Daily Debate: What Zelda Game Didn’t Grip You at First but You Ultimately Enjoyed?
Posted on November 02 2024 by Jared Eubanks
Our recommendations of books, movies, or TV series to friends can be wholehearted or couched with caveats. We let our friends know that the TV series starts out a little slow and you just need to wade through the first few episodes before it picks up and becomes worth it. A book sounds quirky and strange, but if you’re willing to play along, it’s totally worth the read. A movie shows its age with its dated special effects, but it’s a real gem.
Video games, including Zelda, can be much the same way. I wanted to look back at some Zelda games that felt like a chore to me in their initial hours, or I very nearly quit playing; however, when the final credits scrolled, I was glad that I had pushed through to the good parts. I’ll consider it from three angles: 1) slow start, 2) unique gameplay mechanics, and 3) dated hardware limitations.
Zelda games are known for their tutorials. When done well, this can be extremely helpful as the player orients themselves, but when done poorly, it can drag things out in critical moments when a player is trying to decide if the time investment is worth it. In Twilight Princess, I felt like Nintendo held my hand a little too tight for a little too long with how to control Link as a wolf, multiple rounds of goat herding, and questions of why are we going back to Faron Woods and the Forest Temple yet again. However, once Link gains the Master Sword and he is finally able to freely switch between wolf and human form, the game takes off and lives up to its billing. It has some of the best dungeons and boss fights in the series, and brilliantly shines in places like Arbiter’s Grounds and Snowpeak Ruins. The second half of the game is a true masterpiece.
When a friend recommended Cadence of Hyrule, I wasn’t sure what to think as I had never played a rhythm-based movement game. I admit that I struggled mightily in my first hour of playing by dying repeatedly. I was unable to simultaneously feel the beat for movement while strategizing how best to attack a group of enemies or solve a puzzle. A couple times I nearly quit for good. For a reason I can’t explain, I kept coming back, and at some point it clicked. Once I could finally move effortlessly around the screen, I could focus on what the developers intended for me to experience. The game has a phenomenal soundtrack with remixes of fan favorites and clever boss battles which integrate musical instruments into classic Zelda bosses. I had so much fun finishing the game, and a smile never left my face.
I grew up with the NES, original Gameboy, and SNES so 8-bit and 16-bit graphics are no stranger to me. However, I’m a big fan of the way in which game remakes allow for use of the full array of buttons on modern controllers and various quality of life improvements. Link’s Awakening is a great example of this as the Switch version alleviated the Gameboy’s constant use of the Start button to swap out your two equipped items/weapons mapped to the A and B buttons. When I tried Oracle of Seasons, the persistent exchange of items/weapons quickly got on my nerves, and I longed for a similar Switch remake with its quality of life features. However, once I came to terms with the technology limitations of its original hardware, I was able to see the great game in front of me that requires you to always have in mind how each season (i.e., spring, summer, fall, and winter) improves or impedes movement. It has some of the best overworld puzzle mechanics in the series in my opinion as you need visualize four versions of the overworld map at all times.
How about your experience of games in the Zelda series? Were any games drudgery at first before you warmed up to them? Did you nearly quit a game before it finally clicked? Are these among your favorite in the entire saga? Let us know in the comments below.
Jared Eubanks is a staff writer at Zelda Dungeon, and he is also a husband, father, and engineer. He is originally from the Atlanta, GA area and still lives there. He graduated from Georgia Tech and is a proud Yellow Jacket. He loves to play boardgames, build Lego, and read books with his family. He’s been gaming since childhood with the original NES and GameBoy, and he enjoys retro gaming, collecting, and modding consoles and handhelds. His favorite Zelda game is Breath of the Wild but is also fond of the older classic titles.
