The ULTIMATE* 2D Zelda Retrospective

From March 31 to May 5 of this year, I took a look at every 2D Zelda leading up to the release of Tears of the Kingdom. This is a compilation of all of them just because.

00:00 Prelude
00:35 The Legend of Zelda, The Adventure of Link, and A Link To The Past
43:16 Link's Awakening
01:07:59 Oracle of Seasons and Oracle of Ages
01:42:38 The Minish Cap
02:09:23 Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks
02:46:14 A Link Between Worlds & Conclusion

#TheLegendofZelda #Zelda #Retrospective

[manomanu]

This vid is amazing. I already loved the botw retrospective and this is just as good!

[AMRARDvermebrungruppe]

It's fair to evaluate the game according to how it has aged and how it presents itself today; but it's also a different 'kind' of criticism than criticising the game in its original context.

[lukejones]

Shigeru Miyamoto once humble bragged that Zelda 2 was the closest thing to a bad game that he's ever made, which I thought was hilarious.

[mick]

Another PH and ST lover here ❤ Played them back then and again recently, they've aged very gracefully if you forgive their flaws

[LegacyTango]

I don’t know how this doesn’t have more views and likes, this is a great video. I’m also quite partial to your assessment of Link’s Awakening, the original is my favorite handheld game and one of my first games ever. I played it at release! Haha. I was so stoked when the remake came out and was over the moon with the quality of it. I completely agree with all you said about it.

[ThatFaceMelter]

I can't imagine playing A Link to the Past at a time when no Zelda game after has yet occurred and the previous entry was Zelda 2. That honestly must've been mind blowing at the time. It's not A Link to the Past's fault that future Zelda games did the formula better, the very formula it created. Be weary of those screaming it's "overrated", because that's a testament to its defenders, not the game itself, which is fantastic regardless.

[uselessmango]

The trading sequence in Link's Awakening wasn't that bad, considering you needed to do it to access the second dungeon, and it also logically takes you where you need to go next a majority of the time

[DannyDorito]

You have to think about the time the first 3 titles came out. They were revolutionary for the time. A link to the past only had 48 megabits to work with. Even less for the other two. I can see how today they could seem not as great. You also need to remember these came out on 8 and 16 bit systems. Which is probably 100 times less than today. During the time they came out they were exceptionally fun and challenging because there was no Internet to know where to go. You had to grind it all out or maybe get help from a friend or magazine

[jeanventura]

Outside of some bad progression issues (getting to Kakariko on the Dark World for the first time, book and flute hints), and some bad dungeon room designs, ALTTP is a perfect game. Not only for its time but as the blueprint to every Zelda game after it and for defining what is a Zelda game.

Not to mention that the art style is unique and was never improved. An 2D HD style Zelda would be so much better than the 3Dish stuff they are doing now (2024).

[emilychristian]

Love this thanks!! Been playing a lot of the 2d Zeldas. I don't know much about epilepsy but wondering if it's worth putting a flash warning before the part in minish cap section where it speeds though the miniatures collection. Anyway, well done

[KBXband]

Adventure of Link goes from a cozy stroll to bone breaking the hard in the span of two dungeons LOL and then the last stretch of the game is so unforgiving I don't blame anyone for cheating. I didn't but I will if I ever decide to poison my NES with it again

[twigmasta]

Zelda 2 is the best of the three. It needs a sequal. Like a mixture of overhead dungeons and side scroll dungeons in one game would be so fun. Like overhead map above ground palaces in overhead view, and caverns caves and undergroud dungeons in side scroll. Final boss could have stages in the fight that goes back and forth between views.

[kenshiroeltounsi]

10/10 channel, 9/10 video (cuz i love a link to the past 🥸) and overall very great analysis

[PhiladelphiaChurchIL]

Gotta say I disagree with almost everything you said here but I’m still subbing cuz I was entertained

[SilortheBlade]

Oh I was about to grab my pick fork but I think you make a good point on link to the past. I played it at release as I am that old. I replayed it recently and while I still enjoyed it, I do have to agree, other games have improved on things. I think it still holds up, but without the nostalgia glasses I probably wouldn't like it as much.

[iamsheel]

I don't like how youtubers never talk about zelda series as whole. It's always either 3d exclusively or 2d exclusively.

[mikeycage]

It's so easy to tell someone's age by how much they like or dislike the old zelda games lol

[MrLeFilipfloppyvelarde]

The silver arrows in Zelda is more a decision for lore / myth narrative than a game design decision. The zelda formula can favor more gimmick items or things that can exploit the fantasy and narrative feel. For example, Castlevania thinks its too much to get a mirror to defeat medusa because that will jank the gameplay and formula, thats too risky just to honor the narrative (that's more suitable for the animated serie maybe, which works well to expand the lore and play with the narrative) but Castlevania follow some myths to get a richer narrative, even if it make sense or not. Its a balance between creating a mythical story and a game

[ConfusedApe]

The kinstone system is fun and I will die on that hill

[phil]

I don't necessarily disagree with sentiments in this video. I just can't understand criticizing a game for not including elements of gameplay that weren't even conceptualized yet🤷