IGN Readers vote Skyward Sword as best Zelda game?

[Trill Co$by]

I was on IGN today, where a poll was done comparing the legendary game of Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time with the recently released Skyward Sword, asking which game was better. The outcome? Skyward Sword was voted to be the "people's choice" over Ocarina of Time.

Now I personally have not played a single Zelda game since Ocarina of Time, or at least not like I do OOT... to this day, OOT and WWF Attitude are the only games I have ownership over when it comes to my N64 games. So with that said, my opinion on this game may be a little biased and it would be best if a Nintendo Fan Boy, (I'm looking at you, Lee) gave a further assessment or comparison of the two games...

But even still, I find it amazing how a recently released game can be considered better than a game that has proven to have far more than its fair share of replay value. I'm not sure if the fans who voted were going off of the original OOT or the 3Ds version, but I personally find that OOT would beat out any Zelda game.


What are you opinions?

 

[Lee]

It's a well known belief that I don't think OOT is the best Zelda game ever, A Link to the Past is.

It is far too early to compare SS to OOT as it's not even been out two months yet so to say it's the best game in the best franchise ever is saying a lot.

That being said I loved Skyward Sword and over a www.nintendolee.com I gave it game of the year. Here's what I wrote:

What are the controls like? I’ve heard bad things.

I also had heard bad things about the controls and had only ever used motion plus for Wii sports resort so to get used to that took some time. My main problem with them was that I was used to the Twilight Princess controls of “wiggle wiggle wiggle” and hope for the best, with motion controls you need to be precise. Case in point is fighting in a sword battle, rather than just flick your wrist it’s a horizontal slash or a forward thrust or a vertical strike. For me this took me a couple of hours to get used to but when I did it just felt natural. The only problems I had were with sword fights, every other item used I found it quite easy to control. This is the sort of controls the Wii should have had on release.

What were your thoughts on the way Nintendo teased the game?

I am going to assume you mean when they spent the summer showing us videos of gameplay and trailers of things that happened? Yeah that annoyed me so much as I wanted the fresh “I have no idea what will happen in this game” feel that I had with Pokemon White. It got to the frustrating point where there was two or three videos or articles about stuff that happens in the game, this strategy also happened with SM3DLand and was not needed at all.

Does Skyward Sword live up to the hype of explaining the origins of Hyrule and it’s constituent lands and peoples?

This is hard to explain without spoiling anything but I’ll give it a go. It explains a lot about the Goddess, about Din, Nayru, and Farore and how this came to pass. I am pretty sure the term Hyrule is not mentioned at all throughout the game but that’s not a bad thing. Race wise you see one or two familiar ones but as a whole they’re pretty brand new. The game offers a lot with answers on things but most of them are not spelled out for you and you need to reach your own conclusions. That I like as the whole point of a Legend is it changes so many times but no one really cares about that.

What can be expected from a story that is a prequel to the widely acclaimed Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time?

Zelda gets kidnapped, you must save Zelda, this involves dungeons and the Triforce. The simple story we’ve seen time and time again but this just feels different. Various aspects add to that fresh feel that seems like the start of the Legend. You can expect a familiar feel if you’ve played a Zelda game and if you haven’t you can expect a story that crosses land, air, water, fire and everywhere in between. I don’t want to compare it to Ocarina of Time as that would get us nowhere in enjoying both games.

Which Zelda game would you say it’s most like?

I think most will say Wind Waker but for me it’s A Link to the past. You have the bright colours at points mixed with the darker undertones with a true feeling that you are here to save the day. I didn’t feel that in Wind Waker but that may be because we have adult/teen Link doing it rather than childish Toon Link. Add into that the side quests and array of characters you come across make it a fair comparison to ALTTP.

What about Fi? You said on Twitter she was the most annoying character ever.

She’s pretty annoying for the first chunk of the game, but it’s the little things about her that annoy me. For example when you go down to three hearts we’re used to the beeping to say “hey you suck, get some hearts” but to make matters worse you have the Fi beep on top of that to say “your hearts are running out” YES I KNOW. RAGE. At least she calms down as I get better with the motion controls.

Any references to other Zelda games?

Of course there are. I’ve previously noted how one temple has a room that is lay out the same as the Spirit Temple in Spirit Tracks but there are a few others dotted around. Someone somewhere has a Tingle doll and that made me laugh. I won’t spoil any more for you as it just adds to the overall feel of the game.

What about the visuals?

The same craic that’s been going on since Wind Waker “I want realistic visuals!” but to be honest if we had realistic visuals people would say “the graphics suck”. The Wii cannot compare to the PS360 graphics wise so it makes sense to go down the cell shaded route. Once I started playing the game I barely noticed the difference in visuals and some parts were just breathtaking.

To sum it up: The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is a top notch game and has everything from visuals, story, music to random side quests building excellently on the 25 years of history in this fantastic franchise.

 

[Sinister Shadows]

I've honestly not played Skyward Sword, mainly because I don't own a Wii or like the motion control of the Wii. But Ocarina of Time is the second best Zelda game that I have personally played, A Link to the Past easily surpasses it.

It's way to early to say that Skyward Sword is the best, or even rank it really, because it's fresh, it's new, so of course it's going to be looked at in a more favorable light. We don't yet know if it will have the ability to stay relevant, such as LTTP or Ocarina of Time.

 

[Барбоса]

For me, even though I enjoyed it immensely, Skyward Sword may not even be in my top 3 Zelda games. Right now, I still have OoT, LttP, MM and maybe even WW above it and I do not think time is going to change this ranking.

Despite SS explaining the origins of Hyrule, I still think OoT was far more epic; LttP was simply more fun to play; MM had a better story, whilst I found the setting of WW to be better.

 

[Diet Soda]

Well of course Skyward Sword is top notch, one wouldn't expect anything less from one of Nintendo's flagship brands. Unfortunately Ocarina of Time is getting to that age now where only people who can actually remember the game, and it's influence and legacy, will appreciate it.

It's a shame because it seems that Nintendo fans are a dying breed. Gamers these days are epitomized by HURR DURR I JUST PAWNED A NOOB, and there seems to be little patience for slow burning, story-based games except amongst a niche few.
I've only had a three hour or so session on Skyward Sword since we got it, as my girlfriend insisted she complete it (and Hero Mode) before I did, and consequently I've stayed out the room when she's been on to avoid spoilers.

But, what I played I liked, I did the introductory bits and got down to the surface and had a good rummage around, not enough to fully judge the game mind you. But my overall impression was not the same as when I first played Twilight Princess, which is as perfect a game as you can get in my reckoning.

Comparing Skyward Sword to Ocarina of Time though, well it's like comparing Metal Gear Solid on the PS1 to Metal Gear Solid 4, or the original World War II based Call of Duty games. Each have their own special qualities and each are remembered for standing out in their own times.

 

[lenguy]

Okay lets divulge into this. First off I'd like to go out on a limb and offer up some theories as to why Skyward Sword seemingly rapped Ocarina of Time in the polls. Skyward Sword is still very fresh in everybody's mind and is currently the more relevant Zelda title. The hype around this game was just massive since it was really the only major exclusive Nintendo had to offer this year so it naturally got all the attention. Ocarina of Time is over a decade old, its my assumption in saying that a lot of people who voted might not have played the original game on the N64, even with the 3DS remake a lot of people I think would still prefer SS simply because its new and fresh and not just a updated remake of a game that in this day and age would simply feel outdated compared to what SS has to offer. There could be an assortment of reasons,maybe the simple fact is that people do prefer SS over Oot.

However, I do think the polling and categories really do sort of sway in Skyward Swords favor,whether that was intentional by IGN is unknown. So I'm going to do a rundown of the same categories and compare the two games to see, in my opinion, which one really is greater(in terms of these specific categories).

Controls

Skyward Sword: There is no deny that the controls in SS work perfectly with the Wiimote and motion plus. Allowing one to one fluent motion strikes with links sword to near precision. Making combat feel very natural once you get use to the new controls. Using the Wiimote to aim and or use the various amounts items also makes them seem like a very natural feel,however there is some sensitivity issues. Trying to be precise can be difficult with the bow if you have shaky hands. The slightest movement can result in a miscalculation. Even the simple task of swimming can seem like a chore at times. A miniature grip I also had was with the shield. Its not major but I can't count the times I've died because I often forget that Link becomes wide open after striking. I guess I take for granted the fact that links shield always use to return to a defense position after a swing from the sword. Having to constantly raise my shield over and over again was rather irritating. Aside from a those major changes the games main gameplay mechanics remain largely the same from the previous Zelda games.

Ocarina of Time: If you are the type of person who didn't take to fondly to the new direction the controls took with SS and you prefer a more tradition approach then you would probably prefer the more standard Zelda controls as presented in OoT. Revolutionary for its time the simple effect of just being able to hold a button to lock on and stay locked on to an enemy was something never seen before and it worked so well its been in use ever since. At the time, everybody was talking about how natural those controls felt in a new 3D environment, just like they say with SS. For its time, it worked and it worked well but may people would now consider it outdated, especially to what SS brings to the table.

In this category its easy to pick SS just because I can't imagine going back to an older title and trying to get use to the fact that I have to mash a button to swing my sword. So Skyward Sword takes this category.

Winner: Skyward Sword.

Bosses

Skyward Sword: Its kind of hard to go into this one without trying to spoiling things. But I'll start by saying that a lot of bosses are very formulaic(then again most Zelda bosses are). Having a weakness that usually requires the newest item from the dungeon or temple you've just explored in to beat. Most aren't very challenging or very memorable for that matter. Its really only the finally boss battles that really leave any sort of lasting impact.

Ocarina of Time: Once again we draw back on the concept of "in its time". Being able to take on bosses in a new 3D environment was exhilarating and truth be told a lot of the bosses in OoT were built around the foundation that you would be fighting them in a 3D space. Who doesn't recall the first few moments into the fight with Phantom Gannon when you first spotted him gunning for you from inside the portraits? Overall however the boss concept hasn't changed much since then. Find weakness and exploit weakness.

however in this certain case I'll give OoT the slight edge just because I found more of the bosses the be a bit more memorable and even a bit tricky and challenging at times.

Winner:Ocarina of Time.(though SS was close,almost close enough for a tie but alas,no close enough it would seem)

Gear or Items

Skyward Sword: I found the gear in SS to be a bit...underwhelming and somewhat useless.I love the fact that you can upgrade them for more useful and powerful versions but what I loved in OoT was that you could use more items to defeat enemies. You can't beat a baddie with a whip...or a beetle. Your main combat weapon is always the sword and it grows a bit tiring after long. Not a big fan of the gear in this game.

Ocarina of Time: As I've mentioned above, what I love about OoT's gear is lethality. The 3 different types of arrows you could use,the megaton hammer,even the 3 options of swords. It just gives me different ways to combat my enemies so I'm not just stuck using the sword. Not to mention the use of magic made an even more diversity of uses. Dins fire, Farore's wind and Nayru's love all added even more elements to the gameplay.

In my opinion the gear in OoT completely rivals what SS has to offer. You can just do more with them and multipurpose is always a fun option in a game.

Winner: Ocarina of Time

Story

Skyward Sword: So I'm going to try and avoid any spoilers when I cover this topic, at least for SS. Essentially its a origin story which you wouldn't think if they didn't actually explain it to you. It tells the birth story of the goddess,the land(which is not known as Hyrule just yet) and even its hero's and the legendary blade itself,the Master Sword. Its a beautiful told story full of sacrifice,trails,suffering,loss and above all else,emotion. I won't get into it because I can't really explain it without spoiling anything but its a very beautiful origin story and one of the better one in the franchise, but is it better than OoT?

Ocarina of Time: What I loved about the story in this game was that it literally spanned across time. Its the journey of Link from a boy into a young adult. What I found fantastic was the display of mood in the game from different eras. When Links still a boy,things have yet to happen and the world is still a cheery and a peaceful place with a sense of imminent doom and despair looming. When Link awakens from his sleep in the temple of time, he awakes to a world very different from which he parted. Everything almost lies in ruin, people have changed and evil lurks at every turn. A world crumbled and fallen into chaos under Ganondorf's rule. The game does a wonderful job at displaying this mood especially as you progress. Nothing can express the level of emotion and engagement from the player when experiencing this transition for the first time. Its truly a great immersive moment that topples anything I've experienced in SS.

Winner: Ocarina of Time

Final Verdict: Ocarina of Time

Remember this is just an opinion. I've compared the two games side by side under the same criteria as IGN. There are still a number amount of categories you could add to make this sway in another games favor but from what IGN has presented us with I inquire that in these specific categories, Ocarina of Time beats out Skyward Sword. Not to take anything away from SS, its still amazing game but in certain areas, I still find Ocarina of Time the superior game.

 

[Fizzy]

I'm going to give my honest opinion on Skyward Sword. I love the Zelda franchise, maybe not as much as most, but I hold it in a very high regard. Wind Waker is my absolute favorite and when I compare Skyward Sword to that, it fails in comparison so far. I'm not very far into Skyward Sword yet, so it may hold it's better moments for later. I'm only in the Earth Dungeon, but there is a reason for that.

I want to love this game, I really do. I have played it every day since I bought it for about twenty minutes each day. I usually accomplish a small feat and then stop for the day, but there is a reason for that. That reason is the controls. I love everything about the game but these. I think the graphics are gorgeous, the soundtrack is amazing, and the story telling is phenomenal. The controls however, I cannot seem to grasp. Maybe it's because I own an old Wiimote with the motion plus plugged in, i've heard the newer ones are much better and if that's the case, i'll gladly shell out a few bucks for a new controller. So far into the game I get incredibly frustrated while flying on my bird and especially during sword battles. In the Earth Temple, I try to fight the new enemy where swinging wildly supposedly doesn't work, only i've found that's the only way to kill it. Patience hasn't worked for me in the slightest. It really is frustrating when I can't sit down and have a good time with such a good game for this petty reason.

I'm trying and trying to get better, I really am. Maybe i'm doing something wrong, I don't know. I only know that this game could be perfect, but either I haven't figured it out yet, or the controls really are that shaky. I don't know. I'll continue trying to play through it. I stopped today after my small feat of acquiring the Dungeon Map because I got to frustrated with it. If somebody wants to help me understand the controls, or has any advice, PM me, I beg of you.