Feature: Nintendo Life's Favourite Legend of Zelda Games - 30th Anniversary Edition

I'm surprised Wind Waker was top, it's very short of dungeons in an otherwise almost perfect game.

I think WW was the best also. There isn't any real winner in this because all are classics and well made. I can't say that for Triforce because I have not played it. The DS games aren't bad I just didn't like the controls. I was surprised Twilight didn't make the cut.

Disappointed in how high WW made it in both lists, extremely overrated and dull. If it didn't have Zelda in the title it wouldn't be nearly as popular.

My favourite will always be Adventures of Link - it attracted me to the series, and although it's notably different than it's predecessor and all the games that followed, it still is a decent game in it's own right. Still, can't argue with the master that is Ocarina of Time!

Then I looked at Community it is different than staff. I love Ocarina its just that some of those dungeons were down right annoying to me. It is one of the best but the top spot hmmmm.

Wind Waker is my favorite too.

Wind Waker remains my favorite Zelda game. No other game in the series come close to being as good. Ocarina of time is okay but should be lower.

For me personally, A Link to the Past, Ocarina of Time, Phantom Hourglass, and Skyward Sword are up there.

In order, probably:

1. Ocarina of Time
2. A Link to the Past
3. Skyward Sword
4. Phantom Hourglass

I have not played A Link Between Worlds but it's the one Zelda game I really want to try.

Wind Waker is NOT overrated its pretty much a masterpiece. The art style holds up extremely well today, the gameplay is near flawless, as it expanded on OoT's combat, the items are all innovative and fun to use, there is TONS to explore, there are more dungeons than you think... Maybe they're not all labelled as dungeons but there are a good number of dungeons, certainly more than MM. Big number of dungeons doesn't mean better. WW's dungeons were all excellent IMO. Oh and the soundtrack is probably my favorite in the series. I get certain people don't like the changes the game brought but its not overrated its probably right up there with OoT in terms of perfection.

It'll be tough for a new Zelda game to beat Twilight Princess.

@SNESDisney The issues were you described were more to do with false advertising. The first ever footage of a GameCube Zelda was in the Ocarina of Time art style which of course was extremely different from the final product (Wind Waker). The same thing would happen with Zelda U if the art style changed to something like Witcher 3 for example in the next trailer. As for actual real issues with the GC version, they were almost all fixed in the HD remaster for Wii U.

This still doesn't change my opinion of Zelda games. We all know which one is the best in our own minds.

@SNESDisney Is it so wild to think that there's a huge amount of people that love the game? You say it's extremely overrated because you don't like it as much, and it's okay that you don't, but to say it's ridiculous is, well, ridiculous. It didn't make it in the top 5 and to the number 1 spot for no reason.

I know when Twilight Hd comes out. Some minds might be changed, but like @abbyhitter said, " We all know which one is the best in our own minds.

Wind Waker would probably be my favourite Legend of Zelda experience. Along with Seasons and A Link To The Past. (that was my top three)

I have a feeling if I ever get around to playing Majora's Mask it might become my favourite though.

I just don't like wind waker. I am more of a ocarina of time/majoras mask and Twilight Princess kinda guy. Sorry.

Oh lord. Now I know I'm old

Glad the staff vote bumped OoT down. I don't even include it in my top 5. Also glad to see ALBW barely made it in.

I have no problem with WW being the top game. It's gorgeous, charming, and an all-around extremely fun game to play. Its flawed pacing and lack of real gravitas keeps it from being my #1 game, though.

This poll should be updated when Twilight Princess HD and Zelda U releases later this year. I think this poll was a little premature.

I find these complaint comments rather amusing. Sure, if an individual person decided the order then maybe the flack is justified, but the fact of the matter is the whole darn community voted and WW:HD got the most votes. So obviously a ton of freakin people think it's a great game.

And if your favorite Zelda didn't make the list, so what? Does that make your favorite game less fun? Chill.

Ah, the shifting demographics...
Well, it's official: The best Zelda game ever is... the one that came out when you were 12 years old. LTTP for life!

There can be an argument made for the top 12 Zelda games to all be considered the best. I disagree with Wind Waker but have it in my top 5, especially the much improved Wii U edition. The touchscreen for inventory, hero mode to finally add some difficulty, amazing graphics, improved sailing, and most important of all, triforce fetch quest shortened considerably were amazing improvements. Had they added just 2 more dungeons (the ones they cut out), we would almost have the perfect Zelda game.

@abbyhitter Exactly . Wind Waker changed my mind when I played on the WIIU again. They improved it so much and refined it to perfections. Now I'm more stoked about Twilight. I hope I finish Conquest in time. I haven't even decided what my Avatar hair will be and then there is the strength that asks you for class. I think dragon might be ok, but I like Mage. ( thats was off topic)

For me in the Top 5
5. Link Between World
4. Link's Awakening
3. Twilight Princess
2. Minish Cap
1. Link to the Past

I'd have to agree with the staff for the most part. Wind Waker was the first Zelda game I've ever played. Sailing the "endless" sea is just relaxing between the many islands and the toon style just happened to remain timeless.

I've only played OoT years later and in anticipation of the 3D remake. While I can call it a great game, it just doesn't give me the same feel as WW.

Polls like this are always interesting... Personally I think the results are more driven by nostalgia/first experiences than objective assessments. For example, Link's Awakening will always be at the top of my list because it was my first (and most definitive) experience with the franchise. Whereas since I didn't own a GameCube, playing Wind Waker HD wasn't a magical experience for me (though I enjoyed it). Part of that might be that I prefer walking/riding Epona to sailing

Considering the number of times a Zelda game has been labled as "the best game ever" or "the best zelda yet" I'd say at least 6 have an argument to be number 1

With all due respect to the NL writers, I think Wind Waker in the top spot is ridiculous. It's a solid game, but the sailing mechanic sucks (HD improved this but it's still not fun) and 4 dungeons is just weak. And you guys dismiss Twilight Princess almost mocking the readers in their choice. Twilight Princess is an incredible game with some faults (baron landscape, wolf link sections). I had a blast playing TP after the ho-hum WW. I knew that's just my personal opinion, but don't mock TP just because you guys didn't like it.

Ocarina was and will always be my #1. It is the reason I went back to video games, so it's probably the main reason why I still play. It might not be technically impressive anymore, but no game has ever come close for me in giving me that pure elation I had throughout that entire game. I don't thini anything well ever top it for me.

LOL those butthurt comments over Wind Waker. The fans have voted on their favorites. You guys are just on the minority.

Where is Skyward Sword, quite possibly the most accomplished entry in the series to date? To see The Wind Waker, with its unambitious ocean, repetitive islands, short dungeons and simple fetch quests at number one is the icing on the Hyrule cake. An accomplished art style does not make up for any of its shortcomings. Don't get me wrong, it's a fantastic game - but not the best in a truly legendary series. Majora's Mask, Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword are infinitely better in all regards.

@Jeero83 pretty much this

I may have said this before but, I like the 2D games more than the 3D ones. I feel they play better two dimensionally, plus I'm a sucker for pixel graphics.

Edit: By 2D I mean the top down perspective. Also, I want a sequel/game like Zelda 2. You don't have to call it Zelda 3. Just make a game like Zelda 2 that ups the ante on everything. Take my money.

Twilight Princess beat A Link Between Worlds, even with it's barren wasteland of an overworld? I call bs

Everyone is salty over Wind Waker but it will always be far better than TP

Is it possible for us to see the entire list of results for both the staff and community? I'm quite curious to see where games such as Skyward Sword came in both polls, considering it's one of my favourite zelda titles

Wind Waker is easily one of my favorite games of all time. The only thing that keeps it from being my definitive number one is triforce shard hunt. Collecting those shards is not fun in my opinion. They could have easily just added another dungeon or two in place of it. Because of that, I'm always really torn between Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time.

Wind Waker is amazing, I agree! But where is Skyward Sword?!

Wind Waker at number one, let alone in the top 5 is ridiculous. Most overrated Zelda game ever, the game that almost killed interest in Zelda, which prompted Nintendo to do a full 180 and create Twilight Princess to save the series. OOT, ALTTP, MM, TP and even Skyward Sword and ALBW are better than Wind Waker
^
This.
After my first view, i lost my interest for 15 years in Nintendo.
Now with Wii U i´m back.

WW HD its ok. But with the original version they burned their fans

My personal top five:
5. A Link to the Past
4. Skyward Sword
3. Wind Waker
2. Ocarina of Time
1. Twilight Princess (nothing to do with the remake coming up, always been my favorite)

1. Skyward Sword
2. Zelda II
3. Majoras Mask
4. A Link Between Worlds
5. Wind Waker

That's mine.

Currently playing Wind Waker and it's shaping up to be my favourite

Definately agree with Ocarina and LttP, but I didn't even enjoy the others on the list too much. Links Awakening and Skyward Sword need to be on here!

@SNESDisney Thank you! I mean, I didnt hate WW, but I had to force myself to finish it. Definately overrated and certainly wouldn't be in my top 5.

@Jeero83 This. SS is my favorite of all and dethroned OoT for me.

I am so glad to see WW do so well! It's my favorite as well...Great story, superb graphic style & just a blast to play. I am a bit sad, though, to see not much love given to the original Zelda. Maybe I'm just old school and reliving nostalgia, but I believe it still holds up quite well.

For me, Ocarina of Time (3D) has always been my favourite. It was the first Zelda game I ever played back in 2012 and for me, the story and gameplay has stayed firmly in my mind ever since. Heck, I've now convinced someone to try out Zelda now through playing OOT and they now are a Zelda fan too!

There needs to be a name for the phenomenon of hyperbole that spews from fans engaged in arguing differences over individual games in their favorites series of games. I mean, it's funny to me sometimes, but sad other times.

Most of the 3D Zeldas are so fundamentally similar, after all.

I think surprise from fans at lists like these happens when they don't account for how time gives new perspective on these games. Ocarina was foundational and the biggest leap in the entire series of games by far, but all the iterations on the formula have produced smoother more enjoyable experiences. To many, it just doesn't rate the same way anymore.

Wind Waker has some story elements and character and art style that modern gamers are much more appreciative of nowadays.

Motion controls still have an irrational backlash against them due to abuse of waggle, but give it time and Zelda fans will overlook that and maybe learn to forgive the tunnel style progression so that Skyward Sword can rise in the ranks.

Good to see such passion over these games, either way.

The original Legend of Zelda is still my top with Ocarina and then all the others under it kind of rolling up and down in place below them.

I'm very, very disappointed how many comments I've seen slamming Wind Waker. Sure, it has some flaws, but EVERY game does - yes, even your precious Ocarina of Time is far from perfect. It's a very good, interesting game, with a compelling story. While I can't say it's my favorite design, I rather like the visuals, but even if that's not your cup of tea the game itself makes up for it as long as you don't quit like a fool in the first few minutes. My two biggest complaints are the tedious sailing and the fact that you have to deal with a big 'sneaking/avoiding' segment so very early in the game, but it gets so much better.

As for other games, while I have fond thoughts for A Link to the Past and A Link Between Worlds was very enjoyable, my two favorites are definitely Majora's Mask and Twilight Princess. Don't get me wrong, I do love Ocarina of Time, more than the 2D games, but I don't worship the title as some do.

As for the back-and-forth debate over Skyward Sword...there's a lot to love about the game. Great, solid story, quite pretty graphics, fairly solid gameplay (despite my initial apprehension, I never had any real trouble with the motion controls personally, nor did my best friend, and we've both completed the game) and interesting areas and puzzles. Unfortunately, the things that hold the game back REALLY present a blow. Those motion controls don't work great for everyone (While I never had problems with the sword, I'll admit to disliking control of certain other items), Fi is hardly the most engaging partner we've ever had - interesting, has her merits, but rather boring nonetheless - in the series, that awful stamina bar (I love the idea of being able to sprint and can accept a limiter for that, but in SS the bar is painfully overused, both in types of actions that use it and in need to use it in puzzles, and the penalty for running out - which will happen quickly - is much harsher than simply losing access to those actions for a while). By far the biggest thing that holds SS back, even more than the stamina bar, is how painfully linear the game is. I actually consider being a little linear a good thing - I hate to be wandering around lost and wondering what to do just because I didn't go back to a town and talk to one inconspicuous NPC - but SS doesn't give you much freedom as you travel the game at all - not just in side quests and exploring, but in the dungeons themselves. (that part is not a big deal when compared to other Zelda games, though) That distinct lack of even imagined freedom really hurts the game. The 'flying around on a Loftwing and diving' bits aren't remotely as enjoyable as they should be, either.

Edit: Oh yeah, and as for the original game...I respect that it's a classic, it created the foundation that allowed the other games to follow, 'old' does not equal 'bad', games were different then, it still has unique qualities, so on and so forth...but it still just doesn't stand up to later games. Being a classic does not instantly mean we should ignore all flaws and place it higher than everything else. (I have the same view on Pokemon - love the classics, but they are not so much better than everything that follows, in fact having loads of flaws, and I find it a bit difficult to respect the more fanatical 'genwunners') The original isn't bad by any means, but while I can understand some people genuinely selecting it on game mechanics and such merits, overall it just doesn't stack up.

@Fuz One of the two pillar games of the NES that revived the entire game industry was the original Zelda which you called terrible. Mario 64 and OOT then went on to have an almost as fundamental effect on 3D gaming and you didn't like OOT either.

Maybe you just bristle at the novel? You like familiar experiences so your first run at something you can't appreciate until you understand it more fully? Even if you hate it the whole time you've now internalized it and can appreciate in the more refined future games.

Maybe going back to them would actually change your perspective.

Personally, I find the original Zelda to be one of the best games I go back to.

Or I'm completely off. Maybe it's just the graphics.

What's with the Wind Waker Wrong! Comments? It was a legitimate poll of nearly 9000 core Nintendo fans

@Shiryu
I've 39, played the original Zelda in the 80s, have beaten most of them multiple times, and my clear favorite is Windwaker! It's simply an excellent game. I voted for WW, the OG Zelda and Ocarina of time.

@Fuz I don't think you're the only one. I liked Zelda 2, but I felt that the endgame was a difficulty from another time and never finished it. I also voted for Oracle of Seasons (although Ages was good too). But then, I also voted for Twilight Princess so clearly I'm part of the problem.
Anyway, I'm just glad the staff didn't put Ocarina as number one. It just seems to always top every list and, honestly, I've played it and can't see why. (Majora's Mask seems better than it in every way).

Decent lists. I love Wind Waker so I have no complaints. Ah bugger it, why not...this has been on my mind for a while. To me, TP was the last great Zelda game....and that was 10 years ago. I'm hungry for the next truly amazing Zelda game. Skyward Sword was just awful, & ALBW was Fisher Price presents baby's first Zelda game. I'm really hoping the next Zelda game is truly worthy of the title legend. It's my fave series

I'm glad to see both A Link To The Past and Wind Waker feature in both the staff and community's top 5 lists. It's a bit odd, but I find Wind Waker to be my 3rd favourite Zelda, A Link To The Past to be my 2nd favourite Zelda, and Wind Waker HD to be my absolute favourite Zelda game.

It's a shame Skyward Sword didn't make it into either list, though given it's mixed reception, I didn't expect it. I personally loved it, but perhaps it's not for everyone. I am quite surprised to see Twilight Princess feature in the community voted list but not in the staff list; I'm not sure why, but I expected to see that the other way around.

Honestly, I never was much of a fan of Ocarina of Time. Just seemed a bit dull to me. My top three would be Wind Waker, A Link Between Worlds and Skyward Sword. Where's the love for Skyward Sword?!

ALTTP was my first Zelda game. I had to buy it twice before I beat it. First time I got stuck on Death Mountain in the light world (yes before the third dungeon). I just didn't get the light world/dark world mechanic (I was young!). Then a couple of years later I tried it again and was absolutely hooked until I finished it 100%. When I realised there were a further 7 dungeons in the dark world it blew my mind!

Then there is the memory of OoT. I was just blown away. The music, how well it played in 3D, the cut scenes that were done using the in game engine, the fact it spanned time. For the time it was just astonishing, and still a great game.

Then finally we have ALBW. I wasn't expecting much from this, but the nostalgia from ALTTP mixed with the amazing new puzzle mechanic (merging into the walls) meant it turned out to be my favourite game of that year.

Those are my top 3 Zelda games. But I can't complain with either of the lists in this article too. So many good games in the series.

Wow, ocarina, what a shocker. Wind Waker is definitely more deserving so at least it beat it in the staff one.

Poor Skyward Sword though...

@Agent721 LTTP was the first Zelda I ever played and it stayed with me all these years. Of course I love the Wind Waker. In fact I love pretty much all of the games (CDI never happened) and I am just humbled to have been so lucky to experience the series evolution.

@Shiryu
Here here Shiryu. What a wonderful series Nintendo gave us. Cheers!

Yep. The reader list makes perfect sense to me.

So Twilight Princess absent entirely AND Wind Waker leading the list??

And this is the staff list?

The Oracle games are severely underrated.

@Fuz Not upset at all. You said you thought you must be strange. I wasn't assuming anything just throwing theories out there. Just thought it was curious like you seemed to think.

Man, I'm pretty bummed Wind Waker made such high spots. I mean I didn't expect my favorite, Minish Cap, to make any places but I at least hoped link to the past got first or skyward sword. Oh well. Wind Wanker was way too cartoony and overrated. Everyone who says it's a "masterpiece" isn't all wrong tho. I just found the constant sailing tedious after a while. But the soundtrack is absolutely gorgeous. Probably my favorite with skyward sword close to it.

Man so many salty fans over a little poll. Anyways I'm not surprised that Ocarina of time got first place seeing how popular it is. My top 5 would be:
1. A Link to the Past
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Twilight Princess
4. A Link Between Worlds
5. Skyward Sword
Both Wind Waker and Majora's Mask come very close to my top five.

@Kirk A Link Between Worlds is one of my best gameplay experiences on the 3DS, never mind Zelda game. I prefer the home console games to the handheld but as this expands on the gameplay of ALTTP it stands apart from the others. The dungeons are well designed and the soundtrack is awesome.

Ocarina of Time is the best one. Why? Because it's the most balanced one. It's still easy to pick up and play, has a decent narrative, includes some of the best dungeons in the series, looks and sounds great for a game of its time, has clever ways to translate an older formula in 3D and innovated the series and gaming in general. It's a perfect mix of gameplay and presentational elements. Each little aspect of the game is thought through, has meaning, feels like it belongs there. But what truly makes it stand out among other Zeldas is how seamlessly all those elements blend together. More than any other Zelda game, Ocarina is more than just the sum of its parts. While other Zelda games always felt like they put too much emphasis on some parts and too little on others, Ocarina to me always felt like the one that got everything just about right.

@SNESDisney I stopped reading your essay after you claimed the pure garbage that is Skyward Sword is better than The Wind Waker.

Where's the picture at the top of the article taken from?

Personally, I don't think MM should have had a place in the top 5 at all. I placed the remake and I was hyped for it but it felt like it was missing something from it and was too short. And I know there will be people out there who will say that the producers had a very limited amount of time to create the original. But this was the remake and they had much more time to add what they wanted. WW felt even longer and more satisfying than MM.

Ocarina of Time at #1. Not surprising at all. I think I prefer the staff results on this one. I'm genuinely shocked that they're as different as they are from the community ones.

@bonham2 Wind Waker had 6 proper dungeons, which is still not enough. Majoras mask only had 4 proper dungeons. They ALWAYS need at least 8, though 10-12 would be awesome too!

Great to see these results, but makes me feel really old when none of the NES games are showcased. These were revolutionary when I was playing them and when I think of Zelda games I will always see these as the top contenders.

Two of my votes made the community list (Ocarina of Time and Twilight Princess). Both lists please me, and make me want to tackle both Majora's Mask and Wind Waker since I have yet to play them (They're part of my backlog).

@rjejr

Zelda U 2016 confirmed, NX 2016 confirmed, Zelda NX launch window release confirmed, Nintendo/Minecraft collab confirmed, Wii U release lineup until NX revealed...

Figure this would make you happy

Also, video releasing soon revealing 2016 3DS lineup

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=RYJiVUgcSdE

these comments are stupid. the voting are based off opinions😂

I'm getting really tired of people calling things overrated just because they didn't like it.

I'm kinda excited about Twilight Princess HD...It's been years since I played through it. To play through it again in HD and with traditional controls sounds great.

@boyika Such is the way of the internet...

@JaxonH @rjejr
Hope that's true.
If it is, it's right in line with our speculation.
It is also suggestive that the launch in the West may differ from Japan's which is exactly what we talked about. It almost makes too much sense. If NX launches in 2016 and it's possible to port well, it would be foolish not to launch the new Zelda on it.

Only one more unannounced Wii U title from Nintendo isn't quite as bad as it sounds with TP, PT, SF0, and SMTFE, Minecraft Nintendo content all before it. Especially if it's Paper Mario or Pikmin 4. Though Pikmin 4 really seems like it would be targeted at NX, right?

@aaronsullivan

Well, especially given its the year of transition with a new console release. Compared to the last year of Wii? Heck ya, we're sitting fat over here with this release lineup.

As much as I'd love any other game to just release on NX instead, Pikmin is a game that really excels because of the Wiimote. So if NX has no motion controller options... I'd honestly prefer to see it release on Wii U

Wind Waker doesn't deserve to be in the Top 5, let alone #1 with the kind of bare, linear dungeon design it has. Say what you want about how great the overworld was, but I cannot justify putting Wind Waker in the Top 5 when one of the major gameplay elements in the series is so flawed.

Wind waker? really?

freakin' otakus

Wind Waker? Behave.

@SNESDisney These are simply the opinions of both the NL staff & their fans.

It's also a list of favorites, not a list of games that made the most impact on the series. That is why, unsurprisingly, the original game is nowhere to be found. I love it, but am honest enough to admit that is has been surpassed in a multitude of ways.

I respect your distaste of revisionist history, but you are just as guilty of it. Saying Wind Waker "almost killed interest in Zelda" is demonstrably untrue. It's a 'pot calling the kettle black' scenario.

By all means disagree but, respectfully, calling NL "unprofessional" for their picks is certainly uncalled for.

@Project_Dolphin

Can't say I blame you. Believe half of what you see and none of what you hear, right?

With that said, this is a very stand-up guy, and reliable, and he is very convinced by his source, even challenging anyone with a source to confirm for themselves.

It may not be a sure thing, but I believe it.

Props to the staff for not feeling obligated to give OoT the top spot.

My favorite in the series is Skyward Sword. Before that it was TP. I've also beaten Link to the Past, OoT, and a Link Between Worlds, and played MM and WW extensively. But I own every game besides Link's awakening.

Anyways, I'm a casual fan of the series. I have more fun reading theories about the games' lore than I do playing them.

It shouldn't be so strange to anyone who is a longtime fan why The Wind Waker made it so high. This is the way this stuff works. Whether the game is objectively good or bad (objectively even a good or bad Zelda game) it will be ranked high if there is well-earned nostalgia for it. And The Wind Waker manages this in heaps.

I despised the game when it came out, still hate it today, but there is just no denying that I enjoyed playing The Wind Waker HD. A lot. It's just very difficult to like a game which, I felt, never had anything to do with the franchise. I still feel that The Wind Waker is not a Zelda game at its core, not even remotely. It is a great game with Zelda stapled and screwed into its blueprint. On this specific point does the game merit criticism.

You can call me a purist (my all-time favourite is Link's Awakening) but when some redemption is mustered for the series with Skyward Sword, then I am totally comfortable saying that there is no such thing as a Zelda purist, and if there was, I am not one.

If the series does continue in the trend of Wind Waker going forward, then so be it, the series redefines itself for a new age, that history in the making takes over, and fans who replace others get to call the series for what it is. As it stands, the notion of a Toon Link in that graphical style and with that degree of lightheartedness does not work for me, at all, in tone.

All Zelda games are great, but Twilight Princess not being there is just crazy, it's really one the best Zelda games ever!

Y'all haters need to take a deep breath and calm down a little, please. Just because the polls don't match your own personal opinion, well that doesn't mean you have to get all bent out of shape about it.

I personally didn't like twilight princess when it first came out. I thought the combat mechanics were too removed fom direct control, which broke the immersion for me, I didn't like the muddy muted colour palette, and I thought the characters were mostly just ugly. It also seemed to take forever to get started.

Having said that though, If it had came top in both polls or whatever, I wouldn't be on here ranting about how everyone else was wrong, and 'revising history'. I'd just think 'holy crap, that's weird!'

Someone needs to get to the bottom of the Wind Waker hate - it was very vocal at the time, too. I think there's a genuine phenomenon there that doesn't fit with the usual 'you like what came out when you were at a certain impressionable age' - or maybe it does fit. My 'impressionable age' Zelda game was Zelda III, which was very cartoony. Maybe I was primed to be more accepting/appreciative of Wind Waker, while those whose formative Zelda experience was Ocarina Of Time were primed to like Twilight Princess better. I don't know...

After reading a bunch of these comments, I feel like one of the only users on this site who actually likes all the Zelda games.

Hmmm... Tough choice.

1. Ocarina of Time 3D
2. Wind Waker HD
3. Twilight Princess
4. A Link between Worlds
5. Majoras Mask

I really hope Nintendo decides to do a Wii U remaster of Skyward Sword as well as WW/TP. It would be much better to play without the motion controls. That's the only thing I didn't really like about Skyward Sword.

@Squidling
I'm with you. The series has low points but they are higher than most games in my estimation. Particular games in the series have flaws but all of them have their charms, new perspectives, new challenges and fun exploration. Can't say I dislike a single one, though there are a few I haven't completed.

@JaxonH
But even if most of what this guy is confident of is true it gives us very little in the form of how this console may differ in control methods (except that it won't be so crazy that you can't play the new Zelda on it).

Here's my conjecture. We know Pikmin 4 is basically done. In the desperate days of Wii U and 3DS we have heard nothing official yet, and it already has an installment on Wii U.

Why another Pikmin so soon?

Either it's meant for 3DS which would work decently and could be used to promote the New 3DS because it probably would need it for performance. This would be more sensible if there was some reason to avoid showing it so far.

Or, it's meant for NX. In order for that to be the case, I'm thinking that whatever methods of control are available on the NX made it a nice fit. In other words, maybe it suggests that there is some natural pointing ability or touchscreen or something that lines up with Pikmin.

Incidentally, I'd like to see how gyro assisted aiming as in Wind Waker, Splatoon and Twilight Princess would work for Pikmin. Maybe that's all it is.

@Nomad
I know not everyone enjoyed the motion controls on Skyward Sword and that's fine, there are many good reasons for that and to each their own. I do see this sentiment of hopes for a remake that ditches and wonder if those who hold it have thought it through.

How will you control the sword then? It needs at least eight directions of swinging, action for stabbing, action for holding in the air and the ability to feint by controlling the speed and direction of the swing.

It's not remotely (pun intended) like the other remakes in this regard. Not saying it's impossible just that I'm not sure it would be more fun mapping that to some combination of button holds and analog stick movements.

Phantom Hourglass is better than Windwaker. Nintendo should continue with a stylus based Zelda on 3DS. Because they wanted to keep the action on the 3D top screen, they avoided the stylus type Zelda game on 3DS.

They are all great games but me personally, links awakening deserves a top 5 place best handheld zelda to date imo

@aaronsullivan I've been thinking the same thing. It would be quite difficult to translate Skyward Swords motions controls to normal controls. I was thinking one way to do it would be to hold the sword button down and then use the analogue stick to control the direction of the sword.
I really love Skyward Sword, I just found the motion controls to be a bit hit and miss at times, and I would love to see this game get a HD remaster along with Twilight Princess this year for Zelda's 30th anniversary celebrations. Having Wind Waker, Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword all in HD on Wii U would be fantastic.

@aaronsullivan @JaxonH Illuminati confirmed.

Hey Jax, thanks for thinking of me, but it's hard to take that guy seriously w/ his mysterious conspiracy voice and background music, which may have been from HW, but sounded like he was playing it to go along w/ his incense burning.

And I don't think he actually confirmed anything. For one, it's only Feb. I'm pretty sure if you go back about 10 years you'll find Sony was ready to launch PS3 one year but wound up delaying it a year for blu-ray drive issues. So even if Nitneod was planning on releasing it holiday 2016 - and they very well better be - I doubt it was a foregone conclusion, and I doubt any low ranking minions would know the date yet. My guess is a few dozen VP types w/in Nitneod know the date, and Illuminati boy wasn't talking to any of them.
Also, at about the 1:45 mark he uses some qualifies, like "launch window", so even his inside guy didn't have "facts". Also, Miyamto and Anoumu themselves - the Nintendo big wigs - made that video Dec 2014 and basically swore a blood oath that both SFZ and Zelda U would be out in 2015, and we know how that turned out. So if I can't trust the 2 big inside guys who made a freakin' video w/ their faces in it how am I supposed to trust anything this guy says when it comes to Nintendo release dates?

It all makes sense, and it all rings true, but nothing is "confirmed". aaron, Thanos, you, and I are just as capable to figure this stuff out w/o an inside source.

Also, if Zelda NX is Zelda U - he never even said as much , they could be 2 different games - how is Zelda U, a game built form the ground up over the past 2 years to work w/ the Wii U and it's Gamepad, supposed to work w/ the NX if handheld is this year and home next, or vice versa? That part doesn't make sense. I still don't think we get Zelda U until 2017, but I think the NX port i seven later.

Sorry for the long rant Jax, thanks for taking time away from FE:F for the vid link, but I'm not saving up my $ yet. I will keep an eye on metalface's youtube channel though to see how it goes.

Wind Waker is my second favorite,Twilight Princess is my number 1

@rjejr
Well I think that's the big drop right there. It means that NX will be a console- at least, the console NX a will release first before the handheld.

I know it doesn't "confirm" anything, but, the guy has proven to be reliable and respectable, and with his YT channel he has a lot to lose if he were just making stuff up. Also, his insistence and confidence lends credence to its authenticity.

As for launch window, he only said that for the NX version. Meaning it may take a little longer for that version to release than the Wii U version. Surely they are targeting a simultaneous release but based on what he said they're not committing to a simultaneous release, but rather a possible simultaneous release or small gap in between.

Just thought a little reinforcement of Zelda releasing in 2016 would lighten your mood a bit

@NinChocolate I'm confused by that as well. Wind Waker is my favorite Zelda game, and I was so excited to see most agree. But then I scrolled down to the comments section...

Seems like the only people commenting on Wind Waker being wrong are the only people that didn't vote for it to be #1! BOOM!

@Zoda_Fett

I really enjoyed playing Minish Cap when it was released but i still didn't remember whole game before you mentioned it. If i remember right only way to play it with current Nintendo consoles is have early adopter ambassador programme in 3DS.

Windwaker Number 1 nah man Link to the Past for me.

Interesting, I was not a huge fan of Wind Waker. Link To The Past got my vote.

@DarkJamD Minish Cap is on the Wii U Eshop too.I'm sure it was one of the first GBA games released on there.

@SNESDisney In other words @ThomasBW84 is a fraud. I'm glad people are catching on. Personally Wind Waker's my second favorite Zelda, and Twilight Princess was my least favorite 3D Zelda. I think you're right about the sales and overall reception though.

@JaxonH Son and none of what you hear* Excuse you. P.S. I have no idea why you believe him...assuming you actually do I wasn't really paying attention to that many posts.

EDIT: OK, I read your posts and it seems you actually believe him, so I just want you to know that when his information is all false I will be ridiculing you.(almost or completely internally) Course if I'm wrong(Fee always right though)...well nothing. You don't have my permission to ridicule me internally. Sorry.

I'm sad that Twilight Princess didn't rank higher. It's my favourite Zelda game, alongside Wind Waker.

@SNESDisney

Why are you screeching on about sales, bias, unprofessional pandering, revisionist history etc.etc? Just accept some other people's opinions are different to yours. Then get a grip on yourself.

P.S. 'I could care less what the community thinks' means you really care

Choosing which Zelda game is the best is pretty much an impossible task. An argument can be made for many of them. Though in my opinion, novelty should be the deciding factor when determining the best of the best.

When I think of the best games I've ever played, Orcarina of Time is the only Zelda game that comes to mind. I like/love most of them but that is the one which stands out. The Wind Waker could have topped it but a lack of dungeons and big islands to explore bring it down a bit. I would put it third behind A Link to the Past and Orcarina.

As for Twilight Princess, it is the only Zelda I've played but not finished. I got quite close to the end but it just didn't have the magic of other Zelda titles and was quite dull for large parts

Nothing comes close to playing OOT on a REAL N64.

Regardless of resolution emulators don't have the same feel, the magic is missing. That is due to inaccurate emulation.

Amazing how after all these years people are still sour about wind waker. I personally thought it was a brilliant game and I think it's aged better than most games. I lost so many hours in that world....Polls are polls, this site knew what it was doing posting it up here, it creates contrasting views and some people are bound to be disappointed that their fave isn't number 1.

Only one I am surprised about is a Link Between Worlds, short, predictable, easy and I didn't think there was that many nods to its predecessor... But that's my opinion, happy Wind Waker is recognised as it truly is a timeless game, even though some people may disagree

I was not a big fan of A Link Between Worlds. I don't like having access to every item from the beginning.
I prefer the traditional having to find items throughout the adventure

This is great, I like seeing top5s for this series since I love almost all of them. Surprised ALBW scored so high for the NL-staffers, good stuff.

Ha, the staff's top 3 is exactly similar to mine, including Wind Waker at #1.

@toxibunny I don't want to go on too long in a second post but my first "impressionable-aged" Zelda as you may call it was Zelda IV (LA on the Gameboy). That was pretty damn cartoony, especially if you recall those photograph moments with Link & co. If LttP was cartoony as you so describe, then LA was that and double.

There is indeed a genuine "contrarian" phenomenon going on about The Wind Waker and if people didn't like it then and this persists in the same people for well explained reasons, thirteen years after release, then that counts as proof.

The Wind Waker is way too lighthearted a Zelda game. I'm not a Twilight Princess fan, either. To me what makes this franchise work is its tone. There is a very discreet and subtle balance that some of the games gravitate more to than the others. LA, MM, SS, Oracle, and Ocarina to a lesser extent all fit this mold. Games like WW, PH, ST, MC, and TP do not.

If you look at the games I feel don't fit the mold and find a trend, then awesome. But I really don't think there is one aside from the fact that none of them strike that balance in tone which the others do.

Main thing to take from these results, nowhere near enough people played the masterpiece that is Link's Awakening.

I totally agree with you NL guys. But one thing: ALBW is better than Ocarina of time to me.

@SNESDisney: I find it odd that you say you don't care and then follow up with a 2 page essay about why you care

@Nomad That was my thinking as well. It's a good start. I just cringe at the idea of holding z to lock on an enemy holding a sword button to swing while using both sticks, one to move, one to carefully move slow and quick for swings and then be able to intermittently jump with another button then there's stabbing and raising the sword skyward which all have to be readily available. I thought maybe z-target would put you in sword mode and you don't have to hold a button but then there is no way to swing through obstacles without z-targeting nothing. Then there's the camera.

My only point really is that there will need to be a Nintendo team on it for awhile to get it right and some real changes will have to be made.

For myself, I'd love to see it with clear detail in the distance throughout as it is a really beautiful game. I'm just thinking that a complicated button analog stick thumb contortion act for combat won't be worth it for me when I can have the intended controls that work smoothly. At least for me.

A round of applause to everyone involved for ensuring Skyward Sword didn't taint either list.

A bit disappointed Link's Awakening didn't make the cut but overall a decent list.

WindWaker in the top spot, everything is as it should be.

@SNESDisney Your comment almost made me throw up in my mouth a little bit. And had me logging back into a site I haven't commented on in a year or two.
Well played, sir!

People will hate mine:
5. Twilight Princess
4. A Link Between Worlds
3. Majora's Mask
2. Link to the Past
1. Triforce Heroes.

It was just so much fun and is highly replayable.

@Grumblevolcano You call it false advertising, I call it 'tech demo'.
Nintendo sold the Gamecube on potential, like every console manufacturer does.
I'm extremely happy they made Wind Waker and not a more realistic OoT. Just the fact I can go back to Wind Waker after playing a game like the Witcher 3 or DA: Inquisition speaks volumes of its timelessness.

5. Ocarina of Time
Best story, terrible camera. Great music (tied with ALttP), worst Hyrule.
4. Twilight Princess
Best Ganon / Ganondorf, worst art style. Best continuity (Zant and the captain), best Hyrule Castle, worst supporting character (Ilia, Midna tied for 4th).
3. Minish Cap
Best non-Ganon villain, best lore (tied with Skyward Sword). Most entertaining combat, unremarkable music.
2. A Link to the Past
Best art style (tied with Wind Waker), hardest. Best music, unremarkable combat.
1. Link's Awakening
Best overworld (Zelda 1 for best Hyrule), engaging music. Engaging combat (set-up the excellent Oracle games perfectly), best supporting character (Marin).

No love for Link's Awakening.

Not bad, not bad. My list looks pretty similar:

5. Skyward Sword
4. Ocarina of Time
3. A Link to the Past
2. Majora's Mask
1. Wind Waker

The order changes from time to time and Twilight Princess may take Skyward Sword's spot every once in a while.

Also, that second guy to comment really needs to calm down. I take Zelda pretty seriously too but chill dude, it's just a fan-made list.

My memories say TP is number 1 (haven't played it in like 10 years), but my most recent playthroughs say Link's Awakening (DX). That game is practically perfect.

Why not.
6. A Link Between Worlds
(The structuring was fine, but I disliked most of (ok, all of) the supporting cast, including Zelda, Hilda and the sages)
7. Oracle of Ages
8. Wind Waker
(The sailing, camera, dungeons, stealth and Triforce segments dragged the game down. But the ending sequence, art style and music were all fantastic)
9. Oracle of Seasons
10. Skyward Sword
(I get that it's realistic, but the fact your first shield breaks and you have to backtrack to 'make' a new one is ridiculous, other negatives were the 'divining' mechanism, sword sensitivity and everything to do with Ghirahim)
11. Zelda 2
(The fact that each screen is staggered is baffling, it really breaks the game in my opinion)
12. Zelda 1
(A perfect Hyrule cannot hide the fact that the combat is terrible and ruins the game in the first 2-3 hours of every playthrough)
13. Majora's Mask
(Strong dislike for Termina, 3 of the first 4 dungeons were pretty subpar with mediocre, uninspired bosses and I hated the final boss segments)

I can understand people being upset about the decisions, but it's quite disappointing to see people blind in their fervor and claiming that their belief that X should be on the top or Y shouldn't is gospel and all should bow down. I guess I shouldn't be surprised--it's the internet. It makes the best and worst of us — including Nintendo fans.

I personally loved Wind Waker. While I loved MM [arguably my #1] and wait for a game that has a similar level of darkness and tight-knit NPC personalities, WW was a breath of fresh air. I don't understand why people say "it brought nothing to the franchise." It sure did! It brought a much more cohesive version to a different timeline. It brought an artstyle that, while they went back 180 as @SNESDisney so calmly states, bears more semblance with the latest two iterations of the series (I'm including the Wii U one in this).

I am disappointed that they published this article only a few days after the poll, though. The numbers are scant. That said, I'm pleased with a good number of these titles

@Haiassai
I don't get the rage here at all, I just listed my top five and moved on. Are the people arguing trying to change the opinions of others? Why would someone's list of favorite games in a series change because of posts that someone likes something else better or bringing up review scores?

People are a strange animal.

@SNESDisney No reason whatsoever to get that upset or disgusted by this article and/or the poll. Obviously you have a right to your opinion and your own favorites, but that doesn't make anyone else's any less valid.

And the result IS representative indeed, but you have taken it out of context by dragging the sales numbers into it, which is a worldwide lifetime result while this poll obviously only reaches as far as the number of users on this site, assuming most of them have opted to join the poll, so the numbers reached here can never be compared to general sales figures since this just concerns the opinions of the NLife members, NOT the entire community of Nintendo gamers worldwide.

@rjejr Well, to be honest, I've already done my share of speculating on the NX console and/or handheld, going by what little info we got from the company itself and all the crazy patents coming and going for these past few months, but even though I normally wouldn't take any of these YouTubers that say they got their information from a "confirmed" source very seriously, I'm kind of in the middle with this guy.

He is always speaking in this calm manner, delivering his news in a matter of fact way without making it into a spectacle, and like @JaxonH said that behavior lends credit to his reputation, and since his website and YouTube channel are his main two sources of income, there's quite a bit at stake for him.

Not saying I straight up believe him, but like some other rumor filterers, such as Liam Robertson of Unseen64, he has been proven to be right on the money on several other occasions in the past, but I would however like to see some more proof to support all the things he has been saying lately. In that respect Unseen64 is doing a bit better than him.

Having said all that, I'll reserve my judgment for now and then we'll see how far off he is when Nintendo finally decides to go public with it all, which I hope is sometime really soon, preferably well before the next E3...

I enjoyed windwaker but never understood the fervent love for this title. I always felt that if they shortened the time consuming fetch quests on the ocean, and opened up the 'underwater world' with more exploration and another dungeon it could have been the definitive title. I guess I just couldn't look past that potential I felt it had.

I always felt like it had the least content out of all the zelda games too. But I did fall in love with its art style which always put me off before I actually played it.

I wonder if the average age of readers/nl staff correlates to nostalgia and the #1 vote

@Project_Dolphin It's only a ridiculous glut because so many are trying to cash in - and doing so very, very poorly. My point, though, is that Skyward Sword didn't have to be a total open world in order to have slightly less 'forced' linearity. Previous Zelda games typically had a little more freedom, and I believe they could have done the story just as well while still giving players a little more room.

@CB85 Ah yes, Link's Awakening. Fun little game; I believe it was the first Zelda title that I actually made it to the first real boss. Never really beat it, though; I watched a friend play and that was enough. It was definitely fun to just wander around and do things in, though. Like digging holes everywhere.

@SNESDisney lists like that are completely subjective, so chill your base dude.
also I think you're being a bit to harsh on windwaker :I

(p.s. my favorite one so far is Link between worlds, and I played pretty much every zelda game except cdi)

@SNESDisney The original Legend of Zelda was good for it's time and still stand up today, but pales in comparison to later Zeldas. First of all, the OG can be praised for it's exploration mechanics. The allure of discovering a cave with a moblin inside bribing you to keep his secret is almost unrivaled, as is a cave with an old man offering you a sword with a cryptic message telling you how to get it. In my full playthrough of Zelda I, I enjoyed discovering these secrets above all else. Unfortunately, the game falls flat in a number of other areas. The difficulty scaling in Zelda I is truly horrendous. Until you get the blue ring/white sword, the game is hard as balls, and once you get it there's almost no challenge until the final dungeon which goes back to being balls-hard. There is no smooth transition; you are either a weakling getting pushed around by any monster who challenges you, or a total badass hero that slays anything in his path without lifting a finger. In addition, the way the game raises difficulty is just cruel. Instead of making enemies more tactical, smarter or punishing to raise difficulty, the developers just throw in a bunch of enemies. A room full of 6 or 7 blue Darknuts is not uncommon, and the ones I hate most are rooms with 2 Bubbles, a Like-like, 3 Wizzrobes and a few Keese. At that point, it's just cheap. What also sucks is the combat system. Enemies can change direction with absolutely no limitations, warning or loss in speed, and that is only worsened by your only sword ability being the poke and the beam, but the beam can;t be used when the enemies can hit you out of nowhere. I like Zelda I just as much as the next guy, but when you take the nostalgia goggles off, it's very flawed in more ways than one.

My personal top 5
5:Majoras Mask
4:A Link Between Worlds
3:Minish Cap
2:Twilight Princess
1:Wind Waker

Didn't vote but the 3 most life-changing were:-
1. Ocarina
2. Zelda 2- (the best combat system imho)
3. Zelda 3
Maybe it's a bit silly to argue over what's the greatest, cos they are all great in their own right.
Can't wait for the next one!

I knew my favorite wouldnt win but that's okay. The results don't surprise me a bit.

My top 5 favorite Zeldas are
5) Link's Awakening DX
4)Twilight Princess
3) Majora's Mask 3D
2)The Legend of Zelda
1) Adventure of Link

@JaxonH The only thing that lightens my mood in Feb is the thought of spring and daylight savings time returning. Though the kids going back to school today after a week off is nice too.

I do expect everything this guy said to be confirmed at some point, but it really has nothing to do w/ him, he just reiterated what a bunch of us already thought, yourself included. I like inside sources for game leaks and knowing what is going on inside a company, but I'm not sure how good low level informants are at passing on high level info such as the date of hardware launches. I trust hardware and chip manufacturers telling us their financials based on what they will be selling to Ntineod and when more than anonymous leaks.

But mostly I just hate the sound of that guys voice. He did remind me I need to watch the new 6 episode season of X-Files though. I've been waiting until it was over to watch it in a marathon session. And I'm trying to get my 13 year old to watch it w/ me. Getting that kid to do anything is slow going.

@TheRealThanos I have to say, I don't picture you as the follower of leakers type. "Kind of in the middle" seems a good choice though.

"Nintendo finally decides to go public with it all, which I hope is sometime really soon, preferably well before the next E3.."

I still think they are waiting until after Pokken and Star Fox Zero, which is late April. An early May hardware reveal gives them a full month before E3 for their software reveal.

Of ocurse my biggest problem w/ Ntineod at the moment, building up over the past 3 eyars, is I don't beleive anything even they say themselves regarding dates, forget believing in leaks. Nintendo is a long series of delays since Wii U launched - Pikmin 3, Club Nintendo, Miitomo, Zelda U, SFZ, Projects Guard and Robot. The whole "please understand" meme is based on delays as far as I can tell. So even if Ntinedo was planning on NX in 2016, or Zelda U in 2016, doesn't mean they can pull it off. And if Zelda U doesn't even have a name yet, after we were told in would be out in 2015, and we've barley seen any of it, how can anyone have any faith in anything they say or plan?

@rjejr

Here's the 2nd video leaking the 3DS lineup.

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=0CcemhZq6iw

@rjejr

And feel free to just start addressing me as Crown Prince Xander of Nohr

@JaxonH Yeah, I noticed the avatar change the other day. I was going to ask you how you were enjoying the game, but I figured it was going well, and if it wasn't I didn't want to know.

I start chapter 11 in XCX tonight. Been trying to get my affinity up w/ the minions lately, I only ever play as rjejr w/ Elma and Lin, so now I need Gwin, Alexa and Alv(sp). I think Phog, Boz and Doug missions are never getting done. But we'll see.

@JaxonH So I'm watching the vid - that guys theme music is worse than his voice -

At the 2:15 mark he is talking about he $10m marketing budget for Zelda U - or maybe Zelda NX depending on when NX launches. See, that's what I've been saying - nobody knows when NX or Zelda U/NX is launching, not this guy, not the leaker, not Nitnod marketing, not I, nobody.

"with the possibility of that funding ...being switched over to the NX version"

So there we have it. The guy who is leaking info about "NX confirmed" for 2016 is talking about "possibilities" and marketing switches.

Here's my imaginary take - Nintnedo would like NX in 2016, maybe, but only if Zelda U and Zelda NX are both ready. I don't think Nintendo wants to release NX in Nov 2016 and Zelda U in March 2017 5 months after NX launches, that's a big slap in the face to Wii U owners. So I think their plan is Nov Zelda U, NX, Zelda NX. And if that isn't likely to happen - I've been saying Zelda U in 2017 for months now - then maybe they delay NX until early 2017 as well?

Another factor which @TheRealThanos and @aaronsullivan hav eheard me tlak about before. See all thos einstnaces above when I mistype Nitnedo? I'm not sure there is a "Nintnedo" right now regarding NX. I think Reggie, Trinnen, the new President, Shibata, Miyamoto, Aonuma are alldiscussing what to do w/ NX adn Zelda U/NX. I think the new Pres has the clout that whatever he says finally goes in the end, but I don't think he's entrenched enough that his secretary can just keep putting those guys off when they call like Iwata's secretary could. Iwata may have listened to Miyamtoto, but he probably laughed off Reggie and nodded politely at Trinnen. I think there is a lot of internal discussion regarding the how the timing of Zelda and NX relate to one another. And Ithink th eunderlings may be feeling secure enough to question to the enw PRes enough for internal debates and discusssions to be taking place, moreso than under Iwata.

Long story short - I don't think "Nintnedo" is on the same page and has agreed on the timing of the NX launch. And until the Pres comes to a final decision, we won't know anything, b/c there inn't anything to know.

That's what I got from your guy, the possibility of switching funding based on timing. Nobody knows anything, inside or outside of Ntinedo.

BTW - the guy HMK interviewing your guy hear is much more ineresting sounding, but even SuperMetalDave sounds like a real person here as he drops his "illuminati" voice. I wish he sounded like this in all his vids, a lot less painful for my ears.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gEPVNPt1Bmc

@rjejr

You misunderstood.

He's talking about Zelda NX, not the NX itself.

His source says NX 2016 confirmed, and Zelda U 2016 confirmed. No ifs, ands or buts.

The "depending when it launches" was referring to the NX port of Zelda U, which if you recall the first video, he made very cows was a launch WINDOW title. So it may launch 2016 with NX, or it may launch in Feb/March the following year.

And he doesn't claim to know everything. Just what this particular employee knows. And the employee works at NoA, so only knows whats been shared as far as marketing.

@rjejr

And people say everything is a slap in the face nowadays.

There's no difference if Zelda NX releases in November or March. Why postpone the game on Wii U just to release together? If the Wii U version is done, release it. Why make Wii U owners wait an extra 4 months when it's finished product?

No way they postpone Zelda U. People would riot. And as for NX, no way they postpone past Nov. That's when you strategically release consoles- the holiday boom. And it's the same story across all 3 platforms- everyone releases in Nov for a reason. They're not going to postpone and release in March. That would kill the launch sales.

So neither Zelda U or NX can afford a delay into 2017.

@JaxonH At the risk of seeming like a Trump supporter, here's what I think of anything "confirmed" by this guy and his sources. His "confirmation" may be best translated as "Nintendo is currently having internal discussions about".

Don't forget, more than half - 6 out 9 - of these 2015 release dates WERE WRONG! NOA released this, it isn't fan made. YWW and SMM were both 2nd half, not 1st half, Projects Guard and Giant Robot, Zelda and Starfox still aren't out and we are well into 2016. Miiomo and My Nintendo were both due out in Fall 2015 as well, still not out yet either. So in world were we can only believe half of what Nintendo says, how much faith can I put in this guy? I mean it's genuinely nice to get snippets of news abut what's potentially coming - Nintnod is too quiet for their own good, and when they aren't quiet they're wrong - but I'm not circling any calendar dates just yet. I will be watching more of this guys vids for snippets of info, but I'm not betting the house on their ultimate validity.

@JaxonH 2 quick things, I need to go.

Sony released PS4 in Feb in Japan. Nintneod released 3DS in March. If NX is a handheld it can be released at any time according to Ntinedo, and a home console can come later in Japan as well.

You know I think there is a HUGE difference in releasing a game before and after Christmas. When Zelda U releases makes all the difference in the world. But StarFox Zro got delayed from Nov to April, nobody rioted. Maybe Ninteod thinks nobody would riot if Zelda U got delayed until March either? (And technically it can' t be delayed until it had a date, and it doesn't have one yet.) Nobody rioted when Zelda U got delayed out of 2015. You do remember when it was due in 2015, don't you? 2015, 2016, 2017, what's the difference?

I think NX 90% in 2016, Zelda U 45%. Zelda NX 5%. I still don't think there even is a Zelda NX, I think it's too Wii U focused of a game engine. If it can be ported that quickly to NX, then NX is in trouble. Or they've rebuilt Zelda U on the LbW 3DS engine.

@rjejr
3DS is a handheld, and Nintendo handhelds traditionally release in Q1/Q2. Consoles are different, and I did specify consoles.

Secondly, Japan is not the west, and even for Japan that is the exception, not the rule. I assure you, NX will release in Holiday season around Black Friday.

And of course, pertaining to those game release dates, they are always subject to change. But this is a leak about what their plans are. What they intend to do.

Not a crystal ball.

@rjejr
And for the record, Zelda U was scheduled for 2015 until it got delayed. I think NX port is why.

Which means they will have had an extra year and a half to do a simple port from one system to another. Windwaker was done in 6 months. And that was ported after the fact- much easier to do it as you develop.

@rjejr "I have to say, I don't picture you as the follower of leakers type."

And you'd be absolutely right. I'm not. For the most part it's just that I'm kind of starved for news about the NX (because in my humble opinion any official announcement is either imminent or lòòòng overdue) and also finding out how much of it all we got right between the prophets here on NLife spouting our individual ideas concerning what it will be.

And contrary to you I'm not annoyed by his voice at all. One can always find negative connotations in anything, that's the easy part, and especially on the internet, those that scream the loudest are often the only ones respected or heard, for whatever misguided reason. It's a glass half empty society, and frankly, I find it truly exhausting and disappointing. And don't get me started on the comments section underneath most YouTube videos; if that's a look at the future of mankind, then I hope that big comet is coming sooner rather than later...

Me, I'm more of the deductive reasoning type, and even though a lot of these other rumor mongers have more fans, they offer no more substance than SuperMetalDave64 does, and there is a HUGE difference in the delivery. Others either use a lot of (visible) advertising/sponsoring, make falsely cobbled together video "evidence" or documents, and if they choose to show themselves in the video they wildly wave and gesture all across the screen as if to emphasize and over-exaggerate every single word they utter. That to me is WAY more annoying than someone having an odd voice or whatever other minor fault.

But his delivery and calm demeanor may very well be why his fan base is steadily growing, because he certainly seems more down to earth and relaxed, letting the information speak for itself and even offering others to verify it by means of what information they may have subtracted themselves already, and there are still lots of techies and developers on sites like NeoGAF that continuously seem to be able to dance around the whole NDA debacle without ever getting burned. (or at least not yet)

Sure, some of the things he says are of the "dòh" kind, but there is a snippet here and there, if you ignore any potential annoyances, that may make you think and put a few pieces of the puzzle, that you previously missed, together.

Personally, I'm also still going for a 2016 release of NX, but since the first time I said that (when I was talking about the home base part of the NX family coming first) I am now wondering if it will be a handheld first and then a release of a home console, so I'm very curious to see how this will all pan out.

Hopefully only a few more months to go...

As for what to believe release dates-wise: going by your definition, I'd say you could believe him just as much as you do Nintendo themselves, seeing as you don't seem to think that their own announcements are worth all that much either in that respect.

@rjejr I see I forgot a bit concerning the NeoGAF part: I meant to say that the people on there are discussing him and are indeed verifying his information. Don't ask me by what means, since I don't know. But historically developers of all kinds and companies have been on there, and since posting is relatively anonymous, a lot of potentially sensitive information can be discussed if someone would want to do so.

@TheRealThanos This is all taking up way too much of my life. ;-p

I don't hate anything about the guys voice personally, it just sounds like one of those shows about UFO abductions where everybody is filmed slightly to their left w/ a bookcase behind them.

Too bad Jesse stopped doing Conspiracy Theory or maybe we could get an NX episode and finally get some answers. Maybe NX will be called "Nintendo Illuminati".

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x22htos_conspiracy-theory-with-jesse-ventura-s1e5-secret-societies_news

I really think you're over-sceptisizing (made that up just for you) things, for there is no such spectacle to be found in his videos, and most of the time his face is not even in them.

Just to be clear: I'm not a devoted fan of his, so I'm not defending him out of loyalty or what not. I also haven't subscribed to his channel, I've only recently been directed towards some of his videos by an acquaintance of mine, which is what made me take the time to check them out and I simply noted the difference with all the others.

In some ways he kind of makes me think of Unseen64 aka Liam Robertson, another down to earth kind of guy that lets the information speak for itself instead of making the videos be about him.

But I guess we'll see what the future will hold for Nintendo (and us) pretty soon, so the wait will be over before you know it.

As for Ventura: I could never take that guy seriously. Things like deductive reasoning may be entirely lost on him. Jesse may have been good for entertainment value, but I think something went wrong in the ring back in the day. Maybe too many head-first landings...

@rjejr And speaking of mr. Robertson, look what we have here, just posted today:
http://mynintendonews.com/2016/02/22/rumour-ea-has-nintendo-nx-development-kits/
Now where did I leave that picture of the hype train... ?

@ChibiNinja Yeah, Link's Awakening is pretty much perfect for what it is and the hardware it's on. Sure the GameBoy was a limited piece of hardware, but Link's Awakening worked with those limitations instead of being hindered by them. I've personally never come across a better designed game for the respective hardware it was on. :]

@TheRealThanos This is what happens when I reply to emails 14 hours later.

https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2016/02/rumour_ea_and_nintendo_looking_to_rekindle_unprecedented_partnership_on_nx

Nintendo should hire John Langdon to do their Nintendo NX marketing and advertising.

I think "Nintendo" would work well in an ambigram font like this.

And the rather iconic N64 and Gamecube images:

could be replaced by something like this for NX, maybe they could call it "Nintendo Elemental":

Quick John Langdon info:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MiNbIf105WQ

Tin foil hat bundled w/ every NX.

@TheRealThanos OK, that last one was kind of a lark, driven mad by NX secrecy, and EA are the devil's minion's of gaming, but this one is serious.

Hulk Smash is one of the coolest things I've ever seen - Hulk was my guy growing up in the 70's and until today, though Wolverine surpassed him due to my own personal adamantium skeleton, but Hulk is still Hulk.

Imagine what these guys could due w/ Zelda and Samus? Donkey Kong practically writes itself. I think everyone here can agree Nintendo needs to ramp up the marketing for NX for it to succeed.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N1FlaATdchY

@rjejr "This is what happens when I reply to emails 14 hours later. "

Yeah, goes to show what having a discussion across several time zones is doing to the brain, especially in the case of having to juggle a normal family life and career in between it too...

But it's nice to see that NLife has picked up what I already posted here...

That ambigram stuff is pretty nifty and it might give them something to differentiate themselves, although Marvel has now already done it, so it isn't really that special anymore.
It also makes me think of all these pictures that we used to have that can also be interpreted in two ways or more. (like the old woman/beautiful lady and the what's on a man's mind picture)

@TheRealThanos I have this one hanging over my washer and dryer, it used to be in my maternal grandmother's attic and it always scared the bejebus out of me. Still creepy.

@rjejr Good one. Haven't seen it before.

A deserved winner (and runner up). Good job community!