I actually love a lot of the things that make this game unique in the series. The 2D side view, the magic system, the RPG elements, and the combat make this game feel quite fresh to someone who's played almost every other game in the series. Like the first game, however, Zelda II takes a nosedive off a cliff in terms of quality after the first few dungeons (at Death Mountain).

I completed this game without using save states, and I was nearly crying during the last couple of dungeons. Most enemies are ridiculously punishing, and the bosses make Dark Souls look like a preschool. Not to mention that Zelda II went ahead and copied the absolute worst part of the Ninja Gaiden and Castlevania games: getting knocked back by each and every hit, often knocking you into an instant death pit. I considered quitting at many points during my run, but the pain of humiliation would never let me. It's easily one of, if not the hardest game I've ever played, but damn, am I proud to have powered through it.

I think this game is often overrated because of nostalgia, but it's still a great experience from start to finish. It actually feels like a game that's meant to be fun, unlike its two predecessors. It's got amazing music, the first appearance of the Master Sword, and staggering variety of dungeons, environments, and monsters. It's a huge leap forward for the series, but does feel a bit outdated when compared to some of the modern Zelda games. I can definitely see why this is a 10/10 for some people, but I don't quite have that same nostalgia to pad my experience with this game.

I tend to spend much more time discussing and defending games that I believe are underrated as a way to prove to myself that my opinions are justified. Ocarina of Time, however, needs no such justification. This game is an absolute masterpiece that hasn't aged a single day since 1998. I absolutely adore the blocky N64 graphical style, even if it may look aged to some. Ocarina of Time is, in short, everything that any Zelda game should ever strive to be. I've forgotten how many times I've beaten this game, but each playthrough still feels as fresh as the first time I got my hands on it.

Absolutely god-tier game that I've noticed getting some unnecessary hate for its bug-hunting wolf segments that last like fifteen minutes at most. Everything about this game absolutely screams "Dark Fantasy". The atmosphere, music, story, villains, settings, and monsters all feel more twisted, strange, and evil l than any other game in the series (besides Majora's Mask). It also has quite possibly the most satisfying combat in any Zelda game. This game is damn near flawless, and is even better than BotW and TotK for my money.

The age old expression about this game is: "It's a great game, but not a great Zelda game." In all honesty, that's exactly right.

BotW has one of the greatest open worlds in any video game to date, with an amazing soundtrack and a physics system that lets your imagination run wild. However, it falls flat when it comes to a lot of classic Zelda staples (most notably with its visually boring Divine Beasts and its uninspired Blight Ganon boss fights). It's a landmark title and one of the best games ever made, but it's just a little bit disappointing for a lifelong Zelda fan.