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The Legend of Zelda playthrough

Inspired by an identical foray by two friends, I recently decided to start playing through the whole Legend of Zelda series by order of release. This kind of undertaking, while not only providing great entertainment for a long time, provides a great perspective of the series as a whole and its evolution from the beginning to present day. This list will be continuously updated throughout the playthrough as a sort of log to keep track of my progress as well as writing down some of my own thoughts about the individual games, my personal connections and their roles in the series.

CD-i games, Tingle games and other such derivations are naturally excluded, unless I make random exceptions because I feel like it.

List items

1. The Legend of Zelda

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: GameCube, Collector's Edition
*** Date started: 27 December, 2009
*** Date finished: 29 December, 2009
***
Observing other players and internet research aside, my first personal experience of the first game came very late, at the acquisition of the Collector's Edition disc in 2004. With a mindset grown from Ocarina of Time, it's easy to see how this debut might come across as a bit shallow in the aesthetics department. I'm perfectly capable of jumping into older games with an open mind though, and while the simplicity of the first game's design didn't throw me off, the difficulty did. With no more than two dungeons completed, this game has hardly been touched for the last few years until now. This time, I entered the game with will and determination... and internet maps!
Today, with good knowledge of what the future would hold for the series, The Legend of Zelda (uhm, "the first") becomes a very interesting game to analyze in regards to its similarities and differences to the games that followed. The whole game nearly feels like a prototype for a game idea, not yet technically capable of being executed in the way Miyamoto & Co had in mind. That kind of early undeveloped feel in itself makes The First a fun game to play, in the same way looking at pictures of yourself from ten years ago creates astonishment over how things have changed. Although perhaps that fun is not from the proper perspective. Looking at the game in its proper contemporary context, what it was when it was more than The First, when it was The Only One, in an age when gameplay and aesthetics were relatively simple, you see a game way ahead of its time. Complex and challenging like Tetris, but with depth that can hardly be compared to anything short of rivaling adventure or role-playing games of its time. While still no fan of the frequent death rate and almost too well hidden secrets, I was left rather impressed when I finally gave this game a proper chance. From picking up the wooden sword to finishing off Ganon with a silver arrow, it's not hard to see how this game managed to enthrall a whole world back in the day.
2. Zelda II: The Adventure of Link

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: GameCube, Collector's Edition
*** Date started: 29 December, 2009
*** Date finished: 30 December, 2009
***
Oh yeah, the legendary "black sheep", so legendary it doesn't even need "The Legend of" in its name. My previous history with this game is pretty much identical to that of The First, even roughly down to completion progress before putting it down. Much like other low-regarded sequels that get shafted by the general public for being too different though, I personally prefer this game over its predecessor, a lot. The Zelda feel is totally there, only experienced through an interesting kind of platformer hybrid rather than just top-down perspective four directional movement. I'd even say this game comes much closer to aesthetically creating the atmosphere of a typical Zelda game than The First, with a varied world and towns full of life. What this game undeniably also has a lot more of is sheer difficulty, not so much for the brain as for the reflexes. As fun as the experimental gameplay is, it stands without question that the number one requirement for actually completing Zelda II is a whole lot of patience. You play, you die, you return to the beginning and work your way back, lather, rinse, repeat. I wouldn't even recommend playing this game without some kind of helpful reference, be it a walkthrough or just a marked map. There's enough challenge in the action to keep one person occupied and frustrated for two, and getting stuck with no knowledge of how to progress in addition to that can only be good for psychiatrists' wallets. No doubt, completing the game after several hours of attempts at the final palace alone is something I can regard as part of the year's biggest accomplishments. Leaving the challenge subject however, it has to be said further that Adventure of Link, while far from being on the same level as the many games that followed, was a very interesting way of making a follow-up without repeating the gameplay. It could perhaps be considered a shame that there will likely never be another game like it, but in truth that uniqueness is probably what makes the game fun as a stand-out. Admittedly the Zelda series would not have been the same if the subsequent entries had taken their inspiration from the sidescrolling bits of "the black sheep". If Adventure of Link had to be summarized, it could be called a successful shot, but a bold attempt that got once lucky.
3. Game & Watch

*** System played: Nintendo DS Lite
*** Version: Game Boy Advance, Game & Watch Gallery 4
*** Date started: 31 December, 2009
*** Date finished: 31 December, 2009
***
The final Game & Watch game ever made of the original line, known simply as Zelda. Played less as an actual part of the playthrough and more as a fun bonus inbetween A Link to the Past sessions, but nevertheless worth a mention. I am not fortunate enough to own a copy of the game in its vintage original version, but thanks to our unknown wonder developer TOSE, the less financially successful gamers can access this faithful port in the hopefully-not-last installment of the Game & Watch Gallery series... in the form of a tough-as-nails unlockable. In either case, what we have here is, above naturally, a simple LCD game using only a few buttons and movement between a few limited frames. No one's expecting more out of a Game & Watch game. That being said though, without guilt it can be admitted that this game has a surprising amount of depth for its limitations. Once you've figured out the goal and played past a few dungeons, whether you beat the dragon with a deadly tomahawk or Link's liquid crystal butterknife of doom, a sort of determination sets in, a determination to complete the Triforce and rescue Zelda. This is blissfully doable, and not particularly hard, thanks to the revolutionary continue function (irony yes), but it needs mentioning that at later parts of the game, some of the rooms actually provide a fair challenge (much depending on how often or not you get the Water of Life). Now, there's no way you can claim this game to be a full-fledged part of the series, but in any kind of Zelda marathon with friends, being able to break out this surprisingly enjoyable Game & Watch game to add to the experience will always be a nice party trick.
4. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: Virtual Console
*** Date started: 30 December, 2009
*** Date finished: 3 January, 2010
***
How can it be denied? If The First was the prototype, this was definitely the final product. The idea became concrete, and landed on our Earth in a spectacular 16-bit fashion (not necessarily including nausea-inducing Mode 7 backgrounds). Still not the first game of the series experienced by le lent moi, who still wishes he had begun playing these games earlier, but one of the earliest, in the shape of the Game Boy Advance remake in 2003. I was pretty mildly impressed. A fairly enjoyable game, but not much more. Let's be perfectly honest though, giving this game a retrospective review is one of the most superfluous things anyone can do. Even if the game isn't fully your cup of tea - which is okay, I can relate to that - there's simply no way you can actually criticize it for what it is. The atmosphere is beyond beautiful, the storytelling is magnificent, the overworld is full of excitement, the dungeon design is perfect, the parallel world concept is flawlessly executed, and perhaps most importantly, unlike both its predecessors the difficulty is perfectly balanced. If there is such a thing as a perfect game, this has to be one of them. Keep in mind that these words do not come from a fanboy, just an average gamer who personally thinks the game is "okay". If anything bad had to be said about the game, it would be the slightly rushed storytelling that happens once you reach the Dark World and finish its first dungeon. You're dumped in a wasteland with a few numbers on a map and have to go to each one of them, with little individual build-up to any of them (the most notable exception being the wonderful Thieves' Town). The storytelling here is not below satisfactory, but had a lot of potential for more. Comparing the game to the rest of the series, it's simple to say that A Link to the Past took the whole groundwork from The First and added all the details that have become the defining points of the whole series. It's a game of perfection, and probably the most important entry of them all. Everything else is purely up to personal preference, because this game holds little room for improvement. Simply a perfect game.
5. The Legend of Zelda: Link's Awakening DX

*** System played: Game Boy Advance SP
*** Version: Game Boy Color, DX original
*** Date started: 12 January, 2010
*** Date finished: 27 January, 2010
***
Here's where it gets really interesting. I haven't experienced all games in the series prior to starting this playthrough, making this the first time I even touch some of them. Ebayed for the occasion, Link's Awakening, in its superior color version, is one of those games. And the first impression was easily positive. An unfortunately common view within many popular game series is that the portable entries are often seen as inferior or less important than the "main games" on stationary consoles. If there's any series that successfully manages to break away from this, it's Zelda, and the very first such entry is a perfect example. Despite taking a step back in console power from A Link to the Past, Link's Awakening still keeps all the aspects of enjoyment and playability that its immediate predecessor established, instead of going all the way back to inaccurate sword stabs and fiendish puzzles with cryptic hints at best (although while keeping a healthy dose of challenge). The limits of portability do occasionally show, particularly in the impressive-but-compact overworld. But that only helps to make the action particularly enhanced. The game definitely stands on its own as a full part of the legend, and even creates astonishment over how well capable the Game Boy is of deep, immersive and lengthy games, a system probably more famous for single screen drop-block puzzles. Story-wise, Link's Awakening has to be mentioned as one of the most intriguing games in the series. Koholint Island, its purpose and history, left many questions unanswered. As you progress through the game, you may feel subtle hints of various philosophical topics such as existance and morality; can you really bring yourself to awake the Wind Fish if it means the end of these innocent people? The game wasn't finished without a tear, and I really wish I had taken the chance to experience this many many years ago. Some day I'll also have to try out the original monochrome version.
6. The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: Virtual Console
*** Date started: 27 January, 2010
*** Date finished: 9 February, 2010
***
This is where my own legend started, a non-braggable 9 years ago, well past the release of Majora's Mask. From a bargain bin in a local electronics store, I would pick up a Nintendo 64-game that I had previously heard of as the best video game ever, all categories. I wish I could say playing it changed my life forever, but let's stay a bit closer to earth. I could see its qualities, but at the time I was somewhat reluctant to play it. At unease with the serious tone and dark atmosphere that the game presented, in comparison to the Mario and Donkey Kong Country games I was more used to at that time, I sometimes asked myself if I was only playing it in lack of interesting alternatives. For many years, I've been quick to bring up Ocarina of Time whenever the topic of "most overrated game" has been discussed. Obviously that must be true, since I've played it to the end at least half a dozen times, bought Wind Waker only for the Master Quest disc and, despite that uncomfortable feeling, really enjoyed it from the start... Okay, seriously, I hereby publicly apologize for all my bad-mouthing of Ocarina of Time. This game is nothing short of wonderful, and it's unbelievable how I couldn't admit that several years sooner. To begin comparing this game to its four predecessors, it's obvious that the third dimension is the primary topic of discussion. The most amazing thing with the Zelda series in its transition to 3D is how little it changed from the original formula, but how much greater it became in the process. Compared to Super Mario 64, which had the series' basic linear-scrolling-obstacle course concept changed to completing missions in large open worlds, Ocarina of Time changes very little from the overworld and dungeon concept as perfected by A Link to the Past. What the new dimension doesn't do with the gameplay however, it truly does with the immersion, the feeling of taking the role as Link and living the legend, and that's what makes the 3D Zeldas truly stand on their own high ground. As a Zelda game in itself, Ocarina of Time does not stand short in storytelling, dungeon design and enjoyable sidequests. Nowhere in the whole game does the story ever go stale, and the child/adult concept creates a fantastic parallel to A Link to the Past's Dark World, with a gracefully added difference in gameplay aside from the basic two-sided world. Yes, A Link to the Past is still more perfect for what it is, but compared to eachother as pure individual games, Ocarina of Time is a greater experience on many levels. I still won't admit the game as the very best of the series, let alone all video games ever, but no longer can I blame those who do. During this playthrough, with an honest mind and an excitement over the whole series in general, I got more enjoyment out of Ocarina of Time than ever before. It also became my first ever 100% completion.
7. The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: Virtual Console
*** Date started: 9 February, 2010
*** Date finished: 18 February, 2010
***
It does get increasingly obvious how most of what I write about these games are things that have been said thousands of times before by all kinds of gaming fans and journalists already. But the more you play Zelda games, the more you notice how true those clichés actually are, and how difficult it becomes to strive away from them. Majora's Mask is a very clear example of this, because of four very clear defining points that make up the pillars of any kind of reflection about the game. 1) The three-day system. An ingenious concept with near flawless execution that keeps the replayability level high. 2) The emphasis on side-quests, that bold and very successful attempt at changing the delicate balance between the roles of the overworld and dungeons. 3) The transformations. The fun alternatives that created more gameplay diversity than any inventory in any Zelda game before or after. 4) The storytelling. The slightly creepy, slighty cosy and overall very lively atmosphere of the whole game. A fifth pillar would be the game's role as a proper sequel to Ocarina of Time and the interesting new uses of familiar character models. This relates well to the game's very interesting design process, a quick and somewhat spontaneous sequel thrown together as an alternative to Ura Zelda. Despite the short development time and the many obvious shortcuts, the result of this quick job was anything but half-assed. The many daring choices done for this game, perhaps most notably the fewer dungeons in favor of fleshing out the world areas and side quests to a magnificent breaking point, create what could be argued as the most unique experience offered out of any game in the whole series (barring the pure... difference of Adventure of Link). On the personal history, I mostly missed this game the first time around, only having tried out a friend's copy until I finally got to properly experience it with the Collector's Edition disc. For many of the reasons mentioned earlier, the amount of enjoyment I got out of Majora's Mask was copius, and I will not hesitate for a second to approve this game as the second best in the whole series, only to be outdone by an upcoming entry.
8. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Seasons

*** System played: Game Boy Advance SP
*** Version: Game Boy Color original
*** Date started: 18 February, 2010
*** Date finished: 11 May, 2011
***
As you can probably deduce by looking at the dates above, this one took quite a while to get through. I'm not going to pretend the reason was anything other than lack of interest, not so much caused by the game's quality as just overall ambition, but there was always an intention to pick it up exactly from where I left off, and eventually I did. Either way, let's start by establishing that I've never played any of the Oracle games before, and for the sake of this playthrough, the password system will be used to treat Ages as the sequel. Why did I go for Seasons first? I dunno, something about it feels like it makes sense, perhaps the daylight/twilight chronology in the two intro movies. But let's ignore the whole twin game aspect for now and let Oracle of Seasons speak for itself. What we've got here is a handheld Zelda that is shamelessly recycling a previous game engine, known from Link's Awakening, assembled in an unprecedented move by third-party developers Capcom (Flagship division). A description that oozes "fan-hack" if anything. But while in all honesty it often does feel like you're playing Awakening all over again, this game is in fact nothing short of a solid, good-quality, unique Zelda experience. While it doesn't bring any particularly exciting new gameplay aspects to the table, it manages to respectfully follow the formula without losing its own identity (this despite lifting the majority of its bosses directly out of The First). Atmospherically, the feeling is inevitably much the same as Link's Awakening, but in a good way. Holodrum is a comforting world that feels full of life, especially enhanced by the season-changing system. Even Subrosia, the game's Dark World Jr., for all of its intimidating landscape, constantly holds this feeling of a rather cosy place where you get to hang out with cute hooded creatures. New villain Onox is doomed to never likely get a position among memorable antagonists, but he provides a worthy climax and a fair challenge after the buildup of this well-paced Zelda game. Oracle of Seasons is not a classic, but it makes itself well deserved of my approval. Now then, I haven't compared for myself yet, but supposedly this game is more action-oriented than its puzzle-oriented counterpart, the counterpart which is going to conclude the arching storyline (this time). More on that in the next entry...
9. The Legend of Zelda: Oracle of Ages

*** System played: Game Boy Advance SP
*** Version: Game Boy Color original
*** Date started: 11 May, 2011
*** Date finished: 27 May, 2011
***
And so we continue, the twin games are brought to completion as the blue version is finished off. All as expected, Oracle of Ages brings more of the same gameplay handed down from Link's Awakening, but luckily enough this game is anything but identical to its counterpart. A completely different set of locations and puzzles, and most of the inventory traded off to give a whole different tool experience. It's actually very impressive how these two games are able to co-exist with so many similarities yet always feel like their own game, never blatantly stealing an idea from the other. The signature gameplay element of Oracle of Ages, time travel, may not feel that fresh in concept (didn't we have that in both Nintendo 64-games already?), but manages to execute itself surprisingly well. This is helped in particular by the past being a distant age of old legends, as opposed to a few years back, making you feel like you're actually creating the history of Labrynna (rather than being dumped into already existing lore of long-dead royal composers or villages built by bandaged tribes). The cleverness of the design means that coming down to it, Oracle of Ages might even possibly outdo Seasons in terms of sheer entertainment value. As for the connectivity between the two games: while the overarching plot of Twinrova leading Ganon's resurrection mostly feels like a distracting detachment, it is in the end a fun little addition that does its part in linking the duo and present the player with a justified ending. I applaud Capcom for creating two top-class games that have all the right to call themselves proper Zelda games. That all said, let's have some brutal honesty for a moment. Playing both of these games one after the other as you work your way through the whole series? You get fed up. Finally being able to move on from this territory comes with a good amount of relief. Still, great games, both of them.
10. The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past & Four Swords

*** System played: Game Boy Advance SP
*** Version: Game Boy Advance original
*** Date started: 29 May, 2011
*** Date finished: 29 May, 2011
***
My determination with this playthrough should be rather apparent when I mention Four Swords, seeing as I actually bought myself a double copy for the sake of playing it. Opinions differ on whether or not Four Swords, being included as a side-game along this port of good old ALttP, counts as a proper game in the series. While I personally do count it, it's easy to see why its disputable, but either way it's good enough for inclusion. Four Swords is, at its core, a simplified Zelda game created for the purpose of multiplayer, and the end product is not exactly a deep experience, mostly a mini-game for a bunch of friends to enjoy (given that you have access to the multitude of items required to play it). The gameplay is based around a few selectable dungeon-style levels, meaning no traversable overworld and no side-quests. That does not mean it's not fun or devoid of the Zelda feeling. Sure enough you'll have a pleasant run if given the chance to play it, but don't take it as a must-play that'll be sorely missed if left out. Worth noting here is also the extra dungeon unlocked in A Link to the Past with Four Swords' completion, an interesting addition with references to the bonus game and some fresh rewards at the end. Four Swords also gives us the first presentation of Link's toon self, starring in the upcoming entry and the majority of games following, but in this occasion more as a sneak preview than anything. Four Swords may not have the prominence to be a memorable entry in the franchise, but it's a decent enough romp that's well worth the rather short amount of time it requires. A shout-out goes out to my friend who played the role of player 2, cheers!
11. The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: GameCube original
*** Date started: 31 May, 2011
*** Date finished: 4 June, 2011
***
At last, we set sail! Let me start by declaring one simple fact: The Wind Waker is my favorite game in the whole series. It has even got a fairly solid position among my top 10 games of all time. I love this game, I love this game so much I want to eat it for dinner! There, I said it, now let's have a closer look. The GameCube era of Nintendo was a time when the company had yet to put their focus on the broader market, but was really showing their ambition to innovate by experimenting with the games of their biggest franchises (FLUDD anyone?). Wind Waker illustrates this very well as it takes on a cartoonish visual style, puts some major twists on the storyline and replaces Hyrule's green fields with a vast blue ocean, fully explorable by means of a sailboat. A very bold move, with opinions still to this day varying greatly over the move's success. As I probably made clear in the beginning, the bold move was beyond successful in my eyes. Wind Waker simply has it where it counts, a beautiful world that feels welcoming yet foreboding, with a sense of adventure and exploration that is unmatched by any of the game's peers. Every moment I spend in the Great Sea is a moment of joy, every face I meet in the island towns bring a friendly smile to my own face. The overall entertainment value of this game is just so high, in my eyes it has a place among the most legendary creations of all entertainment media. Oh and did I mention the Nintendo Gallery, Wind Waker's answer to the Smash Bros. trophy system? A perfect sidequest for an obsessive collector such as myself! It's a feature I dearly wish would be included in more games. I could go on and on about the reasons why this game is so great, but I choose not to stress the point further. In the end I simply wish to thank Nintendo for their bravery during the previous generation. Perhaps some choices were questionable at the time, but when looking back at games like Wind Waker, it makes me realize what I'm sorely missing from the video games of today.
12. The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords Adventures

*** System played: GameCube and Wii
*** Version: GameCube original
*** Date started: 4 June, 2011
*** Date finished: 14 July, 2011
***
This is a party game. Let that fact always stick around lest you forget what Four Swords Adventures is really about. There's a storyline, it takes several hours to complete and it's got the same clever Zelda gameplay as always, but no matter what this game throws at you, it'll always be apparent that the entirety of all motivation behind the creation of this game was multiplayer fun and multiplayer fun only (apart from perhaps wanting to sell some more link cables). Taking the concept of the previous Four Swords and blowing it up by copious amounts, while heavily borrowing elements from pretty much every game in the series, most notably the whole aesthetics of A Link to the Past, we get this amalgamation of a Zelda game, as if it's paying tribute to the rich history of the franchise. For all this, of course, it's still a good game in itself. Mind that this playthrough (my first time), and thus the only basis for my whole perception of the game, only covers the single-player version of Hyrulean Adventure, no Shadow Battle and most certainly no Navi Trackers. Again, the biggest difference from the standard formula is in the overworld-less level-system and lack of permanent items. 24 levels, all requiring the collection of 2000 not rupees ("Force Gems") for progression, this gets occasionally stale but does allow for pleasant bite-size chunks per session. The blissful part of the design is how the levels still keep varied approaches and make sure to capture all the different elements of a good Zelda game, including fields, towns and dungeons et al. You might lack that sense of grandness found in other titles, especially when playing alone, but it would be a lie to claim that Four Swords Adventures is not a worthwhile experience. Just keep bearing in mind that it's a party game and don't ever pretend it to be anything else, because that's when disappointment might start seeping in.
13. The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap

*** System played: Game Boy Advance SP
*** Version: Game Boy Advance original
*** Date started: 14 July, 2011
*** Date finished: 27 July, 2011
***
Mostly overshadowed by Twilight Princess, which was simultaneous in development, The Minish Cap never made much of a splash at the time of its release, and it doesn't really hold out today as a particularly prominent entry to the series. I think that's a great shame. It feels so right to have a full-fledged adventure in the graphical style of Four Swords. What's more, when it comes to the big Nintendo franchises in the library of Game Boy Advance titles, this game gives some much needed dignity to its system by being a completely original game amongst a sea of Super NES-remakes. Another child from Capcom's run of Zelda portables, The Minish Cap, a prequel to the far more shallow Four Swords games, takes quite a bit of inspiration from the Oracle games, but does not hold back in making a name for itself. I shall not hold back my praise, to me this is quite possibly the best 2-dimensional game of the whole series. It contains such a beautiful, vibrant world and is crammed full of lovable characters and original concepts. Short some people would call it, and I admit the game was over more quickly than I could remember from the first time. But it's not the bad kind of short, I would call it compact, full of action and just the length it needs to be. Let us not forget the sidequests, all the Kinstone fusions and hidden items, all making a complete run quite more than a simple breeze. Blinded by love, what do I know? I just know by my own account that this game is a gem and the very closest thing the 2D games have ever come to reaching the same wonderful immersion as their 3D bretheren. Despite being constantly overlooked, The Minish Cap stands bravely and does not let the legacy of its Zelda name go to waste.
14. The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess

*** System played: Wii
*** Version: Wii
*** Date started: 28 July, 2011
*** Date finished: 15 August, 2011
***
The behemoth is here! I've very much been looking forward to this entry, considering I've only had the pleasure to play through it once before, which happened a good four years ago. To start with, Twilight Princess is mostly what a lot of Zelda fans wanted it to be after Wind Waker's new perspectives, an epic 3D-adventure taking inspiration from all the most memorable aspects of Ocarina of Time, such as horse-riding and Hyrule with all its familiar locales. This is both a strength and a weakness, the game just keeps on serving you the dishes you know you want without taking its time to surprise you with the great things you don't know you want (as successfully pulled off by both Majora's Mask and Wind Waker). With such a focus on following earlier formulas, Twilight Princess doesn't quite manage to create its own identity, instead becoming Ocarina of Time in a deluxe repackaging. But let it not be said that it doesn't at all try, the storyline of Midna and the twilight realm as well as the wolf transformation are the game's most major stand-out aspects that dutifully do their job of reminding us that this is not the same Zelda game we played before. In the end of it all, however, I bend to the fact that these things we know we want are things we want for a good reason, and it feels undeniably satisfying to once again be roaming Hyrule in three whole dimensions. Also, for its lack of overarching surprises, Twilight Princess decides to make up for it with lots of little surprises. I'm talking mainly about two things: 1) Unique items such as the fun Spinner or the dual set-up of Hookshot's successor Clawgrip, allowing for some wall-to-wall Spider-Man kind of action. 2) Refreshingly imaginative dungeon aesthetics. This is probably the only game in the series where I've enjoyed some of the dungeons even more than my beloved overworld side-questing. I have a lot of love to confess for Snowpeak Ruins. Something else worth mentioning is the high amount of storyline events between dungeons, such as the escort from Castle Town to Kakariko Village, often feeling like surprisingly welcome changes of pace and making the whole game come alive in its storytelling. The scale of this game is just stunning; even with previous knowledge and no big moments of being stuck, the total gameplay time for this 100% completion clocked in at nearly 40 hours. Most of it felt very familiar, but the execution of the long dreamt of "Real Zelda" is a graceful response by Nintendo that does not fail to live up to its hype. Just be wary about returning to this old ground again too much in the future.
15. The Legend of Zelda: Phantom Hourglass

*** System played: Nintendo 3DS
*** Version: DS original
*** Date started: 16 August, 2011
*** IN PROGRESS
***