The Legend of Zelda - 2D vs. 3D

[Lord_Santa]

most Nintendo fans like the Legend of Zelda series and many will argue that Ocarina of Time is the pinnacle of the series

for many Zelda fans OoT was the introduction to the series and thus they favor the 3D Zelda's over the 2D's any day

personally I grew up with LoZ and AoL and played them "chronologically" (in the time-span that they were released) and although I do love my OoT as well as MM, WW and TP; I am these days finding myself playing the 2D incarnations more than the 3D ones

the 3D Zelda's are great fun and all, no doubt about it, but there's really not much that can truly compare to when you're playing one of the "newer" 2D Zelda's (LttP, LA, OoA, OoS, MC)

having recently started over with Link's Awakening, I feel that I am more impressed by the game-play itself than OoT, MM, TP and WW

of course I have also tried out the NDS versions, which IMO are... crap

I can't really put my finger on it, but to me it feels more like a true adventure in the 2D Zelda's; it may be the fact that the worlds seem larger, or the fact that I am a sprite-kinda-guy; but something about Link to the Past and it's ilk keep me coming back for more

I also like to play ZC (Zelda Classic) with various user-made quests

any thoughts, opinions or rants on the subject?
am I alone in thinking that 2D prevails in this never-ending debate of "the better Zelda"?

:edit

I have played every Zelda apart from the CD-I ones
and yes
I am very interested in trying them as well

[MrPopo]

I've always felt that Link to the Past was the best game in the series. One thing I will give to the 3D Zeldas, though, is that their boss fights tend to be epic than the 2D Zeldas.

[alienjesus]

Allow me to be the first to vote for 3D.

My top 3 zelda games:

1. Ocarina of Time
2. Majora's Mask
3. The Wind Waker

Although I think the 2D games are more universally great, the best of the 3D games just outdo the best of the 2D ones for me.

[emwearz]

Put your hands together.



My vote goes to the 2D titles.

[Flake]

A Link to the Past was the peak of the series.

After that, Wind Waker and Link's Awakening are the entries that interested me the most. So I guess I primarily like 2D.

[Bootaaay]

The only 3d title I enjoyed from start to finish was Windwaker - I just feel that the 3d controls in Zelda games aren't all that intuitive and that I'm constantly fighting against them as well as the enemies. Personally this is how I'd rank the Zelda games I've played;

01. Link's Awakening
02. Link to the Past
03. Legend of Zelda
04. Windwaker
05. Adventure of Link
06. Ocarina of Time
07. Oracle of Ages/Seasons
08. Majora's Mask
09. Minish Cap
10. Twilight Princess

I doubt mine is the popular opinion though - in my experience more Zelda fans got into the series via the 3d titles (although here at Racketboy it may be a different matter).

[MrPopo]

The only 3d title I enjoyed from start to finish was Windwaker - I just feel that the 3d controls in Zelda games aren't all that intuitive and that I'm constantly fighting against them as well as the enemies. Personally this is how I'd rank the Zelda games I've played;

01. Link's Awakening
02. Link to the Past
03. Legend of Zelda
04. Windwaker
05. Adventure of Link
06. Ocarina of Time
07. Oracle of Ages/Seasons
08. Majora's Mask
09. Minish Cap
10. Twilight Princess

I doubt mine is the popular opinion though - in my experience more Zelda fans got into the series via the 3d titles (although here at Racketboy it may be a different matter).

Adventure of Link above Oracle duology?

[sevin0seven]

as much as i love Ocarina of Time, i love Link to the Past even more so my vote goes to 2D.

[Czernobog]

This thread reminded me I can go play Oracle of Ages and Seasons on my Game Boy Player now! More on topic, despite loving Ocarina of Time, Wind Waker and Twilight Princess, I just don't find the same charm in them as I do with all the 2D titles.

Perhaps it's nostalgia for them since Link's Awakening and the original were among the first games I ever played, but like the OP was saying, I feel a greater sense of adventure when I play the 2D games. I also thought the puzzles in the 2D Game Boy line were a lot more interesting than any in the 3D games.

[Lord_Santa]

I'm glad to see so much love for the 2D Zelda's and (as pointed out) this was perhaps a "better" forum to ask, than many others, since most people here are of the Old Skool

I'll admit that the boss-battles in the 3D Zelda's are more epic, but I find the 2D Zelda's are more.... entertaining

sure it's hard to compare meeting Dodongo in OoT to meeting Dodongo in LoZ (bad comparison, but you get the drift)

but I feel as if though the 2D Zelda's had more... gimmicky style of play (I'm not sure if that's even a word, but they felt more... innovative? more fun? hard to find a word)

the last Zelda I played through was Twilight Princess and I must admit that it took less time than it usually takes for me to go through a 3D Zelda title

but it wasn't because I was "drawn into it", as much as... "I just want to finish this"

I don't feel as if though I take the time to actually explore and feel the 3D titles; it's more a "must get through this game"

the 2D titles give me a greater sense of discovery and although the 3D titles may feel more alive (NPC's have greater depth, etc.), there's still something missing

it's like having a Pizza without tomato-pureé (if that's what it's called in English as well?)
you won't necessarily notice any difference, but you'll notice that something is "off"

(yes, crappy comparison, but come on' 'tis 1AM over here, people)