Twilight Princess: Best Zelda Game Ever or...

[Fish and Chips]

Wrong.

Majora's Mask is the best Zelda game.

[Mr. SmartyPants]

Wrong.

Majora's Mask is the best Zelda game.

This may seem weird: Overall I thought OOT was a better game, but I still found Majora's Mask to be more fun.

[Cap'n Nick]

It's not weird at all, Ryan. It's like with movies. The ones I think should get Academy Awards are never the ones I have the most fun watching.

[Fish and Chips]

This may seem weird: Overall I thought OOT was a better game, but I still found Majora's Mask to be more fun.

I've talked about this a bunch of times, but I suppose I should have done so again. Basically, Ocarina of Time is the "Perfect" Zelda game. It's design and execution, everything that went into it, is exactly what a Zelda game should be, and by proxy what we should expect of any competant Zelda game.

However, Majora's Mask is the "Best" Zelda game because it takes the Zelda formula and reinvents itself. It dared to be different at a time when being the same would have been safer. They innovated and polished the heck out of the game, and it really shines. If Ocarina is the perfect This Is What Zelda Is game, the Majora is the best This Is What Zelda Could Become game.

How well Twilight Princess follows in Ocarina of Time's footsteps is a subject I'll cheerfully avoid, but it is not the best Zelda game by a longshot. It's almost a step backwards for the series.

[MangArtist]

You're right! XD He did. Such a player... Lol

XP Not to mention all the girls he had in the other games. >_>

[Nate]

This is the point where I remind everyone that the Links and Zeldas in the different games are different Links and Zeldas, not the same ones. There are only four Links that appeared in more than one game, that would be the Link from Ocarina of Time (also in Majora's Mask), the Link from Link to the Past (also in Link's Awakening), the Link from the original Legend of Zelda (also in Zelda II), and the Link in Wind Waker (also in Phantom Hourglass).

Of all those Links, very few had any sort of romantic involvement with Zelda. Their destinies are merely intertwined, that doesn't mean they're an item.

In fact, the only times I can recall Link being in love with Zelda is in the Phillips CD-i games, and the Zelda cartoon from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. And I'd hope nobody would consider those canon to the video games.

[ich1990]

and the Zelda cartoon from the Super Mario Bros. Super Show. And I'd hope nobody would consider those canon to the video games.

Well excuuuuse me!

[Whitefang]

Well excuuuuse me!

...princess!

[Fantasy Dreamer]

Of all those Links, very few had any sort of romantic involvement with Zelda. Their destinies are merely intertwined, that doesn't mean they're an item.

Nate, I must thank you for pointing that out. I don't see how people get that he loves her. He's just a good natured, adventure loving, courageous guy who's destined to save Hyrule from great evil, and while he's at it, rescue Princess Zelda who apparently is destined to be the damsel in distress every single time. Apparently though, to most people, that means he MUST love her.

At any rate, my comment earlier about Illia... (and I place it in spoiler tags just in case...)

[SPOILER]pretty much what I was saying was I'm glad he has someone other than Zelda to 'save' in this game. And in a way, he saved Midna as well, so he saved two other girls other than Zelda. It was refreshing for me at least.[/SPOILER]

Also, btw (and off topic) this is my 1000 post! Yay! XD

[Azier the Swordsman]

Twilight Princess was overall a good game.

However, the easy difficulty kind of ruined it to some extent. I only recall coming across one enemy in the entire game (and this includes BOSSES) who was able to inflict more than half a heart of damage per hit. This is incredibly dumb when you are walking around with all heart containers, or even half heart containers.

It's like playing Final Fantasy and even when you have 2000 HP enemies are still inficting only 20-30 HP per hit.

After a certain point in the game, it's easy as cake.

The soundtrack sucked for one simply and very odd reason: they used MIDIS for all the music. Who in the 21st century uses MIDIS for a major blockbuster game? Imagine if the latest James Bond movie were to come out today and use only all 80s style music? Now, while I will admit I love 80s music, the soundtrack to TP was severely watered down I felt compared to what it could have been. And, look. It's Zelda. Would it have killed them to have spent a little more money and hire a full on orchestra?

Other than that, though, the story was good, the game was enjoyable, and Midna is the best Zelda character to be introduced since the series began.

It just didn't top Ocarina of Time for me, though.

[Mister Frodo]

Twilight Princess ranks in my top 5 favorite games of all time. I definitely can't argue for it being the best Zelda game, or even a great one, but to me, it was an amazing experience that I'll remember for a long while. Perhaps I just played it at the right time for it to have a big impact on me.

Personally, I don't view the game being easy as a weakness, but... I'm a pansy when it comes to video game difficulty. XD Still, I only died once (when I accidentally drowned in Lake Hylia). I also came really close to dying on the ice dungeon's mini-boss (I found him very, very hard, for some reason). The game wasn't hard at all, really, but I was fine with that. It still presented enough challenge for me to enjoy myself without becoming frustrated (though others probably get frustrated because it's too easy.)

Also, Midna was an awesome character, and I enjoyed most of the supporting cast. Zant was a fairly imposing villain, too. Well, for most of the game, anyway. -_- Also, some of the items were amazing. Even if you just used it for one dungeon, the Spinner was awesome, and the boss fight using it was great. Also, I liked most of the boss fights, even though the fact that almost every boss had an obvious giant eye as its weak spot annoyed me.

I really liked the art style and the graphics of the game, though I can understand complaints about it. Give anything close examination (except perhaps Link) and it looks ugly. Still, I liked this game's graphics, and Wind Waker's as well. I'm a pretty easy guy to please.

Overall, I loved this game. It took me about 45 hours to beat it, and then an additional 5 hours to get all 20 heart containers. I won't argue and say it's the best Zelda game, but it's definitely my favorite, and if it wasn't for the fact that I seem to lose my copy all the time, I would play it more. In fact, I just recently borrowed my cousins' copy so I could play it... Doesn't sound like a bad idea right now.

[Mr. Hat'n'Clogs]

IMO, it's the second best Zelda game. Not QUITE as epic as OoT, but above WW, my third favorite.

And as you guys ramble about Dodongo's Cavern in MQ, I remember beating that one relatively easily when I tried MQ. I never did get to the Water Temple though, my little 3rd Grade self got frusturated withj the Fire Temple and gave up.

[Nate]

The MQ version of Fire Temple was really hard too. But it also failed, because the MQ disc had the gimped Fire Temple music with the chanting removed. See, I had one of the first edition gold carts of OoT, so I got the REAL Fire Temple music, and had the red blood in the final fight with Ganon. I remember playing the MQ disc and saying "Hey, what the heck happened to the Fire Temple music? They got it mixed up with the Spirit Temple!"

[Jasmin]

I loved the great detail and graphics and Midna! I pretty much finished all those little dumb mini games and side quest like the bug collecting. i love that game but i like money too so i sold it -_-o

[Seed of Hope]

I love Twlight Princess mostly cause they put alot of heart (mind the pun) in the game. I've noticed that most newer games lack that touch, instead people are pulling their hair out over having the best visuals. Yes visuals do add to the experience, but the game needs heart and thats what zelda delivered! (guh, such a zelda nerd i am..)

[Garland]

I agree with much of what was said here. I played it through twice (the second time was mainly because something happened to my memory card ) The game was good the first time but it never really called me back. Great games always seem to call me to back to play it one more time. The bosses were actually more difficult the second time around but that was only because I should have known what to do and I got frustrated because I couldn't remember.

OOT and Lttp were both better than TP. The graphics in TP were fine. (I don't really care about good graphics anyway. I think good graphics are just a bonus.) They had much more depth to them. I actually feel the need right now to go back and play OOT now. I even go back to the first game every once in a while. The MQ was for me rather straightforward until the Fire Temple. But then, when I played it, I was not accustomed to the proper level of difficulty. I now think that many of these new games are too easy and that older games are better for their difficulty. Majora's mask is pretty hard though.

I can think of one Link that was in more than one game, though. The Four Swords series. Four swords and Four Swords Adventures are the two. They were officially released by Nintendo so even though they are kind of spinoffs of the Zelda seres, they are Zelda games to me. (They were pretty good too.)

[ADXC]

Hmm, the best Zelda game? I don't think so. Of course I loved it, but it's not really my favorite.

Here's my favorites. I didn't get that far in MM, so I can't really rank it, yet. If I get the chance to play it again though, I'll try.
1. WW
2. OoT
3. FSA
4. LttP
5. TP
6. MC
7. PH

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I think graphics matter a lot in games not in terms of the quality of the resolution or anything, but in terms of environmental exhibition.

Best example I can think of is Bioshock. The way the graphics were handles made Bioshock's environment and setting phenomenal and was one of the reasons why the game was highly praised. It's not so much the graphics, but more about things like color palettes and lighting hues and stuff.

[Nate]

(I don't really care about good graphics anyway. I think good graphics are just a bonus.)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U-BiHdefxJU

[Garland]

What I meant was that the newer games are not necessarily better because of the graphics, as many seem to say (or imply.) (i.e. Lttp is not a worse game than TP because of the graphics.) This seems to be common idea on other sites but I guess not here:thumb: (I get annoyed when graphics are most of what people care about because they are in real life which has the best graphics.

In other words, striving for good graphics is fine, but it should not be the main goal of the game. Hope this clears things up.

[ADXC]

I think that although games nowadays should have good graphics that they should not be totally placed over gameplay planning. There needs to be a balance between everything that goes into a game. If companies need to take extra time to make the game even better, then do so. As long as the result is good, it shouldn't matter the length of time one would have to wait to get it. But taking more than 10 years is a little too much though.

I want a game that is not only beautiful, but very challenging as well. One that will not be easily beaten in 24 hours.

[Garland]

That's a game I could go for.

[Nate]

I can think of one Link that was in more than one game, though. The Four Swords series. Four swords and Four Swords Adventures are the two.

I forgot to address this last time. XD

The Link from Four Swords and the Link from Four Swords Adventures are not the same Link. There are however a couple of games which have the same Link, either directly stated in the manual or heavily implied. They are:

The Legend of Zelda and Zelda II: directly states it in the manual.

Link to the Past and Link's Awakening: Not directly stated; however, it is heavily implied that it is the same Link as the manual says Link is going on a vacation after defeating Ganon (which he did at the end of LttP), and since the Nightmares are created from Link's memories, and there are LttP bosses like Moldorm, Aganihm, and Ganon.

Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask: directly stated in the manual and the game itself.

Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass: directly stated in the manual and the game itself.

And although I shouldn't have to say these, I will anyway.

Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages: two parts of the same adventure.

[blkmage]

I think graphics matter a lot in games not in terms of the quality of the resolution or anything, but in terms of environmental exhibition.

Best example I can think of is Bioshock. The way the graphics were handles made Bioshock's environment and setting phenomenal and was one of the reasons why the game was highly praised. It's not so much the graphics, but more about things like color palettes and lighting hues and stuff.

Yeah, that's more art direction than graphics. I remember a comparison between EQII and WoW. While EQII had technically superior graphics, WoW's art direction made it look and feel better, while EQII felt lifeless in comparison. Other good examples would be TF2 or Wind Waker.

[familygibbs]

I enjoyed Twilight Princess a lot, but I still think that the Ocarina of Time was the best Zelda game ever.

[Etoh*the*Greato]

Yeah, that's more art direction than graphics. I remember a comparison between EQII and WoW. While EQII had technically superior graphics, WoW's art direction made it look and feel better, while EQII felt lifeless in comparison. Other good examples would be TF2 or Wind Waker.

Now, the best example of this in recent months would be the game Borderlands. They did a 360 on the art direction, creating a comic style cel-shading engine (from scratch as I recall) for the game sending it from being a samey looking obscure TPSRPG in to something that has catapaulted in to the mainstream consciousness as a genuinely awesome looking game.

[Bobtheduck]

Other good examples would be TF2 or Wind Waker.

TF2 looks good... Wind waker has a terrible art style, IMNSHO. I prefer TP to WW... Because I can actually bear to look at TP. I'm ok with cell shading, provided the style is good (and they're proficient at cell shading, which is harder than one would think)

[Etoh*the*Greato]

And I think that's where the discussion breaks down. It's not a matter that can be simply discussed in terms of numbers as when comparing two games technical specs. Honestly, I like the WW style. The style itself was endearing through the course of the game, being one of the first where Link really started to shine as a character even though he had Silent Hero Syndrome, I think. Yeah, in Ocarina he had a variety of facial expressions, but this was the first time I feel they were used strongly. I could rant for ages about it, but what it comes down to is that I warmed up to the style on the whole.

[Fish and Chips]

TF2 looks good... Wind waker has a terrible art style, IMNSHO. I prefer TP to WW... Because I can actually bear to look at TP. I'm ok with cell shading, provided the style is good (and they're proficient at cell shading, which is harder than one would think)

I enjoyed Wind Waker's artstyle, but it didn't feel as polished as it could have been. Great enemy designs, characters were fine, but a lot of the backgrounds and dungeons felt drab to me. I would have preferred a detailed comic style for the levels and islands.

[Cognitive Gear]

I'm not sure how people can look at this and think that it looks bad. Especially artistically.