The Legend of Zelda is one of those great franchises that have a long history and a rabid fan base. Everyone knows about Zelda, even people who don't play video games. It's probably only second to Mario in recognizability. It's also one of the huge franchises in which I have played every single game in the series. There are huge franchises I love, like Castlevania, Resident Evil, Mega Man, and Metroid, but have not played every game in those series. Legend of Zelda, I have played them all, though a few remain incomplete, but I still have played enough of the ones I never finished to understand what the game is about and how it plays.
I was thinking about the direction I want to take this blog, as I previously really had no idea, and I decided I really like "top 10" lists or lists of rankings. I thought about which franchises to rank or what to make "top 10" lists of. There are a lot of topics and a lot of video games I could do those with. I thought about the franchises in which I have played every game, and admittedly there weren't as many as I hoped. But ultimately I decided on ranking the Zelda series. I figured "Why not?". Everyone has a favorite Zelda game. Although Ocarina of Time is often considered the pinnacle of the series, and is often seen at the top of "best games of all time" lists, it's not everyone's favorite. In fact, the more I look into, the more I see people rankingOcarina towards the middle of their list. So what makes ranking Zelda games so interesting is the fact that everyone's list is different. I looked into Castlevania game rankings but 90% of the time, Symphony of the Night is #1 and it gets boring to see the same game at the top of everyone's list. Zelda, on the other hand, feels more like a series with no clear winner. Everyone has their opinions (and the following list is mine) so there is no unanimous "winner" or "loser".
While reading my list please keep in mind that this list is based on my personal opinion, and my personal experiences ONLY. You may agree, or you may disagree, and that is perfectly fine. But no one is wrong for stating their opinion. This list is
entirely subjective. Now, with that in mind, and without further ado, here is my list of Zelda games, worst to best!
17. Legend of Zelda: Four Swords
I'm not entirely sure if Four Swords qualifies as its own game, seeing as it was added in with a port of Link to the Past for Game Boy Advance, but I'm pretty sure people would say it's its own game. They re-released it on the 3DS eShop recently so people who never got to play it due to not having anyone to play with on a GBA could play it. I played this eShop version since the original Four Swords required you link up with at least one other person to play as you helped each other through the dungeons. And I must say, I was not very impressed. Multiplayer Zelda is completely fine and even great if done well (see Four Swords Adventures) but Four Swords seemed very shallow, like a quick cash in on a single gimmick that loses steam pretty quickly. It seems almost like a novelty, playing a Zelda game with someone else, moreso than an actual fleshed out game. As for the story...wait, was there one? I'm not sure actually. If there was a story behind Four Swords it was incredibly forgettable. If I remember correctly, the eShop version of Four Swords is completely free (unless they started charging people for it), so it can't hurt to try it. Just don't expect too much.
16. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link
Perhaps it's because I only first played it almost two decades after its initial release, or perhaps it's just too difficult for my tastes, but either way this adventure is not very enjoyable for me. It is definitely the toughest game in the series. It's the only game I have not beaten simply because of its difficulty. I understand this title has a cult following, and that's fine. I like the idea of the 2D side scrolling dungeons, but ultimately I just enjoy the bird's eye view aspect better. I think the game has some merit, though. It was innovative, challenging, and had a good soundtrack. Unfortunately I never made it past the second dungeon, but perhaps one day I will go back and try again. Maybe I'm being harsh on this game since I'm grading it like a modern game and this game is over 20 years old now, but time shouldn't matter. I still enjoy many NES games, even ones I'm only playing now for the first time. All in all Zelda II seemed like a good game in practice but ultimately falls short of the series' hallmark greatness for me.
I'll probably receive some hate for putting this entry so low but once again, this is my personal opinion. I acknowledge the game for creating a legacy and for it being great at the time, but ultimately this game has aged poorly. It is incredibly confusing, not nearly as much fun as later entries, and pretty shallow. Understandable since this comes from the NES in 1986. That's a long time for a series to evolve, and evolve it did. The original Zelda shows its age, but even being that I originally played it about 20-something years ago I didn't really know what to do or where to go back then, and even now I can't finish it without a guide. I did feel a sense of accomplishment when I finally beat it for the first (and probably last) time back in 2007 on the Wii Virtual Console, but in the same sense I felt I had cheated, using a guide to tell me where to go when I got lost. The game isn't overly difficult as it is confusing, and we all know there little to no story in the game itself, as most NES games were. It is notable for being the first cartridge to include a battery save though. Also, it had a beautiful gold cartridge. But in the end, this game just doesn't do it for me. I wasn't crazy about it back then and it still ranks as one of my least favorite games in the series. That doesn't mean it's bad, however. There are plenty of people who love it more than I do.
14. Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword
I didn't exactly have high hopes for this game as soon as I found out you would be using the Wii's motion controls to fight. For the unaware, I hate motion controls. Hate, with a fiery passion. Especially when it's not needed. Okay, I'll admit the motion controls in Skyward Sword were done well. They're pretty accurate. But why do I have to wave my arm around like an idiot to fight? Why can't I just press a button? Have two control schemes! Problem solved! My arms get tired after a while of swinging the controller around so I can't play this game for more than a half hour at a time. So that kills some of it for me. The other part about this game I don't like, is it feels very same-y. Yes I know Zelda games like to reuse things from past games. I get that. But this game feels very generic and "been there done that". Nothing about it surprised me, expect the fact that I was hoping it would be better. Even if they fixed the controls to a more traditional scheme, this game would still rank low for me. I just found the dungeons to be dull, forgettable, and not at all challenging. Of course, I have yet to finish the game, I'm probably about halfway, but nothing has compelled me to finish this game because I damn near fall asleep every time I go to play it and then my right arm screams "No! Please! Not Skyward Sword! Haven't I had enough exercise already?" Yeah, thanks but no thanks. Perhaps one day I'll finish it just to say I've finished it, but I highly doubt my opinion on the game will change for the better. On the bright side, both the graphics and the soundtrack are phenomenal. I love the classic Disney-esque look to it. It's almost a blend of Wind Waker and Ocarina of Time. Very unique and well done. The soundtrack is a pure joy to listen to as well. Unfortunately, they couldn't justify ranking this game higher.
13. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
This game is sort of a sore subject for me. When I first learned about this game before it came out, I was super pumped. It looked amazing! It had everything I ever wanted in a Zelda game - Wind Waker graphics, classic top-down 2D gameplay, and the ability to draw on maps! Not to mention two screens (thanks DS!). But then upon its release I went to play it and realize the controls are touch screen only. I was convinced for a good half hour that there were traditional controls hidden somewhere in the game. There had to be. No one in their right mind would make a 2D action game that used 100% touch controls. Then reality set in - yes of course, Nintendo would. Immediately my hype was diminished. I decided to try to like it anyway but no matter how hard I tried I could not love this game. I really, really wanted to love this game. If the tedious touch screen controls weren't bad enough, they throw in this annoying recurring dungeon called Temple of the Ocean King that you constantly have to go back to and redo the same damn thing over and over. I guess the point is you're supposed to draw on your map so you know where the traps are and where to go, so next time you revisit that hellhole it makes for an easier time through. Only it doesn't. You're timed throughout the entire dungeon and you only have a limited amount of time to complete the entire thing. The first time you visit it, you have the shortest amount of time and only complete a small portion of the dungeon. The second time you visit it, you get a little more time added but you have to explore the entire first part and second part. And this keeps repeating til the very end, or so I assume. Yes, you guessed it, I never finished this one either. I really want to. I really do. The touch screen controls and the central dungeon are almost unbearable though. And honestly those are my only two gripes with the game. The world exploration is fun, the other dungeons are great, the graphics are carried over from Wind Waker, and the soundtrack is a blast. Just like Skyward Sword is to motion controls, there was absolutely no reason why Phantom Hourglass was made 100% touch screen only. Perhaps Nintendo wanted to "try something new". And that, they did. But it didn't work out as well as they hoped. But, listen, I get that they wanted to utilize the touch screen. But...at least give us the option to change to traditional controls. Here's hoping later entries in the series will not follow down the same road.
12. Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
After the disappointment of Phantom Hourglass, I did not have high hopes for this game. In fact, I was about to skip it entirely, til one rainy day I just decided I had to play every Zelda game, good or bad. So I gave it shot, and was ready to be disappointed...only to be slightly delighted. Yes, it still featured the abysmal touch screen only controls but they were a bit more refined than in Phantom Hourglass. And possibly at this point I had gotten over the initial shock of how much I disliked them and just sort of accepted them. Also gone was the presence of a very long and annoying central dungeon. This adventure was a bit more enjoyable than Phantom Hourglass but still falls short of greatness. I have not finished it (I know, I know) but last I left off, I was pretty close to the end. The dungeons were well done, the overworld was fun, and as always the soundtrack is great. I enjoyed the use of a train to navigate the over world and the addition of your phantom buddy to help you through certain tasks. While I wouldn't really care to see either one return, they were nice for this game. The biggest thing going against this game for me is that is it somewhat forgettable. It doesn't feel as epic as other Zeldas. Perhaps it's because it's on a handheld system, but the story isn't very interesting and the world isn't as exciting as it is in other games. but during the time I played the game, I did enjoy it. One day I will go back to finish it once and for all. This game still could have been better without touch screen controls.
11. Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures
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This game took me by surprise. I wasn't sure what to expect, seeing as I didn't play the original Four Swords until a few years ago. When I popped this game in to my beloved Gamecube for the first time, I was pleasantly surprised. Unlike Four Swords, this game is playable by one person as well as any amount between one and four. The downside to this is each person needs to use a Game Boy Advance and a GBA-GCN link cable. That part is kind of a bummer. Final Fantasy Crystal Chronicles pulled the same crap as this, and I can't say I approve of it, but ultimately it didn't matter to me much seeing as this game is still very fun when playing alone. The story is nothing special and the gameplay is somewhat different than your traditional Zelda game. It is broken down into different levels, which are essentially dungeons. But the gameplay is still reminiscent of traditional Zelda games. The key difference being the use of multiple Links. The dungeons change slightly depending on the amount of players playing. For instance, for one player, the tasks and enemies are made easier so that one person can complete them. With four people playing the dungeons are made so you need all four people to make an effort together. I thought this was really creative and definitely made the game stand out on its own. The graphics are comprised of beautiful 2D sprites and the soundtrack is mostly made up of remixed classic tracks. The levels are mostly fun and the game is a decent length, but ultimately I still preferred the grand scale of other Zeldas. I still highly recommend this game to anyone who hasn't played it.
10. Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
When it comes to Zelda games, I have 2 categories: games I could play over and over and will love til the end of time, and games I am fine with playing once, or did not like very much, but wished I liked more. The previous games on my list fall into the latter category. The games on my list after this entry fall into the former. The Minish Cap is a strange case, however. I'm not really sure if I love it or if I am not too crazy about it. On the surface it's a very solid Zelda game and has most things that makes the series great. The dungeons are fun, the story is entertaining, if a bit silly, and the soundtrack is very solid. However, the game still seems to fall short of greatness in my opinion. When I first played Minish Cap, I wasn't crazy about it. I stopped playing it about halfway through. I felt it was forgettable and boring and just didn't live up to the hype of the series. However, a few years later I went back to play it again and actually enjoyed it. It wasn't exactly doing anything new, aside from the whole "turning into a tiny Link" gimmick, but it was still fun, enjoyable, and well done. Once I finished it, my biggest gripe became its length. It was a short, and fairly easy game. It still didn't feel like this giant adventure, whereas most Zeldas do. It felt almost like an intermission between Zeldas. And that's fine, it was still fun. Not every Zelda can be on the scale of Ocarina of Time. But I still felt like they could've done more for it. But to this day, when I reflect on the game, it's always met with ambivalence. I still can never decide whether I love it or not. Perhaps these feelings warrant a third playthrough...
9. Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
Twilight Princess was the polar opposite of Wind Waker. When Wind Waker was criticized for being "too kiddy" and "too upbeat", Nintendo responded with the "mature" and "dark" Twilight Princess. It's a great game and it is definitely filled with the stuff that makes the series great, but in terms of greatness, this is the least great of the great Zeldas. Where I was unsure about my feelings for Minish Cap, and Four Swords Adventure felt more like a side game than a true Zelda adventure, Twilight Princess is Zelda through and through. It has very similar gameplay to Ocarina of Time with a few additions. You can now sword fight on top of your noble steed. That's pretty badass! Not to mention you can turn into a wolf to fight and complete certain tasks. Also present is the Navi-like "helper" character, Midna. Midna seems to be a fan favorite, and it's not hard to see why. Where Navi was annoying, and Tatl was kinda snotty, Midna is a pleasure to have along. She's not exactly the easiest to get along with but she's a great character and you don't mind having her along for the ride. Twilight Princess's dungeons were very well done, if a bit easy. The music was classically Zelda-esque, and the story was pretty enjoyable. The world was huge and I felt like the game took forever to finish, but overall the game is great. My biggest concern is that it doesn't really do much to stand out from the crowd. Adding the ability to turn into a wolf was cool but it didn't add a whole lot. It was basically a bigger and darker Ocarina of Time. All those things worked out well for it, but I think the one thing that is holding it back from being higher on my list is the fact that the dungeons weren't very memorable. Dungeons are a big deal for me. If I can't remember them, they were neither great nor bad. I mean, I remember them being well designed and fun but they were ultimately forgettable.
8. Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds
This game is fantastic. It includes everything that made A Link to the Past great and makes it its own game. The only reason this game loses some points for me is the fact that it re-uses a lot of A Link to the Past's world and themes. Granted, it's supposed to be a direct sequel, but it feels like a sequel more than its own game. However it doesn't negate the fact that this game is fantastic. You don't need to play A Link to the Past to play and understand this game but it helps, especially if you want to get the most out of it. I'm not crazy about the way items work in this game though. You "borrow" or purchase items now, rather than finding them in dungeons. This is a huge deviation for the series, and while it works, I still prefer finding them as opposed to having everything I need right in front of me. For all intents and purposes this game was designed that way and for it to feel more "open world" as opposed to more constricted. Like I said, it works, but I still prefer the old method better. However everything else about this game is amazing. The graphics are phenomenal, especially when used with the 3D effect. The remixed soundtrack is a masterpiece in itself. Aside from the fact that its a direct sequel to one of the most acclaimed games of all time, it's a kick-ass game all on its own too. Considering I feel that every Zelda game after Wind Waker took a dip in quality, and if A Link Between Worlds is a preview of what's to come, then I am very, very excited!
7. Legend of Zelda: The Oracle of Ages
The games Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons were released and developed simultaneously and are often considered to be variants of the same game. This is not true! Oracle of Ages and of Seasons are two different games! They share many similarities and look and play the same, yes. But they have slightly different stories, with a different overworld, different characters, and different dungeons. Oracle of Ages is the slower-paced more puzzle-centric of the two. They also have different gimmicks attached to them. In Ages, you accomplish things by moving from the present to the past via different warp points. In Seasons, you accomplish tasks by switching seasons. I'll talk more about that under Seasons. But as for Oracle of Ages, it feels somewhat like Link's Awakening and it plays just as well. In fact the only difference between the Oracles games and Link's Awakening is that the Oracles games are a bit less memorable for me. But they are classic Zelda through and through and very well done games at that. Ages is a bit more difficult than Seasons, and took me longer to complete. Oracle of Ages and Seasons were actually made by Capcom, which was a change for Nintendo, letting an outside company develop their games. Knowing this, it's actually quite surprising how good they actually are. Come to think of it, Minish Cap was also developed by Capcom. All in all, both Oracles games are great and I'd say I enjoy them almost equally but if I had to choose, I'd go with Seasons just because it's a bit more forgiving and easier to replay.
6. Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons
I already talked about it a little bit, but like I said under Ages, Oracle of Seasons is the sister game of Oracle of Ages. It's a bit easier and a bit more action-oriented than Ages, but ultimately they feel very similar. They even have the same weapons with the exception of one exclusive weapon per game. I forget which weapons were in which but ultimately it really didn't make a difference. Once again, if you haven't played either Oracle game, you are missing out. They're both available on the 3DS Virtual Console for $4 or $5 apiece and it is totally worth it. Both games stand up with the best of the Zelda games.
5. Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask
I'll be honest - I didn't like this game for a long time. I liked the game when I initially played it back in 2000, and towards the end of the game I started to dislike it, so I stopped playing. Years went by and the entire time I berated the game and told people it sucked. One day a few years ago, I replayed it for old time's sake. And you know what? It's not bad at all! In fact, it's one of the best games in the series! I tried to figure out exactly why I had hated this game so much all these years, and it came down to one thing - the 3 Day schedule. If you haven't played it, let me explain. The world is going to end in 3 days. That's right - when you start the game the world is about to end. Lovely, huh? So you have 3 days to complete the whole game. Only you don't. At the end of the third day you learn that you can reverse, slow, or speed up time. This is essential to completing the game. It's a great concept and works pretty well, though it gets annoying having to reverse time over and over again. When I played this game as a teenager back then, it was more frustrating than anything, and my feeble mind didn't see past that. Now that I'm an adult I can appreciate the game for what it is. It's a great deviation in the series, and is one of the darkest games in the series. I mean, the world is ending! Throughout your adventure you collect certain masks and some of them transform you into different species like the Goron. One thing that saddened me is that, while very well done, there are only 5 dungeons in the game. Yes - five. Four main dungeons and a final dungeon. But the rest of the game is so extensive you will hardly notice. You start to learn which characters appear on which days and which stores are open at which times, so you have to work your way around that, which is at the same time tedious and ingenious. Overall the game is fantastic though. It runs on the same engine as Ocarina of Time and plays almost identically. The story takes place in Termina so you get a whole new world to explore. Majora's Mask has a strong cult following, despite not being the best received entry in the series. People have clamored for a remake on the 3DS akin to Ocarina of Time but so far it hasn't happened. I would love to replay this game over again on my handheld. If you have not played this one, you are missing out. In fact, if you haven't played any game in my Top 5, you missed out. These are the essential games in the series. Not everyone will agree that they are the best 5 games in the series but they are all amazing.
4. Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time
Sorry to disappoint you, but Ocarina of Time is not my #1. It's a fantastic game and a near-masterpiece, but there are 3 games in the series I love more. Ocarina of Time is often considered the pinnacle in the series, and sometimes even the pinnacle of video games. Many gamers and gaming sites have ranked Ocarina of Time as the greatest game of all time. That's an extremely bold statement to make, but I can see where they're coming from. It revolutionized the series and 3D games in general. It had as big an impact on the series as the original Zelda. It redefined Zelda, redefined Nintendo, and redefined video games. There is a reason it's rated so high. The world was vast, the dungeons were fantastic, the story was great, the characters were memorable, and the soundtrack is masterful. So why did I not rank it #1? Well, a few reasons. For one, there is too much open space. On the overworld the enemies only come out at night. This isn't a huge concern but it is worth noting. Second, some dungeons were either too easy or short (Spirit) or too hard and annoying (Water). Luckily the Water Temple's problems were mostly alleviated in the 3DS remake of the game, but it's still my least favorite dungeon in the game. It's also a relatively easy game. Where Majora's Mask was a bit more challenging, Ocarina was a bit more forgiving. But either way the game is fantastic and should definitely be experienced by everyone who is even slightly a gamer.
3. Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past
Here we go - the top 3! A Link to the Past is considered by many to the be one of the best Zelda games as well as SNES games of all time! It's easy to see why, too. It's a fantastic game with a huge world. The dungeons are amazing, the soundtrack is unforgettable, and the gameplay is just so much fun you never want it to end! I've only played this one in its entirety once, but haven't played at least a dozen other times to halfway or longer. To think this game followed the two NES games, which already looked dated upon Link to the Past's release, was mindblowing. Everything that made Zelda great was here and made bigger and better than anyone could have imagined! This game stands the test of time surprisingly well too! I only played this game for the first time about 7 or 8 years after its release, during the N64 era. So, yes, I played this after Ocarina of Time and liked it better. It's actually quite hard to explain why this game is so amazing. Perhaps it's just something you have to experience. Just think of everything you know about Zelda and encompass all of the best aspects into one game. I will say though the game becomes brutal as you progress. It starts off relatively easy but grows to the point of wanting to pull your hair out. But even so, when you finally finish the game, you get a huge sense of accomplishment. There are also a ton of hidden areas / side quests where you can get hidden items and more heart pieces, as well as the Gold Sword, which is not required to finish the game but it certainly helps! All in all, this game is gigantic. It's charming, timeless, and anyone even remotely interested in gaming should play this game. Not bad for a game that is over 20 years old!
2. Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
I love this game. I really do. It was the first Zelda game I ever played. My first encounter with it was back in 1992 when I first picked up a Game Boy with Kirby's Dream Land. Likewise, my sister got a Game Boy that was bundled with Zelda: Link's Awakening. I had no idea at the time but that game she got was going to be one of my favorites. It took time but I was able to convince her to trade games even though I liked Kirby, I wanted to try Zelda. At first I didn't like it, I found it too hard. But the most I played it the more I liked it, and eventually I fell in love. Then I played it a second time, a third, a fourth, and today I've probably played it a dozen times, with at least half of those to full completion. So what makes Link's Awakening so special to me? Aside from the fact that it was my first Zelda game, it was very quirky, memorable, and a ton of fun. I could play this game a hundred times over and still love it. It's the only game with Mario characters too! Chain Chomps and Goombas make cameos and the item trading mini-game is one of my favorite mini-games in any Zelda. The dungeons are spectacular, the music is great, and the gameplay is every bit Zelda as any game before it. The fact that a game this huge was put on a measly little Game Boy cartridge was unheard of. Most Game Boy games were not nearly as grandiose as their console counterparts. For instance, Donkey Kong Land 1,2, and 3. They're essentially Donkey Kong Country 1,2, and 3, but with dumbed down gameplay, graphics, sound, and fewer levels. Super Mario Land 1 and 2 were fun in their own right but I can finish them both in an hour, combined. Link'a Awakening was so big that it could pass for a console title. Seriously! Then Link's Awakening DX came out for the Game Boy Color which basically only added color and one extra dungeon, but it made the game even more timeless and more amazing. I also have a thing for weird games that take place in a dream-like world. Super Mario Bros 2 was like this, hence why it's one of my favorites. But Link's Awakening did this as well. The entire game was (spoiler!) a dream. I love that. It even feels dream-like. The whole point of the game is to wake up the Wind Fish which is causing this dream to exist. Not to mention Koholint Island (the game's setting) is just as cool, if not mores, than Hyrule in any iteration (almost). Once again, like Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, this game is a must play. If I had to make one note of criticism, it would be that you only get two item slots, and shields, swords, and strength bracelets use one up each, so you can't have a sword, shield, and an item equipped. You find out as you play this really isn't much of an issue, but it's the only real downside to the game.
1. Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker
Well, here it is - my #1 Zelda game of all time! You probably guessed it beforehand by process of elimination, but let me start off by saying I cannot praise this game enough. I don't use a particular word to describe games very often but in this case I must. That word is masterpiece. Yes, that's right. This game, to me, is flawless. Thre are only a small handful of games I can say that about. Wind Waker is the pinnacle of the Zelda franchise, the pinnacle of Gamecube games, and a pinnacle of gaming in general. This game alone deserves its own article, honestly. Everything about it is perfect to me.
So, where should I start? Well, let's start with the graphics. When a Zelda game was announced for Gamecube, people were excited and expected a "realistic" Zelda, only to be disappointed when they saw the screenshots for Wind Waker - a cartoony "childish" version of Zelda. I, on the other hand, loved the look. The graphics are so well done, they still look amazing today, over 10 years later! Playing Wind Waker feels almost like watching a very well animated cartoon. In fact the game animated better than many modern cartoons! There are zero flaws I can come up with in regards to the graphics. They are just simply perfect in my eyes. Very crisp, clean, and just gorgeous to look at.
Now on to the soundtrack. It easily rivals the other Zeldas. It is the first orchestrated soundtrack in the series and it really works out well for it. The game contains some remixed tracks from past games but most of it is new material. Each island has its own theme and each one fits very well to its environment. The main theme (when sailing) is one of my favorite themes in any Zelda game. Even people who didn't like the game as much as I did love the soundtrack. It's simply that good. Like the graphics, it's a masterpiece on its own.
Now, the gameplay is pretty similar to Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time but the overworld is now flooded (it's still Hyrule) and your mode of transportation is a sailboat! I love exploring the vast seas, searching for hidden islands and treasures everywhere. The world was so huge to explore it could take days to see the whole thing! Just when sailing got tiring you're given warp points to hop between areas of the ocean. The sense of discovery here is absolutely stunning. I love that sense of a little fish in a big ocean, not knowing where anything is, and finding everything on your own. That's what Wind Waker does better than any other game in the series. It's also completely open. You can't access every island right off the bat but you can certainly explore the majority of the ocean whenever you please. I love this freedom!
Now, the controls and dungeons are fantastic! The controls are very similar to Ocarina and Majora but a bit more refined and easy to get a handle on. Everything moves very smoothly and you never feel cheated when an enemy takes you down due to poor controls. So, the controls are very tight and very well done. The items you get are a mix of standard Zelda items like the bombs, bow and arrow, boomerang, etc along with some new items like the grappling hook and the wind leaf (forget the actual name). But each item has its uses and you never feel like an item is completely useless. The dungeons by themselves are amazing. Some of the best designed dungeons in the series! There aren't too many of them (six I believe) but they're all big, and easily take an hour or two to finish one. They're very well designed and pretty memorable as well. Dungeons are a huge deal to me in Zelda games, and Wind Waker truly delivers in this aspect.
Finally, the story. I never cared a whole lot about the story of Zelda games, even though they are a pretty big focus especially in the 3D games. However, Wind Waker really made me care about the world. I'd love to tell it to you, but you need to play the game to experience it. It's truly a great story, and it made me love the mythos of the series. It's also quite shocking when you find certain things out. But again I'll leave it to you to play it. Aside from the stories the characters themselves are very fresh and charming. They're mostly memorable and definitely likeable. I also enjoyed Tetra as your "Navi/Tatl/Midna" type helper character. All in all, a great cast!
So with that all said, I cannot find a single fault with this game. Maybe I'm not allowing myself to, maybe I have blinders on. Who knows? When it comes down to it, this game is perfect in my eyes, and that's all that matters. Wind Waker is an absolute masterpiece of a game. If you have not played it, you need to.
And thus ends my Zelda ranking article. Hope you enjoyed it! Agree? Disagree? Liked it? Loved it? Hated it? Leave comments! How would you rank the Zelda games? Do you agree with mine? Let me know!
