Highlights
- Skyward Sword made clever use of motion controls on the Wii, with players using the remote to determine sword strikes and shield deflects.
- Oracle of Seasons , a Game Boy Color game, may have been released for less powerful hardware, but it still offers all the base ingredients for an excellent Zelda adventure. Explore dungeons and enjoy classic spelunking gameplay.
- Four Swords Adventure allows players to experience a cooperative Zelda multiplayer game, a rare instance in a series that emphasizes single-player adventures. Play this unique Zelda game to see something different from the norm.
The Legend of Zelda is a long-living beloved franchise, as popular and celebrated as the likes of Mario. In most iterations of the game, players will assume control of Link, a mute protagonist saddled with the weight of saving the kingdom of Hyrule from the forces of evil that threaten its safety, namely Ganondorf.
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The Legend of Zelda series has come a long way since its humble beginnings back in 1986, constantly innovating its titles to prevent them from becoming stale, while not diverging from the true essence of a Zelda title to avoid alienating long-term fans. Now most Zelda fans are most likely clocking more hours into Tears of the Kingdom, but why not revisit some older titles while awaiting the next installment?
5 Skyward Sword
Soaring to New Heights
This more recent Zelda title was not as lauded as some of its younger siblings such as Breath of the Wild or TotK, but it is deserving of praise in its own right. This game took a new approach to the stories of Zelda and Link, making Zelda a more humble figure in the Skybourne community. Players also have their own Loftwing, a large avian creature they bond to that becomes their airborne mount.
The story does eventually bring players down through the clouds to face the threat endangering all of life, but that doesn't mean the quality is brought down. The gameplay of Skyward Sword made clever use of the Wii's motion controls, tracking how the player moved the remote to determine sword strikes and shield deflects. The well-implemented motion controls were the highlight of this game, and those gamers who still have a Wii in their possession should definitely dust it off just to experience the combat alone.
4 Oracle of Seasons
Handheld Power
One of the classic Zelda handheld games, Oracle of Seasons would have been overlooked by the majority of fans, most of whom would have been awaiting the next console reason. Just because the game was released for less powerful hardware, however, doesn't mean that Nintendo dropped the ball in quality. Though it won't have all the same bells and whistles as more modern titles, it holds all the base ingredients needed for an excellent Zelda adventure.
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The Game Boy Color improved upon its handheld predecessor in many ways, including in the iconic games that came to its library.
Oracle of Seasons features the same protagonist players have come to expect, centering around rescuing Din, the titular Oracle, from the clutches of evil Onox, the General of Darkness. Combat, explorations, and puzzles all make up this Game Boy Color game, which fans can now enjoy on the switch. Players must explore dungeons to gather the Essence needed to succeed on their quest, bringing more classic spelunking gameplay.
3 Four Swords Adventure
Four Sword is Better Than One
Perhaps the most overlooked Zelda game of all time is Four Swords Adventure. As the title suggests, Link won't be adventuring alone in this title, with him traveling with three of his clones, all of which instill one particular character trait, and are differentiated from each other by colored tunics and hats.
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Unlike previous Zelda installments, it is not Ganondorf that is threatening the peace Hyrule Kingdom is enjoying, but an evil clone of Link known as Shadow Link. What's more, FSA allows players to experience a cooperative Zeldamultiplayer game, an exceedingly rare instance in a series that emphasizes single-player adventures. There are also more game modes to experience within this unique Zelda adventure, making it a game fans should play just to see something a bit different from what they are accustomed to.
2 The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks
Steam Technology Comes to Zelda
Now normally, players will traverse the Zelda map either on foot or the back of a horse, with rolling green hills as far as the eyes can see, unbroken by the meddling of humankind. That was until Spirit Tracks was released, bringing steam technology to the high fantasy world of The Legend of Zelda.
But this story doesn't diverge too far from fan expectations, as Zelda is once more in need of rescuing by an evil villain hell-bent on uprooting the order of the world. But there are enough fresh changes to make Spirit Tracks an engaging game, such as traveling with the disembodied spirit of Zelda, who possesses the body of a dangerous Phantom to aid him in his adventures, as well as a train being the main means of transportation. This little DS title was overlooked by many fans but is worth a second look.
1 The Minish Cap
Great Things in Small Packages
The Legend of Zelda: The Minish Cap
- Platform(s)
- Nintendo Game Boy Advance
- Released
- January 10, 2005
- Developer(s)
- Capcom
- Genre(s)
- Action-Adventure
Capcom was the studio behind the development of this handheld classic, yet they managed to capture the essence of a Zelda adventure perfectly. For those who are looking to give the first Four Swords game a try, it might behoove them to play Capcom's Minish Cap too, which takes place prior. The plot explains the beginning of the evil villain Vaati, and how the Four Sword was created. The game opens with a festival to honor the tiny race of Picori, only for this peace and happiness to be quickly disrupted as Vaati summons forward monsters to ravage the kingdom.
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On his quest to track down the Picori to save Zelda and Hyrule, Link meets the titular Minish Cap Ezlo, whose power allows Link to shrink down in size and explore areas otherwise unreachable. This new gameplay element is the focal point of the game, as it adds a puzzle element to traversing the world, learning when to use the Minish Cap and when to revert to normal size.
