Rumor: Grezzo Hiring to Bring HD Zelda Games to Switch

There is a peculiar new listing by developer Grezzo, who brought both Ocarina of Time 3D and Majora’s Mask 3D to the Nintendo 3DS. They are recruiting developers who are well versed in high-definition games, Unreal and Unity. They are looking for developers to create a “Legend” game. Could this be the Legend of Zelda HD collection we at VGCultureHQ have been hoping for on the Nintendo Switch? Considering Wind Waker and Twilight Princess have already been done for the Wii U, could Majora’s Mask, Ocarina of Time, and more importantly, Skyward Sword be receiving a high-definition treatment from Grezzo?

In 2014, Grezzo had a similar listing. Many scoffed at the idea that it was for Majora’s Mask 3D. It was for an opportunity to create a “Legend.” This ended up being a listing for Majora’s Mask 3D. If anyone were to make an HD collection for Zelda for the Switch, Grezzo would be the developer to do it. They have the most experience with the franchise and have worked so closely with Nintendo, re-creating two of the greatest games of all time, not to mention two of the best Zelda games ever made.

Many scoffed when I said that there needs to be an HD Zelda collection. “Nintendo’s been there, done that.” Maybe our favorite company was listening to me after all (not to sound cocky!) Riding off the success of Breath of the Wild, even just one HD Zelda game, like Skyward Sword, would be good enough for me. Nintendo is smart. They want to build on the success of Breath of the Wild. With Grezzo’s track record regarding hiring listings surrounding creating “Legends”, there is a good chance that this project is Zelda-related.

Personally, if it’s one game, I really hope that it’s Skyward Sword HD. That game deserves it more than any other and has the best narrative in the entire series. With a few tweaks here and there, Grezzo could transform it into a masterpiece.

Best scene in the Zelda series.

What game would you like to see as a Zelda HD remake? Do you think that Grezzo is in fact working on Zelda, as is so heavily hinted at? A Zelda HD anthology collection would be so fantastic, especially considering Breath of the Wild’s success. It could introduce a brand new generation to classic Zelda, as we have previously talked about on this site. There is nothing but upside to this.

Here’s to hoping for Skyward Sword in high definition!

It’s Time for an Ocarina of Time HD Remake For the Switch

Ocarina of Time was on every kids’ Christmas list in December 1998, myself included. It’s a game that changed a generation and propelled the games into what they’ve become today. While Breath of the Wild has been a massive success, it lacks a little something: that thing is called a heat. Maybe I’m viewing Ocarina of Time through nostalgia-tinted glasses, but, it’s the best Zelda game to come out in the past 20 years, with A Link to the Past and Breath of the Wild hot in pursuit. One thing that is an even more interesting prospect is a remake of our beloved classic. While Breath of the Wild was a masterpiece and it got the exploration aspect of Zelda correct, Ocarina of Time got the story point-on. Meld these two games together? You’d get the perfect video game experience.

Skyward Sword probably had the best Zelda story. Yet, by this same token, it was unable to balance the gameplay experience with the narrative, which was the game’s downfall. This was not an issue with Ocarina of Time. It had the perfect balance of gameplay, narrative, and even music. While Skwyard Sword has the strongest narrative in the series, Ocarina of Time has the most balanced. This is why it is the best Zelda game of all time and why it resonates with so many people across the world.

For its 20th anniversary (which would be next year) Ocarina of Time deserves a complete remake. The dungeons can remain the same, the puzzles filled with familiarity yet a touch of unfamiliarity, but this masterpiece deserves the treatment that so many AAA games from its time are receiving (Final Fantasy VII, Shadow of the Colossus, etc.) It’s the greatest game of all time, although some Nintendo Switch fanboys will beg to differ (Super Mario Odyssey and Breath of the Wild.) The fact of the matter of though is that it’s time.

Last year’s Unreal Engine footage showcased how amazing Zelda could look. More than a Skyward Sword remake or a another expansion for Breath of the Wild, Ocarina of Time looked breathtaking. It would be Nintendo’s perfect opportunity to introduce the classic to a new generation of Zelda fans as well as provide a brand new experience for long-time fans of the game.

Fans were in awe when they saw Ocarina of Time running in unreal engine. We have always craved a true High Definition version of Ocarina of Time. Perhaps Nintendo, after 20 years, will finally deliver on how Ocarina of Time was always supposed to look.

Fan Creates Zelda HD Collection Box Art for the Switch

A redditor by the name of TagsterG has taken to the Nintendo Switch subreddit and has created his vision of what a Zelda HD Collection box art for the Nintendo Switch would look like, inspired by our article on the subject. In his version, Ocarina of Time HD, Majora’s Mask HD, Twilight Princess HD, and The Wind Waker HD are included in the set. He feels that Skyward Sword HD deserves a separate release, which is why it’s missing from the Nintendo Switch anthology.

I have to say, this is one of the best fan works I’ve ever seen. It’s good enough to pass as the actual box art for the Zelda HD Collection. Zelda is what got me into video games in the first place, and as these are four of my favorite games of all time, seeing them all in one collection is enough to bring a tear to my eye. The artwork he chose works so well together, and it’s interesting to see concept art that’s almost 20 years old side-by-side with relatively new concept art (at least TWW HD and TPHD art is updated, versus Ocarina of Time concept art, which is still the original from 1998). Using the artwork of the Master Sword from A Link to the Past enveloped by the Gate of Time from Skyward Sword is a stroke of genius.

Writing about the possibility of this HD collection was one thing. Seeing a mock-up for its box art makes it seem far too real. It convinces me even more that Nintendo should not only do this to capitalize on the franchise’s all-time high popularity, but because the fans want it. There is a demand for it. Make it happen.

Hopefully TagsterG can put together his vision of what the Skyward Sword HD  box art would be like after this masterful display.

You can follow him on Twitter @TagsterGomez! I’m sure he has more wonderful content in store for us moving forward!

Nintendo Needs an HD Zelda Collection for the Switch

Many accused the Switch of merely being a “Zelda machine” when it launched, as Breath of the Wild was the one must-have game for the system. Now, the Nintendo Switch has grown its library quite a bit. They have released a major title every month since release. While Breath of the Wild was initially the reason people bought a Switch, players are now playing Splatoon 2, ARMS, Pokken Tournament, Mario Kart 8 Deluxe, and more. Super Mario Odyssey is coming out later this month. Nintendo newest console clearly isn’t a “Zelda machine”, but it would clearly benefit by having an HD Zelda collection for the Switch.

Wii U Remasters

The Wii U was a commercial failure. No one can deny that. It did, however, come out with some amazing software.  Two games that released for the Wii U were The Wind Waker HD and Twilight Princess HD. Both are definitive versions of their respective titles and are two of the most highly regarded Zelda games. Both sold over 1 million copies on a failed system. Considering how well they sold and the games’ popularity, they would be a perfect fit on the Switch. So many people who own a Nintendo Switch now did not own a Wii U. There were so many people who missed out on these versions of The Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. It would be smart for Nintendo to capitalize on this and release them on the Switch. Better yet, they should include them in a collection, similar to what they did during the GameCube era. Breath of the Wild is already a hit, and without a Virtual Console on the Wii U, why not capitalize on Zelda’s current popularity?

3DS Remasters

Ocarina of Time and Majora’s Mask are regarded as the best Zelda games of all time, not taking into account Breath of the Wild. Their 3DS remasters only amplified these masterpieces. The visuals were improved and changes were made to Majora’s Mask’s save system which enhanced it. To not release these games on the Nintendo Switch would be criminal. They wouldn’t need to be remastered again; merely upscale it and add it to the HD collection. I still regard Ocarina of Time to be the greatest game of all time, even though I do think Breath of the Wild is a better game (I know this is somewhat of a contradiction, but they came out at different times so it’s hard to truly compare). Majora’s Mask and Ocarina of Time have been available on every Nintendo system since the Nintendo 64 (not counting the GameBoy Advance). Two of the greatest games of all time (not just Zelda games) should come out on Nintendo’s greatest console of all time, period.

Classic Zelda

The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, and A Link to the Past have never been released in one collection together. A Link to the Past was oddly left out of the GameCube Zelda Collector’s Edition. They belong together though. While they don’t require any kind of HD remaster, being able to play them all on the Nintendo Switch with previous Zelda games would be any video game fan’s dream come true. Some prefer classic Zelda, others modern Zelda, but a true Zelda HD Collection would have something for everyone. Including every console Zelda game on one cartridge (minus Breath of the Wild) is a necessity for Nintendo. Not only would it capitalize on the current success of Zelda, but it would introduce older Zelda titles to a brand new audience.

Some of my fondest memories are playing A Link to the Past with my dad when I was six years old. I’m not quite as old as my dad was then, but it would be amazing to share the same experience with my future children, and I think many would feel the same. Classic Zelda informed what the series has become. These games have been available on almost every Nintendo system. They need to be available on the Switch.

Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword is a very interesting case. People either loved it or they didn’t. Personally, I really enjoyed it. It’s the polar opposite of Breath of the Wild though; as opposed to being character-driven and more adventure-oriented, Skyward Sword was plot-driven. It still has the best narrative of any Zelda game and the dungeons were top notch. Some thought it was too linear, and while I somewhat disagree, there are valid points to be made there. A high-definition remake of Skyward Sword would fulfill what Miyamoto’s vision for the game was.

Skyward Sword utilized a blur effect to make it appear to be like something out of a water painting. Because of the technical limitations of the Nintendo Wii, this didn’t always come across as it was intended. A high-definition remake, however, would rectify this. Visually, Skyward Sword would finally look how it was always intended to look. Skyward Sword was also released at the very end of the Wii’s lifecycle and wasn’t pushed onto a new system like Twilight Princess or Breath of the Wild, so a lot of people missed out on it. Putting the game on a Zelda HD Collection on the Nintendo Switch would allow new players to experience it and let us see how Skyward Sword was always envisioned to look in high-definition glory.

Bottom Line

With no Virtual Console and Zelda’s popularity being at an all-time high, Nintendo needs to take advantage of this. An HD collection including these eight Zelda console games would be a must-have for all gamers, especially since the Switch can be taken on the go as a portable device. Many people missed out on the HD remasters of Twilight Princess and The Wind Waker. Skyward Sword would finally be seen as it was originally envisioned. A single collection with Ocarina of Time, Majora’s Mask, The Wind Waker, Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess, A Link to the Past, The Legend of Zelda, and Zelda II: The Adventure of Link would be like nothing ever released. There’s no excuse not to do this. Breath of the Wild introduced a lot of new fans to Zelda. Nintendo needs to continue this momentum and release a Zelda HD collection and continue to grow the fanbase. What do they have to lose?

With the upcoming release of the Zelda Encyclopedia, a Zelda HD collection would even give fans a chance to play the major entries in the series in chronological order on the Nintendo Switch!

The Best Video Game Endings

Video games have evolved exponentially as a storytelling medium. Through this, the endings to video games have become more and more emotional and grand. Endings are a controversial subject, as not everyone will ultimately agree with whether an ending is actually good or not. Some are good because of their emotional prowess while others are good simply because of their splendor. Regardless, pointing out the best video game endings is hard work. Here we give you eight of what we believe are the best video game endings of all time. Some are new, some are old, some are controversial, but all of them are relevant.

Best Video Game Endings — 8. Zero Time Dilemma

Zero Time Dilemma is a fairly recent game, being released only three months ago. It is the final installment in Kotaru Uchikoshi’s epic Zero Escape saga. It is full of twists and turns, but at the end of the day, after all the time travel and quantum theory, is a story of people desperately trying to live their lives. The revelations are exasperating and the execution phenomenal. It wraps the series up perfectly while leaving some room open for more story if Uchikoshi so decides.

Best Video Game Endings — 7. Final Fantasy X

Final Fantasy X has one of the most bittersweet endings in all of video game history. The game’s story twists the mind and makes you double think your sanity. It has all the makings of a tragedy. Final Fantasy X was one of the most revolutionary games of all time, being one of the first full-voiced games ever. It gave a full cinematic experience and did not disappoint. While the ending’s context is changed in the game’s sequel, Final Fantasy X has so many twists and turns that the ending ends up blowing our minds every time, even if there are hints about it all throughout the game.

Best Video Game Endings — 6. The Last of Us

Regardless of whether you think The Last of Us is a masterpiece as a video game (I happen to think of it as more of an incredible experience), the story and ending are nothing but masterful. Regardless of a zombie-like apocalypse, it again is a story about people who are trying to live their lives. There is motivation for all of the characters’ actions; Joel, Tess, Ellie (one of the best female characters in gaming), Marlene. None of them are wrong per se, and that is the beauty of the story. The ending may have been a little predictable, although a little shocking, but that’s not the point; the execution was just that good.

Best Video Game Endings — 5. Mass Effect 3

This will be, by far, the most controversial video game ending listed here. Many view Mass Effect 3 as a series of choices that just leads up to one choice from three different colors. The reality though is much different. First off, the execution is excellent. Shepard’s story, his/her struggle, it’s done to perfection. I’ve never had a game make me feel like I was the main character like Mass Effect 3. There was such an intense level of immersion. Mass Effect 3 is all about the hard choices you have to make and the sacrifices that have to be made in order to save the galaxy. On a human level, it’s about dealing with lost and moving forward even when you’ve lost everything. If you look at it from that perspective, the ending isn’t that bad at all. In fact, it’s a masterpiece.

Best Video Game Endings — 4. Gears of War 2

Gears of War 2 is a very different kind of ending than the others listed here. Yes, it’s emotional in a sense — but utterly triumphant and grand. It’s like a summer blockbuster in the form of a video game. The ending sequence is simply that much fun to play. Yes, the game has emotion, but at the end of the day it’s just a lot of fun. Isn’t that what a great video game should be?

Best Video Game Endings — 3. The Walking Dead — A Telltale Game Series

Telltale’s The Walking Dead is the most heavy game on this list. It hurts, it kicks you when you’re down, and it is downright relentless. Despite this though — and this is a common theme among these games, and stories in general — it is a story about people who are trying to live their lives and move forward, even though they’ve lost everything. It’s so emotional that by the end I was in tears. The Walking Dead is a great franchise, but Telltale’s iteration of the universe is better than the TV show and the comics. The characters are masterfully crafted and it ultimately culminates in the most emotional ending in video game history.

Best Video Game Endings — 2. Mass Effect 2

Mass Effect 2 is a very different kind of game than its predecessors. Instead of being a straight narrative, it’s about recruiting a team and going on a suicide mission. It is very much a character-driven narrative, and it’s done masterfully. The ending is one of the largest rushes of adrenaline in gaming history. There is nothing like the suicide mission. Despite that though, the choices you make, large and small, can culminate in your entire team’s death — including your own. The end sequence where Shepard is escaping, with Harbinger’s speech, is chilling yet empowering at the same time — until we see the millions of Reapers ready to descend on the Milky Way. Mass Effect 2 has one of the most unique endings in the gaming medium.

Best Video Game Endings — 1. Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time has a very bittersweet ending. After losing seven years of his life, Link regains his lost time and the infamous timeline split occurs. While the story itself is very simple, the music, the epic final battle, and everything else between is done to perfection. There’s a level of execution in Ocarina of Time that, simply put, isn’t present in other games. Granted it game out in ’98, the story is incredibly simple. It’s a timeless tale. The execution of that story is perfect though, and it is why the ending of the game is so incredibly powerful.

The Water Temple Made in Unreal Engine 4

Continuing the tradition of re-creating classic Zelda locales using the Unreal Engine, a video of the Water Temple made in Unreal Engine 4 was created by a YouTuber who goes by the name of Albert Wesker in this stunning video. The Water Temple is both beloved and loathed because of its perceived difficulty in the 90s, which is why it is one of the best dungeons to grace the Zelda franchise.

The video is stunning, giving us a tour of the storied temple. Wesker even added his own flavor  to the temple, including some plant life that grows in the water. The Water Temple was the pinnacle of dungeons of its day, stumping even the most hardcore Zelda fans, including yours truly. To see it brought to life in this stunning fashion leaves one breathless, thirsting for more. As more and more of these videos are coming out, there is no doubt we will see more, but it is doubtful to quench our longing for more.

The Water Temple made in Unreal Engine 4 is epic, and hopefully these fan creations can inspire Nintendo to create a true remake of the masterpiece on the Nintendo NX. Maybe for Ocarina of Time’s 20th anniversary in 2018? One can only dream . . .

Breath of the Wild Will Top Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time has been heralded as the greatest Zelda game of all time by gaming gurus and fans alike, including myself. It revolutionized Zelda and thrust it into the 3D era. With the release of Breath of the Wild this upcoming year, there is one thing I, as a huge fan of Ocarina of Time, am certain of after my time with the game at E3 2016: Breath of the Wild will top Ocarina of Time as the best Zelda game, and possibly the greatest game of all time.

Why Breath of the Wild Will Top Ocarina of Time

Ocarina of Time has the best balance of gameplay and story in gaming, period. The story is simplistic, but it’s a classic tale that truly resonates with people. The use of music and the ocarina as a gameplay mechanic was, at the time, unheard of and genius. The game’s transition to 3D brought about unique and challenging puzzles that gamers were not accustomed to. The game changed the way people looked at the gaming medium. Although we don’t know that much about Breath of the Wild yet, much in the way that Ocarina of Time changed the way people looked at games, Breath of the Wild very well may do the same thing and seems to emulate this ability to balance both gameplay and an enriching story. While this isn’t the only reason Breath of the Wild will top Ocarina of Time, the ability to balance these two aspects is one of the reason why it has the opportunity to do so, among other things.

While Ocarina of Time was rife with exploration, it was limited by the technology of the time. Technology though has developed exponentially and thanks to that, a world the size of Breath of the Wild’s is now possible. Breath of the Wild is fully open world (or open air according to Miyamoto) and gives the player true freedom, which even Ocarina of Time didn’t do. In fact, it is possible to forego everything in the game and confront the final boss from the get-go, although one could imagine this will be an incredibly difficult task. This freedom is just one of the reasons why Breath of the Wild will top Ocarina of Time. Fans have yearned for it this since the original Zelda came out. Nintendo heard their pleas, although exploration isn’t the only aspect of Breath of the Wild which will make it the greatest Zelda game of all time.

For those hoping for a carbon copy of the original Legend of Zelda with no narrative and pure exploration, they may be disappointed, although much of the story can be skipped. Every great Zelda since A Link to the Past has an excellent narrative, and from what I have seen personally of the opening of Breath of the Wild, this game will be no exception. The narrative is excellent in both presentation and content as far as we have seen. Voice work will be used, possibly sparingly, something never done in a Zelda game. It will give it a superior presentation to any other installment in the series, including Ocarina, which is why Breath of the Wild will top Ocarina of Time; the technology is rife for it and Nintendo is improving the presentation of the title drastically.

The entire premise of the story of Breath of the Wild is incredibly enticing. Link awakens from a 100 year slumber (not a seven year nap!) and finds that the Kingdom of Hyrule is in complete ruin. There are all kinds of mysteries, but what was so interesting to me was the callbacks to previous games. You first obtain the paraglider, but there is no doubt in my mind that at some point you will obtain the Sailcloth from Skyward Sword. Exploring the ravaged Temple of Time was my favorite part of the story demo. It even has a decrepit version of the Goddess Statue from Skyward Sword, which all but confirms that the sacred temple is the same Sealed Temple from the last Zelda console iteration. The narrative takes something old, but also adds so much that is new, and that’s why Breath of the Wild will top Ocarina of Time as the best Zelda game to date; it has the best elements of Ocarina’s story, but it also is its own game and isn’t trying to emulate any past titles.

Ocarina of Time was almost a carbon copy of A Link to the Past. This isn’t a bad thing, as it was first intended to be a remake of the latter, but, from that point on almost every Zelda game emulated the same formula. Breath of the Wild is completely changing this trend. With its massive overworld and intriguing story, it has all the makings of revolutionizing the Zelda series and changing the industry’s approach to the action-adventure genre. In the mind of many gamers, Ocarina is still the greatest game of all time, but Breath of the Wild is bringing something truly new to the table while still retaining enough from previous titles. A developer once told me that any great game that hopes to be successful has to have something old for familiarity but something new in order to innovate and propel the industry forward, and for this reason Breath of the Wild will top Ocarina of Time due to the very fact that it is building on it instead of simply emulating it. Ocarina is still a marvelous game and always will be, but it can’t hold that top spot forever. It’s been 19 years (almost) and it’s time to pass the torch to the next generation of Zelda.

Top Five Legend of Zelda Games

The Legend of Zelda is filled with plenty of amazing games, from Ocarina of Time to Skyward Sword, the latest console incarnation of the series. As the 30th anniversary has arrived, here is Video Game Culture HQ’s list of the top five Legend of Zelda games.

5. Twilight Princess HD

Twilight Princess was already a classic, but the high-definition version propelled the game to new heights. With a brand new challenging hero mode and amiibo integration, it upped the game’s difficulty and, if even possible, made the game even more fun. And that’s what really defines Twilight Princess HD; the amount of fun it is. The bosses may not be difficult, but they are fun. The combat may not be incredibly difficult, but it is a lot of fun, especially with the hidden skills. The dungeon design is superb and the puzzles are well thought out, making it one of the best Legend of Zelda games to date.

4. A Link Between Worlds

A Link Between Worlds is the ultimate puzzle game, integrating 2D and 3D puzzles by use of Link’s wall-merging mechanic. The puzzles are also very vertical in nature, capitalizing on the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D ability. The game took some chances and tried to change the conventions of what defines a Legend of Zelda game, and while it both succeeded and failed in both respects, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t one of the best Zelda games. Rupees no longer became useless and both the bosses and the puzzles are very well thought out. Even though the game was created on a template of the world from A Link to the Past, that doesn’t mean it can’t be one of the best Zelda games.

3. Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword sets the foundation for the entire Legend of Zelda saga. Its story is the most in-depth in the Zelda series, and it utilizes the Wii’s motion plus capabilities, allowing for true motion controls, which was incredibly satisfying. The game also featured some incredible bosses (especially the final boss) and the dungeons were very well designed. The puzzles took advantage of the motion controls and put a new spin on what a puzzle really was in Zelda, which was a really cool and defining aspect of the game. Skyward Sword truly is The Legend of Zelda, and its story is the most intriguing and complex story in the series.

2. A Link to the Past

A Link to the Past set the standard for every Zelda game that came before it. This isn’t what makes it such a great game, but it does make it one of the most revolutionary Zelda games. A Link to the Past was not an easy game, and help was hard to come by in-game. The puzzles could be brutal, especially the Ice Palace, and the enemies dealt a lot of damage, causing many deaths along the way towards Link’s final confrontation with Ganon. The story was very simple, yet it was engaging as well and many Zelda games have tried to implement a similar formula since. It defined Zelda as a puzzle game, when up to this point, it was much more an action adventure game; it created a hybrid of the two, with incredible results. It was difficult, had a great story, and even its musical themes set the foundation for future Zelda games, and the fact of the matter is is that the Legend of Zelda series has some of the best video game music in all of gaming.

1. Ocarina of Time

There are so many things that could be said about Ocarina of Time. It took the musical themes and story foundation from A Link to the Past and ran with them. It has the perfect balance of gameplay and story in any game, even 17 years after its release. It not only moved Zelda into 3D, but the Ocarina/music mechanic in the game was unheard of at the time and is still one of the best implemented musical gameplay mechanic in all of gaming. The story was so simple yet so powerful, tapping into your emotions and allowing you to truly to become Link. Traveling back and forth through time was a really cool mechanic as well, and established time travel as one of the series’ staples. The dungeons are second to none and still stand up even today with its incredible puzzles and epic bosses. In the end though, what makes Ocarina of Time the best Zelda game is the balance between gameplay and story, and the fact that it does both equally well. Skyward Sword may have the most in-depth and complex Zelda story to date, but Ocarina of Time’s story, while more simplistic, taps into our primal emotions, which is what makes it superior. Ocarina of Time wasn’t just a revolutionary game; it is the Legend of Zelda game that every gamer must experience.

Top Five Legend of Zelda Games

The Legend of Zelda is filled with plenty of amazing games, from Ocarina of Time to Skyward Sword, the latest console incarnation of the series. As the 30th anniversary has arrived, here is Video Game Culture HQ’s list of the top five Legend of Zelda games.

5. Twilight Princess HD

Twilight Princess was already a classic, but the high-definition version propelled the game to new heights. With a brand new challenging hero mode and amiibo integration, it upped the game’s difficulty and, if even possible, made the game even more fun. And that’s what really defines Twilight Princess HD; the amount of fun it is. The bosses may not be difficult, but they are fun. The combat may not be incredibly difficult, but it is a lot of fun, especially with the hidden skills. The dungeon design is superb and the puzzles are well thought out, making it one of the best Legend of Zelda games to date.

4. A Link Between Worlds

A Link Between Worlds is the ultimate puzzle game, integrating 2D and 3D puzzles by use of Link’s wall-merging mechanic. The puzzles are also very vertical in nature, capitalizing on the Nintendo 3DS’s 3D ability. The game took some chances and tried to change the conventions of what defines a Legend of Zelda game, and while it both succeeded and failed in both respects, that doesn’t mean that it isn’t one of the best Zelda games. Rupees no longer became useless and both the bosses and the puzzles are very well thought out. Even though the game was created on a template of the world from A Link to the Past, that doesn’t mean it can’t be one of the best Zelda games.

3. Skyward Sword

Skyward Sword sets the foundation for the entire Legend of Zelda saga. Its story is the most in-depth in the Zelda series, and it utilizes the Wii’s motion plus capabilities, allowing for true motion controls, which was incredibly satisfying. The game also featured some incredible bosses (especially the final boss) and the dungeons were very well designed. The puzzles took advantage of the motion controls and put a new spin on what a puzzle really was in Zelda, which was a really cool and defining aspect of the game. Skyward Sword truly is The Legend of Zelda, and its story is the most intriguing and complex story in the series.

2. A Link to the Past

A Link to the Past set the standard for every Zelda game that came before it. This isn’t what makes it such a great game, but it does make it one of the most revolutionary Zelda games. A Link to the Past was not an easy game, and help was hard to come by in-game. The puzzles could be brutal, especially the Ice Palace, and the enemies dealt a lot of damage, causing many deaths along the way towards Link’s final confrontation with Ganon. The story was very simple, yet it was engaging as well and many Zelda games have tried to implement a similar formula since. It defined Zelda as a puzzle game, when up to this point, it was much more an action adventure game; it created a hybrid of the two, with incredible results. It was difficult, had a great story, and even its musical themes set the foundation for future Zelda games, and the fact of the matter is is that the Legend of Zelda series has some of the best video game music in all of gaming.

1. Ocarina of Time

There are so many things that could be said about Ocarina of Time. It took the musical themes and story foundation from A Link to the Past and ran with them. It has the perfect balance of gameplay and story in any game, even 17 years after its release. It not only moved Zelda into 3D, but the Ocarina/music mechanic in the game was unheard of at the time and is still one of the best implemented musical gameplay mechanic in all of gaming. The story was so simple yet so powerful, tapping into your emotions and allowing you to truly to become Link. Traveling back and forth through time was a really cool mechanic as well, and established time travel as one of the series’ staples. The dungeons are second to none and still stand up even today with its incredible puzzles and epic bosses. In the end though, what makes Ocarina of Time the best Zelda game is the balance between gameplay and story, and the fact that it does both equally well. Skyward Sword may have the most in-depth and complex Zelda story to date, but Ocarina of Time’s story, while more simplistic, taps into our primal emotions, which is what makes it superior. Ocarina of Time wasn’t just a revolutionary game; it is the Legend of Zelda game that every gamer must experience.

Ocarina of Time is Still the Greatest Game of All Time

Despite all the technological advances in the almost-18 years since Ocarina of Time’s debut on the Nintendo 64, it still dwarfs its competition . It was revolutionary in so many different ways and despite the fact that it is almost 20 years old, it still holds up incredibly well. It is not only one of the best games ever, it is the greatest game ever made, even among Zelda games, which is no small feat. Zelda isn’t just one of the premiere Nintendo franchises in the west; it is one of the premiere franchises in the west. There are a multitude of different reasons that set Ocarina of Time apart from both Zelda games and current-generation games alike, but none more than the perfect balance that the game maintains between gameplay and story.

Ocarina of Time introduced a revolutionary gameplay mechanic that has been emulated to this day, even in other Zelda titles: music. The Ocarina as a gameplay mechanic was ingenious, and just one of the reasons the game was so innovative. The music itself in the game was fantastic too, and it is arguably Koji Kondo’s best score out of every game he’s worked on. Ocarina of Time also brought Zelda into 3D, building off of what Super Mario 64 did, but with a vastly improved camera system and Z-targeting, which was unheard of at the time. It was implemented flawlessly, and again, developers still emulate this facet of the game to this day. Being revolutionary doesn’t necessarily make a game stand the test of time though.

What makes Ocarina of Time so great is the fact that it is able to maintain the perfect balance between gameplay and story. While the story may seem rather simple when it’s broken down to its basic roots, it is a story that resonates with us all. A lonely youth sets off on an adventure and conquers an unspeakable evil, making friends along the way and ultimately saves the day as a chosen hero. We are all the “chosen” ones in our own lives, as we are the center of our own experiences, so this aspect of the game is not far off. Everyone at some point in life feels like they are somehow different, like they don’t fit in, as Link does in the beginning of Ocarina of Time; or at least, that’s what I projected onto him. Stories are how people make sense of their lives, dating back to the ancient Greeks, and Ocarina of time boils this down to its absolute basics, which is one of the reasons it is such a great story. It’s not convoluted or over complicated; it serves its purpose, and does so in miraculous fashion to the point where any and everyone can relate to it.

The second reason why Ocarina of Time is still the greatest game of all time, of course, is the gameplay. The Ocarina/music gameplay mechanic still is one of the best in all of gaming. Z-targeting is still used in games to this day, and using your sword and shield simultaneously in combat is both a lot of fun and works incredibly well. It was one of the first instances this was used in a console game, especially with the move to 3D. The characters are memorable and the minigames are abundant along with plenty of sidequests, giving the player a lot to do.

The dungeons are still some of the best designed in the entire Zelda series, and beyond that, all of gaming, with dungeons such as the Spirit Temple and the Forest Temple standing out as some of the best (although there are definitely more.) The puzzles and dungeons are so well designed, and although yes, the Water Temple was a bit difficult, isn’t that what makes it so great? It was so rewarding to finally beat that temple! The boss battles are nothing to take lightly either; they are astounding and still distinguish themselves as some of the best out there, with Twinrova, Phantom Ganon, Volvagia, Ganondorf, etc.The final boss Ganon still maintains his spot as the greatest final boss of all time and the atmosphere, not only concerning these bosses but the game in general is also one of the things that makes it so fantastical. It is also, simply put, a lot of fun to play. Figuring out puzzles is fun. Combat is fun. The story is fun yet serious at the same time. It has that classic Nintendo vibe that no other game has been able to emulate since.

Forget the Metacritic scores and the Gameranking scores, although the game is still up there as one of the best on both of those sites. Ocarina of Time is still the best game ever made. Its balance of gameplay and story is unprecedented, succeeding equally in both aspects and telling a tale that is timeless in the hearts and minds of us all. The gameplay revolutionized 3D gaming as we know it, although that is not why it is still the best game ever made. The gameplay stands up to this day, even in the 3D remake for the Nintendo 3DS. Story, gameplay, and fun is what makes a game so incredible, and Ocarina of Time does all of these things masterfully. Despite the countless games that have come out since then and the number of Zelda games that have come out in the past 17 1/2 years, Ocarina of Time still dwarfs them all. It’s the greatest game of all time, hands down, which is incredible considering the amount of time that has passed.