tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507149663579765689.post7290331872824694216..comments2023-07-15T07:29:16.070-07:00Comments on The Ambivalist: Don't Tell Zelda I Play Songs For Malon On My OcarinaAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05909105073056239686noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507149663579765689.post-23674389275948884542013-03-06T12:22:35.896-08:002013-03-06T12:22:35.896-08:00I wish I had played these fucking games when they ...I wish I had played these fucking games when they came out. Unfortunately I have no context when it comes to that, other than what I can remember outside of those games, and what research tells me. <br /><br />And yeah, you won't hear an argument from me on the idea of the world being the thing that makes these games. But plenty of games, even games then, were able to have quests that were ambiguous but still intuitive. The fact that they included the Sheikah Stone at all sort of tells me they knew that, "well, fuck, nobody is going to know where we want them to go here, so let's just spell it out." It's kind of lazy. Honestly, I don't think the problem is the hints, but the weird quest design to begin with. The world doesn't really grow out of things like "this jump just doesn't look like one you can make, but you totally can." Of course not all of the quests in the game are like that, but I feel like I had at least as many moments where I had to reference a guide, as there were moments I was able to reasonably figure out on my own. I've even seen you guys referencing the guides, and you played them before. Honestly, playing this game is the worst part of it. It says something that it's still so damn good.<br /><br />Also, from everything I've seen, Majora's Mask seems like a far more interesting game.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05909105073056239686noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2507149663579765689.post-67916298559004002782013-03-06T10:39:49.469-08:002013-03-06T10:39:49.469-08:00I agree about the boss battles. I'm currently ...I agree about the boss battles. I'm currently cycling through the Zelda series (as you've seen), and the platform bosses are *mind-numbingly* repetitious. Kalle Demos from Wind Waker requires the exact same strategy (to a tee) as Barinade in OoT. And yeah, at the time these boss battles were super unique and full of possibilities, but time has shown them to be A) way too fucking easy, which is mostly because of B) they're so structured that they don't allow for improvisation. Dark Link and the Ganon battles in both WW and OoT at least utilized, you know, SWORDPLAY and allowed the gamer to use his/her brain. Majora's Mask has the best bosses on the platform Zelda games because repetition was broken by the presence of masks. Otherwise they feel content using the same bosses in new forms.<br /><br />And, also, one minor tweak on one of your qualms. I do agree that some of the quests in OoT (and, really, any Zelda game) seem im-fucking-possible to figure out on one's own, but that also reveals the beauty of the Zelda universe. Not suggesting that gameplay isn't most important and that we can sacrifice it for absurd side quests, but the environment, the personality, and the communities within Zelda remain colorful and altogether humble in comparison with most adventure games I've encountered. You interact on such a personal level with so many races, villages, and morals that the tinkering within the quests extends your relationship with such a simple, yet complex world. Link is a bit of a loner, but he also unites the uncountable characters in the Zelda games.<br /><br />With both this last point and the boss battles in mind, I believe Majora's Mask is every bit as good as OoT. The only thing stopping me from straight up choosing MM is purely nostalgia.Travis Beanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09936856231902312995noreply@blogger.com