Zelda has been around for over 35 years. Original debuting on the Nintendo Entertainment System in Japan in 1986. It launched as a bold and large take on the adventure genre. Perfectly encapsulating what it meant to go on such a large scale quest. You tackled dungeons. You get heart containers to grow stronger. And you found many of the iconic weapons still found in the series today. Shout out to our last video over the underutilized items of the series. Go check that out after this video. All this to say, Legend of Zelda 1 laid the blueprint for how to do perfect Zelda games. All the team had to do was update the graphics and game design with each new installment. Boom, you got a legendary franchise on your hands. What could wrong over those 35+ years? Well, as you will see today, plenty. We’re looking at the times Zelda releases didn’t quite hit the mark. Here’s the most controversial Zelda titles!

#5 Breath of the Wild

Honestly, I feel like this game is retroactively controversial. Sure, there was a lot of excitement and suspense building up to its release alongside the newest Nintendo console, the Switch. Development took ages. It’s development took 5 years following the release of Skyward Sword on the Wii. It was originally designed for the Wii U, and was it’s last major release. However, as we discussed, it came on as launch title for the Switch. So a Swan Song for one console and a triumph birth for another. Still, Breath of the Wild was touted as breaking away from the traditional Zelda formula. It was open world and nonlinear, harkening back to Zelda on NES. The Switch was also reported to be returning to cartridges over the much preferred blu ray disc. Gamers were happy, free, confused, and lonely at the same time. Breath of the Wild was a breath of fresh air for many Wii U and Switch owners. It spawned its own sub genre of games trying to rip it off or take heavy influence from it. Tears of the Kingdom would drop as a sequel almost a decade later. With the Zelda team saying this was essentially the new Zelda formula. It left many players reminiscing about the old Zelda. Players got fatigued with the new style. Even though Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are critically acclaimed, I think old school players are scared the days of Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time are dead.

#4 Majora’s Mask.

This one is going to be a mixed bag. You’re trying to follow up one of, if not the greatest games of all time. That’s a tough one. I actually respect the heck out of what the team tried to accomplish and what they created. But Majora’s Mask just isn’t for me. I don’t like the gloomy overtones, the three day cycle, and the design philosophy of the game. Now, that makes it stand out. You either really love the game or just don’t care for it. And it’s wedged between Link to the Past and Ocarina of Time on one side and Wind Waker and Twilight Princess on the other side. It definitely stands out with the environment and the masks.

Now the hilarious part to me is that Majora’s Mask got a remake on the 3DS. I really enjoy it. In my opinion, it fixes a lot of what I don’t like about the N64 version. A lot of that has to do with the handbook aiding in the side quest. As well as the ability to save being way easier. Not to mention, on the 3DS, you can just close the system. Yet, a lot of the N64 truthers don’t like the remake. Meaning, one way or the other, you probably really enjoy one or the other and have disdain for the other, which is interesting.

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#3 Skyward Sword

I’ve never met another person who says Skyward Sword is their favorite Zelda game. In my opinion, being stuck on the Wii just didn’t help it. It was locked behind motion controls. I remember popping it in back in the day, only to be denied by the Wii itself because I didn’t have the motion plus feature. I eventually played it on the Switch and did enjoy it. I’ve never played the Wii version, but it does feel like more people complained than praised it. The Switch version is pretty good if you find a copy. It’s worth noting that this is the last of the traditional formula Zelda games. As a result, I think in time this game might get a cult following.

#2 Zelda 2: Links Adventures

Zelda 2 struggles from being a Zelda game. Almost anybody’s argument who defends this game starts with “If this wasn’t a Zelda game, people would love it”. Maybe. But that’s part of what lands it on this list, and this high as well. On one hand, Zelda wasn’t exactly an established property at this point. Zelda had only been out for about a year by the time we got the sequel, Link’s Adventure. But it did bring back exploration, dungeons, and sword based combat. However, the gameplay was side scrolling. It was an RPG now, and the overworld is just weird. There’s no way you played Zelda 1 and was excited when you got this. Talk about breaking away from the Zelda formula. Honestly, if Zelda had been more of an established IP at this point, maybe I’d put this at 1. As it stands, there’s one Zelda game that’s release was more perplexing, disappointing, and controversial than all the rest. And that game was…

Before we reveal number 1, be on the lookout for polls on the Youtube. You can help sway videos/polls by voting in those polls!

#1 Wind Waker

Majora’s Mask may have had a hard time following up Ocarina of Time, but Wind Waker is the red headed step child of Zelda games. The tone on the N64 was dark, gritty and mature. What the heck is this?

Wind Waker changed the tone up completely. Dropping dark color palettes for bright, vibrant beach aesthetics, large sprawling fields conquered by horseback were replaced by never-ending, overbearing sea traversal. Not to mention, it has got to be one of the weirder looks for Ganon. Now, Wind Waker came out in a time in my life where I didn’t mind the art style. However, in hindsight, I can see people feeling bamboozled. Especially after the now infamous Gamecube trailer.  Nintendo was finally embracing disc based formats. People were beyond thrilled to see what the Zelda team would cook up for the new hardware. The tech demo gave every fan hope they were getting the next epic in the Zelda franchise. This is to say nothing of peoples theories of cut content and empty spaces. This entry has everything to do with the tonal shift and misdirection of the tech demo. That alone has Wind Waker firmly in the lead for the most controversial entry in the series!

Guys, you ever make a top 5, write your script, plan out the whole video, and then remember you completely forgot a game existed!? That’s right, boys, we’re adding a new number 1. And boy howdy. It’s a doozy. Mostly because it’s a threefer!

#1 Zelda on CD-i
I’ve convinced myself that Philips CD-i is a fever dream. I mean, just look at these graphics.

That’s probably why I tried to suppress these games. Yeah, somebody cooked these games up, and God Bless Em. Zelda got a grand spanking three shots at the CD-I. Featuring questionable cutscenes, a return to 2D side scrolling graphics, and lacking any Nintendo quality, these jokers have got to be the most notorious Nintendo games ever. I won’t bother recapping Nintendo’s fallout with Sony and the disastrous relationship with Philips. Yes, it is truly one of the most industry changing of all time. And all we have to show for it is this.

Okay, so that’s officially the list. What’s your 5 most infamous Zelda games in your opinion? Let me know down below!