Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Has Your Favorite Tutorial? – Zelda Dungeon
Daily Debate: Which Zelda Game Has Your Favorite Tutorial? – Zelda Dungeon
by GraMan88
42 Comments
Efficient-Ad-3302
A Link to the Past.
TehinterwebBully
The adventure of link
REC_updated
BOTW – The Great Plateau
choatec
OOT is pretty great. Having played BoTW I didn’t really appreciate TotK, held my hand too much and lasts too long. I do get they are introducing new gameplay but still.
MrVinny98
Definitely not Twilight Princess, maybe Tears of the Kingdom?
Hammered21
is this really a debate anyone is having?
PhoenixNightingale90
Ocarina of Time. It had the difficult task of introducing people to 3D Zelda but manages to teach you a lot without it feeling like a tutorial.
Kokiri forest is a great introduction to the controls and the reward of exploration as you get the sword and rupees for the shield.
The stationary deku plant enemies are an easy intro to the combat system and teach you to think about the timing of your attacks instead of mindlessly slashing.
You are at the Great Deku tree in no time at all and it’s quite quick so I consider that part of the tutorial as well. It’s a demonstration of the new possibilities of 3D as you have to consider vertical space to do the web puzzle and Gohma fight.
And before you know it you have done your first dungeon, have your sword, shield and slingshot and are setting off into Hyrule field.
Outrageous-Oil-1417
BOTW and TOTK, every other tutorial in the series feels too slow imo
Forstride
Probably either OoT or BotW. The intros/tutorials to most of the other 3D Zelda games feel like a slog to get through, especially TP and SS. Hell, even TotK’s tutorial felt a lot slower compared to BotW.
twistybit
botw and ocarina of time do something similar by giving the player a little playground to try out a bunch of game mechanics before being dropped into the real world
_Repeats_
Link’s Awakening: Eagle’s Tower
The pillar knockdown mechanic was really cool for its time. Made navigating that place very hectic, but rewarding.
KingKaihaku
There’s something to be said for the original. Playtesters were confused by the games’ top down layout and openness, so Miyamoto took your sword away and put it in an obvious cave nearby. Step in, get a sword, and then step out… Immediately clear that this game is about exploration.
“The original The Legend of Zelda starts with Link obtaining a cheap wooden sword from an old man in a cave. But that’s not the way the game was originally designed. Early versions had Link starting the game with his sword already in his inventory.
When game testers reported confusion over what to do in the game, Miyamoto responded, interestingly enough, by taking away their sword. The move was designed to get players thinking about how to proceed in this new type of non-linear game, and to encourage communication between players about the game’s many secrets.”
– Source: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/26-facts-about-the-legend-of-zelda-that-you-probab/2900-28/
StolzHound
I have to agree with BotW because the initial plateau allowed for exploration and experimentation without being overwhelmed. It is the perfect setup and really prepares the player for what the game is.
rootedoak
How about FUCK zelda tutorials. Worst feature the series has ever had.
Paulsonmn31
Anything but BotW and OoT is wrong.
nick_millerZD
Hey! Thanks for sharing my article!
TheShweeb
The Great Plateau in BOTW and Kokiri Forest in OoT both share a special quality that most of the other games’ tutorials lack: they manage to teach you the controls, mechanics, and features of the game *while* progressing you through the beginning of the story and building intrigue for the adventure to come. By comparison, the tutorials in WW, TP, and SS are miserable slogs that force you to just dick around in a village doing menial tasks for a little while before anything interesting can happen.
GrumpigPlays
I liked Sprite Tracks specifically because if you messed up an angry cow would ram into your train.
Sonic10122
I actually really like the initial 3 days in Clock Town in Majora’s Mask. I love the ethereal run up getting into Termina, and once you know what you’re doing it’s pretty easy to get everything done for the first 3 days. I just wish there was more to do and less “well let’s dance with the Scarecrow for a bit”.
Obligatory “favorite Zelda game is my favorite everything” but I like Outset Island in Wind Waker as well. It’s peaceful without overstaying its welcome like Twilight Princess. And if we count Forsaken Fortress, then I’m one of 3 people that doesn’t hate the stealth section.
I’d need to play it again, but third place might actually be TOTK, if only because the Great Sky Island is the best the Sky portion of the game ever gets, there I said it.
HiddenCity
A link to the past: here’s a sword, here’s the general idea of the story, okay bye.
leonhen
I loved the first mini-cycle of MM as a tutorial!
The whole introduction all the way until you get the Deku Mask is so amazing and gets you immersed in the story so well that just thinking about it I think I’ll go play again hehehe
WilliShaker
Not a big fan of BOTW tutorial, OOT is great
_MyUsernamesMud
Breath of the Wild is the only one that doesn’t suck
bruh-iunno
BOTW’s is like the absolute perfect example of a great tutorial
EnragedFerretX
BOTW does it best and guides the player just enough while still enabling exploration. I could argue that OOT doesn’t quite tell you enough about what to do (especially the sword) although you figure it out eventually. I also never read the signs in the sword training area until like my 3rd play through so it’s easy to skip a big chunk of the tutorial.
TP is by far the worst. The beginning of that game prevents me from pursuing additional playthroughs. Ugh.
nimrodhellfire
Worst offender is Skyward Sword.
dablindscooter6678
WW
Mask_of_Truth
NOT Twilight Princess
Dreyfus2006
This question came up recently on r/zelda, so I won’t really repeat myself here. But it easily comes down to either OoT or BotW. OoT’s is short, snappy, and to the point (just like the game in general). BotW is a magical experience and a masterclass in teaching through player experiences.
Worth noting that I think ALttP has a better opening than either of them, it just isn’t really a tutorial.
pipsohip
Ocarina of Time will always be my favorite because of the way it makes me feel. But I think BOTW pretty objectively has the *best* tutorial
Confused_Hominoid
I don’t like tutorials.
Cotillionz
The original game. Here’s your sword, go!
Zelda hand-holding can be far too much a lot of the time.
MovieGuyMike
ALTTP for 2d and BOTW for 3d.
[deleted]
The first one because I hate tutorials
magikarp-sushi
Majoras mask is really cool.
okayemjay
Probably OoT. That whole intro is insanely iconic.
Sentinel10
Either Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker. Both had a good mix of some stuff being required, but a lot being optional if you just want to skip most of it.
But beyond that, I really like being able to enjoy a nice comfortable setting where you get to meet with many characters before going on your adventure instead of just being dropped in out of nowhere.
I know many like that approach given the praise to BotW’s tutorial, but it’s not what I like.
Enough-Fly-2765
Ocarina of time and Majora´s
Because of the fairies.
They were major bossies. Always complained. Miss them a lot.
Electrichien
I suppose this is an unpopular opinion but I think TP did a great learning us all the gameplay possibilities while making us bond with the villagers story wise though I understand why people doesn’t like it even if I don’t think this is that long and I find the BOTW tutorial clever but it feels like a slog for me, this being said the path to kakariko anf Hateno is also a tutorial and this is neat.
But honestly they are all quite good at least as far as I remember.
Dymarob
I’d say Ocarina of Time had the best tutorial. It helped guide you to what you needed and where to get them.
Breath of the Wild’s tutorial was cool, but the combat tutorial was in Kakariko, meaning you didn’t actually learn how to fight in the beginning, making it easy to die. I have the same issue with Tears of the Kingdom. I love these two games, but it’s not exactly beginner-friendly when you can get one-shotted to death.
Outrageous_Net8365
Majoras mask.
Botw is a close second
I don’t see the hype with the OoT tutorial whatsoever
BenJammin007
I unironically love the Great Bay Temple in Majoras Mask. Zora Link is so much fun to control and the dungeon has a really cool atmosphere to it. The OST is great too
42 Comments
A Link to the Past.
The adventure of link
BOTW – The Great Plateau
OOT is pretty great. Having played BoTW I didn’t really appreciate TotK, held my hand too much and lasts too long. I do get they are introducing new gameplay but still.
Definitely not Twilight Princess, maybe Tears of the Kingdom?
is this really a debate anyone is having?
Ocarina of Time. It had the difficult task of introducing people to 3D Zelda but manages to teach you a lot without it feeling like a tutorial.
Kokiri forest is a great introduction to the controls and the reward of exploration as you get the sword and rupees for the shield.
The stationary deku plant enemies are an easy intro to the combat system and teach you to think about the timing of your attacks instead of mindlessly slashing.
You are at the Great Deku tree in no time at all and it’s quite quick so I consider that part of the tutorial as well. It’s a demonstration of the new possibilities of 3D as you have to consider vertical space to do the web puzzle and Gohma fight.
And before you know it you have done your first dungeon, have your sword, shield and slingshot and are setting off into Hyrule field.
BOTW and TOTK, every other tutorial in the series feels too slow imo
Probably either OoT or BotW. The intros/tutorials to most of the other 3D Zelda games feel like a slog to get through, especially TP and SS. Hell, even TotK’s tutorial felt a lot slower compared to BotW.
botw and ocarina of time do something similar by giving the player a little playground to try out a bunch of game mechanics before being dropped into the real world
Link’s Awakening: Eagle’s Tower
The pillar knockdown mechanic was really cool for its time. Made navigating that place very hectic, but rewarding.
There’s something to be said for the original. Playtesters were confused by the games’ top down layout and openness, so Miyamoto took your sword away and put it in an obvious cave nearby. Step in, get a sword, and then step out… Immediately clear that this game is about exploration.
“The original The Legend of Zelda starts with Link obtaining a cheap wooden sword from an old man in a cave. But that’s not the way the game was originally designed. Early versions had Link starting the game with his sword already in his inventory.
When game testers reported confusion over what to do in the game, Miyamoto responded, interestingly enough, by taking away their sword. The move was designed to get players thinking about how to proceed in this new type of non-linear game, and to encourage communication between players about the game’s many secrets.”
– Source: https://www.gamespot.com/gallery/26-facts-about-the-legend-of-zelda-that-you-probab/2900-28/
I have to agree with BotW because the initial plateau allowed for exploration and experimentation without being overwhelmed. It is the perfect setup and really prepares the player for what the game is.
How about FUCK zelda tutorials. Worst feature the series has ever had.
Anything but BotW and OoT is wrong.
Hey! Thanks for sharing my article!
The Great Plateau in BOTW and Kokiri Forest in OoT both share a special quality that most of the other games’ tutorials lack: they manage to teach you the controls, mechanics, and features of the game *while* progressing you through the beginning of the story and building intrigue for the adventure to come. By comparison, the tutorials in WW, TP, and SS are miserable slogs that force you to just dick around in a village doing menial tasks for a little while before anything interesting can happen.
I liked Sprite Tracks specifically because if you messed up an angry cow would ram into your train.
I actually really like the initial 3 days in Clock Town in Majora’s Mask. I love the ethereal run up getting into Termina, and once you know what you’re doing it’s pretty easy to get everything done for the first 3 days. I just wish there was more to do and less “well let’s dance with the Scarecrow for a bit”.
Obligatory “favorite Zelda game is my favorite everything” but I like Outset Island in Wind Waker as well. It’s peaceful without overstaying its welcome like Twilight Princess. And if we count Forsaken Fortress, then I’m one of 3 people that doesn’t hate the stealth section.
I’d need to play it again, but third place might actually be TOTK, if only because the Great Sky Island is the best the Sky portion of the game ever gets, there I said it.
A link to the past: here’s a sword, here’s the general idea of the story, okay bye.
I loved the first mini-cycle of MM as a tutorial!
The whole introduction all the way until you get the Deku Mask is so amazing and gets you immersed in the story so well that just thinking about it I think I’ll go play again hehehe
Not a big fan of BOTW tutorial, OOT is great
Breath of the Wild is the only one that doesn’t suck
BOTW’s is like the absolute perfect example of a great tutorial
BOTW does it best and guides the player just enough while still enabling exploration. I could argue that OOT doesn’t quite tell you enough about what to do (especially the sword) although you figure it out eventually. I also never read the signs in the sword training area until like my 3rd play through so it’s easy to skip a big chunk of the tutorial.
TP is by far the worst. The beginning of that game prevents me from pursuing additional playthroughs. Ugh.
Worst offender is Skyward Sword.
WW
NOT Twilight Princess
This question came up recently on r/zelda, so I won’t really repeat myself here. But it easily comes down to either OoT or BotW. OoT’s is short, snappy, and to the point (just like the game in general). BotW is a magical experience and a masterclass in teaching through player experiences.
Worth noting that I think ALttP has a better opening than either of them, it just isn’t really a tutorial.
Ocarina of Time will always be my favorite because of the way it makes me feel. But I think BOTW pretty objectively has the *best* tutorial
I don’t like tutorials.
The original game. Here’s your sword, go!
Zelda hand-holding can be far too much a lot of the time.
ALTTP for 2d and BOTW for 3d.
The first one because I hate tutorials
Majoras mask is really cool.
Probably OoT. That whole intro is insanely iconic.
Either Ocarina of Time or Wind Waker. Both had a good mix of some stuff being required, but a lot being optional if you just want to skip most of it.
But beyond that, I really like being able to enjoy a nice comfortable setting where you get to meet with many characters before going on your adventure instead of just being dropped in out of nowhere.
I know many like that approach given the praise to BotW’s tutorial, but it’s not what I like.
Ocarina of time and Majora´s
Because of the fairies.
They were major bossies. Always complained. Miss them a lot.
I suppose this is an unpopular opinion but I think TP did a great learning us all the gameplay possibilities while making us bond with the villagers story wise though I understand why people doesn’t like it even if I don’t think this is that long and I find the BOTW tutorial clever but it feels like a slog for me, this being said the path to kakariko anf Hateno is also a tutorial and this is neat.
But honestly they are all quite good at least as far as I remember.
I’d say Ocarina of Time had the best tutorial. It helped guide you to what you needed and where to get them.
Breath of the Wild’s tutorial was cool, but the combat tutorial was in Kakariko, meaning you didn’t actually learn how to fight in the beginning, making it easy to die. I have the same issue with Tears of the Kingdom. I love these two games, but it’s not exactly beginner-friendly when you can get one-shotted to death.
Majoras mask.
Botw is a close second
I don’t see the hype with the OoT tutorial whatsoever
I unironically love the Great Bay Temple in Majoras Mask. Zora Link is so much fun to control and the dungeon has a really cool atmosphere to it. The OST is great too