I think I liked it better than Seasons for the bigger emphasis on puzzles, even though I have to admit that the harsher nature of Seasons makes its ending hit a little stronger. Even if this one feels a lot more story oriented.

I'm very surprised, considering how bad of a gamesense I have, that I was able to get through this one very easily. Controlling only two variances of the world and one having a direct consequence on the other and the presents giving you clues to how to navigate it, made it very easy and fun to traverse, as opposed to the the seasons gimmick, which made it all the more confusing for me. This game also stepped up the dungeons game a big deal and I think that's why I'll ultimately put this one on top.

As far as how I feel about both those games within the franchise, I really like how despite their similarities, both feel like polar opposites of one another, sorta like OoT and MM. As the seasons of the world are thrown in chaos, going through OoS doesn't make you fix it, it only gives you the power to change the seasons, so as it goes on, you become the one that is throwing chaos in the world of Holodron. And as you start to feel triumph over rapidly rampaging through all the dungeons and enemies, the reveal from the old man that all your fight is just a distraction from Twinrova resurrecting Ganon is truly impactful. In Ages, understanding both the present and the past allows you to help the people of Labrynna and it feels like the true story of the game smaller storylines like the Zoras, the Gorons. Whereas saving Din is the whole Seasons plot, in Ages, Nayru is saved at the halfwaypoint, the stakes are lower and Veran is a much more silly rather than intimidating villain. So the Twinrova reveal feels a lot less impactful as it feels like you've already saved the world.

(I forgot to input the password so I didnt get the linked game ending smh)

But yeah, overall didn't think I'd enjoy these games so much, definitely underrated and yeah Ages > Seasons, but really not by as large a margin as I would've expected.

Honestly I think my least favorite game of the series so far weirdly enough, I thought it wasn't that much more instinctive than the original, but didn't have the complexity of Zelda NES when it comes to dungeons and the sheer triumph that is beating one through how rough it is and how simple but hard to master the combat is.

Nothing was really wrong with it, just every thing from the combat (honestly at some point the sword (which hits a really weird angle and you never get used to it) becomes kinda useless), the dungeons (some were great, but the number of them and their similar designs and ambiances made them feel more like chores than anything), the world and its diversity, the side quests, the NPCs, everything felt lacking and I was a little disappointed.

I know it set the standard for the whole franchise and for that, I think it's a very good game, but the others I've played I think gave me more of a reason to come back to them.

Started out really not liking it, combat and reflexes in gaming are really not my thing. There's also something about having such a big map, but having to load every screen, just makes it impossible to recognize it, so finding every dungeons is just incredibly hard and unintuitive. But the more I went on, the more I started liking it, the 3 last dungeons are amazing and honestly, I didnt expect to say it considering it I really like 3d zelda much more than 2d, but this has one of my fav final bosses of the franchise. Seeing as Ages is much more puzzle based and I'll be familiar with the engine, I'll really love it.