The Best So Far.
I'm talking about, of course, the cartoon graphics.
Fans have fallen clearly on either side of the issue - they either loved it or hated it.
I'm totally on the "loved it" side.
For those of us who grew up with Link, we realize he was always a little boy. A Peter Pan-like kid who could save the world with his boomerangs, swords, bows and magic.
For us, Ocarina of Time (which featured for the very first time an adult Link) was the departure from the standard, not this game.
This game gave us everything we ever dreamed a videogame of the future would be - a living, breathing, animated world full of colorful characters on par with the best offerings that come out of a Disney studio.
There's something to be said for realistic graphics, to be sure.
But there's also something to be said for stylistic, animated graphics. And this game is a perfect example of how good animation can look in a videogame.
There's room enough for both on the videogame landscape - and quite honestly, we get way too much of the former and not enough of the latter.
Videogaming needs more games like this one.
I can't say enough about how much I loved the look of this game and the game itself. It's by far, in my opinion, the best looking and best playing Zelda ever.
Gameplay wise it builds upon the fundamentals set forth in Ocarina of Time. Basically, if you mastered OoT, then you'll find this game pretty easy. Easy not because the game isn't balanced, but easy because the controls are so tight and all the weapons work so well that a master Zelda player can absolutely own this game from start to finish.
Which is pretty satisfying really. You never feel like, "wow this game is too easy." Rather you feel the weapons are so perfected in their handling that you've truly mastered each and every one.
The sword fighting alone in this game is easily worth the price of admission.
The music, as is always the case with a Zelda game, has the same familiar tunes and a variety of new ones, too. The music is a notch above what you'll find almost anywhere else.
I could go on and on about the details of this game and how great it is, but honestly, you have to experience it for yourself to truly believe how amazingly great this game is.
If you were going to be stranded on a deserted island and could only take one videogame with you and you chose this one you wouldn't be sorry.
It never gets old and it never gets boring.
A lot like Link himself.