Games that appear in this video: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Link's Awakening (GBC), Link's Awakening (Switch), Wind Waker, Link to the Past, Link Between Worlds, Breath of the Wild
I think the question is more "where did you grow up playing video games?" If it was in North America!? (of course!! Mario, Zelda, Metroid) If it was it in Europe!? (Sonic, Phantasy Star, Wonder Boy) think about it!! ;)
My grandma absolutely loved the Legend of Zelda, and up until about a year before her passing didn't realize it was a game series beyond the NES. Though she never put pressure on me to like the games, other people have done so. Especially considering it's a fantasy game, and I've played my fair share of them, just not Zelda. Everytime I've tried to play them, I've felt overwhelmed by them. They pack a lot into all of them, whether it's top down or 3d.
Because your grandma was not some kind of oot cultist. Thats who causes the problems. But try botw/totk or loz, they are good about not being overwhelming, I regularly replay them for 30 minutes at a time kind of out of nowhere.
There are some Zelda games I absolutely adore and some that I absolutely am bored to tears with. But one thing is for sure! .......this video was great ❤️
I mostly really enjoy Zelda games but never could get into Twilight Princess. I know long tutorial intros have become pretty standard in gaming but that one was especially brutal and always kills my desire to even play it anymore every time I try to give the game a chance and have to go through it again.
Just FYI, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. You stand shoulder to shoulder with Lady Decade, Big Daddy Top Hat, and even Scott the Woz. The quality of videos and information is so much fun. Thank you for all you bring us.
That's why I quit Ocarina of time and didn't try any Zelda games since 😅 Also I didn't use a guide because I think that a game should be beatable without one. In my opinion, the guides are for the completionists. I do plan on trying a few more Zelda games before I quit the series altogether tough.
@@sonicmaiden2871 I like getting guides for games i really like or if in a situation like yours my logic is: if I don't get a guide I won't play the game, if I do get an guide ill play the game, so why not get/use a guide. If jts one of my bread and butter games I won't use a guide. Unless I'm really stuck and frustrated.
@@tooturtletastic I never used a guide before but maybe I could try using at least an online guide. This is a popular game so I'm sure that it will be easy to find one.
ok no BSing around, you are one of the absolute best retro gaming RUclipsrs right now. Between a steady stream of updates and a great back catalogue of good discussions/presentations of interesting topics, there is a wealth of A+ content. I've been working my way randomly through your vids for over a week now and it's just great. I feel like a kid again hearing and talking about mysterious and fantastic Nintendo, Sega and PS1 games at a school yard all throughout the 90s. Your topics are just...so on the nose. Great work, keep it up, and i can't wait to see what comes out next!
@@RetroBirdGaming RIght on man, and thank you for replying, that means a lot too as just a fan. I suppose I got so excited I forgot to talk about Zelda, lol. I've played every game in release order during the time that they were "current" and i have very spotty coverage of which I like: Original Link's Awakening (the best Link's Awakening but DX is great since you can just play it in B&W if you want to ignore added content), Link to the Past, Ocarina (distant fourth fave), and Breath of the Wild (I think this game is a masterpiece).
When I was a kid my older sister was really into Zelda so I was into it as well. But when she moved out and I start playing those games on my own, I started to not enjoy them because I was now alone to form my own opinion on the games.
Crazy you bring these up. I just bought golvellius a few days ago because I was able to pick up a power base converter for my genesis. Golden Axe Warrior is really expensive:( but I’ll try to pick up Ys
Clones that are pretty good: Golden Axe Warrior, Soleil/Crusader of Centy, Story of Thor/Beyond Oasis 1&2 and Neutopia 1&2. I like these a bit better than most Zelda games.
So do I. The Turbo Grafx 16 titles you mentioned are extremely underrated. Y's series are too good to be clones. I concider them a far superior series in just about every way possible.
Zelda games were always difficult for me to fully enjoy. I was one of those people who got lost and didn't know where to go or what to do. Also, if I put the game down and came back to it later I'd have no idea where I left off and would have to start all over. Zelda games take persistence, commitment, and sheer determination in order to see them through to the end. These games are not for everyone. On a side note: When is Nintendo going to give Zelda her own game? I mean, for a series titled "The Legend Of Zelda," one would hope she'd be the main playable character in her own game at some point? I know she's been in past games, but I'm talking like the whole game should be hers, and Link should be the one to take a backseat, but that will most likely never happen. However, if Super Princess Peach can happen, then perhaps there is hope for Zelda as well. That being said, I am excited for the prospect of playing as her in BOTW 2.
One of my favorite things about the Zelda series is that despite how long the series has gone, each game stands out on its own and is unique in someway. This is especially evident if you start comparing the Zelda series to other video game series. To answer your question though, I like all of the Zelda games, 2D and 3D. But if I had to choose it would have 3D Zelda games since I grew up with them mostly.
I don't expect everyone to enjoy the Zelda series, however, I feel that everyone should do themselves a favor and listen to a "best of" playlist of the franchise's music because the OSTs are incredible
I think the first Zelda game came out when I was 6 and until two years ago, I wasn’t interested in any Zelda game until my 10 year old son wanted Breath of the Wild. I played it reluctantly but was hooked after only a few minutes. I still have no interest in playing the older Zelda games, but my son loves even the NES entries (much to my surprise). I loved the NES when I had it, but haven’t looked back since I got the SNES nearly 30 years ago.
The best zeldas to play if you want a small crash course Ocarina of Time : N64 or 3DS Link To the Past: Switch, snes, snes classic, 3ds, wii u, and more Windwaker: Gamecube or Wii U ( likely coming to switch soon) Those are the three id say to play immediately if you like Zelda
Breath of the Wild is wholly unlike any other Zelda game ever released. Nintendo really jumped out of their comfort zone with the series when they put that out.
Wasn’t a fan of Zelda games at first, back when I first gave them a try due to their reputation, when I was young. Now, after having played a LOT of games, I love most of them. They are so polished, immersive, offer a great sense of escape, and are such a joy for me… Each game has its own character. I just finished playing through Windwaker. Back in 2002, I gave up on it halfway through: the water annoyed me. But now… the game sucked me in and I don’t know-maybe I just have more patience now or I’m more focussed and able to concentrate or something-I loved the game. I played through it in two, looooooong sittings. It was crazy. Haven’t been pulled into a game like that in years.
If you didn't have a guide handy, you sometimes had to write a letter to a Nintendo game counselor because your parents wouldn't let you call the 1-900 number. Thanks Suzanne, I never could have finished Zelda II without you.
This is going to sound dumb, but Zelda games taught me that things like being good and heroism and other good things were well, good. It held me back from being a 100% edgelord when I was a teenager. Other people were telling me these same things but for some reason, I listened to Zelda back then. Now I listen to them too since I'm an adult.
Very nice story. Playing RPGs in my teen years taught me commitment (or lack of commitment, from my parents' point of view) and sticking with something for the long haul. At the very least, they reinforced my tendencies towards completionist and thoroughness, haha.
I grew up owning Zelda for NES, never got very far in it and always watched people play Link to the Past from afar because I didn’t own a SNES until later. That said, when Ocarina came out I pre-ordered it from Toys R Us, got the gold cartridge and fell in love with Zelda on the N64. I can’t tell you how much that game impacted my life; it touched me deep inside my soul and I’ve been a Zelda fan ever since, playing and beating most of the mainline titles. I’ll always remember thanksgiving and Christmas of 1999, taking my N64 out to the my grampa’s house in rural Louisiana, and beating OoT with a strategy guide, then going outside and trying to make a replica fairy bow, trying to find bottles that looked like the in-game ones. Years later I even went to the renaissance festival and bought a sword that resembled the master sword. Oot has always stuck with me in many ways, the game just resonated with me deeply, and I’m forever grateful for what shigeru Miyamoto and eiji Ounuma created. Many other Nintendo games and franchises have also touched me, namely Pokémon and Mario. I grew up with Nintendo , and the games and worlds are an inseparable part of my childhood. BOTW was somewhat disappointing due to the shrine/dungeons not being what they always had been in previous installments. I’m onboard with Nintendo updating the mechanics and innovating, but the classic 3D Zelda formula laid-out in OoT is what forever captivated me. I’ve come to realize that the N64 Zelda games, wind waker, and the top-down games like Link Between worlds and Links awakening are what really fascinate me and keep my attention. I’m cool with just playing those games moving forward, if the new Zelda titles aren’t what I expect, it’s OK. It’s also Ok not to like Zelda. You shouldn’t expect everyone to like something just because you like it or just because it’s popular. That’s a dumb way to think. On a side note, this channel offers a unique perspective and answers some essential questions that I Haven’t seen tackled on any other retro gaming channel. You’re also hilarious to boot. Bravo sir!
I just recently beast my first Zelda game (Link's Awakening DX) and I had a blast with it, although it took me a while to actually finish one. I always got lost and couldn't find my way back to the objective so I often just restarted the whole game, but now that I have completed one, I'll try to finish more of them. Also, a tip for anyone else who often gets lost, I find that if you save and stop playing right in front of your next objective helps keep you on track.
I love Zelda games but I always play them with a walkthrough. In fact I akways play any open world puzzle game with a walkthrough. I love the combat and getting items and the story, and even the exploration but I serious dislike spending hours and hours being stuck because I can't figure out where to go or what to do, hence why I always have a walkthrough nearby. I absolutely loved Horizon zero dawn and the new tomb raider series because there were way markers which showed you where to go.
no offense but you're ruining the game with the walkthroughs. you should at the very least try to figure things out before consulting outside material...
I think one more reason people tend to dislike Zelda games, at least before BOTW, is that they were kind of primitive compared to other adventure games and rpgs. In a world with games like mass effect 2 and skyrim zelda had twilight princess and skyward sword which still played and felt like an n64 game, making so that people kind of need to already have a history with zelda to enjoy the games. Honestly I think there haven't been a lot of new zelda fans until BOTW revitalized the series. And now developers are once again copying zelda.
Who doesn't like Zelda?!?! I want their names!!! Jk. I actually only really like the first 3 (and yes, I really enjoy Adventures of Link) as they're far less story heavy compared to the later titles. I've had some fun with Ocarina of Time but inevitably, I'll get distracted and lose my momentum and not got back to it. I do really enjoy the Zelda clones of that same time frame almost as much as the original games (Golden Axe Warrior, Golvellius for SMS, Neutopia 1 and 2 for the Turbo16 and Crusader of Centy and Beyond Oasis for Genesis). Great video Retro Bird! I especially like the scene 42 seconds in. That could almost be Robert De Niro in Cape Fear :)
I have been trying to like breath of the wild but it is such a massive deviation from the franchise and so utterly enormous I'm getting bogged down. The breaking weapons in particular....ugh
My recommendation is to use your surroundings and abilities (I forgot what they're called, it's been awhile since I've played it - the bombs, the lifting, etc.) to your advantage. Once you get used to them and your surroundings, you'll find you'll be breaking less weapons because you're only using it once or twice during an average battle, sometimes not at all.
I played it at launch with the hype of the Switch release (with not much else to play on it), and I'm not sure I could've done it any other way. It's just such a time commitment.
Vast as an ocean, deep as a puddle is how I'd describe it. I'd easily take a well crafted smaller world over the giant overwhelming world in breath of the wild.
I loved the break able weapons once the fun of scrambling for any weapon you can find finally clicked... around the 100hour mark. I'm totally serious. I hated the breaking weapons until I did the master sword trials. Obviously, that's an insane amount of time for a main mechanic of a game to become enjoyable. But once I was forced to go with nothing in my inventory and beat higher end dudes with only the environment... I really loved it. One of my favorite videogame experiences ever.
I’m a huge Zelda fan, but I only actually love five of the games. I like the rest, but I don’t revisit them much. Those five are: 1. Breath of the Wild 2. A Link to the Past 3. Wind Waker 4. Ocarina of Time 5. The Legend of Zelda Probably a pretty strange top 5 compared to most fans. However, that’s what I love about the series. Every top list will look different.
Exactly, everyone will have personnal preferences inside the franchise. I love pretty much all the games, but not for the same reasons: - Breath of the Wild because of the open world, exploration, gameplay, story and sound design/music (my personnal pick for BGE :D) - A Link To The Past/A Link Between Worlds/Link's Awakening for level design, gameplay, music and story (for ALBW and LA especially) - Majora's Mask for ambiance, underlying thematics, and the 3-day system - The Wind Waker for scenario (the best Ganondorf imo, with the incredible plot twist of undersea Hyrule), music/sound-Design, Tetra - Twilight Princess for being like Ocarina of Time, but better in almost every ways imo (better gameplay, better story, Midna vs Navi, better dongeon level design, etc...) - Skyward Sword for its incredible soundtrack, Fi (which I actually really liked), level design, and the 2nd best Zelda (after BOTW's Zelda) - Phantom Hourglass for Linebeck and the Sea-King temple and Hourglass gameplay mecanic - Spirit Tracks for the train system and railway unlocking system, music and improved gameplay compared to PH - The original Zelda game for its openess and simple but effective gameplay - Zelda 2 for the side scroll aspect ... I really love the franchise!
" youuu raaaascal." 😆😆😆 Going to listen to this channel while mowing my yard and laughing while the neighbors think I'm crazy. I beat link to the past without dying in 1 sitting, that's my love for Zelda games 💚
Funny thing is, that when we started to play Zelda almost everyone playing it was either a kid or young, yet Robin Williams would be 70 years old this year. This means that Zelda definitively hit a point where the generations clash. I've also noticed that every Zelda fan has a different taste like it was mentioned in the video, for me personally I love ALTTP, OOT, TP and BOTW, these are my favourites, I could go into plenty of reasons why, but to point out one - some games end up being just being "games", because we do not have a lot of memories and associations with them, but Zelda is a game that is able to create strong memories and impressions and this is why we like it, whenever I think about ALTTP I do not just think about the game, rather, it reminds me of a wonderful past that was never there, it reminds me of a house of my grandma, but not in particular, it is like this house is in a Zelda-esque dimension a sort of heavenly memory, void of problems.
Zelda 1 is the best but would be a chore nowadays. I played it when EVERYONE was playing it, figuring it out, drawing maps and such. We basically beat it as a community. Plus Nintendo Power.
I always got so frustrated and quit with Zelda games when I tried them, mainly the puzzles, combat, and pacing, which is why I dislike the series but still respect it as a Nintendo icon. The series just isn't my cup of tea as I've always preferred more arcadey games.
Never played a zelda game i didnt like. And i nearly have all of them, its a familiar story to me and one thing i love about the games is every single game in the series tells a multiple stories not in the main quest but the world in general.
I was hoping this video wasn’t going to change my mine about Zelda and it didn’t do that. Well done indeed. I generally like Zelda games a lot. I finished Zelda 1,2 and ocarina of time… half of majoras mask till I got lost (pre-RUclips) and a few hours of the newest Zelda on switch. I still love Zelda 1 and breezed through it about a year ago 2/3rds of the way through. I think it would be fun to play through them all one by one… maybe I’ll do that. Depends when the next Elden ring comes out 😂
Here’s an “uncommon” case for you: I’m not a “young” guy (I’m on my mid 30’s), but I actually prefer the 3D Zelda games over the top-view 2D ones. The reason being that I always preferred side-scrolling 2D games instead of top-view 2D games when I was a kid. The same way I (still) prefer 3rd-person 3D games over 1st-person 3D games. So naturally , the 1st Zelda game that convinced me to get into the series was Ocarina of Time. Also, the only Zelda game that caught my attention when I was a kid was Zelda 2 for the NES, and we all know how that one turned out to be. Anyway, now that I’m older I gave 2D Zelda games a chance, and I like them, but for whatever reason I still prefer 3D Zelda games. With all that being said, I bet you can guess which Nintendo franchise was my favorite in the SNES era besides Mario 🙂.
I was gifted a copy of Ocarina of Time when I was about 12yo and I’ve loved the stories and gameplay of Zelda ever since. Breath of the wild is a great game but feels much less like a Zelda game for lack of story and proper dungeons.
I am right in the middle. I always enjoy Zelda games when I play them but don't feel the need to play every single one. My favorite is probably Cadence of Hyrule.
As someone who doesn’t usually like Zelda games, I love how much Zelda impacts other gamers. To me, that’s what makes it so great. My brother’s love for the series is one of the main reasons he and I get along so well- the shared gaming love!
Your good. You have a really good outlook on everyone's perspectives. You think outside the box. Lol. I like individuals like you . Open minded people. The world needs more people like you. 😉
I like the 3D Zelda games more than the 2D ones. I love exploring in the 3D environments. I am currently playing the remake of Link’s Awakening, this game finally makes me appreciate the 2D Zelda games. I beat Majora’s Mask 3D last month, loved the music but not in love with the game itself. I am also playing Ocarina of Time 3D and Twilight Princess HD. My favorite Zelda games are the Ocarina of Time and the Wind Waker, I played these two games on the GameCube years ago.
I started on both Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess on the Wii. I loved it and got hooked from there. I prefer the 3D Zelda compared to the 2D Zelda, but I still play 2D. I recently started a play-through of Majora's mask for the first time since getting the N64 Cartridge. I also started a play-through of The Wind Waker too. I like Breath of the Wild, but there are some flaws, namely the item durability being slightly uneven and unbalanced, but thankfully with Amiibo cards I got off ebay, I've been able to mitigate all that. I got introduced to 2D Zelda through Four Swords Anniversary Edition and I fell in love all over again. Now I have literally every game from the Original NES Title (Which I finished both quests already) to the latest title (Excluding remakes - though I have a few of those). The story combined with the simple, yet tactical feel of the combat in Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess to a greater extent really got me embroiled as a Zelda Fan. I'd say Twilight Princess has the best combat in a 3d zelda as the hidden skills allow your character to perform special moves besides the slashes and the ending blow common to most of the 3d zelda series. Skyward Sword I liked in terms of the slashes themselves in the fact that enemies moved their guard to block your strikes unless you yourself got better at swordplay. Striking from an unexpected direction or feigning an attack and striking in the opposite direction to best bokoblins, moblins and stalfos always to me was a great aspect of Skyward Sword. Breath of the Wild also has an element to the combat mechanics changing slightly, but were still quite comfortable. Both Twlight Princess and Skyward Sword have been my top games that I have come back to time and again for over 20 playthroughs each. There are some things I like Breath of the Wild for even better, but if the durability was higher on most weapons and electric enemies were toned down a bit back to skyward sword's implementation, I would be a whole lot happier. Link's Awakening I have both the remake and the original. I've started playthroughs of both and the remake does have a lot of character. The 2.5D environment is much like the 3DS Zelda Titles. At least those as opposed to Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass didn't use the stylus gimmick as much. Overall I'm a Zelda Purist that likes to play as Link, the Chosen Hero, instead of a Character named as my own name. I follow the lore and also go quite deep. I also believe the Hyrule Warriors games do have clear and present connections to canon and also are the reasons why the timelines re-converge into Breath of the Wild in the first place. If it weren't for Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess on the Wii, I would have never discovered this Masterpiece of a series from Shigeru Miyamoto-sama!
Even though I probably wouldn't do it myself, I like hearing about people who have played certain games in the series a TON of times. It just makes me happy knowing that people can get that much out of a game :)
@@RetroBirdGaming The main reason I played those games a ton of times was because my parents didn't like gaming and didn't want to further fund it because they were convinced it was an addiction and bad for me (They are Boomers and I'm Gen Z, Go Figure). They still don't like that I'm spending thousands on a retro collection that is nearly complete (Other than Atari 2600 games and homebrew and a few auxillary things that I have preordered or need to keep the collection maintained) with the surplus cash from my job, even after putting some in savings and my day to day expenses. Before I had income, I was unable to get anything else than a Wii Family Edition that was originally intended as an exercise machine for training the body for the whole family, and at Max a DSi XL for my Birthday one year where mostly I got the edutainment games like Brain Age and Brain Boost along with maybe a lego star wars game from them though managed to convince them to get Pokemon on the DS and finally Zelda on the Wii when I was "old enough." (Far too late in my opinion) The main reason I like playing through games multiple times after initially beating it is that you might find new secrets, realize something in the story you didn't before or hear dialogue you haven't heard before. I feel like I have a different, yet positive experience each time I start a new save file. The Story might be the same, but to relive the tale like a good book is something that never loses its luster. I'm about halfway through my 21st playthrough of skyward sword in recognition of the HD version which I preordered and wanted to compare the two once I started a playthough of the switch version to see how much better it is (without the amiibo) as the original skyward sword.
I need to play more Zelda games. I own the majority of them but have only completed 3 and all of the Different. I completed The Original on Nes (Top Down), Ocarina of Time on N64 (3D), and hehe Link: The Faces of Evil for Cdi (side scrolling). I enjoyed all 3, even the cdi one. The music was really great in that game. My favorite Zelda clone has to be 3D Dot Heroes on the PS3. Really great title!
I enjoy Zelda but I understand people who feel they're basic compared to games with deeper stories. I played Alundra for the Ps1 and that game is the Zelda game I've always wanted. Deep story, cool sprite graphics and nice weapons and puzzles.
alundra's gameplay pales in comparison to most zelda games. it's a really tedious game with boring battles. the story and graphics are cool for sure. the world is not that impressively designed though, and the dungeons are good but not as good as the best of zelda games. for a zelda clone it's good, but it's definitely not less 'basic' than any given zelda. if you're just talking about story, ok, i guess? i'd place majora's mask's story and characters over most adventure games in general, but alundra doesn't hold a candle to it.
I respect everyone, but I haven't played a single Zelda game that I haven't had a good time with, and I played them all. I find that when people say they don't like Zelda, what they really mean to say is "I haven't tried anything Zelda before." I have a family member who comes to mind as I write this comment, and he's the type that always gets the Newest PlayStation or Xbox, but avoids Nintendo like the plague. I told him about how much I love BotW, and finally he gave it a shot, and guess what? It's one of his favorite games now. The unfortunate part was, he became a fan from that particular Zelda game, which set him up incorrectly for fandom, as when he traveled back in time to see what else Nintendo did with Zelda, his very next experience was the remake Link's awakening. I told him to trust me the way he did before, but the style of gameplay just off put him too much, and he dismissed the series completely after that. So basically, he only likes BotW, basically because it's open world nature lent itself well to people coming off of games like Red Dead 2 and GTA. The sad thing is, I know if my family member opened his mind a bit more to trying Link's awakening, I think he'd really like that too, but hey, different folks and all that.
I really like Zelda games, but it makes me feel stressed when I spend more than 6 hours trying to solve a puzzle. Just a matter of taking a little break while playing extended sessions. Other than that they are really good games I'm not a big fan or a fan boy, each game has his good and interesting stuff... I enjoyed beat them because their stories are kind of deep in my perspective. But one thing in common that I feel while I playing is the fact that I need to complete those secondary missions as a must XD if not I feel a strange thing on my end, difficult to explain. I'm still stucked on Majora's Mask in the N64 😣because I couldn't find two glass bottles missing and many heart pieces to open a particular door... and I don't want to go to the final boss because of that 😫 Anyhow... I'm the one who likes Zelda games, main thing too many duties being an adult, I can barely play them, Greetings Retro Bird from Nicaragua!
yeah this video definitely explains why I never got super into the series. I hate figuring out what to do and where to go lol. gimme them linear action platformers I say!
I tried playing ocarina on 3ds last year. I finished the water and fire temples. Haven't picked it up. I don't know why. I don't hate it. I'm not crazy about it. If i played it as a kid in the 90s I probably would have loved it
You don't really have to be a 90s kid to like it.. I played it for the first time last year and it is now my favorite game of all time! It's just a matter of diffrent strokes for diffrent folks
Never did attempt to like Zelda games but when I picked up Breath of the Wild on the Switch on day one I was instantly intrigued to play all the classics and add them to my collection.
when i was a little kid i got zelda for nes, this was way before the internet lol i didnt even have nintendo power... it was just my dad and i trying to figure out what to do, i mean we had the manual and they give you a partial map but that was it.. then one day we found level 9 got confused in it but eventually found the silver arrows and killed ganon.. that moment when ganon turned to ash is one of my favorite memories, i couldnt believe it! we did it! thats why i think the zelda games where so good, because it was an adventure.. you didnt always know what to do or where to look, kinda like real life in a way..
People forget what it was like to play Zelda for NES back then. Coming back to it now just isn't the same. The willingness to explore and discover things was different for people just getting into it back then. Most people playing it now aren't looking at the manual, and (understandably) compare it to later games.
@@RetroBirdGaming i agree, it was a fun experience in an era which is now gone (like the arcades). but there was something special about two (or more) people sitting on the couch in a dark room playing something wild.. there was something cool about it you know, ordering pizza or something and playing.. was fun..
Ocarina of time was such an amazing experience for my brothers and I. It cemented our love for the series. Sure, some games are better than others but we enjoy them all in one way or another
Yes, those are great games but not every entry is for everyone. Not loving some titles can put you in trouble in the community XD This is hard to have a relax conversation about your dislike for A Link to the Past. I think the most divisive aspect for each game is either the difficulty (or lack of) or artstyle.
My complaint is a bit different. I liked the earliest Zeldas not because I just enjoy the 2D gameplay, but because the illustrations and overall presentation in the first two games created a mysterious, dark, mature, eerie world that really unlocked the imagination. It was all about atmosphere and exploration. As the 3rd games on were released, the games got more cartoony and childish, (a.k.a. your off-putting character design mention) and tended on a more forced/linear path with less exploration and decidedly humorous tone.
I recently played the 3DS port of A Link to the Past; it was my first time playing through a Zelda game. I enjoyed the side quests in the overworld and the overall feel of the game. It reminded me somewhat of the original Pokémon games on the Gameboy-something I played a ton growing up. It almost sounds like this is an unpopular opinion, but I began to loathe the dungeons and just how confusing the game was. By the end, I was so frustrated and simply relieved to finish the game. At this point I have no plans to play another in the series. That said, I’m glad I gave it a try and I’m genuinely stoked for all the people that love this series. And now I can devote more time to other games in my backlog 👍🏻
Shigeru Miyamoto is the Walt Disney of gaming. Just like Disney, it's for adults just as much as kids. It's fine if you don't like Zelda. It doesn't affect my love for the franchise.
I'm 44 now and until recently never had any desire to play any Zelda game. Bought my boy a switch for xmas and he mentioned BotW so I looked into the series a little. Since then I've bought Link to the past and Link's awakening dx on the virtual console, absolutely loving those. Got BotW and Link's awakening switch edition on order too. Think I'll play those first before looking at any more
Great video! I've just been recently attempting to get deeper into the Zelda franchise, as the only titles I've played to completion are Twilight Princess and A Link Between Worlds. I'm currently attempting to make my way through Ocarina of Time on the N64, and Honestly its good, but not great IMO.
For me, the only reason I can't really get into any LoZelda games before BotW is simply because of the controls. I think if I grew up with N64 LoZelda games it may be different lol.
I love zelda because of the puzle, overworld quests and exploration, and the story. My favourite zelda is Wind Waker. Currently I am playing Ocarina of Time and find my self getting more stuck than in any other zelda I have played.
Lol I'm actually 33 and grew up with the NES and SNES Zelda games which I never found to be too fun. I fell in love with Ocarina and Majora's Mask when they came out though and continued liking the series through Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. I eventually tried giving the newer top-down games a chance but still don't find them that fun. So I'm one of those rare people who do only happen to like the 3D Zelda games.
Excellent vid man, I've been a Zelda fan since I heard the original title sequence on the NES. Other than the N64 games, I'm a fan of the series 2D or 3D. Oh yeah, Okami is a brilliant game, I finally played through it earlier this year and it was excellent...easily the beat Zelda inspired game and even better in some ways. The Oasis games are also very good as well.
I don't judge the franchise but instead the games itself. I liked A Link Between Worlds but cannot say I overly enjoyed the original Zelda game, shocking I'm sure. I like the brand it on what it offers and keen to see what comes out but just because a game releases doesn't mean I will automatically love or hate it
Only one i have truly ever beaten is the first. I usually get stuck, or get intrested in other games or things or both..lol. Mmmm..whole made cranberry sauce..i make it myself during holidays..i know, and understand where your coming from on that. 😉
Please do a video explaining video game regions... PAL, NTSC, etc., I still don't really understand why certain games can't play in certain system or on certain TVs... thanks!
I may be a bit late to the party but I do find it interesting but Bird talks about how Zelda games don't require you to plow through huge amounts of dialogue but that is something I always find grinds my gears most about Zelda games. They always have what feels like a lot of unskippable dialogue, often repetitive (like rupee or heart piece texts) and sometime catches you accidently choosing to repeat it. Where I feel Metroid or Dark Souls games are not too far removed from Zelda but are better to me because they don't tend to say much and just imply most of the story and setting visually instead. Good video though, the combat simplicity is one of my main gripes with most of the Zelda games.
I can actually relate to what you're talking about with things like rupee or heart piece texts (and things like text from your companion). Especially what you said about accidentally triggering them haha. The point I was making in the video had more to do with how much text there is in relation to the story, compared to how good of a story the games can deliver (if you're into the stories).
I actually had no pressure to like Zelda games. I discovered the original Zelda in the summer of '88 at a friend's house. I was like, "whoa, nice graphics!" I've loved the series since the very beginning.
@@Palendrome Definitely different and had some interesting ideas that would later be well implemented (thinking Shovel Knight), but it also has too much of that NES rough difficulty that wasn't so much fun challenge as lack of refined game design. To each their own.
I've played most Zelda games and I've only enjoyed/beat Link's Awakening for the OG Game Boy. The thing is for me, I know they are fantasictly well made games. I want to enjoy them but for the life of me I just can't. I have no reason to get mad that most everyone loves the series. I have already accepted the fact I'll never really enjoy a Zelda game, but it doesn't bother me that it's highly talked about.
I'm not sure myself. I have so many Zelda games I started and haven't finished. I love breath of the Wild, vut I mostly screw around and hunt animals. I don't want playing the game to feel like a chore.
And that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Me I like most of the games that came out recently. Breath of the wild was something new and yes it's hard but I like it. Again it's your opinion
@@djlamar2 so breath of wild isn’t a Zelda game to me. It’s just an MMO with a Zelda skin really. (Writing that statement annoyed my brain). I feel once the series lost its’ bearings from exploration and solo adventuring it hasn’t been the same. The last main series game I thought was good was twilight Princess and even that one is somewhat on the fence for me. The minish cap, windwaker, skyward sword, phantom hourglass all tried some gimmick that really took away from the heart of the series. I’m not a fan of the remasters and remakes because well honestly I thought they were fine the way they were. Appreciate the reply.
@@Vanoxe You have your thinking cap on. BOTW is very overrated. So many people call it a masterpiece and I'm like really? I played the game 130+ hours and I had fun occasionally, but there are just too many negatives such as way too much empty space and the world was too big. The exploration boiled down to finding a weapon that breaks in 20 hits, a shrine, or a mediocre side quest. Constantly having to be in a quick-menu to change weapons isn't fun, and the Divine Beast dungeon-design wasn't great. Too open ended for it's own good and it needed more direction. The beginning was nice because of the old man guiding you somewhat, but after you leave that area; it just isn't the same.
@@inputfunny you gave it a larger chance than I did. I was 9 hours in and was bored. At 21 hours I was done entirely and I’m disappointed it took me that long. I understand why people like it but I’d wager must people that like it prefer more modern style MMOs to old school linear gameplay.
@@Vanoxe "Oh you've gotta stick it out; it gets really good after 60 hours!" Lol. Some people will actually say things like that. I had fun with the game sometimes or else I wouldn't have played it that long, but it gets a 6 or 7/10 from me and it just lacks direction among other things.
I love the idea of Zelda and spent so many hours watching other people play them, but I don't always find them engaging myself. Wind Waker is the only 3D Zelda I've beaten, but I ended up doing that one twice and its one of my all time favorites. Using some guides and save states I've finished the original NES game and a Link to the Past. I found LttP a bit underwhelming and its wide open "go figure out what to do next" style doesn't appeal to me. I loved the original but I recognize that without those tools to assist me its an intimidating beast I probably wouldn't bother with. Most of the other games in the series are on that ever-growing backlog, but I rarely find myself up for a game on the scale of Breath of the Wild or even Ocarina. Just not usually my thing.
When the original Zelda came out I steered clear of it because I thought it was for nerds with dragons and wizards. Fast forward when Zelda:Link to the Past came out, my taste changed a little more since and the Zelda series was still so popular so I decided to get it. Seeing what they did to this new 16bit adventure was mind blowing. Now, it remains my Favorite Zelda game.
I've only beaten 2 zelda games (ocarina of time, twilight princess), but working on breath of the wild now. They are a ton of fun, I find myself walking away for a week, and I have no clue where I left off. Unfortunately, zelda makes up most of my midlog games. (Trying to help make that a thing lol)
Tried my first Zelda game recently (link to the past) and it was fun until I had to start googling a bunch of stuff. Game seemed way too cryptic and the final straw was when I got to the bunny suit part haha
I don't really like Zelda games and never finished one. I can see the appeal of an immersive adventure with tons of variety that you can get long-term invested in, but personally that's not for me in gaming. I still remember mashing my way through textboxes in OoT as a kid only to press "yes" by accident when that damn owl asks if you want to hear everything all over again! At that point I just turned it off and put Goldeneye on again. This dislike of Zelda for me extends to anything else of a similar vein, like Skyrim or anything narrative-heavy and light on mechanics. Assassin's Creed for example gave me real OoT vibes by not having a jump button (you run into ledges and it jumps for you) and so I turned it off. In the end I gravitate towards stuff like fighting games, first person shooters, shmups, etc. Anything with a strong mechanical component that requires you to really push a lot of buttons or else lose, as opposed to holding forward to cross Hyrule Field. I'm aware some of this sounds like I'm ragging on people who like Zelda games, so this is the disclaimer: What you like about games and the reason you play them probably doesn't reflect on you as a person and you can play whatever you want for whatever reason. Have fun! Disclaimer disclaimer: I know Zelda game speedrunning is incredibly mechanically intensive but I'm just talking about regular play.
Growing up with Zelda makes it so hard for me to see why others would dislike the series. It's just such a ubiquitous and quintessential series. But, talking to someone I know online in another channel's community led to me asking him one time why he wasn't a big fan of Zelda. He told me that he thought that Zelda was a combat-focused, combat-heavy dungeon crawler and was a bit turned off when he realized that wasn't true. Course, I suggested the Hyrule Warriors games to him if he wants Zelda, but combat focused. They're spin-offs, but they count enough. They aren't like...some hastily made junk that doesn't count. I also suggested he try out the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess side dungeons that are literally just focused on combat. Who knows? Maybe he'll catch the Zelda bug with the rest of us.
Im in my 40s so Zelda games are pretty much like hugging an old friend. I embrace the new formats, especially Breath of the wild which feels like a new take on the classic “it’s dangerous out there”.
Games that appear in this video: Ocarina of Time, Majora's Mask, Link's Awakening (GBC), Link's Awakening (Switch), Wind Waker, Link to the Past, Link Between Worlds, Breath of the Wild
Breth Of The Wild , and Soul Caliber 2.
All this talk and Zelda 2 doesn't even get a mention lol
I think the question is more "where did you grow up playing video games?"
If it was in North America!? (of course!! Mario, Zelda, Metroid)
If it was it in Europe!? (Sonic, Phantasy Star, Wonder Boy) think about it!! ;)
Yes, no, no,maybe, yes, no, no and yes of course. Maybe.
@@catvideojogos Absolutely not. I grew up in Europe and Sega games were just for other people. Or the opposite. Who knows, I grew up with PC Engine.
My grandma absolutely loved the Legend of Zelda, and up until about a year before her passing didn't realize it was a game series beyond the NES. Though she never put pressure on me to like the games, other people have done so. Especially considering it's a fantasy game, and I've played my fair share of them, just not Zelda. Everytime I've tried to play them, I've felt overwhelmed by them. They pack a lot into all of them, whether it's top down or 3d.
Because your grandma was not some kind of oot cultist.
Thats who causes the problems.
But try botw/totk or loz, they are good about not being overwhelming, I regularly replay them for 30 minutes at a time kind of out of nowhere.
There are some Zelda games I absolutely adore and some that I absolutely am bored to tears with.
But one thing is for sure! .......this video was great ❤️
Hmm... I wonder which ones are the ones that bore you. Probably a smart call to not share which ones :)
I mostly really enjoy Zelda games but never could get into Twilight Princess. I know long tutorial intros have become pretty standard in gaming but that one was especially brutal and always kills my desire to even play it anymore every time I try to give the game a chance and have to go through it again.
Just FYI, this is quickly becoming one of my favorite channels. You stand shoulder to shoulder with Lady Decade, Big Daddy Top Hat, and even Scott the Woz. The quality of videos and information is so much fun. Thank you for all you bring us.
Thank you! I appreciate it :)
"Where the heck do I go?" is why I often end up quitting Zelda games.
I understand that. My recommendation is Breath of the Wild for it answers that question with: "Anywhere you want!"
That's why I quit Ocarina of time and didn't try any Zelda games since 😅
Also I didn't use a guide because I think that a game should be beatable without one. In my opinion, the guides are for the completionists.
I do plan on trying a few more Zelda games before I quit the series altogether tough.
@@sonicmaiden2871 I like getting guides for games i really like or if in a situation like yours my logic is: if I don't get a guide I won't play the game, if I do get an guide ill play the game, so why not get/use a guide. If jts one of my bread and butter games I won't use a guide. Unless I'm really stuck and frustrated.
@@tooturtletastic I never used a guide before but maybe I could try using at least an online guide. This is a popular game so I'm sure that it will be easy to find one.
Perfectly sums up why I quit those too so I'm the same way.
ok no BSing around, you are one of the absolute best retro gaming RUclipsrs right now. Between a steady stream of updates and a great back catalogue of good discussions/presentations of interesting topics, there is a wealth of A+ content. I've been working my way randomly through your vids for over a week now and it's just great. I feel like a kid again hearing and talking about mysterious and fantastic Nintendo, Sega and PS1 games at a school yard all throughout the 90s. Your topics are just...so on the nose. Great work, keep it up, and i can't wait to see what comes out next!
Thank you. I really do appreciate comments like this and it means a lot that you're enjoying the content so much :) Lots more videos to come!
@@RetroBirdGaming RIght on man, and thank you for replying, that means a lot too as just a fan. I suppose I got so excited I forgot to talk about Zelda, lol. I've played every game in release order during the time that they were "current" and i have very spotty coverage of which I like: Original Link's Awakening (the best Link's Awakening but DX is great since you can just play it in B&W if you want to ignore added content), Link to the Past, Ocarina (distant fourth fave), and Breath of the Wild (I think this game is a masterpiece).
When I was a kid my older sister was really into Zelda so I was into it as well. But when she moved out and I start playing those games on my own, I started to not enjoy them because I was now alone to form my own opinion on the games.
Golden Axe Warrior, Golvellius, and Ys. Three great Zelda likes on the Sega Master System
Crazy you bring these up. I just bought golvellius a few days ago because I was able to pick up a power base converter for my genesis. Golden Axe Warrior is really expensive:( but I’ll try to pick up Ys
Frig, I forgot about ys.
Clones that are pretty good: Golden Axe Warrior, Soleil/Crusader of Centy, Story of Thor/Beyond Oasis 1&2 and Neutopia 1&2. I like these a bit better than most Zelda games.
Crusader
@@tarantinoish My mistake! More used to the PAL titles.
So do I. The Turbo Grafx 16 titles you mentioned are extremely underrated. Y's series are too good to be clones. I concider them a far superior series in just about every way possible.
Zelda games were always difficult for me to fully enjoy. I was one of those people who got lost and didn't know where to go or what to do. Also, if I put the game down and came back to it later I'd have no idea where I left off and would have to start all over. Zelda games take persistence, commitment, and sheer determination in order to see them through to the end. These games are not for everyone. On a side note: When is Nintendo going to give Zelda her own game? I mean, for a series titled "The Legend Of Zelda," one would hope she'd be the main playable character in her own game at some point? I know she's been in past games, but I'm talking like the whole game should be hers, and Link should be the one to take a backseat, but that will most likely never happen. However, if Super Princess Peach can happen, then perhaps there is hope for Zelda as well. That being said, I am excited for the prospect of playing as her in BOTW 2.
One of my favorite things about the Zelda series is that despite how long the series has gone, each game stands out on its own and is unique in someway. This is especially evident if you start comparing the Zelda series to other video game series.
To answer your question though, I like all of the Zelda games, 2D and 3D. But if I had to choose it would have 3D Zelda games since I grew up with them mostly.
I don't expect everyone to enjoy the Zelda series, however, I feel that everyone should do themselves a favor and listen to a "best of" playlist of the franchise's music because the OSTs are incredible
Oh there we go! Not as big of a time commitment. Gerudo Valley is a must for me.
I have the Dark World Theme as my phone Ring Tone. Haha
I love the Birdinators videos. They are fun, open minded and also unique! Keep it up you banana loving Bird!
I think the first Zelda game came out when I was 6 and until two years ago, I wasn’t interested in any Zelda game until my 10 year old son wanted Breath of the Wild. I played it reluctantly but was hooked after only a few minutes. I still have no interest in playing the older Zelda games, but my son loves even the NES entries (much to my surprise). I loved the NES when I had it, but haven’t looked back since I got the SNES nearly 30 years ago.
Love that story!
The best zeldas to play if you want a small crash course
Ocarina of Time : N64 or 3DS
Link To the Past: Switch, snes, snes classic, 3ds, wii u, and more
Windwaker: Gamecube or Wii U ( likely coming to switch soon)
Those are the three id say to play immediately if you like Zelda
Breath of the Wild is wholly unlike any other Zelda game ever released. Nintendo really jumped out of their comfort zone with the series when they put that out.
Even as a Zelda fan I don’t like the “Where the hell do I go? moments”
I beat Link’s Awakening on a family road trip, to this day it’s my favorite Zelda. What a ride that was.
Wasn’t a fan of Zelda games at first, back when I first gave them a try due to their reputation, when I was young. Now, after having played a LOT of games, I love most of them. They are so polished, immersive, offer a great sense of escape, and are such a joy for me… Each game has its own character. I just finished playing through Windwaker. Back in 2002, I gave up on it halfway through: the water annoyed me. But now… the game sucked me in and I don’t know-maybe I just have more patience now or I’m more focussed and able to concentrate or something-I loved the game. I played through it in two, looooooong sittings. It was crazy. Haven’t been pulled into a game like that in years.
If you didn't have a guide handy, you sometimes had to write a letter to a Nintendo game counselor because your parents wouldn't let you call the 1-900 number. Thanks Suzanne, I never could have finished Zelda II without you.
This is going to sound dumb, but Zelda games taught me that things like being good and heroism and other good things were well, good. It held me back from being a 100% edgelord when I was a teenager. Other people were telling me these same things but for some reason, I listened to Zelda back then. Now I listen to them too since I'm an adult.
Very nice story. Playing RPGs in my teen years taught me commitment (or lack of commitment, from my parents' point of view) and sticking with something for the long haul. At the very least, they reinforced my tendencies towards completionist and thoroughness, haha.
I grew up owning Zelda for NES, never got very far in it and always watched people play Link to the Past from afar because I didn’t own a SNES until later. That said, when Ocarina came out I pre-ordered it from Toys R Us, got the gold cartridge and fell in love with Zelda on the N64. I can’t tell you how much that game impacted my life; it touched me deep inside my soul and I’ve been a Zelda fan ever since, playing and beating most of the mainline titles.
I’ll always remember thanksgiving and Christmas of 1999, taking my N64 out to the my grampa’s house in rural Louisiana, and beating OoT with a strategy guide, then going outside and trying to make a replica fairy bow, trying to find bottles that looked like the in-game ones. Years later I even went to the renaissance festival and bought a sword that resembled the master sword.
Oot has always stuck with me in many ways, the game just resonated with me deeply, and I’m forever grateful for what shigeru Miyamoto and eiji Ounuma created. Many other Nintendo games and franchises have also touched me, namely Pokémon and Mario. I grew up with Nintendo , and the games and worlds are an inseparable part of my childhood.
BOTW was somewhat disappointing due to the shrine/dungeons not being what they always had been in previous installments. I’m onboard with Nintendo updating the mechanics and innovating, but the classic 3D Zelda formula laid-out in OoT is what forever captivated me.
I’ve come to realize that the N64 Zelda games, wind waker, and the top-down games like Link Between worlds and Links awakening are what really fascinate me and keep my attention. I’m cool with just playing those games moving forward, if the new Zelda titles aren’t what I expect, it’s OK. It’s also Ok not to like Zelda. You shouldn’t expect everyone to like something just because you like it or just because it’s popular. That’s a dumb way to think.
On a side note, this channel offers a unique perspective and answers some essential questions that I Haven’t seen tackled on any other retro gaming channel. You’re also hilarious to boot. Bravo sir!
I just recently beast my first Zelda game (Link's Awakening DX) and I had a blast with it, although it took me a while to actually finish one. I always got lost and couldn't find my way back to the objective so I often just restarted the whole game, but now that I have completed one, I'll try to finish more of them. Also, a tip for anyone else who often gets lost, I find that if you save and stop playing right in front of your next objective helps keep you on track.
Yeah, stopping in the middle of objectives can make it rough coming back!
I like all Zelda games, I even play Ocarina of Time Rom hacks like Master of time, Nimpize, Voyager of time, and The Missing Link.
I love Zelda games but I always play them with a walkthrough. In fact I akways play any open world puzzle game with a walkthrough. I love the combat and getting items and the story, and even the exploration but I serious dislike spending hours and hours being stuck because I can't figure out where to go or what to do, hence why I always have a walkthrough nearby. I absolutely loved Horizon zero dawn and the new tomb raider series because there were way markers which showed you where to go.
no offense but you're ruining the game with the walkthroughs. you should at the very least try to figure things out before consulting outside material...
I think one more reason people tend to dislike Zelda games, at least before BOTW, is that they were kind of primitive compared to other adventure games and rpgs. In a world with games like mass effect 2 and skyrim zelda had twilight princess and skyward sword which still played and felt like an n64 game, making so that people kind of need to already have a history with zelda to enjoy the games.
Honestly I think there haven't been a lot of new zelda fans until BOTW revitalized the series. And now developers are once again copying zelda.
Who doesn't like Zelda?!?! I want their names!!! Jk. I actually only really like the first 3 (and yes, I really enjoy Adventures of Link) as they're far less story heavy compared to the later titles. I've had some fun with Ocarina of Time but inevitably, I'll get distracted and lose my momentum and not got back to it. I do really enjoy the Zelda clones of that same time frame almost as much as the original games (Golden Axe Warrior, Golvellius for SMS, Neutopia 1 and 2 for the Turbo16 and Crusader of Centy and Beyond Oasis for Genesis).
Great video Retro Bird! I especially like the scene 42 seconds in. That could almost be Robert De Niro in Cape Fear :)
I have been trying to like breath of the wild but it is such a massive deviation from the franchise and so utterly enormous I'm getting bogged down. The breaking weapons in particular....ugh
My recommendation is to use your surroundings and abilities (I forgot what they're called, it's been awhile since I've played it - the bombs, the lifting, etc.) to your advantage. Once you get used to them and your surroundings, you'll find you'll be breaking less weapons because you're only using it once or twice during an average battle, sometimes not at all.
I played it at launch with the hype of the Switch release (with not much else to play on it), and I'm not sure I could've done it any other way. It's just such a time commitment.
Vast as an ocean, deep as a puddle is how I'd describe it. I'd easily take a well crafted smaller world over the giant overwhelming world in breath of the wild.
I loved the break able weapons once the fun of scrambling for any weapon you can find finally clicked... around the 100hour mark.
I'm totally serious. I hated the breaking weapons until I did the master sword trials. Obviously, that's an insane amount of time for a main mechanic of a game to become enjoyable. But once I was forced to go with nothing in my inventory and beat higher end dudes with only the environment... I really loved it. One of my favorite videogame experiences ever.
I’m a huge Zelda fan, but I only actually love five of the games. I like the rest, but I don’t revisit them much. Those five are:
1. Breath of the Wild
2. A Link to the Past
3. Wind Waker
4. Ocarina of Time
5. The Legend of Zelda
Probably a pretty strange top 5 compared to most fans. However, that’s what I love about the series. Every top list will look different.
Exactly, everyone will have personnal preferences inside the franchise. I love pretty much all the games, but not for the same reasons:
- Breath of the Wild because of the open world, exploration, gameplay, story and sound design/music (my personnal pick for BGE :D)
- A Link To The Past/A Link Between Worlds/Link's Awakening for level design, gameplay, music and story (for ALBW and LA especially)
- Majora's Mask for ambiance, underlying thematics, and the 3-day system
- The Wind Waker for scenario (the best Ganondorf imo, with the incredible plot twist of undersea Hyrule), music/sound-Design, Tetra
- Twilight Princess for being like Ocarina of Time, but better in almost every ways imo (better gameplay, better story, Midna vs Navi, better dongeon level design, etc...)
- Skyward Sword for its incredible soundtrack, Fi (which I actually really liked), level design, and the 2nd best Zelda (after BOTW's Zelda)
- Phantom Hourglass for Linebeck and the Sea-King temple and Hourglass gameplay mecanic
- Spirit Tracks for the train system and railway unlocking system, music and improved gameplay compared to PH
- The original Zelda game for its openess and simple but effective gameplay
- Zelda 2 for the side scroll aspect
...
I really love the franchise!
" youuu raaaascal." 😆😆😆 Going to listen to this channel while mowing my yard and laughing while the neighbors think I'm crazy. I beat link to the past without dying in 1 sitting, that's my love for Zelda games 💚
If I can make yard work more enjoyable, then glad to make it happen :)
Funny thing is, that when we started to play Zelda almost everyone playing it was either a kid or young, yet Robin Williams would be 70 years old this year. This means that Zelda definitively hit a point where the generations clash. I've also noticed that every Zelda fan has a different taste like it was mentioned in the video, for me personally I love ALTTP, OOT, TP and BOTW, these are my favourites, I could go into plenty of reasons why, but to point out one - some games end up being just being "games", because we do not have a lot of memories and associations with them, but Zelda is a game that is able to create strong memories and impressions and this is why we like it, whenever I think about ALTTP I do not just think about the game, rather, it reminds me of a wonderful past that was never there, it reminds me of a house of my grandma, but not in particular, it is like this house is in a Zelda-esque dimension a sort of heavenly memory, void of problems.
Zelda 1 is the best but would be a chore nowadays. I played it when EVERYONE was playing it, figuring it out, drawing maps and such. We basically beat it as a community. Plus Nintendo Power.
I always got so frustrated and quit with Zelda games when I tried them, mainly the puzzles, combat, and pacing, which is why I dislike the series but still respect it as a Nintendo icon. The series just isn't my cup of tea as I've always preferred more arcadey games.
Never played a zelda game i didnt like. And i nearly have all of them, its a familiar story to me and one thing i love about the games is every single game in the series tells a multiple stories not in the main quest but the world in general.
I was hoping this video wasn’t going to change my mine about Zelda and it didn’t do that. Well done indeed.
I generally like Zelda games a lot. I finished Zelda 1,2 and ocarina of time… half of majoras mask till I got lost (pre-RUclips) and a few hours of the newest Zelda on switch. I still love Zelda 1 and breezed through it about a year ago 2/3rds of the way through. I think it would be fun to play through them all one by one… maybe I’ll do that. Depends when the next Elden ring comes out 😂
man, I really need to finish all the zelda games on my backlog, I love 'em, but they can really be a time investment to be sure!
I bet you never played a JRPG before, huh?
@@bareq99 heh, probably have played too many, where do you think all my time went lol!
@@GORF-wb4gl lol
Here’s an “uncommon” case for you: I’m not a “young” guy (I’m on my mid 30’s), but I actually prefer the 3D Zelda games over the top-view 2D ones. The reason being that I always preferred side-scrolling 2D games instead of top-view 2D games when I was a kid. The same way I (still) prefer 3rd-person 3D games over 1st-person 3D games. So naturally , the 1st Zelda game that convinced me to get into the series was Ocarina of Time. Also, the only Zelda game that caught my attention when I was a kid was Zelda 2 for the NES, and we all know how that one turned out to be.
Anyway, now that I’m older I gave 2D Zelda games a chance, and I like them, but for whatever reason I still prefer 3D Zelda games. With all that being said, I bet you can guess which Nintendo franchise was my favorite in the SNES era besides Mario 🙂.
Definitely a unique situation. Thank you for sharing :)
I was gifted a copy of Ocarina of Time when I was about 12yo and I’ve loved the stories and gameplay of Zelda ever since. Breath of the wild is a great game but feels much less like a Zelda game for lack of story and proper dungeons.
I am right in the middle. I always enjoy Zelda games when I play them but don't feel the need to play every single one. My favorite is probably Cadence of Hyrule.
As someone who doesn’t usually like Zelda games, I love how much Zelda impacts other gamers. To me, that’s what makes it so great. My brother’s love for the series is one of the main reasons he and I get along so well- the shared gaming love!
Your theme song gets me EVERY TIME
Your good. You have a really good outlook on everyone's perspectives. You think outside the box. Lol. I like individuals like you . Open minded people. The world needs more people like you. 😉
Thank you Richard!
I like the 3D Zelda games more than the 2D ones. I love exploring in the 3D environments. I am currently playing the remake of Link’s Awakening, this game finally makes me appreciate the 2D Zelda games. I beat Majora’s Mask 3D last month, loved the music but not in love with the game itself. I am also playing Ocarina of Time 3D and Twilight Princess HD. My favorite Zelda games are the Ocarina of Time and the Wind Waker, I played these two games on the GameCube years ago.
I started on both Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess on the Wii. I loved it and got hooked from there. I prefer the 3D Zelda compared to the 2D Zelda, but I still play 2D. I recently started a play-through of Majora's mask for the first time since getting the N64 Cartridge. I also started a play-through of The Wind Waker too. I like Breath of the Wild, but there are some flaws, namely the item durability being slightly uneven and unbalanced, but thankfully with Amiibo cards I got off ebay, I've been able to mitigate all that. I got introduced to 2D Zelda through Four Swords Anniversary Edition and I fell in love all over again. Now I have literally every game from the Original NES Title (Which I finished both quests already) to the latest title (Excluding remakes - though I have a few of those). The story combined with the simple, yet tactical feel of the combat in Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess to a greater extent really got me embroiled as a Zelda Fan. I'd say Twilight Princess has the best combat in a 3d zelda as the hidden skills allow your character to perform special moves besides the slashes and the ending blow common to most of the 3d zelda series. Skyward Sword I liked in terms of the slashes themselves in the fact that enemies moved their guard to block your strikes unless you yourself got better at swordplay. Striking from an unexpected direction or feigning an attack and striking in the opposite direction to best bokoblins, moblins and stalfos always to me was a great aspect of Skyward Sword. Breath of the Wild also has an element to the combat mechanics changing slightly, but were still quite comfortable. Both Twlight Princess and Skyward Sword have been my top games that I have come back to time and again for over 20 playthroughs each. There are some things I like Breath of the Wild for even better, but if the durability was higher on most weapons and electric enemies were toned down a bit back to skyward sword's implementation, I would be a whole lot happier. Link's Awakening I have both the remake and the original. I've started playthroughs of both and the remake does have a lot of character. The 2.5D environment is much like the 3DS Zelda Titles. At least those as opposed to Spirit Tracks and Phantom Hourglass didn't use the stylus gimmick as much. Overall I'm a Zelda Purist that likes to play as Link, the Chosen Hero, instead of a Character named as my own name. I follow the lore and also go quite deep. I also believe the Hyrule Warriors games do have clear and present connections to canon and also are the reasons why the timelines re-converge into Breath of the Wild in the first place. If it weren't for Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess on the Wii, I would have never discovered this Masterpiece of a series from Shigeru Miyamoto-sama!
Even though I probably wouldn't do it myself, I like hearing about people who have played certain games in the series a TON of times. It just makes me happy knowing that people can get that much out of a game :)
@@RetroBirdGaming The main reason I played those games a ton of times was because my parents didn't like gaming and didn't want to further fund it because they were convinced it was an addiction and bad for me (They are Boomers and I'm Gen Z, Go Figure). They still don't like that I'm spending thousands on a retro collection that is nearly complete (Other than Atari 2600 games and homebrew and a few auxillary things that I have preordered or need to keep the collection maintained) with the surplus cash from my job, even after putting some in savings and my day to day expenses. Before I had income, I was unable to get anything else than a Wii Family Edition that was originally intended as an exercise machine for training the body for the whole family, and at Max a DSi XL for my Birthday one year where mostly I got the edutainment games like Brain Age and Brain Boost along with maybe a lego star wars game from them though managed to convince them to get Pokemon on the DS and finally Zelda on the Wii when I was "old enough." (Far too late in my opinion) The main reason I like playing through games multiple times after initially beating it is that you might find new secrets, realize something in the story you didn't before or hear dialogue you haven't heard before. I feel like I have a different, yet positive experience each time I start a new save file. The Story might be the same, but to relive the tale like a good book is something that never loses its luster. I'm about halfway through my 21st playthrough of skyward sword in recognition of the HD version which I preordered and wanted to compare the two once I started a playthough of the switch version to see how much better it is (without the amiibo) as the original skyward sword.
My favorite 3D Zelda game is Majora's Mask, and my favorite 2D Zelda game is A Link to the Past. I enjoy both 2D and 3D Zelda games.
I need to play more Zelda games. I own the majority of them but have only completed 3 and all of the Different. I completed The Original on Nes (Top Down), Ocarina of Time on N64 (3D), and hehe Link: The Faces of Evil for Cdi (side scrolling). I enjoyed all 3, even the cdi one. The music was really great in that game. My favorite Zelda clone has to be 3D Dot Heroes on the PS3. Really great title!
I enjoy Zelda but I understand people who feel they're basic compared to games with deeper stories. I played Alundra for the Ps1 and that game is the Zelda game I've always wanted. Deep story, cool sprite graphics and nice weapons and puzzles.
alundra's gameplay pales in comparison to most zelda games. it's a really tedious game with boring battles. the story and graphics are cool for sure. the world is not that impressively designed though, and the dungeons are good but not as good as the best of zelda games. for a zelda clone it's good, but it's definitely not less 'basic' than any given zelda. if you're just talking about story, ok, i guess? i'd place majora's mask's story and characters over most adventure games in general, but alundra doesn't hold a candle to it.
I respect everyone, but I haven't played a single Zelda game that I haven't had a good time with, and I played them all. I find that when people say they don't like Zelda, what they really mean to say is "I haven't tried anything Zelda before." I have a family member who comes to mind as I write this comment, and he's the type that always gets the Newest PlayStation or Xbox, but avoids Nintendo like the plague. I told him about how much I love BotW, and finally he gave it a shot, and guess what? It's one of his favorite games now. The unfortunate part was, he became a fan from that particular Zelda game, which set him up incorrectly for fandom, as when he traveled back in time to see what else Nintendo did with Zelda, his very next experience was the remake Link's awakening. I told him to trust me the way he did before, but the style of gameplay just off put him too much, and he dismissed the series completely after that. So basically, he only likes BotW, basically because it's open world nature lent itself well to people coming off of games like Red Dead 2 and GTA. The sad thing is, I know if my family member opened his mind a bit more to trying Link's awakening, I think he'd really like that too, but hey, different folks and all that.
Yeah I full under the top down only group but as I explained previously I'm getting too old to learn more controls and how to use them effectively.
I really like Zelda games, but it makes me feel stressed when I spend more than 6 hours trying to solve a puzzle. Just a matter of taking a little break while playing extended sessions.
Other than that they are really good games I'm not a big fan or a fan boy, each game has his good and interesting stuff... I enjoyed beat them because their stories are kind of deep in my perspective.
But one thing in common that I feel while I playing is the fact that I need to complete those secondary missions as a must XD if not I feel a strange thing on my end, difficult to explain.
I'm still stucked on Majora's Mask in the N64 😣because I couldn't find two glass bottles missing and many heart pieces to open a particular door... and I don't want to go to the final boss because of that 😫
Anyhow... I'm the one who likes Zelda games, main thing too many duties being an adult, I can barely play them,
Greetings Retro Bird from Nicaragua!
Greetings from the US! Glad you stopped by!
yeah this video definitely explains why I never got super into the series. I hate figuring out what to do and where to go lol. gimme them linear action platformers I say!
I tried playing ocarina on 3ds last year. I finished the water and fire temples. Haven't picked it up. I don't know why. I don't hate it. I'm not crazy about it. If i played it as a kid in the 90s I probably would have loved it
I had not aged as gracefully as people think
@@bentubbs4585 what do you mean? The 3DS remake is super good!!
You don't really have to be a 90s kid to like it.. I played it for the first time last year and it is now my favorite game of all time!
It's just a matter of diffrent strokes for diffrent folks
@@bareq99 guess you're right
Never did attempt to like Zelda games but when I picked up Breath of the Wild on the Switch on day one I was instantly intrigued to play all the classics and add them to my collection.
when i was a little kid i got zelda for nes, this was way before the internet lol i didnt even have nintendo power... it was just my dad and i trying to figure out what to do, i mean we had the manual and they give you a partial map but that was it.. then one day we found level 9 got confused in it but eventually found the silver arrows and killed ganon.. that moment when ganon turned to ash is one of my favorite memories, i couldnt believe it! we did it!
thats why i think the zelda games where so good, because it was an adventure.. you didnt always know what to do or where to look, kinda like real life in a way..
People forget what it was like to play Zelda for NES back then. Coming back to it now just isn't the same. The willingness to explore and discover things was different for people just getting into it back then. Most people playing it now aren't looking at the manual, and (understandably) compare it to later games.
@@RetroBirdGaming i agree, it was a fun experience in an era which is now gone (like the arcades). but there was something special about two (or more) people sitting on the couch in a dark room playing something wild.. there was something cool about it you know, ordering pizza or something and playing.. was fun..
Ocarina of time was such an amazing experience for my brothers and I. It cemented our love for the series. Sure, some games are better than others but we enjoy them all in one way or another
I love Zelda, but I feel like Final Fantasy is a series that fits your video description better. At least in the 90s/early 2000s.
Ocarina of Time... amazing music... big, diverse world that’s fun to explore, but I have NEVER rage quitted a game harder, lol.
Yes, those are great games but not every entry is for everyone. Not loving some titles can put you in trouble in the community XD This is hard to have a relax conversation about your dislike for A Link to the Past.
I think the most divisive aspect for each game is either the difficulty (or lack of) or artstyle.
My complaint is a bit different. I liked the earliest Zeldas not because I just enjoy the 2D gameplay, but because the illustrations and overall presentation in the first two games created a mysterious, dark, mature, eerie world that really unlocked the imagination. It was all about atmosphere and exploration. As the 3rd games on were released, the games got more cartoony and childish, (a.k.a. your off-putting character design mention) and tended on a more forced/linear path with less exploration and decidedly humorous tone.
I recently played the 3DS port of A Link to the Past; it was my first time playing through a Zelda game. I enjoyed the side quests in the overworld and the overall feel of the game. It reminded me somewhat of the original Pokémon games on the Gameboy-something I played a ton growing up.
It almost sounds like this is an unpopular opinion, but I began to loathe the dungeons and just how confusing the game was. By the end, I was so frustrated and simply relieved to finish the game. At this point I have no plans to play another in the series. That said, I’m glad I gave it a try and I’m genuinely stoked for all the people that love this series. And now I can devote more time to other games in my backlog 👍🏻
Shigeru Miyamoto is the Walt Disney of gaming. Just like Disney, it's for adults just as much as kids. It's fine if you don't like Zelda. It doesn't affect my love for the franchise.
I'm 44 now and until recently never had any desire to play any Zelda game.
Bought my boy a switch for xmas and he mentioned BotW so I looked into the series a little. Since then I've bought Link to the past and Link's awakening dx on the virtual console, absolutely loving those. Got BotW and Link's awakening switch edition on order too. Think I'll play those first before looking at any more
Great video! I've just been recently attempting to get deeper into the Zelda franchise, as the only titles I've played to completion are Twilight Princess and A Link Between Worlds. I'm currently attempting to make my way through Ocarina of Time on the N64, and Honestly its good, but not great IMO.
Tbh, I actually like Skyward Sword the most because of the sword combat, and you just don't spam the A button to attack unlike most Zelda games
For me, the only reason I can't really get into any LoZelda games before BotW is simply because of the controls. I think if I grew up with N64 LoZelda games it may be different lol.
When I saw first Zelda game (BotW): What a sh*tty game.
After playing: Forget about all games.
I used to only like the 3d zelda games but yes that was cuz i never gave the top downs a try, once i did though now i like them too.
The zelda series is my favorite franchise of all time! I love about 9 of the games, and the rest I like. (Except for the CDI games.)
You have the appropriate profile icon then!
@@RetroBirdGaming Haha yeah!
What are you talking about the Cdi games are a God send
@@smg4reblooperd182 LMAO
"Why people like/dislike Metroid" next???
2D Metroids are the best!
Awesome video as always.
Yeah, I actually am considering doing this for other series as well.
I love zelda because of the puzle, overworld quests and exploration, and the story. My favourite zelda is Wind Waker. Currently I am playing Ocarina of Time and find my self getting more stuck than in any other zelda I have played.
Neutopia 1 and 2 on the Turbografx 16 could be considered "Zelda Clones" - they are also FANTASTIC!!!
4 swords is also an interesting zelda addition
Lol I'm actually 33 and grew up with the NES and SNES Zelda games which I never found to be too fun. I fell in love with Ocarina and Majora's Mask when they came out though and continued liking the series through Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. I eventually tried giving the newer top-down games a chance but still don't find them that fun. So I'm one of those rare people who do only happen to like the 3D Zelda games.
I was a Sega kid, I didn't play Zelda properly until I got the Wii, so I prefer 3D Zelda's and I'm 38 so there ya go! We exist!
1:24 try Salmon, it has a different taste that what people usually refer to when they say "fish"
Excellent vid man, I've been a Zelda fan since I heard the original title sequence on the NES. Other than the N64 games, I'm a fan of the series 2D or 3D. Oh yeah, Okami is a brilliant game, I finally played through it earlier this year and it was excellent...easily the beat Zelda inspired game and even better in some ways. The Oasis games are also very good as well.
I don't judge the franchise but instead the games itself. I liked A Link Between Worlds but cannot say I overly enjoyed the original Zelda game, shocking I'm sure.
I like the brand it on what it offers and keen to see what comes out but just because a game releases doesn't mean I will automatically love or hate it
Most zelda games I like/love... the one I can't ever seem to get into is Zelda II for NES
Only one i have truly ever beaten is the first. I usually get stuck, or get intrested in other games or things or both..lol. Mmmm..whole made cranberry sauce..i make it myself during holidays..i know, and understand where your coming from on that. 😉
I just cannot beat Zelda II even with save states. The caves towards the end of the game are ridiculously hard (if I remember correctly)!
Please do a video explaining video game regions... PAL, NTSC, etc., I still don't really understand why certain games can't play in certain system or on certain TVs... thanks!
Hmm, good idea! A video about imports.
So true, I've tried to like Zelda games so many times but I lose interest in them almost immediately. There's something so tedious about them.
Ever played the very first Zelda for NES?
You can beat links awakening in 2 to 3 hours. Just saying
I may be a bit late to the party but I do find it interesting but Bird talks about how Zelda games don't require you to plow through huge amounts of dialogue but that is something I always find grinds my gears most about Zelda games. They always have what feels like a lot of unskippable dialogue, often repetitive (like rupee or heart piece texts) and sometime catches you accidently choosing to repeat it.
Where I feel Metroid or Dark Souls games are not too far removed from Zelda but are better to me because they don't tend to say much and just imply most of the story and setting visually instead.
Good video though, the combat simplicity is one of my main gripes with most of the Zelda games.
I can actually relate to what you're talking about with things like rupee or heart piece texts (and things like text from your companion). Especially what you said about accidentally triggering them haha. The point I was making in the video had more to do with how much text there is in relation to the story, compared to how good of a story the games can deliver (if you're into the stories).
I like that you put the zelda game you were playing in the background it was cool were you got the gameplay from
I give myself 2 guide look ups in a Zelda game playthrough. I usually feel like an idiot once I finally do lmao
I actually had no pressure to like Zelda games. I discovered the original Zelda in the summer of '88 at a friend's house. I was like, "whoa, nice graphics!" I've loved the series since the very beginning.
Definitely love Zelda on the whole. The only one I don't like is Zelda II for the NES.
Zelda 2 is very different, definitely its own thing. But still a good Zelda game by itself
@@Palendrome Definitely different and had some interesting ideas that would later be well implemented (thinking Shovel Knight), but it also has too much of that NES rough difficulty that wasn't so much fun challenge as lack of refined game design. To each their own.
I've played most Zelda games and I've only enjoyed/beat Link's Awakening for the OG Game Boy. The thing is for me, I know they are fantasictly well made games. I want to enjoy them but for the life of me I just can't. I have no reason to get mad that most everyone loves the series. I have already accepted the fact I'll never really enjoy a Zelda game, but it doesn't bother me that it's highly talked about.
Ocarina of Time on N64 will always be my favorite.
Me too :)
Me three!
Same here ^_^
I'm not sure myself. I have so many Zelda games I started and haven't finished. I love breath of the Wild, vut I mostly screw around and hunt animals. I don't want playing the game to feel like a chore.
Why does playing the game feel like a chore?
6:00 translated in AVGNian: WHERE THE FUCK DO I GO kind of game
Honestly the Zelda series hasn’t been great since the earlier 2000s and we unfortunately have more horrible Zelda games than good ones.
And that's your opinion and you're entitled to it. Me I like most of the games that came out recently. Breath of the wild was something new and yes it's hard but I like it. Again it's your opinion
@@djlamar2 so breath of wild isn’t a Zelda game to me. It’s just an MMO with a Zelda skin really. (Writing that statement annoyed my brain). I feel once the series lost its’ bearings from exploration and solo adventuring it hasn’t been the same. The last main series game I thought was good was twilight Princess and even that one is somewhat on the fence for me. The minish cap, windwaker, skyward sword, phantom hourglass all tried some gimmick that really took away from the heart of the series. I’m not a fan of the remasters and remakes because well honestly I thought they were fine the way they were. Appreciate the reply.
@@Vanoxe You have your thinking cap on. BOTW is very overrated. So many people call it a masterpiece and I'm like really? I played the game 130+ hours and I had fun occasionally, but there are just too many negatives such as way too much empty space and the world was too big. The exploration boiled down to finding a weapon that breaks in 20 hits, a shrine, or a mediocre side quest. Constantly having to be in a quick-menu to change weapons isn't fun, and the Divine Beast dungeon-design wasn't great. Too open ended for it's own good and it needed more direction. The beginning was nice because of the old man guiding you somewhat, but after you leave that area; it just isn't the same.
@@inputfunny you gave it a larger chance than I did. I was 9 hours in and was bored. At 21 hours I was done entirely and I’m disappointed it took me that long. I understand why people like it but I’d wager must people that like it prefer more modern style MMOs to old school linear gameplay.
@@Vanoxe "Oh you've gotta stick it out; it gets really good after 60 hours!" Lol. Some people will actually say things like that. I had fun with the game sometimes or else I wouldn't have played it that long, but it gets a 6 or 7/10 from me and it just lacks direction among other things.
I love the idea of Zelda and spent so many hours watching other people play them, but I don't always find them engaging myself. Wind Waker is the only 3D Zelda I've beaten, but I ended up doing that one twice and its one of my all time favorites. Using some guides and save states I've finished the original NES game and a Link to the Past. I found LttP a bit underwhelming and its wide open "go figure out what to do next" style doesn't appeal to me. I loved the original but I recognize that without those tools to assist me its an intimidating beast I probably wouldn't bother with. Most of the other games in the series are on that ever-growing backlog, but I rarely find myself up for a game on the scale of Breath of the Wild or even Ocarina. Just not usually my thing.
When the original Zelda came out I steered clear of it because I thought it was for nerds with dragons and wizards. Fast forward when Zelda:Link to the Past came out, my taste changed a little more since and the Zelda series was still so popular so I decided to get it. Seeing what they did to this new 16bit adventure was mind blowing. Now, it remains my Favorite Zelda game.
I've only beaten 2 zelda games (ocarina of time, twilight princess), but working on breath of the wild now. They are a ton of fun, I find myself walking away for a week, and I have no clue where I left off. Unfortunately, zelda makes up most of my midlog games. (Trying to help make that a thing lol)
Tried my first Zelda game recently (link to the past) and it was fun until I had to start googling a bunch of stuff. Game seemed way too cryptic and the final straw was when I got to the bunny suit part haha
I think the best Zelda like is Starfox Adventures on Dinosaur Planet. It's so good!
I don't really like Zelda games and never finished one. I can see the appeal of an immersive adventure with tons of variety that you can get long-term invested in, but personally that's not for me in gaming. I still remember mashing my way through textboxes in OoT as a kid only to press "yes" by accident when that damn owl asks if you want to hear everything all over again! At that point I just turned it off and put Goldeneye on again.
This dislike of Zelda for me extends to anything else of a similar vein, like Skyrim or anything narrative-heavy and light on mechanics. Assassin's Creed for example gave me real OoT vibes by not having a jump button (you run into ledges and it jumps for you) and so I turned it off.
In the end I gravitate towards stuff like fighting games, first person shooters, shmups, etc. Anything with a strong mechanical component that requires you to really push a lot of buttons or else lose, as opposed to holding forward to cross Hyrule Field.
I'm aware some of this sounds like I'm ragging on people who like Zelda games, so this is the disclaimer: What you like about games and the reason you play them probably doesn't reflect on you as a person and you can play whatever you want for whatever reason. Have fun!
Disclaimer disclaimer: I know Zelda game speedrunning is incredibly mechanically intensive but I'm just talking about regular play.
Love Zelda, Pokemon and Metroid. My top Nintendo franchises, I'm not a huge Mario fan however.
I've tried to get into Zelda games but I just can't. I've tried Loz, ALttP, OoT and BotW and the only one I even slightly got into was OoT.
Growing up with Zelda makes it so hard for me to see why others would dislike the series. It's just such a ubiquitous and quintessential series. But, talking to someone I know online in another channel's community led to me asking him one time why he wasn't a big fan of Zelda. He told me that he thought that Zelda was a combat-focused, combat-heavy dungeon crawler and was a bit turned off when he realized that wasn't true.
Course, I suggested the Hyrule Warriors games to him if he wants Zelda, but combat focused. They're spin-offs, but they count enough. They aren't like...some hastily made junk that doesn't count. I also suggested he try out the Wind Waker and Twilight Princess side dungeons that are literally just focused on combat. Who knows? Maybe he'll catch the Zelda bug with the rest of us.
Im in my 40s so Zelda games are pretty much like hugging an old friend. I embrace the new formats, especially Breath of the wild which feels like a new take on the classic “it’s dangerous out there”.