Summary
The Legend of Zeldafans have recently shared their thoughts on which entry deserves the dubious title of “Worst 3D Game in the Series.” As one of Nintendo’s most beloved franchises, it’s much more common to identifyZeldagames by their strengths rather than their shortcomings. However, even in a series as critically acclaimed asThe Legend of Zelda,there can be a weakest link.
Though the top-down entries are often well regarded,3DZeldatitles have been very influentialin shaping modern game design sensibilities. They each contain flaws, however, which longtime fans are quick to point out. For example, even thoughOcarina of Timerevolutionized the action-adventure genre, it also exhibited some growing pains in the jump to 3D. Fans of the traditionalZeldaformula sometimes struggle to click withMajora’s Mask’s ever-present time limit and focus on side quests over main dungeons. Similarly,Breath of the Wild’s radical departure from series tradition left some fans hoping for a return to classicZeldafare. There is one 3D title that tends to get slightly more criticism than the rest, however.
In a post on theZeldasubreddit, user Rawkhawkjayhawk defended the often-criticized entryThe Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword.As points in the game’s favor, they cited memorable characters, varied side quests, and a strong lineup of dungeons. In response to a common complaint aboutSkyward Sword’s original Wii Motion Plus control scheme, they pointed out that “the button controls on the HD version work great.”
Zelda Fans Think Skyward Sword Struggles in a Crowded Field
Although many commenters acknowledged the strengths of the game, some fans remained unconvinced thatSkyward Swordcould match the quality of other entries. The general consensus was summed up in a comment by user D0MiN0H, who wrote, “It’s less thatSkyward Swordis bad and more that I can’t bring myself to rank another 3DZeldabelow it.” There were some dissenting opinions, however. User MattR0se selectedTwilight Princessas their least favorite, claiming that Nintendo “relied too heavily on recycling elements fromOcarina of Time.” Several commenters brought upWind Waker’s final act, which involves a lengthy hunt for pieces of the Triforce, as a reason to rank it below the rest.
The relative apathy towardsSkyward Swordwas shared by many fans when the game was initially released in 2011. Critically, the game received a largely positive response, but itfailed to sell as well as most otherZeldagames, especially considering that it launched on the popular Wii console. Criticism was directed towards the game’s linearity; although the dungeons and overworld were well-designed, they did not allow for much exploration off the beaten path.
Nintendo has confirmed thatthe next 3DZeldagame will not be another sequelin the line ofBreath of the WildandTears of the Kingdom, so the future of the series is largely a mystery. Previous comments from series producer Eiji Aonuma indicate that he intends to stay away from the classic linear structure in favor of more player freedom. Even still, many fans have requested the return of traditional dungeons, so perhaps the next title will combine two philosophies and feature an open overworld with more restrictive,Skyward Sword-esque temples.
