this post was submitted on 13 Aug 2024
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I only ask this question because I can see that you're a franchise veteran and my entry into the franchise was very different. I've heard that most old school zelda players really dislike botw and I don't understand why since the two switch titles are among my favorites of all time and I've played a decent amount of games. Is that the case with you as well?
I’ve been playing the Zelda series since the original NES game in the 80s. BOTW and TOTK are some of my favorites.
No, I really enjoyed BotW for the same reason I enjoyed OoT! Both innovated and both were very different games exploring different concepts. BotW will forever be my go-to for "open world done right", and OoT set up a solid action game with strong puzzle elements; that said, fuck the water temple.
Games that break genuinely new ground are rare, in the case of both the old and new Zelda's there are good and bad (the nds era was a bit of a stagnation), the really groundbreaking titles push the hardware through skilled coding and amazing game loop design.
Also, no spoilers for tears please, it's on my list once I get a few weeks vacation!
The only Zeldas I haven't played to completion are Zelda 1, 2, Minish Cap, and Phantom Hourglass, and Link Between Worlds. My favorites are Majora's Mask, Breath of the Wild, and Twilight Princess.
People that disliked the Switch titles prefer the intricate puzzle-based dungeons and a tighter story. In previous titles, the whole game is a linear puzzlebox. It really looks like the series is turning away from this, with even Echoes of Wisdom showcasing a sandbox approach.
Personally, having played SO many Zelda titles that rigidly adhered to this, it's good they're mixing it up. There was a lot of ideas they had rehashed. And the indie space has rushed to fill the void, so Zelda enjoyers of all kinds are eating good.
Oh man, highly recommend Link Between Worlds with a 3DS if you can get your hands on one! I know many people thought it was gimmicky, but it genuinely blew my mind how good the game looked in 3D. Probably tied with Samus Returns and RE:Revelations for some of my best gaming experiences on the 3DS.
Man, I actually skipped it and Samus Returns, but I do have a 2DS. I can still buy those by putting money on my account through my Switch, right?
The DS shop closed in March 2023, so unless you already bought those titles, you won't be able download them. I would look into homebrewing your 2DS, it's not that complex and the step by step instructions are very thorough.
I mean you could also try to find 2nd hand sellers, but the prices of DS games have jumped a LOT in the past few years.
I've played almost every Zelda except 1+2 (I swear I'll get to it...someday) and the CD-i ones. BotW + TotK was some of my favourite times with the franchise, it really took me back to experiencing the OoT + MM duology.
I think a lot of the "People hate BotW/TotK/x Zelda" is partially an online circlejerk, tbh. No matter what the vocal Zelda fans may tout as "popular" opinion, there's actually a lot of variance in and outside of the Zelda community. I remember when Wind Waker and Twilight Princess were touted as the black sheep of the franchise, and look at them now.
(Except Wand of Gamalon. That might be the one universally hated Zelda game in my experience, lol.)