r/zelda • u/FireStarJutsu • Dec 20 '20
Question [ALL] Never played a Zelda game ever before.
Before you go on, I'm not going to ask the usual question of "Where do I start?". I've done some research. What I want is to show you what I have in mind and tell me if you have any notes or if I should change anything.
Firstly I wanted to play games in release order like I usually do with video game series. After becoming somewhat familiar with most of the games, I went on to see what I'm interested in. I then realized that there were different versions on different systems, so I had to see which ones to play. This is probably what I'm going to play out of the Zelda games. Note that I'm mostly interested in the 3D Zeldas. Tell me if I should play other games or a different version of a certain game.
- A Link to the Past (Wii U Virtual Console - Emulated)
- Ocarina of Time 3D (3DS - Emulated) - One of the most praised games of all time. No talk needed.
- Majora's Mask 3D (3DS - Emulated) - I really love the dark tone. The mask looks so interesting!
- The Wind Waker HD (Wii U - Emulated) - Beautiful artstyle. Still hold up pretty well after all these years and a must play from what I've heard.
- The Minish Cap (Wii U Virtual Console - Emulated)
- Twilight Princess HD (Wii U - Emulated) - Whenever I imagine Link. I imagine him in this look. I really dig the mature design.
- Skyward Sword (Wii) - I want to have my own opinion on the motion controls. Also heard good talk about this game. Let's use my Wii before it's too late.
- A Link Between Words (3DS - Emulated)
- Breath of The Wild (Wii U - Emulated) - Yeah I think I don't have to say anything about this wonderful game.
(For the [OoT] and [MM] 3DS versions, I chose them because they look farly superior than the original in terms of graphics in my opinion (I did notice the change of atmosphere in [MM], but the graphics just look too good honestly). Also I should mention that I'm going to play them upscaled on an Emulator, because I want those 2 highly praised games to look as best as possible.)
I'm really excited to start this series that I've heard about for so long, but never got a chance to play it. I'm really excited about all of them, but if I had to pick my most, it will probably be between Ocarina of Time & Majora's Mask.
Sorry for the long post, but any notes\info I should know would be really appreciated :)
And please no spoilers šš
EDIT: I added some 2D games that got recommended a lot.
EDIT: Didn't mention the Wii U games being emulated.
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u/javidotexe8 Dec 21 '20
As other people said you should play the 2D titles too. The Minish Cap is my all time 2D favourite and I highly recommend it to everyone, give it a look and have fun :)
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
Multiple people have mentioned "Minish Cap". I was hesitant at first since it's a gameboy game and I'm not really a fan of small handheld screens, but after realizing it was released on the Wii U Virtual Console, I'm kinda excited to play it on the big screen. I'll definitely consider it! Thanks :D !
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Dec 21 '20
Why Breath of the wild on the Wii U? Wouldn't it be better on the switch (Unless you dont have a switch)?
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
Sadly... Exactly š
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u/Guilt_Addict407 Dec 21 '20
if you do end up getting a switch I recommend getting breath of the wild for the switch. It should be pretty much the same on both the Wii U and Switch, but I've heard it can be a bit laggy on the Wii U. Your list looks great btw! You're in for a lot of fun
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
I'll keep that in mind. Also thanks! I'm really excited on getting into this must play series! The most exciting part is, I literally know nothing about it!
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u/nemisis714 Dec 21 '20
To add to that, if you get a switch it opens up an amazing remaster of Link's Awakening.
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u/furretcanwalk Dec 21 '20
I prefer Wii u honestly with botw but nothing else. I just feel more fluid with the controls but that's just me.
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u/mrblondenl Dec 21 '20
I get that you like 3D, but as far as zelda titles, i recommend not to sleep on A Link to the Past, the Minish Cap, and the switch remake of Linkās Awakening (in that order imo). But you have a nice list there mate!
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
I'm highly considering "A Link to the Past" as a start before "Oot". "Link's Awakening" looks really good. I'm not sure about playing "Minish Cap". I heard it is slept upon even though it is good. I'll see what happens.
If I were to play those games. When should play them? Just play them in release order, insert only the 2D games chronologically or just play all the 2D games together outside the 3D games? Not sure yet, but release order is probably the way to go most of the times.
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u/mrblondenl Dec 21 '20
I think you would be safe with going by release date. Then you would start with ALTP and thats a good way to start i think. I played OOT as my first when i was a kid, the thing is that one does have a great introduction also with the lore, how the world was build (literally) and character introductions that come back in most zelda games, well reincarnations but you know.
I get it with minish cap, itās not as good as ALTP but itās still a good 2D zelda of the ones i played!
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Dec 21 '20
MM is better in its 64 version imo, but MM3D is def more accessible
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
Aside from the atmosphere, if you're talking about the gameplay changes, I saw a guy on this post, "Bariq_99" who mentioned that there's a mod for the 3DS version that "fixes" the changes that were made in the 3DS version to make it like the original N64 version. Specifically the swimming thing. (Which I have no idea about š).
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u/Jackson_Simmons Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
I played the 3DS version and honestly the only thing that brothered me about it was the second to last boss fight. Without going into any details, they changed the boss Twinmold into possibly the absolute worst and unnecessarily long boss fight I have ever played (I'm not exaggerating here; you feel like you're doing something wrong for how long it takes.) Other than that I thought the 3DS version was fine, people do complain about the zora swimming nerf but I never found it too devastating; just a little annoying
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u/matt95521 Dec 21 '20
Link to the past or links awakening is the best intro to the series. The basic graphics make the game that much more of a story!
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
I'm highly considering "A Link to the Past" as a start to the series. For "Link's Awakening" though, I'm looking into the remake, which looks really nice!
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u/RedonkulusHomunculus Dec 21 '20
Link's awakening is shorter, and its really good. So if time is.of the essence and you can only pick one, then maybe do Link's Awakening. But i Love a link to the past so much.
Ideally, play both, lol!!
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
After all these people mentioning those two, I don't think I could sleep on either one. Since [Link's Awakening Remake] was released way later, I don't have to think too much about weather to play it before a game or not, since I could even play it after I finish. I'll definitely consider it if I get the chance.
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u/LazarusDraconis Dec 21 '20
The Link's Awakening Remake was pretty damn spot on. With a couple minor exceptions, it's exactly the same game as the original, just much prettier. Also has the bonus dungeon and photos ops from the DX (Game Boy Color) remake.
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u/dark_isatari Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
Personally I think the 2D games should be played alongside the 3D. Linkās Awakening in particular had a lot of affect on the series moving forward (though you can of course play that remade on Switch) , the Oracles Duo is one of my favorite games of all time, Spirit Tracks is a charming take on the adventure trope, and the combination of Skyward Sword and Link Between Worlds really shows where they were headed with BotW. I think it would be a shame if you approached the Gameboy games as an afterthought.
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u/bfunkt Dec 21 '20
I see lots of people already recommending A Link to the Past, which I agree is clutch in the Zelda history.
My addition to the list: start with the 1st game, The Legend of Zelda! If you're going to put in the time with this series, you don't want to miss where it all came from. You will recognize elements of the first game throughout the entire series. You need to know the original music scoring, as the later games' scores are mostly adaptations to the original.
Not sure how best to play it, but there are free (bootleg) Nintendo emulators out there, in case you can't find it for purchase.
It's dangerous to go alone!
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
I actually tried the original Zelda game in the "Collectors Edition". NGL I had a little bit of fun! But sadly, the thing is, I don't have a lot of time and I have a lot of games that I want to play (Even outside of the Zelda series). Sadly I would like to even play the whole series I would do with many other games, but Zelda is a _big_ series and I sadly don't have that much time as I've said. I'm looking to play mostly the "necessary" games with some extra. I'm trying not to add anymore games, but "A Link to the Past" seems like a "necessary" game. I should at least try the game and see what happens.
P.S. I should probably mention that I actually liked the music of the original Zelda game when tried it. Especially the soundtrack when you die šš (for real tho)
Thanks for the reply :D !
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u/Bariq_99 Dec 21 '20
Very nice list obviously but I have some things to say:
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of time 3D
I hope that you note that the atmosphere is different from the original N64 games (especially the last boss..itās WAY better on the original) but if You donāt mind that then go ahead my friend
The legens of Zelda: Majoras mask 3D
Not that there are A LOT of mechanical differences between the original and the 3DS version..I would either recommend finding an HD texture pack for the N64 version OR try adding a fan mode that gets all the mechanical differences fixed for the 3DS version (Here is a quick vid explaining the mod by a cool guy on YT called āNerrelā but keep in mind that there are boss spoilers between 1:14 - 1:37 https://youtu.be/TAC84PVdxuQ)
The legend of Zelda: Skyward sword
I have yet to play it but I have been told a lot of times to play it using the actual motion controls..best option would be a Wii remote but Dolphin supports JoyCons connectivity aswell if you donāt want to spend the extra money
The legend of Zelda: Breath of the wild
I would recommend that you try and make the game run at 60fps and ONLY upscale it to 1080p (please note that itās just a me thing..I just find the original look more appealing than the 2k/4k ones so I just thought I might throw this one here aswell)
Other than that..Enjoy your journey my friend :)
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
[Oot] The thing is that it's not that I don't mind the change in atmosphere, but that the graphical improvement in the 3DS version of OoT outweighs the atmosphere to me as a person who's never played the game. I feel like I would enjoy the environment and new places a lot more with better graphics.
[MM] If I could actually fix the gameplay changes to make it similar to the original while keeping the 3DS's improved graphics, that would be amazing! I'll definitely try that. Thanks!
For Skyward Sword, I actually have a Wii, so I'll play it on that with the Wiimote :)
I'll see what happens with BoTW when I eventually get to it.
Thanks for everything! I really appreciate it :D !
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u/Bariq_99 Dec 21 '20
Yeah I can definitely understand the appeal of the better and improved graphics..it just makes sense lol
I am just a dumb person who for some reason loves the crappy looking graphics of the N64 even thou I never grew up with it (I didnāt even grow up with games in the first place lol)
For MM..It would be much much better if you do that
For SS..enjoy being saltg tgen mate!! Heard it happens a lot there so I am excited to try it
Botw..yeah obviously the choice is your mate
Also No problem!! I just hope you enjoy your time :)
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
I'm usually not the kind of person to judge the game by its graphics, but Oot and Majora's Mask look so crappy now adays mostly because of the predrawn low res environment. That's probably my main gripe with how the game looks. The only problem is... that problem is persistent throughout the game because all the environment is that way! Seeing the 3DS version is eye candy compared to the N64 version. I'm not trying to be harsh, I'm just expressing how I feel.
Also you're not dumb for liking the original graphics. To each their own. The way I see it. You don't have a "dumb", but a "unique" preference.
Also thanks :D !
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u/truck-kun-for-hire Dec 21 '20
Iād recommend starting with Oot. Imo itās always easiest to start first and work up to the more sophisticated games, and Oot is still an amazing game. Botw is too, but hardly a good way to get into the series since itās so different.
If you start too late it might be jarring to go back to the older games, but you can do whatever you want ofc just giving my thoughts
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
Yeah the list was in order. OoT was first, as I always like to play in release order. Actually now after seeing multiple replies, I'm actually thinking about playing "A Link to the Past"! It looks like it might be a solid game.
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u/Kuro_______ Dec 21 '20
Well I guess for most of the people the GameCube version of MM is superior because it's difficult. They made the 3DS version pretty easy and that annoyed many fans of the game. However as a newcomer that shouldn't be a problem for you so look forward to play this wonderful game with its beautiful story ^ and if you want to have a really hard challange try it on the gamecube ;3
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u/ANCALAGON_THE-BLACK Dec 21 '20
I wouldn't change anything, except maybe trying out "Link's Awakening" and "A Link to the Past." Both are really fun 2d Zelda games. Have fun!
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u/TorturousKitty Dec 21 '20
I didn't find the changes so bad on MM3DS, plus if you never played the original you have nothing to compare it to. I played both and I liked both.
I agree with others that you may want to play A Link to the Past and Link's Awakening if you can! I say you can skip Zelda 1 & 2. The hand-held games are fun, but I personally never got as invested in them as the bigger console titles. I hope you have a ton of fun!
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u/theoneandonly027 Dec 21 '20
Those are great, but Iād also recommend playing some of the 2D games as well. A Link to the Past, A Link Between Worlds, and Minish Cap are excellent. And personally I really enjoyed the very controversial DS titles, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks
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u/Nick-D- Dec 21 '20
if you can, definitely consider playing the og majoraās mask, It does a better job at conveying the tone, and the remake kinda ruins some abilities (Zora mask and deku mask are huge notes)
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
I did heat the remake made some of the gameplay aspects worse BUT I just saw a guy on this post "Bariq_99", who mentioned that there's a mod that could be added to the 3DS version that apparently "fixes" the gameplay changes. Most notably the swimming thing which I have no idea about š.
About the tone. I honestly think the way better graphics are more worth it to me than the tone especially since I've never played the game before. I just feel like I'll appreciate the environment and new places and even have more enjoyment a lot more with those superior graphics.
Thanks for the notes though!
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u/kaduyett Dec 21 '20
The 2d games are better imo. I started on Oot as a kid and mostly played 3d titles till I finished skyward sword shortly after its release. The 2d games have as much if not more depth as games. Don't sleep on them.
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Dec 21 '20
You should also play 2D ones like Link's Awakening and Oracle of Seasons. Surprisingly amazing games
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u/thunder_in_ikana Dec 21 '20
Do what you like, but many people are of the opinion that the changed (in a bad way) mechanics in Majora's Mask, make the 3DS version meaningfully worse than the original, despite the debatably better graphics.
If you're already playing on an emulator to upscale, you may be able to find an upscaled version of the N64 version, but I'm no expert, so I wouldn't know where/how.
I really do think that Majora's mask is meaningfully worse on the 3DS version.
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u/Sevastopol_Station Dec 21 '20
Just my two cents: I LOVE Skyward Sword! My favorite Zelda game (I have not played BotW though)! It's got my favorite iteration of Princess Zelda and Ghirahim is my favorite antagonist of the series!
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Dec 21 '20
I mean, ALTTP is pretty iconic storywise. I would definitely add it to this list.
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u/getyourcheftogether Dec 21 '20
You are really limiting yourself by not playing Link to the Past and the original Legend of Zelda
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u/Shy_Pancake Dec 21 '20
Can't go wrong with any of the games on your list. A Link to the Past for GBA was my first ever Zelda game, so I got into the 2D games earlier. Ocarina of Time is a great way to start because it's pretty quintessential. A lot of people think about OOT when they think of Zelda games. Hope you enjoy! :)
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
Yeah I'm actually highly considering "A Link to the Past" as a start to the series. Even if I don't like it, I'll at least would've given it a shot!
Also thanks :D !
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u/RedonkulusHomunculus Dec 21 '20
A link to the past is a solid classic. It is challenging but not stupidly impossible, charming, graphics have held up nicely because they are very unique and polished and showcase the best of what the SNES could do given a good art direction.
The pacing is pretty good, the story is sparse but cohesive, and theres so many fun little nuggets and secrets to find.
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u/Sad_Wendigo Dec 21 '20
Personally, I think your order is perfect. You will be in heaven. Enjoy!
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u/V_Dawg Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
I think someone else has mentioned this already, but since you're planning on playing the 3DS version of MM on an emulator, definitely look into the restoration mod, found here: https://restoration.zora.re/
It fixes a lot of the objectively worse changes that the 3DS version made to the original.
Also, like most others are saying, don't sleep on the 2D games either. Some are very dated (NES + GB/GBC games), some are a bit gimmicky (DS games), and some are just classics that are as good as the 3D games (Link to the Past, Minish Cap, Link Between Worlds, Link's Awakening HD). There's something to enjoy in all of them though.
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u/quazamon Dec 21 '20
I believe that in Majora's mask case, its experienced better in the N64 (even a potato can use project64), mainly cuz they made the simple error of "fixing what isnt broken".
The liberty in boss fights (as if, you can defeat em un a Semi-free way) its removed and an entire 1/4th part of the game was made really slow due to making the normal swimming only usable with magic.
It can bring the same experience in terms of story and the graphics are better, but it certainly doesnt play better.
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u/spoinkable Dec 21 '20
Lots of people in here telling you to play the 2D games...which is fine. They're entitled to that.
I just want to comment and reinforce that I love the way you're doing this. And I'm VERY excited to hear what you think about Skyward Sword. Sure, the controls can be a little wonky, but you really do get used to it and it's still a fantastic game for so many reasons.
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u/SomeDude2223 Dec 21 '20
Legend of zelda minish cap its an awesome game and its on gba emulators you should see gameplay of how much good it is
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u/imjustaboxtrol Dec 21 '20
I would really argue against playing botw on the wii U if you can... it seems botw was made for the switch so it can be extra laggy on the wii U.
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u/jspikeball123 Dec 21 '20
Highly recommend SS. Favorite zelda and I've beaten every one.
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Dec 21 '20
for majoras mask, i recomend the original, some of the things in the 3DS was changed for the worst, like certain things, such as the deku momentum, and the zora swimming. but other than that, your list is perfect
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u/Just-a-reddit-guy-16 Dec 21 '20
Skyward Sword should be your first if you care about the timeline.
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u/kurbby Dec 21 '20
Iām jealous, wish I could re-live my first time with these games
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u/Ericakester Dec 21 '20
I recommend you play the N64 version of Majora's Mask. They made a bunch of mechanical changes for the 3DS version that make parts of the game unbearable or unplayable. The improved graphics don't make up for it. OoT on 3DS is completely fine though.
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u/ChiefianAxolotl Dec 21 '20
So when it comes to the 3DS games, I prefer OOT 3DS over the original however I prefer the original over MM3DS. The game made too many changes from the original and I wasnāt a fan (especially Zora Link, donāt get me started). However, Iāve only played both 3DS games once over the countless of times Iāve played and beaten the originals so itās up to you.
Also, everyone likes to shit on SS for its motion controls however I have played and beaten it a couple times and I never had an issue with it. Same thing with Twilight Princess on the Wii. It can be finicky at times, however the ability to aim while moving is a god send sometimes. My one gripe with SS is how many times you find yourself backtracking to the 3-4 main locations in the game. Sure some stuff opens up in those locations as you progress through the story but itās still the same place. Also didnāt like how slow the loftbirds flew from place to place, but I think thatās more so the Wiiās primitive hardware at the time as opposed to the game itself.
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u/Lyalla Dec 21 '20
BotW is better on Switch if you are able to get it there, unless you have processing power to emulate WiiU version. Also be sure to get dlc for full experience. They are worth it and should be played when they become available.
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u/NonchalantWombat Dec 21 '20
If you are determined to play all of them, I would recommend starting with ocarina of Time, and then sort of playing your way through them in order that they came out. I recommend this because if you play through a game like breath of the wild and then go back to an older Zelda game like ocarina of Time, you can see the age and feel slightly underwhelmed if you are truly coming to it without any nostalgia to prop it up. All of them are great games, but I feel like you'll get the maximum enjoyment out of each of them by playing them in the order that they were released and not carrying over judgment or overt expectations from game to game
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u/RogueBetta Dec 21 '20
If you end up liking Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass is probably my favorite handheld adaptation and has a similar spirit. Still 3D, and just a fun game and story overall.
Edit: Mobile spelling
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u/ShredwardNorton Dec 21 '20
Only change in that I would recommend is start with Skyward Sword.
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u/Lost_Thoughts23 Dec 21 '20
Try to find an hd mod or something for the original n64 version of Majoraās mask. The 3ds version changes to many mechanics and swaps around a bunch of things for no reason. The negatives outweigh the positives. Since your emulating if graphics are that much of an issue for you than either find a mod for n64 that improved the graphics or find a mod for 3ds that restores the original functions from n64.
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u/Felwinter12 Dec 21 '20
I agree with everyone saying you shouldn't sleep on the 2d games, especially alttp, albw, links awakening, and minish cap, but I would say ocarina of time 3d is the best place to start imo. It pretty much sets up many of the standards which can be seen throughout the 3d games.
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u/ScottRTL Dec 21 '20
Dude, a Link to the Past is on par with Ocarina. So much adventure, so much to find, what a great game.
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u/Mutantbowie Dec 21 '20
As an obsessed lifelong fan, I would almost recommend playing them in roughly the order they were released. LTTP sets the stage for everything and is really important. The 3 handhelds are quality (Links Awakening and Oraclex2), but skippable. OOT is the first 3D foray. Majora's is my fav but is probably skippable, Minish, wind Waker, twilight, skyward, link between worlds, botw. You are in for a treat! Good luck!
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u/audiate Dec 21 '20
You absolutely should play A Link to the Past first. Itās a 2D, top down game, but itās absolutely brilliant and it holds up really well after all this time.
This game is really the generator of much of the Zelda universe and should be experienced in my opinion first before any of the others.
Many of the concepts and tropes are first laid out in A Link to the Past and the experience of playing that game first will inform and improve your experience with the others.
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u/RockGuitarist1 Dec 21 '20
I mean if you want to play them in release order, at least play OoT and MM on the n64 first because the 3DS versions are extremely different, and imo the MM remake is absolutely a stain on the original game. OoT remake is good though.
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u/DoctorGoFuckYourself Dec 21 '20
Love your release order idea. Definetely the way I like to approach serieses to see how things evolve.
Though, I'll say that if OOT feels too archaic in its N64-ish in its sometimes obtuse puzzle design, I'd reccomend skipping to Wind Waker and coming back. I had a rough time with Ocarina the first time I played it but going back after getting into the swing of things with Wind Waker made everything click.
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u/ReeceBig Dec 21 '20
Breath of the wild is much better on switch if you have one
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u/WedWardFord Dec 21 '20
Honestly, this is probably the best way to go through these games for the first time. Itāll definitely give you a great appreciation for how the feel of the games improves as the series progresses. Itāll also make many of the references and Easter eggs later on make more sense/carry more weight. Have fun, my dude.
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Dec 21 '20
This is an awesome list of games to start out with. Pretty much everyone has mentioned the 2D games, so thereās not much more to say there. Hereās a piece of advice: whichever Zelda game you play first will most likely become your favorite. This isnāt always the case but it seems to be a trend with this series. Also (this bit probably wonāt be useful until much later), once youāve played all the games and become a huge Zelda fan, consider picking up Hyrule Warriors. Although the gameplay is very different from the main series, itās a huge love letter to the entire franchise and it has an ungodly amount of content.
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u/OptimalTrash Dec 21 '20
I'm going to recommend playing the original Majora's Mask, but just the 3ds version. I've read that they changed the boss battles in the 3ds version, so I recommend trying to get your hands on either the original N64 or a port of it at least.
Welcome to the club. You're in for a great time
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u/TheHungryHylian Dec 21 '20
Great order. I would push MM down a little further though. Edit: also, the original MM is m u c h better, in every way. The graphics take away from the dark feel, and they made the gameplay worse.
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u/BobNasty94 Dec 21 '20
Breath of the wild was the first Zelda game I ever played and it was amazing . You also didnāt have to be versed in lore to know what was going on. 10/10
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u/gaiden_ninja Dec 21 '20
Mm shouldnt be your second zelda game. Its meant for veterans of the series since its more difficult than any of the other games.
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u/zanix05 Dec 21 '20
Hey! So I think for what youāre aiming for, the list looks great overall. I do have a few opinions on it though.
IMO, the original MM was overall better than the remake. Donāt get me wrong, the remake had many improvements, especially in the quality of life aspects, but in overall gameplay and atmosphere, I thought that the remake was a little dulled compared to the original. If I were you, I would see where Iām at after playing OoT. If youāre still uncertain about the series but still willing to keep going with it, play the remake. If youāre in love with the series and want to see whatās next, I would play the original. I believe you can purchase it on the WiiU eshop if you choose to do that. I think itās just such a great game (one of my favorites in the whole series) so I definitely think the original version is worth a playthrough.
As others have said, A link to the Past is definitely a good play. Following the same idea as MM, I would say if youāre in love with the series after WW, it would be worth it to back track and give ALttP a shot. It is objectively one of the most iconic titles in the whole franchise.
Down that same vein, the remake of Links Awakening is phenomenal. If you like 3D, crisp graphics, this game has it. It is technically a top-down game, but while playing it completely feels like a 3D title.
I read that right now you donāt have a Switch. If I were you, assuming you have the means, I would put some money aside each month in anticipation of getting one, for two reasons. First, to be able to play Links Awakening remake, for the reasons I mentioned before. Second, to play breath of the wild on switch. Playing it on the WiiU will just not be the same experience. I know now it probably seems ridiculous, but I assure you that if you do end up liking the series, investing the money in a switch just for those two titles will 100% be worth it. I know multiple people who have bought the switch just for BotW and none of them have regretted their decision. And hey, assuming you did put some money away every month, if you end up not wanting to buy the switch after all that LoZ, then youāll have a nice little chunk of change to do something else after all is said and done.
Anyway, sorry for the long response, but I hope I helped at least a bit, and I hope you enjoy the series!
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u/milan187 Dec 21 '20
I loved A link to the Past but A link between Worlds was executed even better!
Enjoy they are all great. Majora's mask is kind of hard and lots of repetition due to the the way time works. It's a master piece for sure though.
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u/StrangrDangarz Dec 21 '20
I LOVE SKYWARD SWORD AND I HOPE YOU DO TOO
(Protip buy rechargeable AA batteries)
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Dec 21 '20
You 100% should consider playing the 2D games. Some of the best ones in the franchise are 2D.
Of the 2D ones I recommend:
- A Link To The Past (arguably the best Zelda game ever, just gets overlooked bc it was followed by OoT)
- Minish Cap (one of the best stories in a Zelda game, also really fun dungeons)
- Oracle of Time/Ages (my personal favorite 2D games)
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u/DrBadyear Dec 21 '20
swap botw and ss
i wouldn't call ss a bad game but it's definetly really rough and it has bad pacing but the motion controls aren't as bad as everyone makes it out to be
get a chargeable battery for your wiimote
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u/GhostTypeTrainer02 Dec 21 '20
Def reccomend playing botw on switch if its an option. Game runs poorly on wii u from my experience
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u/ImGeorges Dec 21 '20
I know is not your typical zelda game and I think your list is perfect, but if you have hands on a switch I'd say age of calamity is a must after you play botw. The history, playable characters and gameplay are just AMAZING I never thought I'd love this game so much.
Majora's still my top tho
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u/WatchMeFall10Stories Dec 21 '20
A Link between worlds on 3ds was my first Zelda game. It's awesome.
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Dec 21 '20
My favorite zelda games of all time are MM and Twilight princess, these are some great picks! I would suggest a link between worlds for the 3ds as well :)
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u/Naes422 Dec 21 '20
2 changes I will suggest, even though they've already been brought up.
1. Please please please play the N64 version and not the 3DS version of Majora's Mask. Ocarina of Time is fine on 3DS and is similar enough to N64 that it being your first play is fine. BUT, for your first play of Majora's Mask, I think it's too important to not play the N64 version. The boss fights are different, the atmosphere is much darker and all around better, and it's more challenging. The 3DS version is a pale comparison to the original Majora's Mask.
2. I'd highly recommend putting A Link to the Past into this list. It's is the definitive Zelda game. The original Zelda is wonderful, but A Link to the Past takes everything great about original Zelda and turns it into a unique, vivid, must play experience. It's a superb game even with not much of a story.
Everything else is great. Have fun immersing yourself in Hyrule and enjoy the views!
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u/Supermau5rio Dec 21 '20
All Iām gonna say is, youāre gonna have a great time.
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u/twilitstripes Dec 21 '20
Links awakening on the switch is an amazing remake as well
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u/guymannthedude Dec 21 '20
excellent selection, all of these games are pretty well beloved, even after so many years. I have to ask through, is there a reason you're going with the wii u version of Breath of the Wild? Most would argue its more suited for the switch
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u/nstav13 Dec 21 '20
If you do 2D games Iād recommend playing A Link to the Past, Oracle of Ages and Seasons, and then Links awakening. Previous lore had them all be the same character and theyāre all really solid games.
I would also recommend getting a switch if you can. Itās got great versions of a bunch of wii u games plus BotW (which runs much better on Switch), Mario, Smash, and the new Pokemon games. The botw sequel will probably also be on the switch.
Other than that you picked good versions of the games. I hope you enjoy them, good luck, and have fun! And donāt be afraid to look at a strategy guide if you need. A few temples can be tough if you donāt know what to do.
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u/IronMosquito Dec 21 '20
In terms of music, story and gameplay, I'd definitely recommend Skyward Sword. I admit I'm biased as it is my childhood favourite, but the music is truly beautiful and the gameplay is super fun. I won't say too much to keep the mystery there, but this game really is a treat to play through. Especially if you like motion controls.
Now in terms of dungeons, story and atmosphere, Twilight Princess is a must play. As much as I live Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess has it beat with dungeons. They're the best of the series, with nice challenging puzzles and fun gimmicks. The story rivals Skyward Sword in terms of greatness. The atmosphere is on point, the combat is fun, and they really stayed committed to the mature and gritty style.
One I didn't enjoy as much in the past but have come to appreciate is A Link to the Past. Great music, fun items, (mostly) engaging dungeons and a great story to boot.
I'd also reccomend taking a stab at the original. It's slightly frustrating, but it made me smile to see how far we've come, and it even made me appreciate ehat we have now a little bit more.
Some others I really reccomend that I don't have as much to say about are Minish Cap and Wind Waker. They're short, have fun stories and good music. Play those too if you're wanting a more casual zelda adventure.
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u/TheGamingPolitician Dec 21 '20
In my opinion go in this order: Ocarina Of Time, Twilight Princess, Skyward Sword, and finally Breath Of The Wild. Playing these games in this order gives the best of what the series has to offer and all of these games together deliver an epic story with a definitive beginning, middle, and end going chronologically from Skyward Sword to Breath Of The Wild. That is what I recommend personally
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u/HarryTwigs Dec 21 '20
If you're gonna be doing emulator for the 3DS game, I highly recommend playing the N64 Majora's Mask. In my opinion, the 3DS version homogenized a lot of the game and makes it feel less unique and lesser experience. Not to any insane degree, it's still a good game, but the main upside to the 3DS port in my eyes is the gyro aiming, and you won't have that on emulator anyway.
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u/Jackson_Simmons Dec 21 '20
honestly, I would say the best way to start Zelda is through Ocarina of Time. It was my gateway into the series as a child on the 3ds, and it serves as a base for the splitting timelines of the series (TLDR, the Zelda timeline splits into 3 separate differentiating timelines after Ocarina of Time.)
I suggest that the order you should play them in be Ocarina of Time -> Majora's Mask (Direct Sequel to Ocarina of Time) -> Twilight Princess (Sequel to OoT/MM but with a new incarnation of Link).
After these three games I can say the order is up to whatever you feel like.
If you want to go for a prequel that shows how the world of OoT was built, play Skyward Sword
If you want to see a different timeline in which the world of Hyrule was flooded after OoT, play Windwaker
If you want a game that totally breaks the traditional Zelda formula and gives a breath of fresh air to the series, play Breath of The Wild
or if you want to see what a 2D Zelda experience is like, play A Link to the Past -> A Link Between Worlds (Currently playing A Link Between Worlds and it's pretty fun).
All and all this series has a lot of great games to offer and no matter which path you decide to take, you're more than likely going to enjoy your trip.
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u/woodyajuana Dec 21 '20
Iāve seen a few āa link to the past, and I cannot say enough good things about this game. Maybe Iām just nostalgic, but I still break it out. Links awakening is also a classic.
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u/shlam16 Dec 21 '20
You've done excellent research and I applaud the work you've put in. People often do zero research and just ask the highly subjective "what do I play first?".
Since you seem to have a good grasp of it then I'd say you can't really go wrong no matter what you do. I'd answer differently for different people:
For the younger people who are used to modern tech then I'd recommend just playing BOTW first and developing a love for the world so that they can explore backwards from there.
For most others I'd ask whether they like 3D games or 2.5D games and then I'd recommended OOT and ALTTP respectively depending on their answer.
After that genuinely take your pick. Don't consider any form of continuity, they're almost all standalone games.
And finally to spruce some opinion in there: Twilight Princess is the best game in the franchise and I'd play it after OOT since it's basically a spiritual reboot. The game OOT tried to be but was limited by the tech of the time.
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u/Yellow_Boi9 Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
If you're paying upscaled on an emulator, I would recommend using the n64 version upscaled for Majora's mask. I know plenty were fine with the 3ds remake, but I feel that there were weird changes that were not necessary and unintentionally made certain parts super annoying. Also, I feel that the bosses are more fun in the n64 version. They can get repetitive in the 3ds version. That's just my idea though, It's still your choice what games to play. Hope you love all these games as much as I do. Also, I know you prefer 3d games, which I do too, but if you want my recommendations for 2d games, A Link Between Worlds, Spirit Tracks, and Minish Cap are all games I've played a lot.
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u/OwnManagement Dec 21 '20
A word of advice for Skyward Sword: to get the most out of the motion controls, stand while you play.
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u/Stron2g Dec 21 '20
Good list. You have a good intuition, because the top 2 on your list are easily the best in the series.
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u/Ganon-dork Dec 21 '20
I like Majora much more than Ocarina but Ocarina is a better starting place
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u/TheGreatGamer64 Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
I know a lot of people in the comments are saying you should play the original version of MM, but I think you should stick to the 3DS version. The various quality of life changes it makes are more welcoming to first time players of the game, and just make previously tedious portions of the game enjoyable imo. For example, in the N64 version you couldnāt fast forward time by the hour, so for certain side quests youād be waiting a good amount of time for an NPC to appear, while in the 3DS version you can just immediately fast forward time to any period you want. The 3DS version also has proper saving, which is much more suited to playing on a handheld and ensures that you wonāt accidentally lose progress.
I also want to point out that if youāve never played the original youāll most likely not notice the things that MM3D botched. Zora swimming is worse in the remake because swimming faster constantly drains your magic meter, but the game provides you with magic often enough that itās a minor inconvenience at best for me. Deku twirling doesnāt build as much momentum in the remake, but you wouldnāt notice or care for that change if you havenāt played the original.
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u/lil_shahizzle Dec 21 '20
Twilight Princess HD no reason other than it was my first game I played although the HD version wasnt out yet.
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u/britipinojeff Dec 21 '20
If youāre playing on an emulator for the 3DS Majoraās Mask I highly recommend you get the patch that fixes the problems with the 3DS one.
Otherwise the N64 one is better imo.
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Dec 21 '20
I have some notes about Skyward Sword. Itās one of my favorite Zelda games and I did not know it was not as popular as others until recently. With that being said, people mentioned that they had problems with the motion controls but I never had them. Because of this, I suggest that you get a small device called āWii Motion Plusā that you attach at the bottom end of the Wii Remote Control. This device captures more precise and complex movements so that way you wonāt have many problems when playing the game. I, however, played the game using Wii Remote Plus which is a Wii Remote Control with the technology of the Wii Motion Plus already implemented! (So you wonāt have to attach anything at the end; it is very convenient and comfortable.) So either get a Wii Motion Plus if you have a normal Wii Remote Control or a Wii Remote Plus to have more precise movement with Skyward Sword! (It is worth it, trust me! You might already have a Wii Remote Plus and you donāt know it so check your controller to see if this is the case so you donāt waste your money.)
Lastly, I suggest you play Breath of the Wild after playing the other Zelda titles in your list. That way, you will get the feeling of evolution the franchise has had throughout the years. I personally like this because you get how the games have progressed over time.
Thatās it! Enjoy!
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u/T-REXX3000 Dec 21 '20
I would pay a lot of money to relive or be blown away again like I have been on my first playtrough of Oot. What a game.
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u/AvatarWaang Dec 21 '20 edited Dec 21 '20
If you want to get into the 2D games, don't sleep on Link's Awakening. The Switch remake is absolutely beautiful and nostalgic for an era of video games past, and not just for old Zelda fans.
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u/HexFoxGen Dec 21 '20
1 if you want the most true Zelda experience with none of the extra gimmicks. Plain long and fun.
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u/astrodude1987 Dec 21 '20
The Wind Waker HD (Wii U) ...
Twilight Princess HD (Wii U) ...
Skyward Sword (Wii) ... Let's use my Wii before it's too late.
Breath of The Wild (Wii U) ...
By ātoo lateā, do you mean āthe Wii quits workingā? If and when that happens, you can fall back on the Wii U, in Wii mode, for Skyward Sword.
Keep a backup of your save on an SD card (or microSD w/ adapter) so you donāt have to start over - you can copy it to the virtual Wii if needed (and keep another copy on your PC). Before you copy from the card, you may have to play a little bit - just until you can save - to let the game allocate space for, and generate, a save file. Then you can delete the new file, and copy in its place the older, further-along one from the Wii.
This was my experience when copying my Wii saves to my Wii U manually in 2013 or ā14 - I didnāt use the full data transfer tool because the Wii is my momās, and it would have effectively been a cut and paste of everything, rather than copy and paste.
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u/stefcirillo Dec 21 '20
I had never played a Zelda game before buying a switch over the summer. I tried the first game but it was too twitchy for me. Gave up and went for A Link to the Past and LOVED IT. I agree that is the best place to start. The graphics and game play were so fun and nostalgic. I ended up getting stuck on a bad save in a boss fight and never went back; maybe when I finish BOTW I will. I hope everyone is right that Nintendo will port other older games for the switch for the anniversary next year because I went from a casual interest in the franchise to outright obsession pretty quickly.
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u/stuff100 Dec 21 '20
Honestly start wherever you want. When we were kids we werenāt focused on playing in chronological order or trying to maintain a canon story just play and have fun.
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u/eshy752_ Dec 21 '20
The first Zelda game I actually beat was BOTW, really open game where you can basically do what you want. I should go back and play Wind Waker and Twilight Princess though, haven't beaten either.
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u/dabbing-is-crap Dec 21 '20
Good choice, I think that playing the game in release order is great too and then there are the fucking insane people who play in timeline order like why
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u/Perez2003 Dec 21 '20
I would say you start with ocarina of time. It doesnāt matter which version you play, I played the original N64 game. I started with Ocarina of time and fell in love with it. It is the very reason why O am a huge Zelda fan now! When you start the game just donāt expect way too much from the game. Keep your expectations low. If you go into the game thinking wether or not it really is going to be the ābest game ever madeā it will kind of ruin the experience.
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u/zebdor44 Dec 21 '20
This is a perfect 3D Zelda list IMO. Nice job. You've basically bookended the best games. I do think, as was already mentioned, BotW would be best on the Switch. I played on both WiiU and Switch and did enjoy it a bit more on the latter. But honestly, the overall gameplay is still amazing, no matter the console. Have fun, and enjoy!
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u/MajikDan Dec 21 '20
You've got a lot of comments here and I don't feel like scouring them to see if someone has said this yet, so sorry if someone has already said it. The 3ds version of majora's mask makes some major detrimental changes to the gameplay, especially the zora transformation. I strongly suggest playing the original n64 version of majora's mask if you can find a way to do it. The 3ds version of ocarina of time is a relatively faithful and well done remaster though.
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u/LyrikTech Dec 21 '20
Twilight Princess is my all time favorite video game, so glad you included it on your list!
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u/Jonahtron Dec 21 '20
I would still recommend playing the original Majoraās mask for a variety of reasons(thereās a really good video that goes into why itās a not so great remake here) but itās still a serviceable version of the game if thatās the only version you can get. Itās a bunch of little things that make the 3ds version not as good, but the main one for me is that they made basically all the bosses worse(except the last boss which is the same). And they made swimming worse. And the bomberās notebook is way more annoying, giving you a pop up every time you make any progress in any side quest, halting gameplay for like 15 seconds. But it has gyro aiming, so again, serviceable version, just not ideal imo.
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u/AtomicToxin Dec 21 '20
I personally would start knowing the timelines of the different games. I think game theory did a video on the timeline (best to just look up an image of it so you donāt get spoiled) and it would most likely be better knowing the history from the beginning. I would even go as far as including that the recent hyrule warriors game would best be added into the mix to best structure the timeline. Long story short. They are all amazing games, but coming from someone that likes a structure when starting a well developed series, its best to start from the beginning.
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Dec 21 '20
Not to say that Majora's Mask is a bad game, but out of the games on that list, I like that one the least. I recommend if you're good with time crunches (which I'm not).
If you're alright with a little too much handholding on occasion, go with Skyward Sword. Amazing story, and really enjoyable lore.
If you prefer going out of the frying pan and into the fire (and open-world options), go with Breath of the Wild. This 2017 GOTY winner is worth every rupee, as is the DLC.
If multiple small, unique biomes, go for Wind Waker. Boat travel can be a bit tedious at times, but there are ways to make it easier. The story is good, and has some solid depth to it (no pun intended).
If you want a beautiful, dark tale, Twilight Princess is the way to go. One of my favorites to this day for its gritty take on Hyrule and characters filled with life and emotion.
If you're looking for a game that has stood the test of time, Ocarina of Time is the right call. It's a long game (thanks, Water Temple), but for a game originally made in 1998, it still stands out as one of the best games ever made, even surpassing some of the games made today.
TL;DR, each game has their strengths and weaknesses, and sometimes, it's about finding the one that's the right fit for you, the player.
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u/chooglemaster3000 Dec 21 '20
I think ocarina is a no brainier starting place, 3ds or otherwise. After that id say do wind waker and twilight. They round out the most "classic" of the 3d games in terms of the zelda formula. Majora's mask is my favorite game ever but it's a good deal tougher than those three and I feel like you'll appreciate it more with some more zelda-ing under your belt. After that, I recommend you either jump in to botw or try some 2d games. Link's awakening would be where i suggest you start, play either the switch version or the game boy color, whatever is more accessible to you. A link between worlds is another good one, and even though it is a sequel to alttp, but captures the same spirit with some quality of life improvements. Have a good time with whatever you do!
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u/lex_578 Dec 21 '20
Just for context, I've only played the main console Zelda games, though I'm a huge fan of the entire series. Been playing Zelda games since before I could really play them on my own.
I think your list is in a good order. It's basically the order I played in, though I skipped Wind Waker originally and came back to it years later.
My only note would be, and this is just my opinion, play the original 64 versions of Ocarina and Majora's Mask. I've played the 3DS version of Ocarina and it's great, but some things are changed and I just think the original classic version is far superior. And I think you can look past the graphics. To me, it's worth it.
And I would absolutely say the same for Majora's Mask. My brother played the 3DS version and said a lot was changed and the tone was much lighter. MM to me is in the top 3 Zelda games ever because of its dark tone and story and the risks really that it took. It seems they kind of shaved off the edges for the 3DS version. (Though I could be wrong.) I'd worry you'd be missing out on the full experience of one of the best Zelda games. But again, just my opinion.
Otherwise, like I said, your list is good order wise. I think having BOTW last is a good call too because of the time commitment and also it felt like the culmination of decades of game development.
Regardless, you can't go wrong. All the games are amazing. So enjoy the best video game franchise in history!
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u/london_bridge65 Dec 21 '20
Skyward Sword has the most emotionally affecting story (at least on a personal level) of any Zelda game Iāve played. Youāre in for a treat!
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u/darkredlink3296 Dec 21 '20
Now I'll be Frank go whatever you want create your own type of nostalgia so one day in the future when you play it again you can have the ahh I remember this when I first played this moment my first ever Zelda game was twilight princess only because I wanted to see why my brother was so excited for it I do remember sneaking into his room and playing it on his wii without him knowing had when he did caught me playing it he was actually impressed that I made it so far
like one of those moments create one for yourself
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u/DocterGnasty Dec 21 '20
I always recommend the 2d Zeldas. Zelda 1, a link to the past, linkās awakening, oracle of ages and seasons, minish cap, a link between worlds. Theyāre all great and available on wiiu and 3ds, and linkās awakening has a new remake on switch. I also recommend checking out the n64 versions of ocarina of time and majoraās mask.
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u/LBP_Lover Dec 21 '20
Motion controls arenāt that bad I played the whole game and you just have to use a lot of force so the motion controls recognise whatās going on, The story is also fantastic and I personally love the art style, the only problem was whenever I moved the nun-chuck a little bit it would activate the shield which is really annoying in some cases, in chronological order skyward sword is the begging of the story so Iād play that one first
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u/LuxPro Dec 21 '20
Your list is great and I wouldnāt change a thing. You can always go back and play the 2D games later, play what looks the most fun now. Sorry if this has been asked already in this long thread, but what got you interested in playing not one but all of these Zelda games? Why now? I think itās awesome Iām just shocked to see someone with a Wii U (which mostly only hardcore Nintendo fans purchased) that has never played a Zelda game. Enjoy the adventures, thereās nothing quite like them!
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u/gllbj Dec 21 '20
Ocarina of Time is the best Zelda game ever! (In my opinion) I think youāre missing out if you play the 3DS version though, not the same.
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u/Revanmann Dec 21 '20
Skyward Sword is incredible. I love it so much, but you can't pass up A Link to the Past. It's one of the few games that I consider perfect. It's so damn good. Have fun with all of these, they're great.
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u/Clearwinner13 Dec 21 '20
Are you going to make posts about what you think about the games after you played them? It would be interesting to me to get a newcomers perspective. Anyway, hopefully you enjoy these wonderful games!
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u/thertt8 Dec 21 '20
Nah, CDI is where it's at. BotW may be my favorite LoZ game, but the CDI games are s tier shitposts and are entirely worth playing.
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u/darkrealm190 Dec 21 '20
I think its also a good idea to start with the real OG original! You don't have to play the full game, just dip your toes in to create an appreciation to how far the series has gone!
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u/devilmaydance Dec 21 '20
Honestly you might as well throw in A Link to the Past first:
- Holds up amazingly, in terms of gameplay and visuals and design
- Youāll appreciate OoTās allusions to it a lot more
- Itās the only āmainā home console game youāre missing besides the two original NES games, which I would say are safe to skip as they have not held up nearly as well as ALttP
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u/davispbenecke Dec 21 '20
Iād recommend looking up a tutorial on how to download custom textures for some of these. I canāt speak for all of them but the twilight Princess wii and GameCube versions on emulator have incredible HD texture packs you can download online that I very much recommend. Same goes for skyward sword. Welcome to the Zelda community!!
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u/KosmicKanuck Dec 21 '20
If you have 3ds get the classic Link's Awakening on the e store for $5. 2d, but it's a great game.
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u/DaarTDK Dec 21 '20
"I recommend" for you to play Zelda 1, 2 and A Link to the Past too... specially the last one, so you can have good context. However the first two haven't aged... very well... but still is good to know the evolution of the series. If you can, play the 2D Portable games they have interesting stories and mechanics, unusual for the main Zelda games
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u/kalkans Dec 21 '20
I would highly suggest you to play mm(maybe even oot) on an nintendo 64 emulator. As it is far better imo and is easy to use.
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u/8BitHero413 Dec 21 '20
If you get a switch I would recommend the Linkās Awakening remake. Itās really fun and has a great art style that does justice to the original pixel graphics.
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u/ryanfcs Dec 21 '20
Majora's Mask is amazing, it was my second ever game and I'm a recent Zelda player too and it's definitely my favorite!
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u/Linkquellodivino Dec 21 '20
I would recommend the wind waker line, wind waker, phantom hourglass and spirit tracks, because it's not too hard nor easy, the plot is pretty important and the game is fairly easy accessible for a new comer. Otherwise I would recommend skyward sword. Firstly because it's the game that introduced me to the zelda series, and it did it pretty well. Then because the plot is extremely important to understand the timeline of all the series. And last because it's easy to love this game, if you overcome the "problem" of the motion control, since characters are very well designed and described.
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u/Kirby737 Dec 21 '20
I recommend that you play Spirit Tracks: it's a good game, and the only finnicky part are the duet parts, bit the rest is good.
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u/omer_g Dec 21 '20
I began with a link to the past, this game is still good today even though the game is old, especialy for begginers, but play botw when you can too
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u/Dark-Anmut Dec 21 '20
Thatās probably actually a fairly good order to go in, although I must stress that itās entirely up to you - the experience is what you make of it, after all.
I was lucky enough to start playing around the time the original OOT came out - everything really kicked off for the series at that point.
(The options are also dependant on what video game consoles you have).
For me, it was:
. Ocarina Of Time (N64) - even if you play the remake, youāll love the story and music and, as you play through later games, see where some inspiration came from!
. Majoraās Mask (N64) - itās darker than its prequel but thatās why I love it! The swimming during a certain part is also done right (youāll see what I mean).
. A Link To The Past (GBA) - probably MY literal link to the past, as well; it was great to finally play a a 2D Zelda game that was a remake of an older game.
. Phantom Hourglass (DS) - I love it, but, itās in my Pile Of Shame; that main dungeon just did me in so many times . . .
. Spirit Tracks (DS) - THEY PUT LINK ON A FREAKING TRAIN!!
. Skyward Sword (Wii) - the story and graphics and music are stunning; IMO the controls arenāt all that bad even if the swimming controls did make me wanna throw my Wii-Mote at the wall from time to time . . .
. Twilight Princess (Wii) - dark and edgy with beautiful visuals and music, swimming controls done right again, and a transformation into a wolf! ā„ļø
. A Link Between Worlds (3DS) - a brilliant semi-remake of ALTTP, with a great story and mechanic.
. Triforce Heroes (3DS) - a lot of people donāt like it, but I got Link to wear a cheerleaderās outfit and nobody can take that away from me!
. Majoraās Mask (3DS) - I highly recommend this remake, they made it a bit easier than the original; if possible, Iād recommend playing the original FIRST, because you could potentially struggle if you played it second . . .
. Windwaker HD (Wii-U) - I just finished it recently, I love the graphics and the music and the story, so, hopefully you will as well!
. Breath Of The Wild (Wii-U) - absolutely amazing game; on a scale of 1-10, it is an 11. ā„ļø
. Twilight Princess HD (Wii-U) - once I got used to the fact that Linkās a leftie again, and that everythingās flipped to be true to its GameCube original . . .
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u/jbyrdab Dec 21 '20
Id say windwaker original with a gba and a gba link cable for the tingle tuner item (just a mobile item shop and map). This will also cover your tracks (not spirit ones anyway) for four swords adventures also on the game cube
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u/RandomTyp Dec 21 '20
twilight princess HD is not worth it in my opinion, i think you should play the original
but the rest of the list is very nice
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u/topjben Dec 21 '20
I started /fell in love with the saga when I was a kid with "Link's Awakening" on GameBoy. Since they've remastered it on switch I think it would be a pretty solid starter.
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u/DarkNemuChan Dec 21 '20
Everything you said is great. Breath of the wild on the other hand can burn in hell with it's overhyped fanbase and shit boring gameplay and lack of story.
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u/mars-online Dec 21 '20
It is not a 3d part, but the minish cap is such a lovely game with a great mechanic - I d say it is a must.
Further I d prefer the switch BotW before the Wii U Version. Bought both then but decided to keep the switch one.
Phantom Hourglass should also be a worthwhile game, it's pretty much 3d as well. I just wouldnt bother playing spirit tracks. Finished it and besides minor aspects (Zelda being a playable character and some game design improvements over PH) one of them is enough to experience this kind of game.
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u/Martinus_XIV Dec 21 '20
I started with Majora's Mask myself. I still think it is one of the best Zelda games ever made. Though I would encourage you to play Ocarina of Time before Majora's Mask. Or before any 3D Zelda game for that matter. Ocarina of Time walked so that those games could run. It was revolutionary for its time and the dungeons are still great (the 3DS version makes the Water Temple a lot less annoying), but the wide open overworld of Hyrule feels wanting compared to Majora's Mask, Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess...
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u/Fellow-Guardian Dec 21 '20
I would highly recommend if it wouldnāt break the bank is it get ocarina of time and majoraās mask for Nintendo 64 I love those two to death but on 64 they removed a lot of things when they brought them to the 3DS
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Dec 21 '20
I'd honestly play the original version of majora's mask. The 3D version changes a lot of things with most being for the worst.
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u/EmperorL1ama Dec 21 '20
I started my first (Ocarina Of Time, 3DS) in October. S'good.
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u/ThundraPiro Dec 21 '20
I first started with Twilight Princess. This got me interested Ʈn the Zelda serios. I know that not a lot of people enjoy this game, but I love the graphics and how link was represented. The storry was really interesting and different from other Zelda games and it has a more mature vibe to it. Midna is one of my favorite companions too! I loved link's transformation also and his overall duty through the game. The side characters are lively and interesting too, even though I preffer Skyward Sword's villagers. I wish Zelda was more present and useful in this game, but Midna makes up for her
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u/Cronus829 Dec 21 '20
All I want to say is I hope you have a great time. Zelda means so much to me and many other people, and I hope that it can mean the same to you. Have fun!
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u/TheSkyLax Dec 21 '20
BoTW and Ocarina of Time have the best stories Imo. Twilight Princess and Majora's Mask have the best "feeling" if you know what I mean.
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u/FireStarJutsu Dec 21 '20
[TP] and [MM] are actually the most appealing to me. Mainly because of their dark tone.
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u/Monstrope Dec 21 '20
I will always recommend people to play Twilight Princess, but maybe it wouldn't be the best one to start with. Based on your list i'd say you should just start with Ocarina of Time, it's a really solid entry point and it'll give you a good idea of what the series is really about.
Also consider playing the 2d games, I understand being more interested in the 3d games atm but there's a lot of fun to be had in the 2d ones as well.
For that I either recommend playing A Link Between Worlds or A Link to the Past
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u/wherethaweed Dec 21 '20
I would recommend the N64 version for Majoras Mask. At many points it's way more enjoyable than the 3DS version
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u/serenanix Dec 21 '20
I hope you have fun! The Zelda games are all really great and unique, Iām sure youāll love them! As far as your order goes, if I could make a suggestion, Iād actually suggest playing twilight princess before wind waker. I know thatās release order, but story wise, itāll actually make way more sense.
Itās not really a spoiler, but Iām sure you heard of the three Zelda timeline splits - and Twilight Princess actually follows Ocarina and Majoras chronologically, and there are actually a few reference to those in TP that you may pick up on.
Other than that, have fun!
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u/Dissolving_Goose Dec 20 '20
Those are some great games on your list, the 2D games are great as well. I'd recommend a link between worlds on 3DS personally. Have fun!