The Legend of Zelda - Best of the Best

The Legend of Zelda is, well, legendary. Everyone is familiar with the man in the green cap— even if they get his name wrong. Many of the Zelda games have cemented their place in video game glory... But which is the BEST?

I am a massive fan of the Zelda series. My childhood gaming experience was largely comprised of Zelda – as is my current gaming experience. The winding, foe-ridden dungeons that contain a few damn-near-impossible to figure out puzzles (I’m looking at you, OOT water temple) have thrilled gamers across the world for DECADES. In a generation where graphics, power and fluidity define the industry, Zelda abides by its own ranking system. I have taken the liberty of thinking long and hard to decide which three Legend of Zelda games I would even dare to call the “best.”

Read on, and we’ll see if you agree with my choices.

3. WIND WAKER

Wind Waker was an absolute wonderland for me when it was released on GameCube. It was an absolute wonder for anyone with decent taste, of course. *wink* These are the reasons I place it as the number three best Zelda game ever made:

• The oceanic setting was an absolute leap from previous Zelda games and an entirely new, unique experience. Traveling by boat instead of by horse and moving from island to island fighting oceanic beasts on the way was almost too much fun, and still is. (for me!)

• The cartoon graphics, while being “less realistic” were an incredible improvement over it’s visual predecessor, Ocarina of Time. They were smooth, interesting, engaging, fun— To provide a few adjectives. The characters are extremely memorable and often hilarious to interact with.

• The combat. The movement of Link in this game is really fluid and makes fighting enemies incredibly fun, including use of the various items. I won’t bring up Knight’s Crests, but… If you know, you know. That spin was something ferocious!

• The “temples” or “dungeons” were so much fun in this game, especially as you surpass the first few and they become larger, more challenging, and incorporate even more enemies that can’t be taken lightly. Their design combined with unique mobility options (ie. Deku Leaf) made exploring within this game quite grand.

All in all, the game was solid visually, it was challenging (enough) and the story was fulfilling. It takes number three. Who’s two? (Don’t yell at me for this.)

2. Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time is a game many would define as legendary. Not only was it the largest game ever made by Nintendo, (at the time) it was the first 3D Zelda game, and incorporated a level of depth to its story-telling that absolutely blew gamers away. Here are my reasons it takes number two.

• Side-quests. This Zelda game, more than maybe any other, engaged me in side-quests and other debauchery. Things completely unnecessary to the completion of the game. Fishing, for example. The various games in the various towns, for various prizes. Happy mask salesman, gold skulltulas. Wholesome, fulfilling side quests.

• Temples and locations in this game were just awesome. I could play them over and over, and did. This game arguably contained some of the most difficult LOZ temples to date, with some of the more challenging puzzles. As a matter of fact, there’s even a way to FAIL the game, by taking keys out of order in the Water Temple. I did this. I was disappointed but not surprised.

• Most enemies in this game were extremely memorable for me, including a few absolutely disturbing ones. Dead Hand and Like Likes… Shudder. I can still see the bloody rags, and the dark shadow appearing over me. (usually when I was in the middle of taking a drink, or anything else that I could spill scrambling for the controller)

• The story and characters as a whole were very solid. The time- travel aspect was a powerful story-telling agent that created a sense of wonder and intrigue for me off the bat— especially on the first play-through, when I didn't expect it! I found the characters in this game to be less memorable and engaging than my other two choices, but still more-so than any of the other Zelda games.

  
  

Ocarina of Time engaged me and millions of others with it’s soundtrack, various engaging ambiences, dynamic story and impressive dungeons, as well as being one of a kind in its time. However, it isn’t my number one. Number one goes to....

3. Twilight Princess

Twilight Princess absolutely blew me away. Seeing Link go from a little cartoon buddy that I was guiding through his epic journey, to a “real” human in a realistic world was staggering. But there’s a plethora of reasons this game takes number one to me and I am glad to divulge.

• Graphics. This seems obvious, but let me make it more obvious. I don’t care how beautifully artistic Wind Waker was, or how smooth and vast Breath of the Wild is— Twilight Princess stands alone in it’s realism and that, to me, makes the story, temples, challenges and foes all the more real as well. Traveling under the night sky or along the twilight at sunset with the cool music of Hyrule Field playing? A dream. I also loved that this game took the traditional route in regards to its landscape, and it truly felt like the Hyrule I had always hoped for. Note that graphics improved on the HD Wii U version!

• Music. The soundtrack in this game was absolutely wonderful. I love this game’s variations on all of the classic LOZ songs above any other game. Kakariko, Death Mountain, Hyrule Field, Zora’s Domain… Endless masterpieces that just draw you right in and combine beautifully with the setting.

• Dungeons. Wow, the dungeons in this game were not just visually stunning, they were very creatively designed and the puzzles within them were not just challenging— they were fun. I got frustrated, but the world was so fun to explore it just didn’t matter how long anything took me.

• Combat. Maybe it’s because I am often a fiend for realism, but kicking the arse of monsters that really looked and felt like monsters, with more realistic physics, plays a big part in why I put this game at first. Fighting in Twilight Princess took the fluidity and fun of battle in Wind Waker, and combined it with the wonderful enemy design of Ocarina of Time— with a decade of improved graphics under its belt. ⚔️

• You get to PLAY AS A WOLF— and CHOOSE WHEN! Let me say this again. You get to play as an entirely different character, an ANIMAL, and not only that— the combat and abilities of your animal form are freaking sweet, and MATTER. This reason, while not the majority, is at the forefront of why it’s my number one. The ability to change your form (once you reach that point) and the immense role it plays in solving puzzles, defeating enemies and traversing across the vast, beautiful and multidimensional world sets this game apart from other Zelda games. It’s a unique trait that serves a real purpose.

• Side quests in this game were incredible as well. There are engaging, challenging games and side missions that reap pretty hefty rewards if you’re willing to put in the time, and every single one of them was fun for me to do.

• The story and characters in Twilight princess were wonderful to me. You interact with them through multiple different emotional settings, and as more realistic characters, I felt I was able to connect and more easily "give a hoot" about what happened to them. The multifaceted narrative with more than one real threat was new, and Midna really pulls the experience together as she accompanies on your journey as a competent companion and albeit, for much of the game, an unknown force. She's also kind of an a**. Which is hilarious.

  
  

Twilight Princess is entirely unique to me as a Zelda game. I also, personally, believe that it’s Teen (T) rating served it very well, allowing suspense to be more suspenseful, monsters to be more frightening, and combat to be more realistic. As an entire game, I continue to admire it’s creation above any other in the series. I’ve beaten it six times, and I am actually just starting another file— safe to say I’m looking forward to it.

I hope you enjoyed reading my commentary on the Legend of Zelda series, and I look forward to sharing more with the gaming community. Feedback and constructive criticism, as well as topic suggestions are always welcome!

Happy gaming! 😎