Community Discussion: Blog by Chad Concelmo | Ranking the series: The Legend of ZeldaDestructoid

Lil Jorsche

Good list. What made Wind Waker less delicious than Phantom Hourglass? I'm just curious, not trying to attack your list. From my experience, I found Wind Waker to offer so much more freedom. It also just brought me into the world so much that I just could not put the game down.

Ckarasu

Nice list. I, myself, prefer Wind Waker over Ocarina of Time (quite easily, I might add). Also, I'm really liking Spirit Tracks.

Overcrowd

"7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64)
6. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)"

What?!

I disagree with a few choices on this list, but that's the main travesty (in my mind). Opinions are what they are, though (for instance, I adore the first Goemon on N64, but you despise it). Either way, it's good to know where your rankings stand, and I hope more people reveal theirs.

Mine goes a bit like this;
1. Majora's Mask
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Link's Awakening (inorite?)

I recognise OoT as the better game, but I personally enjoy MM a lot more.

Tubatic

Its a Chad List!

Personally, I'd rate The Adventures of Link higher on my list. The final battle, against Link's Shadow, was one of the most awesome boss battles I've ever fought.

I think I end up judging Zelda games by their end battles, because I love the inevitable meeting of the triforce holders. Wind Waker would be tops, followed by Ocarina, then Link to the Past. I think Link's Awakening still rates high up for me too, though. Considering it was on the Game Boy, that was a great ending!

Chad Concelmo

@Lil Jorsche,
I love Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass almost equally, but the fresh approach of the touch controls (not to mention the fact that Hourglass has a lot more dungeons -- a favorite thing of mine) makes me like it just a little bit more.

But it's a close race ... :)

Nic128

Spirit Tracks is brillant, like Phantom Hourglass. Controlling the phantom is a lot of fun.

Isn't the art AWESOME or what?

FalconReaper

I agree on A Link to the Past. It was the only Zelda That kept my interest other that the Minish Cap

Ashley Davis

My list would go more like this (I haven't played TP or PH, so I can't list those):

11. Ocarina of Time
10. Legend of Zelda
9. Adventure of Link
8. Oracle of Seasons
7. Link to the Past
6. Four Swords Adventures
5. Oracle of Ages
4. Minish Cap
3. Link's Awakening
2. Majora's Mask
1. Wind Waker

For me, I like the "alternate" Zelda quests. The ones that change up the formula. I also really, REALLY love the Capcom Zeldas, and enjoy playing FSA more than anyone probably oughta. I love that game!

The only Zelda I really don't like is Ocarina. I have tried on several occasions to get into it, but I just can't. :(

CrazyBlue

Good list, but Phantom Hourglas 3rd? Whilst it did work well on the DS, the Temple of the Ocean King annoyed me greatly! So much so that I never finished the game... However I've had Spirit Tracks for 2 days now, and it improves on PH in every way! Such a great game!

falinter

hmm... Phantom Hourglass?...

I don't know I couldn't really play that game very long.

I could understand the rest of the list though.

Chris Carter

Other than Phantom Hourglass, I can EASILY agree with most of this list, especially with Ocarina so high over Wind Waker.

But yea, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks (so far at temple two) are the only Zelda games I don't really like.

Ninja In Distress

How Phantom Hourglass ISN'T on the bottom is...well its beyond me. I mean c'mon Chad, you and me both agree on everything! The best FPS is HL2, the best sports game in Punch-Out!!, the best 2d platformer is Yoshi's Island, the best 3d platformer is Super Mario Galaxy...WTF!?

Wintersocks

@ number 8

YES. F**k yeah SPIRIT TRACKS WOOOOO!!

Tristero

Here's my list based off the Zelda games I've played. I'm not basing it off of any other criteria than how much I personally enjoyed the moment to moment experience of playing it. If I made a list of most important Zelda games, or creatively innovative, it would probably look a little different. So strictly based on fun factor, it's ...

9. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
8. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
7. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)
6. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
5. The Legend of Zelda (NES)
4. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
3. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
2. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

I'm so excited about playing Spirit Tracks and figuring out where it places! I know Twilight Princess feels like an imperfect retread of Ocarina, but I feel like it's the best way to revisit that spirit of the original without running into the stumbling blocks of outdated technology. Ocarina might be the most important Zelda title since the original, but I still feel like it's aged the worst.

doifX

Oracle of Seasons/Ages ranked below Zelda 2? Oh Chad, you so crazy.

Jonathan Ross

This is mine. I am not a fan of the N64 ones. Controversy!

13. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
12. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GameCube)
11. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64)
10. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
9. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess (Wii)
8. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link (NES)
7. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)
6. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
5. The Legend of Zelda (NES)
4. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages (Game Boy Color)
3. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Game Boy Color)
2. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)
1. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)

Charlietime

ashley's list is damn near perfect

gatorsax2010

I haven't played every Zelda, unfortunately, and I haven't beaten all of the ones I've played. My secret shame is that after getting stuck in Ocarina's Water Temple in 6th grade, I didn't complete the game until my sophomore year of college. So I couldn't rank them all if I tried.

That being said, Wind Waker is hands-down my favorite. I think Minish Cap may be number two for me, but it's been a while since I've played Link to the Past. I do like Ocarina (it was the first Zelda I'd ever really played), but the fact that I'd played so many things by the time I beat it, I don't think I was able to get the full "Wow!" experience so many others did (although hearing the Kokiri Forest music still reminds me of the first time I stepped out of the door of Link's house in that game, and it was unlike anything I'd ever played).

Also, Twilight Princess doesn't deserve its bad reputation. I know I'm in the minority, but I was sold on the motion controls during the first horseback sword-fighting moment. I jumped off the couch and really got into it. And there are some great new weapons (Double-clawshot! Spinner!) and bosses (Stallord! The entire final battle sequence!).

TheCleaningGuy

Chad's list makes me miss RFgo... :(

My list goes something like:
1. Majora's Mask
2. Link's Awakening
3. Ocarina of Time
4. Wind Waker
5. Twilight Princess
then others.

Topher Cantler

This feels about right. Haven't played Spirit Tracks yet, but I doubt it'll bump anything. I wish it would.

1. Wind Waker
2. Minish Cap
3. Majora's Mask
4. Link to the Past
5. Ocarina of Time
6. Legend of Zelda
7. Four Swords
8. Oracle of Ages
9. Link's Awakening
10.Oracle of Seasons

Projectexodus

Nice list, Chad! Even though my list of favourites is different from yours. I'm glad to see I'm not the only one who eagerly anticipates the next Zelda game. I'll be getting it for Christmas though.

By the way, to everyone else: I can understand why you feel Ocarina of Time is the game that has aged the most. But if you get the Zelda: Collector's Edition disc, you can get Ocarina of Time uppressed to 480p. Making the game look significantly more better-looking than the cartridged N64 edition. And Europeans can experience the game in 60hz mode as well. Sadly the Majora's Mask port is horrible, but I suppose the N64 version is still playable thanks to the Expansion Pack.

Chad Concelmo

Yeah, I seem to be the only who adores Phantom Hourglass as much as I do. I kind of feel like replaying it, keeping all your comments in mind. Do I remember it wrong? Hmmmmm ... :) :)

Guncannon

I started to write a comment, but it was far too long and it turned into a cblog.

mollygos

Everyone I know puts LTTP at the top of their list, and I've never finished it. I probably should. :(

Majora's Mask ranks #1 in my book.
And I can't wait to play Spirit Tracks. I haven't played Phantom Hourglass, though.

Draconianviper

Great list overall. Although for me Majora's is lower and while the Oracle ones might have been low for you, I enjoyed them for the crossover adventure. Then again when my brother and I finished our respective adventures, we would swap. Good job!

zeph

Great list. Here is mine (have not played the oracle games or four swords yet).

1. Wind Waker
2. Link to the Past
3. Twilight Princess
4. Minish Cap
5. Ocarina of Time
6. Majora's Mask
7. The Legend of Zelda
8. Link's Awakening
9. The Adventure of Link

EarthbounderNess

Chad, although I do respect the choices you made on your list, I think my list more accurately describes the best Zelda games in order:

7. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (GBA version Emulated on PSP)
6. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (GBA version Emulated on PC)
5. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES version Emulated on PSP)
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES version Emulated on PC)
3. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Game Boy Advance)
2. he Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Wii Virtual Console)
1. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES)

ace of knaves

1. Wind Waker

bluexy

1. Link to the Past
2. Wind Waker
3. Ocarina of Time
4. The Legend of Zelda
5. Adventure of Link
6. Link's Awakening
7. Minish Cap
8. Phantom Hourglass
9. Twilight Princess
10. Oracle of Ages

I loved every single one of them though... how is that even possible!?

garison

I loved Wind Waker the most. One of my favourite games EVER! =D <3<3<3

Gen Eric Gui

I have a very skewed list. What can I say, I ADORED Link's Awakening. FUCK YEAH ARROWBOMBS. I had that game memorized to such a degree that I could beat the game 100% in like 3 hours. It was nuts.

1. Link's Awakening
2. Link to the Past
3. Majora's Mask
4. Twilight Princess
5. Ocarina of Time
6. Minish Cap
7. Oracle of Seasons (Never played Time, the only copy I ever found was broke :( )
8. Phantom Hourglass
9. Legend of Zelda
10. Windwaker
11. Adventure of Link
12. Four Swords

Arch649

My list w/ explainations

1. Majora's Mask: It's a Zelda game with a time limit. That concept alone sounds absolutely ludicrous, but they made it work brilliantly. And the rest of the game is so bizarre that I instantly fell in love with it.

2. Ocarina of Time: It's the Zelda game that turned a tale of a young boy overcoming huge odds into a coming-of-age epic. It turned Zelda into a parable.

3. A Link to the Past: It's 1991. You thought the original Zelda was awesome. Then this one comes out. It took everything about the NES original and made it "super".

4. Wind Waker: An interactive cartoon. The sailing sucked but everything else about the game was fantastic.

5. Twilight Princess: Everything you love about Zelda is here and bigger than ever (to a fault, this one felt too fan servicey).

I haven't played the DS games and of few of the others, but those are my top 5.

RIMoonlight

Say, Chad. Just a question, what were the qualities that made Twilight Princess more enjoyable to you than Wind Waker? I'm not trying to attack you or your opinions, though I'd like to see your take.

Anyways... my list.

1. Wind Waker
2. Majora's Mask
3. Link To The Past
4. Ocarina of Time
5. Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass
6. Minish Cap
7. Twilight Princess
8. Four Swords
9. Link's Awakening
10. Adventure of Link

timtheterrible

I actually read a review of Spirit Tracks in the newspaper today which gave Spirit Tracks one star out of five. I can't imagine it being that bad.

Los255

I STRONGLY disagree with this.

3. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)

5. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)

But thou I shalt love forever anyway Chad.

I think the scale was much more apparent in the console version (obviously?) and the characters were much more memorable

Here's mine:
1. A Link to the Past (SNES)
2. The Wind Waker (GameCube)
3. Ocarina of Time (Nintendo 64)
4. Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
5. Twilight Princess (Wii)
6. The Minish Cap (Game Boy Advance)
7. Oracle of Seasons (Game Boy Color)
8. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
9. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GameCube)

I STILL HAVEN'T PLAYED MAJORA'S MASK

/sadface

I gotta get around to it sometime though...

Rucksack

@Chad

Maybe you can help, I've had Phantom Hourglass for a long time. I put in about ten hours, and I just couldn't touch it again. Having to reply the same dungeon again and again and again just wore me out.

Any tips for actually enjoying the game? Am I just missing something? HELP!?!

RIMoonlight

I actually really enjoyed Phantom Hourglass. The continual doing of the Temple of the Ocean King was rather annoying for me in the beginning, but I eventually got used to it all and it got less bothersome as you collected more and more sand for the Hourglass. It also did astoundingly cool things with the DS, and I also seem to be the only person who liked the touch controls. They were quite intuitive, in my opinion.

Also, Linebeck is awesome.

Krow

1. Majora's Mask

Haxan

So much love for Majora's Mask. I love you guys!

1. Legend of Zelda
2. Majora's Mask
3. A Link to the Past
4. Wind Waker
5. Phantom Hourglass
6. Wind Waker
7. Twilight Princess
8. Ocarina of Time
9. Minish Cap
10. Oracle of Seasons
11. Oracle of Ages
12. Link's Awakening
13. Zelda II

The NES version is my all-time favorite game. It wins just for taking me back in time every time I play it again (and I play it a lot). Playing that game was like discovering magic. I get a little bit of that feeling back every time I play it.

ArrestedDeveloper

Hmm, I prefer Wind Waker to Phantom Hourglass. I mean he stabs people in the face in that game.

Cough

I too disagree with Majora's Mask position. It's your least favorite 3d Zelda title, and that's a shame. It's my number one too. Then again, i still have ta play Wind Waker...

Minish Cap was a waste of time. Everything was too short, too small. A terrible dissapointment.

(Redo the list after playing Spirit tracks! Please?)

Wintersocks

@Topher's
I <3 you.

@Cough

Minish cap was like a delicious lobster, fished from the finest sees, and then the cook sprinkled fairy dust on the lobster, improving on an all ready delish meal.

nekobun

I beg to differ a bit; my main beef with Phantom Hourglass, which put it at the bottom, are the iffy controls for certain things, especially trying to roll. Drove me nuts. Still looking forward to Spirit Tracks, even if I probably won't get to it until sometime early next year.

13. Phantom Hourglass
12. Oracle Of Ages
11. Majora's Mask
10. Ocarina Of Time
9. Oracle Of Seasons
8. Four Swords Adventures
7. Zelda II: The Adventure Of Link
6. Twilight Princess
5. The Wind Waker
4. The Minish Cap
3. The Legend Of Zelda
2. Link's Awakening
1. A Link To The Past

Feels good to be in the Zelda-13 club, too.

Snaileb

4 swords was probably the weakest...

Dan CiTi

My and Topher's list are pretty much identical. I don't get Phantom Hourglass fans really. Sorry Chad.

CrazyBlue

It's good to see the Minish Cap appearing alot, currently I am on the 4th temple, really enjoying it!

KyleGamgee

Chad, placing Ocarina of Time towards the top of the list is true and correct. (unlike some of these heathens)

Discarded Couch Sandwich

I'm saving Spirit Tracks to open on Christmas day, and I can't wait! That special new Zelda feeling is almost upon me once again and I'll get to enjoy it on the best day of the year! I just hope there's an ice world not too far into it now.

I won't list my favourites because I'd be here for hours. Commendations to Majora's Mask, Wind Waker and the Oracle games though!

Lakai

I would have just flipped 1 and 2, but other than that, this list is flawless.

Actually, I take it back. If it wasn't for A link to the Past (#1) I would have never played Ocarina of Time (#2)

AWESOME LIST MAN!

Phoenix Gamma

You liked Zelda II more than the Oracle games? Really?

Personally, I thought that was the worst, with Phantom Hourglass as second worst. I just found that game to be totally bland, which is odd, because I'm loving Spirit Tracks a heck of a lot.

Ranking the series: The Legend of Zelda

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