Finally my first chance to play through Ocarina Of Time.

[o.pwuaioc]

I'd almost say that Zelda NES is a bit of a different beast even from the rest of the 2D games. A Link to the Past probably has more in common with OOT than it does with Zelda 1.

A lot of people say that OoT is like a 3D LttP, but frankly, I just don't see the connection anywhere nearly as strong as Zelda 1 and 3. To me, LttP is just the original super-beefed up.

Zelda also really hasn't been a difficult series since the NES days if you ask me.

I would say the handhelds are a step up, but yeah, otherwise this is true. They're still great fun though!

[AppleQueso]

I'd almost say that Zelda NES is a bit of a different beast even from the rest of the 2D games. A Link to the Past probably has more in common with OOT than it does with Zelda 1.

A lot of people say that OoT is like a 3D LttP, but frankly, I just don't see the connection anywhere nearly as strong as Zelda 1 and 3. To me, LttP is just the original super-beefed up.

I guess a better way of putting it might be that the newer 'beefy' aspects that ALTTP introduced are what carried over to the rest of the series. Something like that. Maybe. I guess on a spectrum between Zelda 1 and OOT, ALTTP would fall pretty much right in the middle, probably leaning a bit more towards the OOT side.

Yeah I'm having trouble articulating exactly what I mean.

Zelda also really hasn't been a difficult series since the NES days if you ask me.

I would say the handhelds are a step up, but yeah, otherwise this is true. They're still great fun though!

Yeah.

[o.pwuaioc]

I guess a better way of putting it might be that the newer 'beefy' aspects that ALTTP introduced are what carried over to the rest of the series. Something like that. Maybe. I guess on a spectrum between Zelda 1 and OOT, ALTTP would fall pretty much right in the middle, probably leaning a bit more towards the OOT side.

Yeah I'm having trouble articulating exactly what I mean.

I get what you're saying. In those aspects, undoubtedly there's a connection. I guess I just have trouble getting over the innovations introduced by necessity with 3D. Maybe smack dab in the middle is the best place for it after all.

[Zing]

I always thought the N64 controller was fine, even for Killer Instinct.

Despite the prior Zelda games being some of my favourite, and shelling out $20 for the rumble pak just to feel it while fishing, I found Ocarina of Time to be a tad boring at the time. I bought it on day one, playe it a bunch, but got bored and quit when I reached the light temple or something like that. I haven't touched it since, but I would probably enjoy it more now.

[BoringSupreez]

OoT and N64 controller lover here.

OoT is simply one of the best games I've ever played, and age hasn't hurt the game's standing in my eyes. The large overworld, well-designed bosses and dungeons (yes, even Water Temple), perfect balance of narrative and gameplay as Apple said, and the ideal difficulty and length all tie together so extremely well. I had never played anything like this before I played OoT, and it still stands out in my mind far more than the other Zeldas.

Some of you who aren't enjoying OoT, it might just be that your expectations are too high. The very first time I played it, I wandered around the starting village for 15 minutes, went "this is it? This is the greatest game of all time?" and shelved it for a few months. When I came back after beating my other N64 games, expectations greatly lowered, everything just suddenly started to click as I made progress. The introduction of time-travel and the effects it has on the game world sealed the deal - I now knew why so many love this game.

And oddly enough, I've never managed to get into LttP. I dunno, I just always seem to get stuck or have no idea what to do next.

[Violent By Design]

I'd almost say that Zelda NES is a bit of a different beast even from the rest of the 2D games.

I suppose.

A Link to the Past probably has more in common with OOT than it does with Zelda 1.

Well, aside from gameplay and aesthetics of course

LTTP is essentially considered a remake of the original Zelda, and from what I've played it seems like one. I don't really see how one can say it is closer to Ocarina, that seems like a an exaggeration to me.

Where'd you get the idea that the SNES Zelda had a day/night system? The dark/light world isn't a day/night system at all.

I never said they were the same thing, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say with Ocarina they probably got the idea from that (and kid link + adult link).

But yeah, if you disliked OOT that much, especially when it comes to difficulty, I can't imagine you liking the other 3D Zeldas much better.

There is a pretty heavy emphasis on my criticism of the open world and the combat, I would say those are probably bigger deals than difficulty. I just don't see what I am doing with most of the time that I spend in Ocarina of Time, other than doing nothing. Everyone tells me that Skyward Sword is a very easy game, so I don't really see difficulty as a problem (in less you meant that I disliked Ocarina because I thought it was easy).

I could very well not like the other 3D Zelda's, Ocarina certainly hasn't given me a great first impression.

[AppleQueso]

I'd almost say that Zelda NES is a bit of a different beast even from the rest of the 2D games.

I suppose.

A Link to the Past probably has more in common with OOT than it does with Zelda 1.

Well, aside from gameplay and aesthetics of course

LTTP is essentially considered a remake of the original Zelda, and from what I've played it seems like one. I don't really see how one can say it is closer to Ocarina, that seems like a an exaggeration to me.

*shrug*

The stronger narrative focus, the more linear progression, heck it even does the whole "do a set of 3 dungeons followed by a larger set of different dungeons in a different 'world'" thing. I'm not going to say it isn't up for debate, hence why I said it "probably" has more in common. Earlier drafts of that sentence had me putting a whole lot more iffys and maybes.

Where'd you get the idea that the SNES Zelda had a day/night system? The dark/light world isn't a day/night system at all.

I never said they were the same thing, but I'm going to go out on a limb here and say with Ocarina they probably got the idea from that (and kid link + adult link).

Eh, that's quite a limb to go out on. It's possible I guess, but I think one can arrive at "we should have a day/night system" without having to borrow the idea from anything. The kid/adult thing is pretty clearly OOT's standin for the light/dark world.

But yeah, if you disliked OOT that much, especially when it comes to difficulty, I can't imagine you liking the other 3D Zeldas much better.

There is a pretty heavy emphasis on my criticism of the open world and the combat, I would say those are probably bigger deals than difficulty. I just don't see what I am doing with most of the time that I spend in Ocarina of Time, other than doing nothing. Everyone tells me that Skyward Sword is a very easy game, so I don't really see difficulty as a problem (in less you meant that I disliked Ocarina because I thought it was easy).

Well, you said you liked the combat. Even called it "nice". As far as I could tell, the only problem you had with it was that the enemies are too easy and slow moving to make the combat all that useful or fun. The enemies in later games don't really ever get any smarter. To be honest, the "open world" criticism just has me scratching my head.

I could very well not like the other 3D Zelda's, Ocarina certainly hasn't given me a great first impression.

Pretty much every single 3D Zelda can be described as "Like OOT, but with..." The with ____ parts might be enough to make them much better games to you though, who knows?

[Violent By Design]

The stronger narrative focus, the more linear progression, heck it even does the whole "do a set of 3 dungeons followed by a larger set of different dungeons in a different 'world'" thing.

Those are more results of the franchise becoming polished as opposed to raw. Those things hardly actually speak about the gameplay, those are mainly related to narrative.

Well, you said you liked the combat. Even called it "nice". As far as I could tell, the only problem you had with it was that the enemies are too easy and slow moving to make the combat all that useful or fun. The enemies in later games don't really ever get any smarter.

That's quite a shame.

To be honest, the "open world" criticism just has me scratching my head.

I don't understand why it couldn't be made a hub. Really just seems like they made the open world in order to show off the n64s graphics. I dont understand why there are even monsters out there. The monsters in the original Zelda's open world made sense, because it actually gave you a sense you were in the wilderness. Here? It's just you're walking and you see that helicopter thing, better keep walking in the direction I was walking in anyway.

Just seemed like poor design to me.

Pretty much every single 3D Zelda can be described as "Like OOT, but with..." The with ____ parts might be enough to make them much better games to you though, who knows?

Well, yes, they are sequels to Ocarina after all. I'd expect them to be somewhat similar. I can't flat out say I dislike 3D Zelda's in till I've tried out at least two. It's not looking good so far though.

[AppleQueso]

To be honest, the "open world" criticism just has me scratching my head.

I don't understand why it couldn't be made a hub. Really just seems like they made the open world in order to show off the n64s graphics. I dont understand why there are even monsters out there. The monsters in the original Zelda's open world made sense, because it actually gave you a sense you were in the wilderness. Here? It's just you're walking and you see that helicopter thing, better keep walking in the direction I was walking in anyway.

Just seemed like poor design to me.

*shrug*

Skyward Sword actually does replace the world with a hub. People were pissed about that... heck maybe that's the one you should try.

[Xeogred]

Ditto. I loved Skyward Sword and enjoyed Wind Waker, but the hub idea sucks for Zelda I'd say. Really limits the environment variety and the backtracking gets tedious. WW was pretty empty and just boring at times, and SS just had way too much backtracking for only three main environments.

Anyways I always made the LTTP and OoT comparison myself. Get three pendants, get the Master Sword, traverse to another "darker" alternative world, even more dungeons, etc. But oh well, these tropes are in most of the games.

Majora's Mask is probably the tougher Zelda, puzzle/dungeon design wise in my eyes. I love when people complain about the Water Temple, it basically makes me instantly assume they never even got to the Stone Tower(? 4th dungeon) in Majora's Mask, which was far more complex and insane.

I've never been able to beat Zelda II either actually, I always get stuck somewhere not knowing what to do. But it's definitely a very different kind of game.

The Oracle games have their moments, but yeah other than that the series has always been very easy to me. Something I wish would change a bit, but oh well.

I'm trying not too get too into this thread because OoT was a very important game to me, heh. Probably in my top 10 somewhere, and LTTP sits at the top next to Super Metroid. I myself can even say I dislike a handful of Zelda's though, I definitely haven't cared for the handheld games at all since the Oracle games. Minish Cap was insanely forgettable and Phantom Hourglass was so lame it was the first Zelda I've ever played that I pretty much didn't even want to beat, so never did. Hated the looks too so I didn't even bother with Spirit Tracks. I still get pretty giddy about the 3D ones though, so can't wait for the next one. I buy Nintendo consoles for Zelda.