So I thought this'd be quite fun. Doesn't really fit in any of the specific game threads though.
Which Zelda game do you think does the following game aspects better than the others?
1) Graphical Style
2) Overworld exploration
3) Dungeons
4) Bosses
5) Battle Mechanics
6) Story
7) Characters (including the particular versions of Link and Zelda)
That was hard. Neither MM or TP are about Princess Zelda, so it's the other characters that shine there. Both of those Links are pretty cool because they actually go through significant adversity instead of just scowling at Ghirahim or Calamity Ganon a few times. The mask transformations, Wolf Link curse, light spirit visions, quest for the Ordon kids, and various tales of the doomed residents of Termina were each affecting experiences that made one think of Zelda characters as more than quirky fantasy people.
I enjoyed Breath of the Wild's combat, but it just felt too unsatisfying when you weren't using the Master Sword (which does crap damage to most enemies unless you buy the dull Master Trials DLC). I didn't feel any of the three weapon types were as good as the classic vertical slash, horizontal slash, jump attack set up. In fact jump attacks were almost completely useless ways to get your character interrupted by damage while in the air. But just from a basic game feel perspective, enemies have bright comic book style effects come out of them when you hit them, but you don't feel like you're cutting flesh or scales so much as hitting plastic with wood. It's like Skyward Sword in that way. The combat very much felt like a bunch of 'pops,' which didn't hold up very well when you were whacking and ragdolling enemies over and over to drain their at time overinflated health pools.
I much prefer Twilight Princess' red flashes that evoke blood. The slicing SFX, Link's aggressive yells, and the wails enemies made as they crumpled from the blows made that combat feel perfectly satisfying. Everything in that game felt heavy; metal was heavy and would send you flying across the room if you were struck by it, ceramic pots shattered with sharp noise, and fire audibly burned (hard to describe). Other Zelda games had elements of this too, but I think they all came together the best in TP with the horror-influenced enemy designs and extra violent effects.
1) Graphical Style: Breath of the Wild
2) Overworld exploration: Breath of the Wild
3) Dungeons: Skyward Sword
4) Bosses: Skyward Sword
5) Battle Mechanics: Breath of the Wild
6) Story: Ocarina of Time
7) Characters: Majoras Mask
I really like the core mechanics from Breath of the Wild / Skyward Sword but I miss a story and characters like Ocarina of Time / Majoras Mask delivered.
1) Graphical Style
2) Overworld exploration
3) Dungeons
4) Bosses
5) Battle Mechanics
6) Story
7) Characters (including the particular versions of Link and Zelda)
1. Wind Waker (THE MOST BORING ANSWER)
2. Twilight Princess (tbh, I think they're all slightly flawed in this way, but Twilight Princess has my favorite general gameplay in Zelda so having more of that is for the best. Also, TP's overworld is not notably worse than other Zeldas, stop pretending otherwise (Wind Waker HD making me appreciate the Great Sea again is a close 2nd))
3. Every 3D Zelda except Wind Waker and BOTW. Maybe ALBW too.
4. Every 3D Zelda except Wind Waker and BOTW. Maybe Minish Cap too (this is not a joke post).
5. Twilight Princess, with Skyward Sword as a close 2nd.
6. TP/SS
7. Majora's Mask, easily. Not even SS Link and Zelda (and Groose! and good side characters!) can change this.
Also, fun fact, I think Link's Awakening is my unnamed next choice for all of these except battle mechanics.
The character category is difficult because the single best character in the series is not even close, it's Midna. But if you're talking about a whole cast, both Twilight and Majora's have very relatable and interesting characterizations. Majora's Mask has a lot more character quests as a result of its title conceit though, as well as the special empathy you can only feel for someone after you see them cowering in anticipation of their doom.
I think The Wind Waker and especially Breath just don't give their cast enough depth or, crucially, screentime to be considered. Medli and Makar are with you for an entire dungeon each but they don't function as characters during that time, but rather as items. They disappear for the climax/boss fights too.
1) Graphical Style
2) Overworld exploration
3) Dungeons
4) Bosses
5) Battle Mechanics
6) Story
7) Characters (including the particular versions of Link and Zelda)
1) BotW
2) BotW
3) A Link Between Worlds (the wall-merging ability allowed for some really outstanding puzzle design in these dungeons, and they were all quite intuitive)
4) Ocarina of Time
5) BotW
6) Majora's Mask (by a long shot)
7) Majora's Mask
Currently Playing: Marvel's Spider-Man: Game of the Year Edition NG+ (PS4); Hyrule Warriors: Definitive Edition (NS)
Yeah the story and characters thing is...not explained well. I just assumed story means main story since much of why MM's story is great is the side characters, so it'd be redundant otherwise.
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Topic: Which Zelda game has the best (x)?
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