Random thoughts (just my opinions here)
- I could see Link to the Past overtaking BotW again for me. I used to like Majora's Mask the most, and still like it quite a bit. However, LTTP is just one of those games I can always replay whenever I'm feeling like a game while MM takes some serious time investment. There's a magic to LTTP that has never gotten stale for me. And now we have LTTP randomizers, so it's even better than it used to be! Give it a try if you love the game and haven't done so.
- BotW is the only open world game I've ever played that felt like it got the concept right. Sure, it's a flawed game in many respects, but the general amazing feeling I got exploring the world made up for everything I disliked about the game. It was also the first 3D Zelda game that didn't treat the player like an idiot. If you've never played the Souls games and liked the combat and lack of tutorial in this, I'm just saying, you owe it to yourself...
- On a recent replay of the Oracle games, I came to realize Seasons is just flat-out better than Ages in most respects. Some of the later dungeons in Ages are particularly awful; the Goron mountain and Jabu Jabu's Belly are major blights on the game. It gets very tedious navigating the overworld too. I wouldn't say it's a tier below Seasons, but it's far less enjoyable to play again.
- Wind Waker would easily be in my top 3 if they had actually finished the game. It has some of the highest highs in all of the games, but it's lacking in so many areas and the difficulty level is insulting to say the least.
- I could write a thesis on why I hate Skyward Sword, but the big points are 1) Controls that fail about 10% of the time I use them, 2) the worst overworld in the series, attempting to mask itself with 'hey flying is cool guys' 3) ridiculous padding and over-reliance on fetch quests, 4) ill-conceived attempt to re-establish the canon of the series instead of having a coherent plot. Thanks for ruining Minish Cap btw 5) Fi
- Link Between Worlds is underrated by people who thought it was too short. IMO it's the perfect length for a top-down action adventure game. I also like how BotW sneakily reused several of its formula mix-ups and nobody noticed. (Traveling on walls-> climbing, Rentals -> starting with all the techniques, emphasis on vertical movement, etc)
- Just my feelings, but the era from Twilight Princess to Skyward sword was a dark one for me. I genuinely felt that Nintendo was mishandling this series entirely, and am quite glad Aounma has taken it in new directions since SS.
- Link's Awakening has the best plot in the series. It's kitschy and juvenile, but at least it doesn't have delusions of grandeur. It's a simple, fable-like tale that anyone can enjoy and doesn't overstay its welcome. If you love this game, please also check out the English fan translation of Kaeru no Tame ni Kane wa Naru, one of its Game Boy contemporaries. You'll probably dig it.
- I actually dislike the original LOZ quite a bit, and even disliked it when I was a kid. While I appreciate its originality, I'm very happy to never play it again. I find it funny some praise its 'puzzles' when the only real puzzles in the game are 'where do i place a bomb' and 'where can i grind for bombs.' More power to people who get enjoyment out of the game, but I can only personally appreciate it as a stepping stone.
- Zelda 2 might have been more fun for me if I had owned it as a kid. The controls are just too stiff for me to get into it these days, even though I like the type of game it is. Amazing soundtrack, that said.
- The DS games probably would have been more fun if they didn't require the Stylus to play.