This is where it all began. Nintendo released Zelda in 1986 to stunning response and a series was born. No game series has ever gone through as many makeovers as this has. While the first game did not have the graphics of today’s games, it did present a long quest with many dungeons and bosses to keep even the most hardcore gamer occupied for a while. The game featured and overworld and underworld map that showed the various dungeons and locales. While not the best in the series it sure stands up for its great gameplay. It even shows the first signs of some future characters like Dodongo.

    This game took a more direct action approach and it did not settle well with many Zelda fans. While the game and story remained similar, most of the major gameplay elements had been changed. The side scrolling battle setup was a failure and it was an attempt that fell flat on its face. While it’s not the worst game out there, it sure is not the best.

    The Zelda series got right back on track with this installment as it introduced many new innovative features to the game, including taking full advantage of the Super Nintendo’s power. The story was epic and the boss battles were huge. This style of Zelda games would later be replicated for the Game Boy Color for use in the Oracle series. Many argue that this is in fact the best Zelda game in the series and the argument has been well fought. The game has seen a recent release on the Game Boy Advance. Overall this is one of the best Zelda games out there.

    The first portable Zelda game is arguably the best that the Game Boy had to offer. The quest was long and the mini games were everywhere. Even with the lack of color the fairytale land seemed to come to life. The story revolves around Link who is washed ashore and has lost all memory of ever saving the land of Hyrule from Ganon. As the quest progresses he begins to regain him memories and he gears up for a climactic final battle. The graphics may not be all that but they sure pushed the hardware in terms of what the Game Boy could do. A couple years back they re-released the game for the Game Boy Color and renamed it The Legend of Zelda: Link’s Awakening DX.

    When a person mentions Zelda, this is the game they refer to. Ocarina of Time is definitely in the top ten video games of all time. It revolutionized its generation. The series’ first 3D adventure broke the rector scales with its immense quest, intense boss battles and nearly endless replay value. The final climactic battle has to be the best the world has ever seen in a video gamer and the combat mechanics just seemed to fit. It had an ingenious plot and featured a musical score that would win anyone over. This is arguably the best Zelda game next to the Wind Waker. The game was recently re-released in limited form as a pre-order incentive for Wind Waker. This new version also included Master Quest, a remixed version of the old game featuring re-arranged dungeons and items.

    This game took all of the elements from Ocarina of Time and recycled them into a new experience. While it is a great game, too many things felt off and the story was just plain insane. The character models were re-used and the expansion pack requirement limited some people from buying it. The good news was that for the first time you could re-do dungeons and fight bosses over again for a good time. The replay value was endless in this game as mask finding was an integral part of the game. The mask innovations helped set it apart from Ocarina of Time. The game was released near the end of the Nintendo 64’s life cycle so it did not receive much in the way of press or sales for that matter, but it was one of the series’ greats.

    The last Zelda games on the Game Boy went out with a blast. What it lacked in plot it made up with action. The linking capabilities in the game acted like more of a novelty than a full on feature but it showed signs on the future. The ability to ride animals and play numerous minigames broke up the sometimes monotonous dungeon crawling. Ages took a deeper approach to puzzles while Seasons was all about action. Both games featured a different plot with a different overworld. The bosses and even the end boss were very much different. Overall these two installments were very good. Not the best, but not the worst.

    We now come full circle with the release of the newest entry into the saga. The game features stunning cell-shaded graphics and an epic score. Intense boss battles and an intriguing story line that will keep you at the edge of your seat. The wind waker aspect of the game adds a whole new layer to the Zelda lore and only furthers the story’s progression. The game finely intertwines past chapters of the game into one elaborate plot and the references to The Ocarina of Time are endless. This is overall the best Zelda game out there and it will be forever remember for its innovative take on a fantasy world.