Andi Hamilton's Videogame Newsletter - Issue #46 [The Zelda List 2022]

Hello again. If you have received this email then the transition from Revue to Beehiiv has gone fairly well. Again, I need to stress this - if you do not want to receive emails from Beehiiv, please unsubscribe from this newsletter so you do not get any moving forward! If you don't mind and you're reading this then first of all thanks for sticking around and secondly, you don't have to do anything else.Anyway, this is a big one. The list I know a few of you have been waiting for...

The Legend Of Zelda List 2022

The Legend of Zelda: Tri Force HeroesDon't know, never played it. Off to a good start.

Zelda II: The Adventure Of LinkA pretty obvious choice to sit at the bottom of the list and this is largely because, for my money, it just doesn't do anything I WANT from a Zelda game. Heavily inspired by the fledgling JRPG genre, it features an overworld with semi-random encounters, experience points and levelling up stats and a focus on a handful of spells you learn instead of the huge selection of items you find in dungeons that allow you to progress further into the game. It's also now largely played out like a 2D action platformer, which was hugely influential but bettered by pretty much everything that took influence from it! The NES really did have quite the thing for awkward second instalments, didn't it? I don't hate The Adventure of Link, it just doesn't scratch ANY of the itches I might need scratching when I choose to play a Zelda game.

The Legend of Zelda: Phantom HourglassThere's quite a bit of this game that I just flat out don't like. I don't like the touch screen combat, I don't like the repetitive dungeons and the structure - although an interesting idea at first - is actually quite dull in execution. Essentially there's one 'main' dungeon - the Temple of the Ocean King - that you keep coming back to, getting new charts to unlock new areas and dungeons where you find new items, which in turn allow you to get further into the temple. It's a cool little loop in theory but unfortunately, the Temple of the Ocean King is pretty boring to navigate.The reliance on stylus controls is a total double edged sword. On one hand, it makes the combat and navigation of the world map fiddly at best and downright tedious at worst. However, the way the touchscreen stuff is used by all of the items you find is fantastic and brings a whole new lease of life to some old classics. Being able to mark on the map potential puzzle solutions, draw connecting lines between points for the Hookshot and even draw ludicrously unrealistic paths for the boomerang to follow, for example, are all loads of fun. There's a romhack of Phantom Hourglass that apparently adds traditional controller support. Maybe after I give that a go it could climb a few places? In its original format, however, I find it to be a largely quite dull experience.

The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords AdventuresI've only ever played this on my own. Although the Link to the Past style visuals are appealing, it is ultimately some quite dull objectives that are really just a framework for four players to have a bit of chaotic fun and be proper dickheads to one another. For all intents and purposes, it actually does that job perfectly well but I've never had the opportunity to experience it. This isn't a classic opportunity to drop a 'billy no mates' joke in, either. In order to play Four Swords Adventures you not only need three other mates but you also all need Game Boy Advances and Gamecube to GBA link cables, instead of the sensible option of allowing everyone to just use a bloody Gamecube pad.

The Legend of Zelda: Spirit TracksA more refined version of Phantom Hourglass, with many of the elements that I found to be quite dull (repeating the Temple from the start every time) to be a bit less of a chore (you now unlock new floors of the main temple, so there's much less repetition). Still not a fan of the stylus based movement and combat and whether you prefer this one over Phantom Hourglass tends to hinge on whether you prefer the boat or train overworld segments. I prefer the train, so that combined with a few quality of life improvement means that this game edges it out. Again, one I think I owe a replay now there's a hack that removes the stylus controls.

The Legend of Zelda Oracle of Seasons/Ages"Brilliant! More Game Boy Zelda!" is what you'll be thinking when you fire up one of these two games and, for a while, you'll be right. They're both decent little games with some version specific cute mechanics involving being able to manipulate time or the seasons. 'Ages' is a more puzzle heavy game, while 'Seasons' is much more geared towards action, which is a nice touch. They also both look absolutely wonderful on Game Boy Color. Unfortunately, they're both just a bit dull and lack the certain something that Link's Awakening has. They're just a bit dry if I'm being generous or a bit soulless if I'm being harsh. It's Christmas, so lets just say they're a bit dry and there's far better options for handheld Zelda-ing.

The Legend of ZeldaThe thing about the original Zelda is that it establishes rules and a structure that has basically been followed in almost every Zelda game that followed it and for the most part, these rules and the structure are such an enjoyable framework that even when stripped back to their absolute most basic form here, they are still very playable and easy to have fun with. It has a few issues that come from the fact it's nearly forty fucking years old but if you can meet those halfway, like you need to with many a game from this era, you'll find that the core concepts that define all things Legend of Zelda are here and as compelling as ever.

The Legend Of Zelda: The Minish CapLook, I'm going to level with you here. I don't remember a single thing about The Minish Cap except for the fact I definitely enjoyed it. I can remember playing it on my Game Boy Advance, lying down on my bed whilst something like the extended edition of The Fellowship of the Ring played for the millionth time on my telly. I realise that doesn't really say anything about the game but it sounds like a pretty good time all round. You can shrink or something, right?

The Legend of Zelda: Twilight PrincessA game that sits right in the middle of the pack. After the frankly embarrassing reaction to Wind Waker's now utterly beloved art style upon its launch, Nintendo played it safe with Twilight Princess and went back to some more familiar and tried to capture as much of the Ocarina of Time magic as possible. Only EDGIER. People wanted something mature and Nintendo answered with giving Link the ability to turn into a wolf. I don't think either party was particularly stoked.Despite not really remembering much about this one, which speaks volumes, what I can recall are some exceptionally good late game dungeons left me with a positive feeling and honestly, this is the one Zelda game I feel I need to play again to give it a reappraisal, to see if it deserves to go up or down from where it sits. As it is, this game is a mid-Zelda game, but much like Die Hard 2, a mid-Zelda game is still better than a lot of other things.

The Legend of Zelda: The Wind WakerA yes, my controversial choice! I'm just not as arsed about Wind Waker as most others seem to be. Don't get me wrong, when you're in the thick of the dungeon crawling you'll be having a fantastic time, the ending section and final boss fight is maybe the best in the entire series and, of course, the overall aesthetic is timeless - it hasn't aged a day since the original release. It's also set in a beautiful world, once again full of charming characters and sidequests that not only net you rewards but also bring you closer to its inhabitants. Do not get me wrong - this is a fucking fantastic game.However, I can't forgive it starting with a instant-fail stealth section, navigating the overworld via boat can be a chore and the infamous third quarter fetch quest is just so disappointing - it sets up the promise of loads more dungeons only for those map markers to simply be places to go fishing for triforce pieces. There's a fair argument to be made that the plot of this game, which begins to attempt to tie the Zelda games together, is what kickstarted that whole combined universe Hyrule Historia nonsense, which is basically the worst thing to happen to the Zelda series since the CD-i.

The Legend of Zelda: Skyward SwordThis one gets a remarkable amount of shit for three things - firstly, the fact that the game is structured around a few areas that change as you progress, rather than a more traditional map. Then there is the motion controls, which require you to wave the Wiimote around like a wildman to cut enemies down. Finally, the boss fights against The Imprisoned, which was the same crap boss you had to fight three times. Personally, I loved the setting and the structure of the game, which allowed for some creative reuse of old areas and offered something a bit more fresh and interesting after Twilight Princess' Diet-Ocarina of Time. The motion controls were also really cool! They weren't just preset attacks set to random waggling, due to using the Wii Motion Plus adapter, and having to hit enemies with specifically angled slices to break through their defenses was something I enjoyed a lot. They've pretty much removed this in the Switch port, mind, so there's no excuse not to give it a go - it has some of the series' best dungeons outright, too.The boss fights against The Imprisoned, however, were all undeniably shite, knocking it down a few marks but not enough for me to think it is anywhere near as stinking as some would have you believe. Also: GROOSE.

The Legend of Zelda: Link's AwakeningThe series' first handheld outing and they absolutely smashed it. A world full of charm but with a strange, melancholy undercurrent is the backdrop for a Zelda game that simplified a lot of the stuff that was found in A Link to the Past but in doing so, makes for a really instant, immediate Zelda game that focuses in on what makes the series so enjoyable. Great dungeons, a great overworld, a fantastic sidequest that involves trading items with the characters and getting to know them in the process and some really fun items that can be used in creative ways.There's also loads of cool secrets and Easter Eggs - the kind of thing that gets you talking to people. "Here, mate. Have you seen what happens if you go back into the store after you've stolen from it?" A really, truly brilliant game and honestly, from this point onwards in the list, every game is of a quality where if someone told you it was their favourite Zelda game of all-time, you wouldn't question why they thought that way.

The Legend of Zelda: Majora's MaskFor a while, this was my personal favourite but despite that I could never say it was the best. I love everything about it - the vibe and ambience, the setting, the way it repurposes familiar things from Ocarina of Time in a way that makes them seem alien and creepy and, of course, I love the gimmick of the whole thing existing in a three day stretch before the end of the world, requiring you to use the ocarina to loop back to the start of it before the terrifying moon destroys everything. The way this mechanic was used for puzzles and to flesh out characters within the world was brilliant and added a unique flavour to a very, very good Zelda game.However, it is a game that doesn't stand on its own feet. If you haven't played Ocarina of Time then you're going to miss out on the way it warps your pre-existing ideas of items and characters and that is a massive part of what makes Majora's Mask's setting so memorable. It's still a great game stripped of that context, but that's something that ensures it cannot be the best Zelda game of all-time. A problem shared by...

The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between WorldsAnother elite level Zelda game that has an amazing overworld, quality dungeons and a core mechanic that is unique, interesting and fun to use. The triforce that makes up a great Zelda game, if you will. It's impossible to find fault with A Link Between Worlds - it's one of the best handheld games ever made - but seeing as we're at the point where we're splitting hairs, I have to say that the thing that takes this game from merely being exceptionally good to 'genuinely special' is how it is a direct sequel to A Link to the Past and the way it riffs on that game and its ideas is brilliant. It is a top tier, brilliant videogame that is made this good by playing a much better, top tier, brilliant videogame.

The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past Speaking of that much better, top tier, brilliant videogame, A Link to the Past represents the perfection of the 2D top down Zelda game. Both overworlds, all the dungeons, all the items, the exploration, puzzles and secrets are all brilliant - some of the best in the series. That core unique mechanic, revealed about a third of the way through the game, where you can jump between the two versions of Hyrule - the light and dark worlds - to solve environmental puzzles is just the best shit. The kind of puzzles that are actually fairly straightforward but make you feel like a fucking genius when you figure them out. The story is also surprisingly compelling, with the stakes escalating nicely as you play through the game.Although the first game establishes the Zelda structure and rules, this game establishes a lot of the things that are now standard in the series - bottles, Pegasus boots, the hookshot, boomerang... it all got its start here and in many ways, was never bettered. A game that is as good now as it was the day it was released and one of the best games on the SNES, which comfortably puts it in any 'best games of all-time' list.

The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the WildFinally, some REAL competition for the top spot! Breath of the Wild is a phenomenal game, that took one look at the well-worn open world rulebook and ripped it to pieces, creating a world dictated by consistent rules, never allowed you to feel comfortable and constantly made you think about your next move. Yes, the breaking weapons piss a lot of people off, but for me it was like the anti-Skyrim technique - this isn't a game for you to horde everything you find, it is a game where you're encouraged to use everything at your disposal, then actually dispose of it and see what the game throws your way to work with.These systems all interlink with one another, allowing for some incredible, organic moments that you'll bore people to tears with for years after playing it. Hell, I STILL see Twitter clips of things people have achieved with these systems that genuinely blow my mind. Even simple things that I just didn't think were possible but seem so bloody obvious once you've seen someone do them. It's a truly special game but fails to get the top spot because of the simple fact that it doesn't have traditional dungeons. The game has so many incredible little things - single sequences you can find that have just as much, if not more creativity than many a Zelda dungeon - so it doesn't LOSE anything from not having them. I just can't ever shake the thought of HOW GOOD a Zelda dungeon would be in a game like Breath of the Wild. Maybe in Tears of the Kingdom, eh?

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of TimeThe GOAT. The reason I still place Ocarina of Time right at the top of the list of best Zelda games is entirely down to how it offers a bit of everything and instead of spreading itself thin, does all of the 'Zelda' stuff to a high degree across the board. Hitting Hyrule Field for the first time is still awesome, even in the shadow of the gigantic open world that makes up Breath of the Wild. Every location is packed with character and every dungeon is presents a unique and rewarding challenge - yes, even the Water Temple. ESPECIALLY the Water Temple. Combat is tense and satisfying and immediate but also clearly rewards a bit of skill and mastery. The items and the way they open up the world and Link's abilities are among the best in the series, with many being used again and again. The world of Hyrule feels full of genuine wonder as you explore it and find its secrets, which it is densely packed with. Hell, even the fishing pond is a decent game in its own right. I spent more time pissing about with that than I did many full games. Enjoyed it more, too.  Every time I think this one has been eclipsed, especially after playing Breath of the Wild, I have to question that maybe it's because I was there? I was swept up in the pre-launch hype and was lucky enough to get it for Christmas and all that other good nostalgia that comes with it. I was young, I had no responsibilities other than PLAY THE GAME until school started again. Now, like Link in the genius time skip in the game, I'm old and everything is fucked up. Does it still really sit at the top of the pile?Yes. It's a masterpiece. They converted the brilliant framework behind A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening into 3D and got it spot on FIRST GO. As time has gone on, a few of its elements have been bested by other Legend of Zelda titles but as a whole, it still represents the pinnacle of the series and is one of the best videogames of all-time.

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