EnjoyedKane
2012
Maybe the most enigmatic game I’ve ever seen. The game is incredible. The celestial brush is genius, and gives you so much freedom in gameplay it feels like it could be from a much newer era. And it looks fantastic too - a 3D game which disguises it as 2D will never not be a marvel to me. Some parts have aged badly, like Issun’s weird horniness. The end of the game does somewhat drag on and takes a decided turn from the medieval Japan which has been painstakingly built, but that can’t take away from the fantastic experience which came before. Yet I know so few people who have ever played this, and it should be remembered on a much higher level than it is.
One of the best co-op experiences I’ve had, which goes even further than BotW in bringing the New Zelda Experience to life. Not the most engaging game play (mostly just mashing buttons) but I have nothing but positive memories.
At no point does it feel like you’re playing an old game remade. It feels like this is a fresh, new, clever game. The music sounds new, everything looks perfect in this art style, and the whole game is a perfect balance of irreverence and anxiousness. Completely fun.
How does a game made with just pixels produce the greatest piece of game music of all time in Kakariko Village? How does it produce 2 excellent worlds to explore as well as innovative dungeons that have you thinking about 3D in a 2D game? A fantastic adventure which is testament to the power of creativity in gaming.
It’s showing its age, but it’s amazing how much they got spot on for one of the first 3D games. Everything feels right, and even more than that it feels like you’re watching a film. The music and locations are incredible to explore. Some parts are obtuse at best and others have aged terribly, but that can’t be fixed now. A real treat to be able to play this game.
It feels bad to be so negative about a legendary game, but I just did not enjoy the time loop. You can’t exactly have it any other way due to the small physical size of the game and low number of dungeons, which is part of the problem. Clock Town is a great location and the presentation is inventive, but I cannot enjoy a game this uncomfortable.
Very good game. Inventive art style that meshes well with the gameplay. A slapstick game designed to be cartoonish in every aspect, which is ahead of its time in delivering an interesting explorable open world. Missing some of the medieval symbolism which I value usually in Zelda, but makes up for it with a charming and engaging entry which ought to be learned from.
Some gems nested in a bit of a muddy mess. Playing this game I just felt like it tried unbelievably hard to be edgy, at the expense of the offbeat humour I valued in other Zelda games. The Castle Town location is fantastic, there’s some excellent story beats, Wolf Link is a smart gimmick, and the Dark World is a great touch. But these are swallowed by an overwhelming need to be gritty and negative almost everywhere else. Some people love it but it’s just not for me.
Heard such terrible things before I played this, but I’m glad I didn’t listen. Great atmosphere from the music to the locations, fun to play, and a warming tale. The last hurrah of old Zelda delivered something that it all the right beats for the formula. A game full of heart and emotion.
Took something great and tried to make it even better. Whilst some of the gameplay elements are fantastic, it’s just not quite a perfect fit. The expanded world doesn’t change enough on the surface and the new locations are just a bit too homogenous. The formula is just a bit too close to what came before.
Greatest game I’ve ever played. Some prefer TotK, but honestly the grittiness of this is much better. The music is perfect, and finding the towns is magical. It says a lot about how well the world is built that giant mechanical robots don’t feel incongruous.