A pretty drastic improvement over SML1. The music bops more, the control feels smoother, the spritework is more appealing & the world feels a little larger & more imaginative. In no other Mario game do you explore the inside of a whale or ride in a hippo's snot bubble up to the moon. In a way, this speaks to SML’s uniqueness as a series & it’s a bit of a shame Nintendo hasn’t revisited it in so long. A delightfully different handheld classic.
1989
There are better 2D Marios out there, but this game serves its purpose well. It’s great to have a Mario game on the go & SML delivers a concise, fairly entertaining bitesize adventure for players to experience while out & about with their Game Boys. The controls aren’t 100% there & one could argue it’s a little too short, but honestly, it’s largely inoffensive, and especially back in the day, having portable Mario was worth the compromises.
Between the Four Swords games, I gotta give the edge to Adventures on GameCube. Had several high school hangouts where this game was the focus & we had a blast. Splitting exploration of the world between the TV screen & the GBAs everyone uses as a controller was pure genius. The mix of competition & cooperation baked into the gameplay makes for a wild, silly & entertaining time each time you fire it up, particularly with friends.
Brings me right back to the good ol' days of the GBA link cables & retro-style local multiplayer. Despite the game having only maybe 4-5 levels to explore, I have some good memories of my cousin & I playing this ad nauseum for hours on end. Overall it's just a really fun idea. Take the top-down exploration Zelda formula, allow players to roam around, grab their own items & cooperate to solve puzzles & defeat bosses. It works very well.
One of those games you stumble across at a retro store for 5 bucks, take home out of pure curiosity, play for 30min & that's that. A riveting "fun day" full of sorting library books, recycling litter & flipping pancakes. Your reward for playing a handful of mediocre minigames? A trip to the fairgrounds for even more mediocre minigames. And no goal. It just sort of ends there. A nifty oddity for a retro collector, but that's about it.
2008
I gotta give the devs credit: the idea of taking Guitar Hero with you on the go sounds pretty cool in theory. In practice, though... it just doesn't work that well. The peripheral you plug into the GBA slot of the DS to simulate holding a normal GH controller is kind of a neat idea, but I can't imagine it being comfortable to use for very long. And unless you're using headphones it's just hard to "rock out." An odd little novelty in the GH lineup.
If Guitar Hero 2 had released in the day & age of DLC, the songs in this game would've likely just been ones you could add to it. Rocks the 80s is essentially GH2.5 ---- and I am a-okay with that. Same tried-and-true gameplay with a new, albeit slightly shorter, setlist of songs to shred to. Introduced me to some new bands & helped me continue to foster my growing love for classic rock.
2006
Perhaps the Guitar Hero game that I personally have the most nostalgia for. It's got a solid list of songs performed by cover artists that, honestly, aren't that bad most of the time. Hammer-ons & pull-offs feel way smoother too, making that leap from Medium to Hard/Expert feel much more doable. My mother & I used to play co-op together before we shifted over to Rock Band. It's a game worth revisiting even today.
2005
Nearly every game in the franchise improves on this one in some capacity, but I still respect GH1. It introduced me to Harmonix & helped make me a fan of theirs. It helped solidify my affinity for music & rhythm gameplay. And it played a big role in turning me into a lifelong lover of rock 'n roll. I may never truly learn how hammer-ons & pull-offs work in this game, but it's still a good time. Reminds me of my childhood.
As was the case with Ages, my nostalgia factor is probably playing a big role in how I feel about this game, but alas, I can't help myself. Another great handheld Zelda title. Explore the dungeons, collect the 8 MacGuffins, beat the baddie & save the day. Simple, sweet, effective & all backed up by an excellent use of the GBC sound chip (Dancing Dragon Dungeon OST goes way harder than it ever had to & it pays off).
I have a fair amount of nostalgia for the Zelda Oracle games; I'll just admit that right away. But even so, Ages is a well-crafted adventure. Perfect to play in bitesize chunks while taking your GBC wherever you go. The story is simple but effective & gameplay keeps you engaged with all its puzzles. Throw in some nice chiptunes to boot & you've got a nice handheld Zelda classic.
2014
I guess I'm just not a Warriors series guy. I had heard of Dynasty Warriors for quite some time & never tried it, but when they released this (which I assume is essentially DW with a Zelda coat of paint), I decided to take the plunge. And I mean, it's alright. Fighting ridiculously huge hoards of enemies is really fun for, like... maybe 15-20 minutes? Played maybe a level & a half before deciding I had my fill. It's fine, but the fun of its core gameplay loop just doesn't last that long for me personally.
My personal favorite Zelda game. The idea that you start out as just a kid in your PJs who grows into becoming the hero rather than just being predestined is so damn cool. The cartoony aesthetic is fun, the soundtrack is top-tier & all the gameplay that made the N64 games tick is polished till it shines. You know the enthusiasm 99% a lot of folks can drum up for OOT? That's how I feel about Wind Waker.
As far as the N64 Zeldas go, I give the edge to Majora's Mask. It's not afraid to be a darker, gloomier Zelda tale with some real emotion baked in. Plus the time loop mechanic adds just the right amount of dread to really drive the feeling home. Everything that was rock-solid about OOT transfers over nicely too ---- the gameplay, the items, the world, the dungeons ---- all still good here as well.
TLOZ: Ocarina of Time is a dang good video game. It's a bit on the overrated side & I feel like I enjoy & connect with other Zelda games a lot more, but it's still a good video game. I think other LOZs outpace it from a narrative point of view, but the gameplay is great with cool items to use, immersive dungeons to tackle & an interesting world to explore.