Our top two Zelda games flow together like the winds of time.
#2 - The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
Platform: Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, 3DS
Release Date: November 23, 1998 (N64), February 18, 2003 (GCN), February 26, 2007 (Wii), June 19, 2011 (3DS)
Everybody who was around in the ‘90s remembers when they first caught wind of Zelda 64. It was a write-up with a few obviously early-stage screenshots in Nintendo Power, no doubt. The only Zelda games I had played in earnest at that point were Link to the Past and Link’s Awakening. Now you’re telling me there’s going to be a 3D Zelda, following in the footsteps of Super Mario 64? Do you take cash? And where can I send it?
Ocarina of Time was revealed slowly, usually with gorgeous production art, and by the time gamers actually got their hands on it in 1998, we were already sold hook, line, and sinker. What we found was a Hyrule the likes of which never before experienced, and the shock of exploring a relatively open world is unmatched in subsequent games (even Wind Waker). You may look upon the N64 visuals with some disdain now, but in 1998, this was the best-looking game on the market, completely without peer. A friend of mine did a double-take when Link jumped on Epona’s back—he was mesmerized by the realistic animations of her galloping. You can shoot enemies with your bow on horseback, too. Like its predecessor, Ocarina of Time also features a dual-world mechanic, but this one is dual-time; in one era, Link is a child and Hyrule is a happy place. In another, Link is an adult, Ganondorf has taken over, and Hyrule Castle Town is overrun by Redeads.
Players must use the Ocarina of Time to travel the world and between time zones to stop Ganondorf in the future. In a few instances, this involves traversing parts of a dungeon as a child in order to gain access to the same dungeon (or another part of it) as an adult. Both Links are equipped with different weapons, as well. Child Link uses a Boomerang while Adult Link works the Fairy Bow. The dungeon design is impressive and inspiring, especially when you consider this was the first 3D Zelda game! Although honestly, I still turn the evil eye towards the Water Temple.
Aside from the main story, Ocarina overflows with side quests and mini-games. Hyrule Castle Town features several mini-games, and you can go fishing at Lake Hylia. Plant seeds as a child and use the resulting flying plants to travel to new destinations! Go on a quest to find a gigantic sword! Kill a bunch of Golden Skulltulas for fun and profit. Hunt down Poes in Hyrule Field or try to catch the jogger in the same area. There’s really no shortage of content here.The 3DS remake improves things considerably, adding a fresh coat of paint, a boss rush mode, and Master Quest. What could possibly improve on this concoction of perfection? Well, only the game’s direct sequel, of course.
#1 - The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker
Platform: GameCube, Wii U
Release Date: March 24, 2003 (GCN), September 20, 2013 (Wii U)
Oddly familiar yet totally alien, there is no Zelda game quite like Wind Waker.
One can’t responsibly write about Wind Waker without noting its ancestor, “The Legend of Zelda 128,” a real-time tech demo shown off the day before Nintendo’s Space World 2000 expo. Link and Ganondorf were engaged in a duel—the character models looked like cutting-edge, realistic versions of their Ocarina of Time counterparts. Fans were ecstatic, so it was understandable, perhaps, that there was an aura of disappointment one year later when Nintendo unveiled the actual graphical style of Wind Waker. Immediately dubbed “Celda” for its cel-shaded look, Wind Waker drew short-lived ire as a kiddification of the beloved Zelda series. It wouldn’t take long, however, for those critics to eat their words.
The Wind Waker is ostensibly the most fully-realized Zelda game. While previous (and future) entries in the series struggled with tone and consistent art direction, Wind Waker nails both. Its lighthearted narrative enables the story’s deeper revelations to carry that much more weight, and the stylized graphics give every character a chance to shine. The game opens with a recounting of the legend of the Hero of Time and the immediate aftermath, but that’s not the only link to Ocarina of Time in the game.
I can’t gush enough about the art direction. Wind Waker single handedly changed my outlook of graphics in video games. Prior to this point, I’d assumed the goal was to be as realistic as possible, and each hardware generation would bring us closer to photo-realism, but Wind Waker demonstrates that, in fact, it’s consistent art direction that matters, and you can craft a whole beautiful world as long as you have a consistent vision. No part of Wind Waker’s world stands out as unusual or out of place, and that’s a wonderful thing. The game is absolutely stunning, and its recent HD revival on Wii U just adds another coat of sugar on top.
The gameplay, too, brings new ideas to the table. Combat is as much about defense as offense, and the most harried fights are those where you must parry attacks to be successful, waiting for that musical cue to press A and strike while the enemy is vulnerable. Link can use almost every item in combat, and some have functions on the sea, too. Sailing the picturesque Great Sea is always a pleasure—there’s plenty to do, including salvaging treasure with treasure maps, hopping barrels for Rupees, having skirmishes with enemy ships, and charting all 49 of the map’s islands.
Wind Waker is a masterpiece of game development and stands as one of the greatest games of its generation, or any generation. I’m happy to say it’s NWR’s Number One Zelda game. Shmay!
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