Put on your best green tunic and sit down with these classics.
We’re just over a month away from the release of the long-awaited new Zelda game, Breath of the Wild, on both the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch. But if you can’t wait that long to go questing around Hyrule, you’re in luck; from now until February 9, Nintendo is putting pretty much every Zelda game ever released on sale (currently limited to Europe, though a similar deal for North America may be pending).
Though each Zelda game brings at least something new to the table, you can’t really go wrong with any of them—there’s a reason, after all, that this is arguably the most revered video game series in history. But Breath of the Wild is building on a foundation that goes back more than two decades, and if you want to get the most out of it, you should acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with the classic Zelda games it draws inspiration from.
The Legend of Zelda
To gamers weaned on more recent Zelda titles, The Legend of Zelda—the very first Zelda game, released all the way back in 1986—might seem unforgivably confusing. Once an old man in the cave has given you a sword, you’re essentially left without any additional guidance—just a vast, dangerous overworld to explore, packed with even more challenging dungeons to conquer.
But while some of its mechanics are definitely dated—if you don’t want to use a walkthrough, I’d recommend getting some graph paper—the very first Zelda might actually be the one that has the most in common with Breath of the Wild. By all accounts, Breath of the Wild is Zelda’s first true foray into open-world gameplay. There’s a central narrative, but the emphasis is ultimately on each player’s personal journey, which is why those who have played the Breath of the Wild demo have simply been instructed to wander off in any direction they like.
A Link to the Past
On paper, there’s nothing particularly original about A Link to the Past, which was Zelda’s sole outing on the Super Nintendo. You could even make the case that it’s retrograde; where Zelda II: The Adventure of Link took a bold stab at merging the first game’s top-down exploration with a Castlevania-esque sidescroller, A Link to the Past played it safe by returning to the template of the original game.
But if The Legend of Zelda invented the formula, A Link to the Past perfected it, solidifying the series as a Nintendo institution rivaled only by Mario, and paving the way for the dozens of games that would follow. The gameplay was tighter, the story was more interesting and the central twist—which reveals that the supposed climax of the game is actually the midpoint, when the leap to the "Dark World" reveals a whopping eight new dungeons to conquer—is still impressive in both ambition and execution. This is the key evolutionary phase between Zelda’s 2D past and its 3D future, and it plays just as well today.
We’re just over a month away from the release of the long-awaited new Zelda game, Breath of the Wild, on both the Wii U and the Nintendo Switch. But if you can’t wait that long to go questing around Hyrule, you’re in luck; from now until February 9, Nintendo is putting pretty much every Zelda game ever released on sale (currently limited to Europe, though a similar deal for North America may be pending).
Though each Zelda game brings at least something new to the table, you can’t really go wrong with any of them—there’s a reason, after all, that this is arguably the most revered video game series in history. But Breath of the Wild is building on a foundation that goes back more than two decades, and if you want to get the most out of it, you should acquaint (or reacquaint) yourself with the classic Zelda games it draws inspiration from.
The Legend of Zelda
To gamers weaned on more recent Zelda titles, The Legend of Zelda—the very first Zelda game, released all the way back in 1986—might seem unforgivably confusing. Once an old man in the cave has given you a sword, you’re essentially left without any additional guidance—just a vast, dangerous overworld to explore, packed with even more challenging dungeons to conquer.
But while some of its mechanics are definitely dated—if you don’t want to use a walkthrough, I’d recommend getting some graph paper—the very first Zelda might actually be the one that has the most in common with Breath of the Wild. By all accounts, Breath of the Wild is Zelda’s first true foray into open-world gameplay. There’s a central narrative, but the emphasis is ultimately on each player’s personal journey, which is why those who have played the Breath of the Wild demo have simply been instructed to wander off in any direction they like.
A Link to the Past
On paper, there’s nothing particularly original about A Link to the Past, which was Zelda’s sole outing on the Super Nintendo. You could even make the case that it’s retrograde; where Zelda II: The Adventure of Link took a bold stab at merging the first game’s top-down exploration with a Castlevania-esque sidescroller, A Link to the Past played it safe by returning to the template of the original game.
But if The Legend of Zelda invented the formula, A Link to the Past perfected it, solidifying the series as a Nintendo institution rivaled only by Mario, and paving the way for the dozens of games that would follow. The gameplay was tighter, the story was more interesting and the central twist—which reveals that the supposed climax of the game is actually the midpoint, when the leap to the "Dark World" reveals a whopping eight new dungeons to conquer—is still impressive in both ambition and execution. This is the key evolutionary phase between Zelda’s 2D past and its 3D future, and it plays just as well today.
Link’s Awakening DX
Breath of the Wild begins with the revelation that Link, the eternal protagonist of the Zelda series, has been asleep for 100 years. His long-awaited awakening comes with a challenge: Hunt down and defeat Calamity Ganon, the latest manifestation of the villain Link squares off against in the majority of Zelda titles.
And that brings us to Link’s Awakening, the Gameboy game that marked Link’s first quest away from Hyrule and the threat of Ganon. Instead, Link sails off into the ocean and ends up on Koholint Island. The gameplay broadly resembles A Link to the Past, and while the Gameboy’s graphics don’t stand up to the gorgeous sprites of the Super Nintendo, it’s an impressive and extensive quest in its own right.
But the greatest connection to Breath of the Wild doesn’t come until the ending. After the final boss is defeated, a story sequence reveals—24-year-old spoiler alert—that Link actually dreamed the entire game after being shipwrecked (though Link’s Awakening’s secret ending heavily implies that the "dream" has some real-world ramifications).
Ocarina of Time
Okay, okay. You don’t need this advice. You’ve played Ocarina of Time, right? Arguably the greatest video game ever made? If you haven’t, why are you reading this article? Go play it, and come back when you’re finished. (You can play the original version on the Wii U and a remastered version on the 3DS.)
Ocarina of Time was the first 3D Zelda game, which makes the level of polish all the more impressive. The gameplay is so tight that future installments, including Breath of the Wild, have basically just fine-tuned it. Plotwise, most of the series mainstays that appear in Breath of the Wild, including the Great Deku Tree, originated here. And the convoluted, retconned timeline that ties the entire Zelda series together relies on Ocarina of Time as its linchpin; it’s not clear yet where Breath of the Wild fits into the series’ circuitous timeline, but Ocarina of Time will surely be an important touchstone in the narrative.
Oracle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons
Often overlooked in the larger scope of the Zelda series, these interconnected Gameboy Color games—developed by Capcom using assets from Link’s Awakening—are terrific in their own right. Once again taking Link away from Hyrule in favor of a pair of strange new worlds, Ages and Seasons are massive standalone adventures that work even better in tandem. Most notably of all, these were the first Zelda games were directed by Hidemaro Fujibayashi, the director of Breath of the Wild.
Twilight Princess HD
Twilight Princess is one of the more conventional games in the franchise—a 3D adventure that used the expanded power of the Gamecube and the Wii to deliver a newer, shinier variation on Ocarina of Time.
But Twilight Princess did introduce one major new wrinkle that pops up again in Breath of the Wild: Wolf Link. At key moments in the game, Link transforms from a sword-wielding elfin human to a ferocious wolf with a little furry woman riding his back. (It makes marginally more sense in context.) And using an Amiibo, Breath of the Wild players can bring Wolf Link into the new game—complete with the hearts earned in the Wii U exclusive dungeon called the Cave of Shadows.
A Link Between Worlds
It’s been more than five years since a new Zelda title launched on a Nintendo home console. But while 2011’s Skyward Sword had its charms, the best Zelda game in more than a decade was actually a 3DS exclusive: 2013’s A Link Between Worlds, a direct sequel in both story and gameplay to Link to the Past.
A Link Between Worlds is another game that successfully merges Zelda’s past with its future. There’s an actual plot, complete with a crazy twist, and a renewed emphasis on exploration. But the key blueprint for Breath of the Wild’s open-ended quest is A Link Between Worlds’ bold decision to let the player tackle the game’s dungeons in any order they choose, bucking years and years of series convention. The game’s success is a reminder that Zelda has always thrived by shaking up its core formula—and with any luck, Breath of the Wild will be the best and boldest evolution yet.
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