fairytale we have, it is even retold throughout the ages (console generations, that is). It is also one of the only games left that is not only suitable for all ages, but actually appeals to all ages as well. It is also just as popular with women as it is with men, which makes it truly something unique as a narrative driven game (things like Tetris don't count). Rather then be a simple hack&slash or a puzzle game, Zelda has puzzles mixed into the same environment you are fighting for your life. The game is full of secrets and actually rewards exploration... unlike games like Oblivion which offered little reward for traveling so far (seriously, never found 1 truly useful thing in the caves/oblivion gates during the 200+ hours I played that game). Also unlike a Bethesda game, the items dramatically change the game as you get each one, not only adding additional game-play, but opening up previously inaccessible areas. This kind of game mechanic is very popular for a reason: it turns the entire game into a single puzzle that must be solved, adding even more to the experience. This series is most certainly for people who like to think more then act, which is one of the reasons for such a broad appeal. If you were expect or hoping for something like God of War/Devil may cry, do not look here.
Zelda entails a little bit of all the elements most people would find entertaining in a game, and it's really as simple as that.

 

[Rariow]

I haven't played many, but the ones I have played have mostly been good. OoT is really overrated, but still OK. For me, the real star of the series is Majora's Mask: Better gameplay, really thick grim atmosphere, being the only 4D game I've ever heard of...

I played Wind Waker over at a friend's house, and it was pretty good. Better than OoT in my opinion. I haven't and don't plan to play TP (Seems a bit too generic for its own good). Skyward Sword just doesn't becon to me. Games that are just the developers telling themselves how awesome they are annoy the hell out of me, and that's the reason I didn't enjoy Sonic Generations. I played one of the Oracles games through, and it was pretty fun, but I didn't see much amazingness in there.

So, yeah, overall, I like the series. A reliably "Not bad" series, which I can turn to when I'm waiting for the next release I actually care about.

 

[TheDharmaFox]

Quite frankly, as much as I love OoT, I know it's flawed and over rated, but nostalgia gives it a place in my heart.
I always look forward to the new Zelda games, but Skyward Sword felt like a good slap in the face.

 

[xPixelatedx]

The series is as a whole is fantastic particularly:
Zelda 2: Adventure of Link

I have come to the conclusion that a person has to be a special breed of awesome to enjoy that one, and you sir just made the list. I approve.

 

[Kahunaburger]

Yes, I like them, because they're genuinely good games. Some people call them "overrated" basically because:

A) They think that the formulaic nature of the games as a whole somehow retroactively makes the games the formula was based on worse,

or

B) Hipsters gonna hip.

Mostly B, from what I've seen.

 

[Ando85]

This thread caught my eye as I was just eye balling my barely played shiny Skyward Sword case, but for some reason or another I just don't feel like playing it. I grew up playing A Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time multiple times and adore the games.

I got Wind Waker the day it came out, and honestly could not get into it at first. I did however eventually play through it and finished it. The sailing was kind of tedious and annoying at times, but despite that I found I truly enjoyed the game.

Twilight Princess I enjoyed but I don't feel it lived up to the other games. The game actually reminded me of Okami in several aspects. I thought Okami was much better though.

Majora's Mask I attempted to get into a few times, but I felt turned off by the whole 3 day cycle thing. It felt like I was being forced to rush around. Zelda games for me have always been a game I prefer to explore at a slow pace. I see the high praises though for MM and eventually I do plan to actually finish it.

One thing that turns me off for SS is I never really cared for Wii motion controls. But, with Wii Motion Plus I read that the controls are greatly improved.

Today I am at a gaming crossroads as I finished the last game I was playing. I might give this game a good go, but then again there is some other titles I'm thinking of playing instead.

 

[General_Mills44]

Yes, loved the series since I was young and played the original on the NES. OOT is my favorite but I've yet to play Skyward sword.

 

[Audemas]

I had a conversation with a friend who talked about how he loved the Legend of Zelda series, especially Ocarina of Time. I've only ever played Majora's Mask and one of the GBA games. (I think it was Seasons)
I told him I didn't really care for them and I think the series is overrated and none of the games could ever keep my attention for longer than fifteen minutes. He thinks it's because that I started playing Majora's Mask first before Ocarina of Time. I don't really understand why that is, and he couldn't really explain why.

Isn't it more than a little hypocritical to call the entire series overrated when you've only played 2 games (one having made so little impact that you can't even name it with confidence) of the series?

I probably should have been a little more clear, I've played Seasons and Majora's Mask and finished them both. The only problem was I couldn't play them for longer than 15 minutes at a time. I've also played a few of the other games as well (Windwaker, Twilight Princess) but not for very long because I played them at a friends house. (Which is why I didn't include them in the OP) I still found the same results though. I guess it's like that one person said, it must not be my cup of tea.

And to answer your question no I don't think so. It's the same story told over and over again in different time periods. I guess nostalgia is a main factor in why he think's it's so good.