Zelda Dungeon Talks: Which Zelda Game Would You Recommend To A First Time Player?
Posted on September 29 2015 by Josh Tasaico
Hi all and welcome to the latest edition of Zelda Dungeon Talks! Got any friends that you would like to introduce to the Zelda series? Great, but what game would get them to try out first? There are so many Zelda games out right now that it can be a hard choice. You might recommend to them the easiest game, but is that really the right choice? Maybe you would recommend the game that is the most story driven if they like games like that, or maybe you would recommend the most exploration driven if that’s what they enjoy. In order to get someone interested in the series, you need to give them something that they are interested in. Skyward Sword for story, The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, A Link to The Past and A Link Between Worlds for exploration. Then you have the ones in between. You might feel that if you give them a more modern Zelda title, it will be harder for them to go back earlier in the series and play the original game. However you go about it, the question is, which Zelda game would you recommend to a first time player?
In this week’s edition of Zelda Dungeon Talks, various staff members will share with us what game they would recommend to a new player and why. Don’t forget to feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments section.
Ethan Hunt – View Profile
Ocarina of Time. It’s my favourite game of all time and the Zelda title that I started with. Laying down the foundations for future Zelda titles and also 3D adventure games in general, Ocarina of Time is the quintessential Zelda title in my opinion. I would also certainly start on Ocarina because of the fact that starting on newer titles and going backwards may provide discomfort, as obviously things like controlling Link and visuals have become more refined in recent generations.
Jon Lett – View Profile
I would likely go with Ocarina of Time 3D. It has more or less been the base several, if not all, Zelda games have gone off of since Ocarina of Time came out. The storytelling, the style of exploration, the items, theming of dungeons – Ocarina basically started many series conventions, and would therefore introduce a first time player very well to the series as a whole, giving them a good idea of what to expect in each game. The gameplay has also aged quite well, and its 3DS version is a worthy game to have on its own, so someone looking for a good first Zelda game has rather easy access to it.
Alasyn Eletha – View Profile
I would definitely have to say Ocarina of Time. Today’s Zelda fans that have been with the series for a while, for most of them, Ocarina of Time was their first Zelda game, what introduced them to the Zelda universe. It’s definitely a game that leaves a very good and lasting first impression. All the elements to what makes the Zelda franchise what it is- the story, the hero, the adventure- are in this game and I feel that that is essential for someone jumping into a legend that has been being told for nearly thirty years.
Alexis Anderson – View Profile
Without a doubt I would recommend Four Swords Adventures! It’s simplistic, shows off the unique types of gameplay found across Zelda titles, is comedic while at the same time has an investing plot, and chops the large world up into bits so as not to overwhelm the player. The game gives a good impression of Princess Zelda, her importance, and her power. It also includes both Vaati and Ganondorf (which may incline new players to try the other titles and see these villains again), and it’s separated enough from the main series that one won’t be missing anything having not played the other games. Four Swords Adventures is a rather easy and greatly enjoyable game to invite and ease a new player into the series. The Wind Waker would be my second choice as an introduction game, but it loses some of its luster when past adventures through Hyrule can’t be referenced as you traipse around in the preserved bit of Old Hyrule.
Thomas Jacobs – View Profile
A Link to the Past. It allows the player to get accustomed to how a Zelda games works with the exploring and the combat and the puzzles, while not being slowed down by a hefty story. “Princess got captured, go save her.” is as simple as its gets. The game’s not too difficult either: while it’s not the easiest Zelda game it’s not the most difficult one, with a nice difficulty curve. There’s also plenty of exploration to do, so it rewards curiosity and the desire to explore and master the world. It also rewards cleverness, like when you use the magic mirror to travel from the Dark World to reach places in the Light World you cannot normally reach or when you discover how to use the Magic Cape to get around certain obstacles to get treasure. For that, combined with its simple controls, I think that it is a great game for a new player to start with.
