Ranking All Legend Of Zelda Art Styles

Almost every Legend of Zelda game looks completely different from the last one, so that's the perfect setup to ranking them all. From the realistic and gritty tones of Twilight Princess to the cartoony style of Wind Waker, which one will end up on top?
CHAPTERS:
0:00 - Introduction
0:48 - Number 14
1:11 - Number 13
2:00 - Number 12
2:39 - Number 11
3:27 - Number 10
4:07 - Number 9
5:02 - Number 8
6:05 - Number 7
6:44 - Number 6
7:23 - Number 5
8:12 - Number 4
8:51 - Number 3
9:41 - Number 2
11:14 - Number 1
Footage may be courtesy of:
World of Longplays
Longplay Archive
FCPlaythroughs
Nintendo Utopia
#zelda #tearsofthekingdom #botw

[@Lurker_of_the_shadows]

I think this whole vid can be chocked up to just a ranking of hot takes on Zelda styles

[@Soap-kp7py]

I’d rank skyward sword higher than wind water cuz of the higher level of detail and pastel colours. I think the lack of grass texture makes the land look flatter, tho the water is absolutely gorgeous

[@sparkler5313]

i find a lot of charm in the polygonal look of phantom hourglass and spirit track

[@firionkaiser8291]

Nintendo did say that they didnt want to spend anymore time with this iteration of Hyrule so I think the Wild era is over. Unless they are in a new continent on a third game.

[@ImpapediaYT]

I agree, I also think they’re going for something new next time

[@AlmyTheAlien]

I never got all the hype around LTTP's art. I mean it is *good,* way beyond serviceable, but I always thought its use of color and shading was a bit basic compared to things like the Mana series, Final Fantasies of the time, Chrono trigger, Alcahest, etc.

[@leightonjeppesen9016]

You talking about the links awakening remake- “I just hope we don’t get an original game in this style”
Meanwhile… Echos of wisdom-

[@ImpapediaYT]

😅

[@brooke221]

Replaying Wind Waker GameCube version in 2024 and absolutely blown away by its graphics. I can’t believe it came out in 2002. These graphics hold up fantastic to the test of time. Something very few games ever made can claim

[@ThePaulineu]

Honestly you're so right about spirit tracks but it was my very first game so I am VERY BIASED for it lmao

[@ThePaulineu]

To me, the Minish cap is the most appealing art style, followed by BotW and ToTK. Nice list!

[@Jonasaurus7]

While I sort of get not ranking the nes games because of how limited they are (I disagree but sort of get it) the claim that OOT & MM don’t have art styles feels like a desperate attempt to avoid ranking them at the bottom of a list in fear of what the fans will do

[@ImpapediaYT]

Haha that’s not the case, I think both are the most primitive form of the style (2D and 3D), but that is a benefit I didn’t consider 😅

[@Jonasaurus7]

@@ImpapediaYT the thing is that there are still distinctive art styles on the nes and especially the 64, a good example is putting oot next to Mario 64, they’re both just about as primitive n64 as you can get but they clearly have different art styles from each other, then throw in Kirby 64 and it becomes even more clear

[@joenziii]

u gotta be trolling

[@ImpapediaYT]

Didn’t think any of my takes in this video were that hot tbh 😅

[@joenziii]

@@ImpapediaYT Breath of the wild artstyle at a number 2 spot. and wind waker at 1 bro if u wanted to make a video about cell shading artstyles just do that

[@ThePaulineu]

Sprite based games age much better than 3D games!

[@Leonkennedy19992]

I agree with everything except the character designs in era of the wild. The artstyle is beautiful but the character design specially for zelda and link look dull and lifeless. Even with voice acting they arenot as expressive as TP, WW, or SS

[@nikifallen93]

Fun take! I’d probably put TotK first and not include OoT and MM at all. I think the new EoW will end up taking my second spot with WW’s GameCube style in third, and then they’d all be top-notch gorgeous. I’m extremely stoked to see what Nintendo comes up with for the future!!!

[@Virishking]

Unpopular opinion: the Wind Waker HD release looks like absolute garbage. Too much bloom and the overall lighting doesn’t fit the style. The original looks leagues better when upscaled.

[@Iconic_Zoot]

I prefer the original's artstyle too, but I wouldn't say the HD remake looks like "absolute garbage". That's kind of crazy. I can't quite tell what looks off about the HD version compared to the original to me, but something about the original has always looked better to me ever since the HD version came out.

[@7sonicmario]

Windwaker overrated. People are clouded by nostalgia. I recalled how everyone thougbt it looked awful when it came out.

[@ImpapediaYT]

If everyone hated it when it came out, how cam they be clouded by nostalgia? 🤔

[@TheSweatyFrog]

As someone who didn’t play windwaker until very recently, and is thus not “clouded by nostalgia,” I think that the graphics are great and charming.