Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Suffers the Most from Negative Bias, and Which Receives the Most Forgiveness?

Whenever a game is released, it is subject to scrutiny. The reputation of a video game, much like a film or novel, can be influenced by many factors ranging from the actual quality of the product to the voiced perception of those who have played said game. The stigma of a video game can cause the number of potential new players to dwindle or soar when they see established fans and critics make certain claims about the game, for better or for worse.

Within the mainline Zelda series’ 19 games, there are some that sparked high controversy upon release, some that continue to do so or have picked up controversy along the way, and those that were once controversial but have been mostly cleansed of negative stigma surrounding them. A few examples are Zelda II: The Adventure of Link, which is often referred as the “black sheep” of Zelda games, Skyward Sword, which continues to draw varied opinions due to a multitude of factors such as its linearity, and The Wind Waker, which was once strongly criticized in the west for its cartoonish art style but has grown to become one of the most well regarded games in the franchise.

The scales by which Zelda games are judged are always shifting, which means some titles can meet undeserved negative attention while others avoid deserved criticism. What are your thoughts? Which Zelda games do you think suffer the most from negative bias, and which do you feel have been offered the most forgiveness? Let us know!

This Daily Debate was inspired by @Skip.

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Sorted Under: Breath of the Wild, Daily Debate, Games, Original Content, Skyward Sword, The Adventure of Link, The Wind Waker
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