2008-10-30, 02:11 PM
If I were to rank the 3-D Zeldas it would go something like this:
1. Majora's Mask
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Twilight Princess
4. Wind Waker
Now before you tear my head off in a fit of fanboy rage, let me explain. The reason Twilight Princess is so low on the list is because of one thing: Wolf Transformation. It really put me off having to run around and explore things as a wolf so early on in the game and especially since I wasn't able to control when I wanted to transform until HALF-WAY through. When TP was first announced I was secretly hoping it had some sort of connection to Majora's Mask, much like how Windwaker had the connection to Ocarina of Time. But instead I got Furry fodder and an Imp sidekick. Don't get me wrong, it's a great game, but it has a lot of flaws.
Majora's Mask and OoT, were both released on the N64. Both were great games, but I have a strange infatuation with MM over OoT. The whole game gives you a sense of impending doom, not just from the menacing moon hanging over head, but the Townsfolk and other people in the outskirts of the Clock Town change as the days go on. (Especially Romani Ranch. Poor girls.) One change that sticks out to me is the Swordsman Trainer. He acts all confident and says he'll "cut the moon into shreds" at first, but when you visit him on the night of the final day you can find him cowering in his storage room waiting for his demise. (Yikes.) The game is side-quest heavy and it's not a bad thing. You get a Notebook to track your clients and progress. You also get to do one of the best side-quests in the Zelda series; reuniting two lovers who were seperated thanks to the Skullkid's mischief, so they can get married just before the moon vaporizes them. *Sheds a manly tear.*
Anyway, I realize MM had transformations too, but it wasn't as random as the Wolf seemed to be. Early on in the game you learn a song that can take tortured souls and "heal them" into the form of Masks to be worn. When you put on these masks you'll be able to change into the person you healed and be able to use his special skills. It was a lot more well done than TP and actually made underwater and land travel FUN. (Zora and Goron Mask FTW.) Aside from transformation masks, you can also collect 17 other masks that you can use to interact with people, or help with survival. (Stone Mask renders you invisible to enemies.) I'll admit OoT had better dungeons and bosses, but you can't beat Goht. Rolling around as a Goron with spikes sticking out everywhere and chasing that mechanical POS just to ram him in his ass was good stuff. The atmosphere belongs to MM however. Walking into Ikana Canyon for the first time sent chills down my little kid spine. Anyway, I can go on about this game forever, but hopefully you see why I liked it a bit more than OoT.
As for Wind Waker it had a nice art direction going for it, unfortunately most of the fanbase didn't agree with me. It was also quite short and only had 5 or 6 dungeons. (I don't remember.) Sailing also got kinda tedious until you can warp around the ocean using the cyclones. Also don't even get me started on the shattered Tri-force fetch quest. It did have A LOT of areas to explore, and would seem like a daunting task to 100% this game, (and it is. I still haven't collected everything.) but it did have one of the best Ganondorf fights. It's arguably one of the weaker 3-D Zeldas, but most people would disagree with me.
So yeah, that's my thoughts.
1. Majora's Mask
2. Ocarina of Time
3. Twilight Princess
4. Wind Waker
Now before you tear my head off in a fit of fanboy rage, let me explain. The reason Twilight Princess is so low on the list is because of one thing: Wolf Transformation. It really put me off having to run around and explore things as a wolf so early on in the game and especially since I wasn't able to control when I wanted to transform until HALF-WAY through. When TP was first announced I was secretly hoping it had some sort of connection to Majora's Mask, much like how Windwaker had the connection to Ocarina of Time. But instead I got Furry fodder and an Imp sidekick. Don't get me wrong, it's a great game, but it has a lot of flaws.
Majora's Mask and OoT, were both released on the N64. Both were great games, but I have a strange infatuation with MM over OoT. The whole game gives you a sense of impending doom, not just from the menacing moon hanging over head, but the Townsfolk and other people in the outskirts of the Clock Town change as the days go on. (Especially Romani Ranch. Poor girls.) One change that sticks out to me is the Swordsman Trainer. He acts all confident and says he'll "cut the moon into shreds" at first, but when you visit him on the night of the final day you can find him cowering in his storage room waiting for his demise. (Yikes.) The game is side-quest heavy and it's not a bad thing. You get a Notebook to track your clients and progress. You also get to do one of the best side-quests in the Zelda series; reuniting two lovers who were seperated thanks to the Skullkid's mischief, so they can get married just before the moon vaporizes them. *Sheds a manly tear.*
Anyway, I realize MM had transformations too, but it wasn't as random as the Wolf seemed to be. Early on in the game you learn a song that can take tortured souls and "heal them" into the form of Masks to be worn. When you put on these masks you'll be able to change into the person you healed and be able to use his special skills. It was a lot more well done than TP and actually made underwater and land travel FUN. (Zora and Goron Mask FTW.) Aside from transformation masks, you can also collect 17 other masks that you can use to interact with people, or help with survival. (Stone Mask renders you invisible to enemies.) I'll admit OoT had better dungeons and bosses, but you can't beat Goht. Rolling around as a Goron with spikes sticking out everywhere and chasing that mechanical POS just to ram him in his ass was good stuff. The atmosphere belongs to MM however. Walking into Ikana Canyon for the first time sent chills down my little kid spine. Anyway, I can go on about this game forever, but hopefully you see why I liked it a bit more than OoT.
As for Wind Waker it had a nice art direction going for it, unfortunately most of the fanbase didn't agree with me. It was also quite short and only had 5 or 6 dungeons. (I don't remember.) Sailing also got kinda tedious until you can warp around the ocean using the cyclones. Also don't even get me started on the shattered Tri-force fetch quest. It did have A LOT of areas to explore, and would seem like a daunting task to 100% this game, (and it is. I still haven't collected everything.) but it did have one of the best Ganondorf fights. It's arguably one of the weaker 3-D Zeldas, but most people would disagree with me.
So yeah, that's my thoughts.