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Special Edition Podcast: The Great Zelda Debate

UPDATE (September 7, 2011): Earlier this year, GI's most diehard Zelda fanatics got together to debate which game in the series was best (amongst other issues) on the Game Informer Show. We're republishing that special episode today to help prep you for the month of Zelda 25th anniversary coverage that will be hitting alongside our Skyward Sword cover this month. Enjoy and share your feelings on which Zelda is the best in the series in the comments!

For regular podcast listeners, don't worry -- we'll be back tomorrow with our regularly-scheduled edition of the Game Informer Show.

ORIGINAL STORY (April 7, 2011): We decided to take a week off of our regular podcast to present to you our Great Zelda Debate. The idea for this issue started when some GI editors were arguing about what the greatest Zelda game of all time was on Twitter (you know, instead of walking over 10 feet and talking to each other). Host Matt Helgeson dragged the office's biggest Zelda fans (Tim Turi, Phil Kollar, Andy Reiner, Dan Ryckert, and Matt Bertz) into the studio for a spirited conversation about the best and worst Zelda games, how the series has evolved (or failed to evolve) over the years, and some of the significant innovations past Zelda titles brought to our favorite hobby.


Attachment: http://media1.gameinformer.com/media/audio/theshow/zelda/zeldapodcast.mp3

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Comments
  • I didn't play that many Zelda games I should die!!
  • Hahah. Awesome. I was JUST looking for the new GI Show. Thanks a lot fellas.

  • Majora's Mask is personally my favorite. (Fierce Diety Link FTW.) Also, can't wait to listen to Podcast.
  • Zelda is probably my favorite series. Also, is anyone else having trouble viewing comments on pages 2,3, etc... for the podcasts?
  • This podcast is destined for greatness.

  • i don't know about best but my favorite is a link to the past

  • My favorite Zelda games are Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time, I just can't ever decide between those two. They both carry some great and very treasured memories of mine. I could stop and talk about how I love all the other ones too but this post would end up being way too long.
  • i didnt play any zelda games
  • I listen to the podcasts on Fridays going to work each week, can't wait to listen to this.  My fav is Link to the Past, along with the N64 titles.  I am very disappointed in the DS titles, I liked the first one (I LOVE Wind Waker mind you), but Spirit Tracks didn't move me.  My wife loves them, I just can't get that into them.  I wish we can get more "old school" Zelda and less Wolves and other stuff.  Or at least another Wind Waker designed game with old school gameplay.  

  • You guys make me laugh. I can't wait to listen to this it should be quite entertaining

  • Link to the Past for the win, guys. Timeless with no camera issues and serves as the basis for the two worlds gameplay seen in Ocarina. It had a legitimate challenge that I feel was washed away in the later 3d iterations.

  • I liked Majora's Mask and OoT about even. The worst was the CDI game, which I actually own, but not sure if I should be proud of that.
  • best original, link to the past, and ocarina

    worst: cdi games

    Blacksheep( odd one out): zelda 2

  • I've only played Windwaker and A Link to the Past so my input in this debate would mean little. Man, I need to borrow some games...

  • ORCARINA OF TIME WAS THE BEST Zelda 2 was the worst

  • Favorites are Majora's Mask followed very closely by Ocarina of Time. I hated wind waker and never finished Twilight Princess although I wanted to.
  • Gotta say Windwaker is my personal fav

  • I know that skyward sword is gunna be all happy, bright and fluffy but I wish that the next Zelda would be like sorta like darksiders in that its dark because most of nintendos main audience doesnt know story of the Legend of Zelda's
    But i liked Twilight princess the best but its like picking your favorite spice girl hahaha lol
  • As a HUGE Zelda fan, i thought i'd bring some input before i listen (and edit after). I personally believe that the greatest Zelda game period is Majora's Mask. It took alot of risks (no Hyrule, 3 Days, rewinding time) that i believe paid off in a big way, brought great new ideas to the Zelda series(masks, NPC's living their own lives, huge amount of sidequests, etc), and pretty much improved upon alot of the great things in OOT. As for worst, id have to say Zelda 2. its not necessarily a bad game (its actually a pretty good game), its just not a good Zelda game (if that makes sense). As for saying the series hasn't evolved, it's kind of a mixed bag for me. I can't deny that the series has stuck to the original formula that made it so successful, but the series has evolved in other areas. Each Zelda game brings something new to the table, and i feel these things get overlooked when people talk about the series. Whether it be the mask and time systems in MM, the art style of Wind Waker, the cinematic presentation of TP along with the Wii controls and the Wolf, or the DS specific gameplay features of the DS games, people seem to overlook the features that make each game unique. on a final note, i'd like to point out that i think the people who say the series has gotten formulaic, while justified, are just whining. It's true that in most Zelda games, you follow a pattern of say, 3 dungeons, some type of event, then more dungeons, then final boss. But the journey is different every time. While I may be revisiting Death Mountain or a fire dungeon, each dungeon is different and i never feel like im replaying an old Zelda games. anyways, enough with my rant. time to listen. oh, and if anyone doesnt agree, feel free to comment. I'd like to hear other opinions.
  • Oh this is going to be so cool. A Link to the Past is probably my favorite. I also loved Majora's Mask a lot, though it is kind of hard to go back and play now since I have less time and patience for the 3 day countdown and weird saving in the game.

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