Hardest Handheld Zelda?

[Alder Dragon]

Which handheld Zelda game do you find the most challenging? I would have to say Link's Awakening, nearly tied with Oracle of Ages. In the case of Link's Awakening though, some of the dungeons can be really confusing your first time around. I think Link's Awakening has a nearly perfect combination of puzzles and combat.

[Metroid133]

Well I have not played Minish Cap (:() yet so going with that information...Link's Awakening. I found it to be the hardest overall. Oracle of Ages/Seasons had some hard parts, but looking at the overall picture they were not terribly hard. Now Link's Awakening on the other hand...^_^' I'm just going to say I hate Eagle's Tower! :O It was a fun game though. ^_^

[Vincent]

I'm gonna go with Link's Awakening, no doubt. I will never be able to beat that game, and that's that.

[Josh]

Link's Awakening forever and ever and ever. Took me a long time to beat that.

[Myyrä]

I have to say oracle of seasons because that is only hanheld zelda that i found challenging. I have not played La so i can't say about it.

[Claire]

Link's Awakening, no further questions asked.

There wasn't a helper involved, which automatically increases the difficulty (in my opinion, at least) and it overall is just more rewarding when defeating a boss because of the difficulty. Also, if it has anything to do with the challenge, I think Link's Awakening is one of the best handheld games - scratch that, it is (assuming you do not count remakes) for me.

[Ver-go-a-go-go]

I'm going to break the trend here and say OoA.

I just got it yesterday, and it's been very hard so far. Much harder than I remember LA being.

[blackice_cc]

I'm going to have to agree with Ver-go here. I haven't played LA in ages, but I beat it when I was around 6-7, so it couldn't have been THAT hard. OoA I had a bit of a pain with in some spots though, and it had some tough puzzles. I'd say it wins this title by far.

[Amelie]

Out of the ones I have played I will have to say Links Awakening. I dont remember finishing MC but it was easy compared to LA for me. The enemmys and puzzles were challangeing in LA for me ^^

[Midna666]

I think that OOA is the hardest handheld Zelda game.
In fact it might be the hardest 2-D Zelda game.

[zeldafreak]

Minish Cap.
Never beat it, although I never died...:dry:

[Alder Dragon]

Link's Awakening, no further questions asked.

There wasn't a helper involved, which automatically increases the difficulty (in my opinion, at least) and it overall is just more rewarding when defeating a boss because of the difficulty. Also, if it has anything to do with the challenge, I think Link's Awakening is one of the best handheld games - scratch that, it is (assuming you do not count remakes) for me.

Well, actually, you could sorta count the Owl as a helper. But, if you mean a helper that follows you around that you can talk to such as midna, Navi, or Ezlo.. then that makes sense. I don't really remember there being any "helpers" in OoX either, though.

I really think the order of difficulty in handheld Zeldas would go something like this:

LA > OoA > OoS > TMC > PH > FS

Link's Awakening and OoA are really close. Both are very challenging games. I would say that the puzzles are harder in OoA, but you are also given more hints and clues in OoA than you are in LA. For example, in the dungeons in Link's Awakening, the only tips you got were from the owl statues/stone tablets. Though, I can't honestly say I remember much about OoA.

[El Bagu]

I guess I´ll go with the flow here, LA and OoA are the most difficult and time consuming games, but OnoX is the hardest boss you´ll ever encounter in a handheld Zelda!

[Claire]

Well, actually, you could sorta count the Owl as a helper. But, if you mean a helper that follows you around that you can talk to such as midna, Navi, or Ezlo.. then that makes sense. I don't really remember there being any "helpers" in OoX either, though.

I really think the order of difficulty in handheld Zeldas would go something like this:

LA > OoA > OoS > TMC > PH > FS

Link's Awakening and OoA are really close. Both are very challenging games. I would say that the puzzles are harder in OoA, but you are also given more hints and clues in OoA than you are in LA. For example, in the dungeons in Link's Awakening, the only tips you got were from the owl statues/stone tablets. Though, I can't honestly say I remember much about OoA.

While the owl does come along every now and then, he is practically equal to the stone slabs or sign posts. He simply gives you a small recommendation as to where to venture and that is all, besides continuing some of the storytelling. I would not consider him as a sidekick in this game.

Supplying hints is a great way to lessen the effort to practically any situation in-game. Even if one would consider OoX to have been developed with puzzles at a greater challenge - it is merely the idea that the more you give away, the difficulty will drop as well (in some cases, this is not always true).

[MrMosley]

Oracle of Seasons for me. I don't know if its just that I haven't played it as much as LA and OoA, or if it really is just more difficult, but I just can't seem to get OoS burned into my head like the other Zelda's are. I know LA like the back of my hand, and I know OoA well enough to beat it with no problem. I've beaten LA without dying on a couple of occasions so to me, OoS definitely.

[ShellShocker]

I voted for Link's Awakening, like many others.
Why? Because some puzzles are extremely confusing, and difficult, and truthfully, I haven't even beat it yet.
It is quite hard, and yeah, it's annoying. :P
The only things that are easy, are the boss fights, they are pretty straight-foward. :/

[Skull_Kid]

I have to go with LA... OoA has one thing harder than anyother Zelda: The Graceful Goron Dance, besides that, OoA only has one difficult dungeon: The Mermaid's Cave...
LA has the Tower one and at least another one(haven't played LA in a long while), and the owl statues in LA didn't provided much help at all

[[%LinkXL%]]

I don't have a hardest but semi-moderate would be ALTTP.

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[ChargewithSword]

LA really got me right in the gut and has been the hardest Zelda for me to ever complete on a handheld, the others however are all jokes.

[Skull_Kid]

[QUOTE='[%LinkXL%];37562']I don't have a hardest but semi-moderate would be ALTTP.[QUOTE]

We were talking about the ones in the poll... ALttP is just a port of an SNES game, please, read the threads before posting-.-

[Trentino]

I would say Links awakening, I havn't even gotten to the 3rd dungeon (but I just got it). By the way, where's A Link to the Past?

[El Bagu]

I would say Links awakening, I havn't even gotten to the 3rd dungeon (but I just got it). By the way, where's A Link to the Past?

On this site and probably also elsewhere A Link to the Past is considered a console game. For it was on the SNES it was originally released. But some might argue that (that it should not only be considered a console game)? There is an extra dungeon in the GBA version after all.

[Myungster]

I'd go with Link's Awakening.

I remember staying up late using my GB player on the Game Cube playing.


Also, did anyone get the Fairy Sword in that game? (I think that's the name.)

The one you get from the shells?

[MrMosley]

I'd go with Link's Awakening.

I remember staying up late using my GB player on the Game Cube playing.


Also, did anyone get the Fairy Sword in that game? (I think that's the name.)

The one you get from the shells?

Yeah, every time I play it. LA isn't hard at all for me. I can beat it without dying if I wanted to, done it before. I actually just got done making a very detailed guide on how to get all the shells in the game. There are 25 total, but you really only need 20. It was the L-2 Sword, by the way. When it dropped down, it very much resembled the Master Sword. I don't know if they actually gave it a name.

[Skull_Kid]

Yeah, every time I play it. LA isn't hard at all for me. I can beat it without dying if I wanted to, done it before. I actually just got done making a very detailed guide on how to get all the shells in the game. There are 25 total, but you really only need 20. It was the L-2 Sword, by the way. When it dropped down, it very much resembled the Master Sword. I don't know if they actually gave it a name.

If I am not mistaken it is called the Seashell Sword(very original, indeed:dry:)

If I am not mistaken(again), you can get the necessary amount of seashells after the 4th dungeon. Considering you can do the color dungeon after completing the 3rd dungeon, you'll be by that time a mean green killin'machine

[Kybyrian]

What kind of question is this? Link's Awakening, of course. It was a pretty challenging game, and definitely the most challenging handheld Zelda game.

[Myungster]

If I am not mistaken it is called the Seashell Sword(very original, indeed:dry:)

If I am not mistaken(again), you can get the necessary amount of seashells after the 4th dungeon. Considering you can do the color dungeon after completing the 3rd dungeon, you'll be by that time a mean green killin'machine

Seashell Sword?
Maybe.

But I remember there was a Great Fairy sword.
I forget the game it's in, but I remember it was the best weapon, for Link, in Soul Caliber II for GCN...

[MrMosley]

Seashell Sword?
Maybe.

But I remember there was a Great Fairy sword.
I forget the game it's in, but I remember it was the best weapon, for Link, in Soul Caliber II for GCN...

The Great Fairy Sword was from Majora's Mask. They added it in SC as a more powerful weapon, but that Link (adult Link) never actually had that sword.

[ChargewithSword]

I felt that Link's Awakening had the most difficulty to it but however that difficulty sometimes falls a bit because of your sword's long length which is a life saver. The enemies do a lot of damange to you and are relentless to attack on sight. The traps are well done and difficult to maneuver, which adds to the difficulty. Plus the Ball and Chain soldier makes an already difficult game worse (not in quality.)

[Alter]

Ages took me three years to get through the first time (no walkthrough). Definitely Ages.

Link's Awakening was my first Zelda game. I found it to be a piece of cake, minus the sixth Dungeon. I'm surprised that most people think that game's the hardest!

Minish Cap was pretty easy, yet it had a lot of secrets/sidequests. If you're counting obtaining all of the figurines, I might have to change my vote.

PH was sooooo easy. Disappointing in my opinion.

[MajoraKing12]

I said Phantom Hourglass because I hate how you have to keep going back into the ocean king place!>:( But I also say Links Awaking, right now I don't quite remeber where I am! But Four swords adventures I beat with my mom and sister, but the one for the gamecube. I like that alot better but thats just me.:)

[Skull_Kid]

I said Phantom Hourglass because I hate how you have to keep going back into the ocean king place!>:( But I also say Links Awaking, right now I don't quite remeber where I am! But Four swords adventures I beat with my mom and sister, but the one for the gamecube. I like that alot better but thats just me.:)


That was not hard, that was annoying... They are two different things...

Four Swords Adventures is not a Handheld game, we are talking about the Four Swords that came bundled with the re-release of ALttP...

And Why don'tyou start a new LA file?It's thebest way to catch up with the game

[Hachi]

I'd have to say the hardest handheld Zelda game must be Ages.. Orz, the time I've wasted pulling my hair out on parts of that game. X_x

I just started my first Links Awakening file with Hanyou, and I haven't gotten too far. Just traded a can of dog food for Bananas to a Blue Crocodile. (Wow, that was awkward to type out.)

So far, it's been fun and although a little puzzling at times I've yet to find myself totally stumped for an uber period of time...The Phone guy has helped me a lot. D= And when all else fails I have Tim to bug, lol. :P

[Skull_Kid]

I'd have to say the hardest handheld Zelda game must be Ages.. Orz, the time I've wasted pulling my hair out on parts of that game. X_x

I just started my first Links Awakening file with Hanyou, and I haven't gotten too far. Just traded a can of dog food for Bananas to a Blue Crocodile. (Wow, that was awkward to type out.)

So far, it's been fun and although a little puzzling at times I've yet to find myself totally stumped for an uber period of time...The Phone guy has helped me a lot. D= And when all else fails I have Tim to bug, lol. :P

The only hardpart in OoA is the moronic dance of the Grateful Goron. Nowadays it is easy to me, but when I was younger I hated that part because I knew I would be stuck there for hours

[mewtwolord]

None o de handhelds are hard the toughest in my opinion is the oracle series.

[Mases]

It should be worth nothing that Four Swords Adventures was not a handheld game, as it is listed in this poll. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that. I'm pretty sure it should say just Four Swords instead. I have not played Four Swords so I cannot comment on it.

This is a bit of a tricky question I think, but I personally believe you can immediately throw out The Minish Cap and Phantom Hourglass since I believe they are two of the easiest Zelda titles to date, if not thee easiest.

Comparing the Oracles, I think the Oracle of Seasons was a bit more difficult. Mainly because it was more frustrating and there was more guessing on where you had to go, randomly changing the seasons in various areas, hoping you got it right.

Thus, it really comes down to Oracle of Seasons or Link's Awakening for me. I really think Oracle of Seasons is the harder game, but I struggled through and it took longer to beat Link's Awakening. I think the reason for this, is just because Link's Awakening was released first. Playing Link's Awakening made the play through of Oracle of Seasons a whole lot easier, since the gameplay is extremely similar. So I almost never died in Oracle of Seasons, while I died often in Link's Awakening. So while I was more experience, rarely ever died, and completed the game sooner... I still think the Oracle of Seasons was the harder title.

[Shnappy]

The handhelds weren't my strong point, especially the GB ones. For me, I would have to say it would be a tie between OoS, OoA, and LA. I could also through in PH. I know a lot of you think that PH is all easy and stuff, but it is REALLY frustrating for me, especially when you have to do the stuff at the Temple of the Ocean King.

[General Lee]

I think LA, but also I have never really played all the handheld Zeldas in depth, but from what I have played, I can tell you LA is quite the difficult game, but I still find it fun. I mean there are some difficult puzzles in that game, and it still manages to be fun for me. But like I said before, I have not really played the others in depth or at all (Minish Cap).

[Matt]

It should be worth nothing that Four Swords Adventures was not a handheld game, as it is listed in this poll. I'm surprised nobody has mentioned that. I'm pretty sure it should say just Four Swords instead. I have not played Four Swords so I cannot comment on it.


Hmmm.... then what's this?


Four Swords Adventures is not a Handheld game, we are talking about the Four Swords that came bundled with the re-release of ALttP...


Anyway... They all seem to be of similar difficulty to me. But back in the day when I got my first Zelda game, it gave me quite a bit of trouble. For a few years I never even got to the second level. (I was like four at the time. Cut me some slack.) As you might have guessed, that game was Link's Awakening.

[Kokiri Kid]

I've just started LA, I've just done the second dungeon. So far, it's quite challenging, and strange. Enjoyable though.

Of the ones I've played in that list: PH, MC

MC was hardest XD.

[Kaynil]

I'll break most of people view and say that so far The Minish Cap has been the hardest for me to finish, I had to ask what to do next in more than one point. =\

I haven't played OoX but I have LA and I don't remember it that much challenging.

[Kokiri Kid]

Okay, I'm changing my choice to Link's Awakening as the hardest. I haven't died so many times before ='(

Still, it's a Zelda game, and it's interesting enough to keep me playing or from giving up.

[Johnny Boy]

Link's Awakening all the way here.
LA had tough dungeons, especially Eagle's Tower and Turtle Rock. I'd have to say that Turtle Rock is the hardest 2-D dungeon in all the Zelda games. On my first time through, it was a nightmare. I kept on getting lost and running around in circles. There's not really a helper in this game, like Elzo in MC who pointed out where you had to go next and what you had to do. Actually at one point roughly half-way through LA, I had to stop because it was too complicated for me :lol:. A couple of years later, I started a new file and easily beat the game (except for Turtle Rock...which was a pain.)

In a close second was OoA. Most say that this is the hardest of the Oracle games because of all the challenging puzzles and dungeons. To me, it wasn't too much of a challenge, but it kept you occupied for a while. Definately, and never will be on the same difficulty level as LA.

[Kokiri Kid]

Link's Awakening all the way here.
LA had tough dungeons, especially Eagle's Tower and Turtle Rock. I'd have to say that Turtle Rock is the hardest 2-D dungeon in all the Zelda games. On my first time through, it was a nightmare. .

Turtle Rock was hard for me, but I'm surprised how easy it was compared to Eagle's Tower. Eagle's Tower was the nightmare for me, it gave me a headache and I had to resort to a guide twice - once again a kick in the nuts for me as soon as I found out how easy the things I missed was.

All the switch changing in Eagle's Tower made my eyes water.

I think LA's enemies were the hardest too, the bosses were the easiest I've had to fight surprisingly. Though the dungeons were extremely draining.

I'm up to the 4th Dungeon in OoA, so far it's been something of a challenge, but nothing like Link's Awakening was.