It is the debate older than time; before a legend became a myth, and the world around us was plunged into a darkness unlike any before — this is the debate on which style of The Legend of Zelda series is the best!
Do you like the old-school and/or handheld Zelda games? Aka the 2D/top-down perspective Zelda titles, including Link’s Awakening or A Link to the Past. Or are you more into the 3D/third person Zelda titles such as Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess? Or do you not enjoy either and want an open world game such as Breath of the Wild? Yes, Breath of the Wild deserves it’s own category.
For years, this war has waged between two the factions: The 2D camp and the 3D camp. The battle was brutal, and no one could agree which style of Zelda was better. Even fans that enjoy both 2D and 3D Zelda titles have a had tough time choosing because each style has their pros and cons.
The battle waged on for years to come, until a new hero appeared from the sidelines. This new hero would be the final piece to the Triforce allowing a true debate with each representing a piece of the Triforce. When all three were combined, they made for great games, but with anything in life, there could only be one true victor–who would be the one true hero?
As a Zelda fan, I do find this to be a difficult question to answer, as I love each style for varied reasons, but if I am going to play devil’s advocate, my answer would be 2D all the way. As much as I love the series and enjoy all the games, for me the 2D stuff will always reign supreme.
Don’t get me wrong, I do love a good 3D Zelda game, but there is something special about the 2D variants. Personally, I believe it all comes down to nostalgia for me, as I started with the Gameboy games first, specifically Link’s Awakening. I loved that I could have Zelda wherever I went. Whether it be a road trip, school or a flight on a plane, the one thing that always kept me company was my 2D Zelda. I could experience the joy of Zelda anywhere, not just that, but because they were handheld experiences, they always found new ways to expand the gameplay or graphics with limited resources.
Of course, there is always a fourth choice, and which includes all the spin-offs aka the CD-I Zelda titles, the amazing TV series, Hyrule Warriors, Cadence of Hyrule, and many others.
I may choose the 2D style, but that may not be the same for you. If you think I am wrong, then let us know in the comments below or on our Discord!
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