Hey, did you hear that Tears of the Kingdom is out? Of course you did, because it's literally the only thing people are talking about right now. Nearly four decades after it first hit 8-bit consoles, The Legend of Zelda is bigger than ever, easily ranking as one of Nintendo's premier franchises. With all this talk about Link's new adventure, I started to wonder what Electronic Gaming Monthly thought about the series back in the day. I assumed they loved the long-running franchise, but what were their favorite (and least favorite) games?
In case you're wondering, EGM managed to review a total of 13 games in the Legend of Zelda series between 1989 and 2008. That means they hit pretty much every major Zelda game from A Link to the Past on the Super NES all the way up to Phantom Hourglass on the Nintendo DS. Frustratingly, they never reviewed the first two Nintendo Entertainment System installments, and the magazine died before key titles like Skyward Sword, A Link Between Worlds and, of course, Breath of the Wild were released. What's even more annoying is that they completely skipped reviewing the CD-i games, so we'll never know what they thought of Zelda's Adventure or The Wand of Gamelon. Thankfully, they managed to review pretty much everything else, which will make for a great list.
What we're going to do today is countdown the best and worst Legend of Zelda games using Electronic Gaming Monthly's own words and scores. There's no editorializing here, we're going to focus on what the critics said back when these games first came out. So, go and tell Tingle the good news, because we're about to hack and slash our way through a masterfully-crafted dungeon as EGM Ranks The Legend of Zelda.
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening (Game Boy)
#13
“Can Nintendo do no wrong? This game is thankfully not a complete translation of the Super NES version. A totally different story with incredible graphics and beautiful sound are the real high points. The only drawback is that this game could have been perfect as a sequel to the Super NES version. A great job!” (8.25 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures (GameCube)
#12
“If you thought Wind Waker was Zelda for Babies, then Four Swords is practically prenatal. I'm not making fun of its kiddy cartoon style, I'm referring to how each Four Swords stage is set up like a stripped-down standalone game – after you power up your sword, get that boomerang or find a heart container to increase your health, say goodbye to them when you finish the level and start over on the next. You don't really develop your link into a greater, more powerful hero. You don't even get to carry more than one sub-weapon at a time. It all feels like Zelda Lite. Your fun will waver with some confusing levels that take way too long to finish, but cooperating and competing at the same time with your ‘teammates' is a great experience that any Zelda fan will enjoy.” (8.5 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass (Nintendo DS)
#11
“As expected, Phantom Hourglass serves up the usual slate of Zelda staples – traveling, exploration, puzzles and combat – in generous quantities, but this time everything is handled via the touch screen and stylus. Personally, being forced to adapt to this new play style irritated me at first, especially since your hand often obscures the action. But as the game progresses, moves become available that wouldn't be possible without a stylus, so this method eventually proves its worth. Is Hourglass a solid piece of Nintendo DS software? Absolutely. But we've all been there and done that before.” (8.5 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past (Super NES)
#10
“Wow! This is the closest a game has ever gotten to a perfect 10. Everything except the graphics get the best score possible. Unfortunately, Nintendo let us down when it comes to the graphics, as there is nothing spectacular here.” [...] “Tons of items to find and a super long quest, I love it! Yet, the game does seem too easy when it's in English.” (8.75 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
(Game Boy Advance)
#9
“Brain-straining dungeons, elaborate bosses, funky gadgets, a supersized world – that's the stuff that makes the Zelda series so bitchin'. And this Cap brims with it, along with a clever and endearing shrinky-Link gameplay twist that makes for cool puzzles. Plus, Minish Cap packs little touches that'll give Link lovers goosebumps, such as an ocarina flute, militant chickens and a greatest-hits assortment of tunes and monsters. The quest really drags around the middle, when you must fiddle with such mundane tasks as returning overdue library books. Fortunately, the rest of the game is appropriately legendary.” (9 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening
DX (Game Boy Color)
#8
“It's been five years, and Link's Awakening still reigns supreme as the best Game Boy game available. Be warned, though – aside from the beautiful colorized graphics and a slightly updated ending, Zelda DX isn't all that different from the original game. Collecting all 12 photos for the Camera Shop makes for a nice added challenge, but the new dungeon is a total disappointment (too short, too easy). Still, a must-buy for any Game Boy Color owner.” (9.25 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords (Game Boy Advance)
#7
“Ten years ago, when I had to put down A Link to the Past for a family vacation, I remember thinking, ‘Wouldn't it be great if I didn't have to wait till I was home, in front of the TV, to play more?' And now, that childhood dream's been realized – I can play this classic Zelda anywhere, with its huge quest, mind-bending dungeons, and sharp graphics that stand the test of time. And to make it an even sweeter deal, I can link up with friends to play Four Swords, which is the most fun I've ever had with a four-player Game Boy Advance game. If you own a Game Boy Advance, this Zelda should be in your collection.” (9.5 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons (Game Boy Color)
#6
“If you were a fan of the previous Game Boy Zelda, or any of the 2D Zeldas for that matter, then really, don't even bother reading this. Just go out and buy one (or even better, both of) the Oracle games. You'll thank me later. They're both fantastic games, and despite being developed by an outsider, are very worthy of the Zelda name. The dungeons in Seasons are exquisitely designed, though they don't get incredibly challenging until around level 6 or so. The new items are very cool though, and the Rings add a nice touch of variety to the gameplay. Ultimately, the thing that really pushes these games over the top is their interaction with one another. [Oracle of Seasons is] an overall fantastic game that should not be missed.” (9.5 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages
(Game Boy Color)
#5
“While both Oracle games are truly superb, I have to go with Ages as my personal favorite, thanks to the more thought-provoking puzzles and the Super NES Zelda-esque world design (the way things are broken up between past and present reminds me a bit of the Light and Dark worlds in A Link to the Past). The dungeons are hardcore, the new items are sweet (I love the Switch Hook), and even the music is inspired, despite half of it being ripped directly from Link's Awakening. As a stand-alone game, Oracle of Ages is great, but when coupled with Oracle of Seasons, it becomes one of the most satisfying Game Boy Color experiences ever. It makes for a great Game Boy Advance game, too.” (9.5 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker (GameCube)
#4
“What the hell were we all so worried about? The Wind Waker's toon-shaded look once seemed like a daring risk, but after actually trying the finished game, it's hard to imagine it any other way. In short, Nintendo achieved its goal – playing Zelda feels like you're controlling a cartoon. I have only two minor complaints with The Wind Waker: First, it's a bit too easy – I never had to worry about dying at any time through the entire game. Second is the boat Link rides everywhere. Yes, it is a unique and cool method to get around; the way you dredge up treasure, aim your cannon to attack, and use the wind to steer feels unlike anything Zelda, or any other game, has done before. But my trouble is, you're sailing a lot. Despite a limited warp spell you get later, it can get tiresome. But these are minor quibbles next to everything that Zelda does so well. It's one of the most unique and enjoyable games ever – play it.” (9.8 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask (Nintendo 64)
#3
“I love the time-travel aspect in Majora's Mask, even moreso than Ocarina of Time in some ways. Technically, this game only lasts three (game) days, but with the use of the ocarina, you get to replay those days over and over again. Kinda like Zelda meets Groundhog Day. Besides the novel approach, what you really get in Majora's Mask is more of the same great gameplay from the last game, complete with an entirely new, though eerily familiar, world to explore and a unique set of quests and mini-games. It's too bad the N64 is aging so poorly. The fuzzy graphics really hurt this game in my opinion. Not enough to mess with the score, though.” (10 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time
(Nintendo 64)
#2
“Graphics: Wonderful. Sound: Glorious. Controls: Perfect. Atmosphere: Incredible. Is it the finest game ever made? Quite possibly. Only Miyamoto seems to be able to bring out the kid that lives deep down inside everyone, allowing you to enjoy the games exactly as he intended. It's an incredibly enjoyable experience, impossible to play for short periods of time ... you'll get sucked in so much, you'll always play for hours.” [...] “Do not ... I repeat ... DO NOT miss it.” (10 out of 10)
The Legend of Zelda: Twilight
Princess (Wii)
#1
Never before have I seen a better argument for longer game-development times. Giving the Twilight Princess team an extra year (and a whole new console) to play with has resulted in the finest Zelda you've ever played. And skeptics who feared tacked-on Wii controls will be pleasantly surprised by the instinctive, visceral and rewarding Wii-mote gameplay. But don't think that the game adheres to the predictable dungeon-crawling formula; you'll quickly discover that Twilight Princess is packed with above-ground surprised and innovations, too. Unparalleled pacing means that you're never doing the same thing for more than an hour or two. For everyone who thought we'd never see a Zelda better than Ocarina of Time, prepare to have your mind blown ... and your Wii purchase instantly validated.” (10 out of 10)
