If you’ve ever wondered why recent Zelda games have been a little easier than they used to be, consider the man in charge of the series, Eiji Aonuma. Who has never finished the first Zelda.
“I’ve never actually finished it,” Aonuma told Game Informer. “I almost feel like there’s still no game more difficult than it. Every time I try to play it I end up getting ‘Game Over’ a few too many times and giving up partway through. Certainly after playing the original Zelda for the first time, I didn’t ever think that I wanted to make a game like that.”
So why did he? The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past changed his mind, as “That sense of exploration of the world itself was really where I latched on to the series.”
No shame in that! I’ve never finished the first Zelda either. Or the second. For the same reason. I play the game for the adventure, not the difficulty, so it’s good to see the man responsible for the series has the same outlook!
Zelda Boss Eiji Aonuma Has Never Completed The Original Legend Of Zelda [Game Informer]
TSH
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 5:07 PMI’ve not finished the first Zelda (barely played it). Y’know why? I was busy trying to finish Battletoads!
Now *that* is a game that redefines “hard”. That, and Double Dragon 3 (to a lesser extent).
Eliza
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 10:10 PMBattletoads was the bane of my childhood.
Neo-Kaiser
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 5:18 PMI finished the first two games, and I completely understand people for want the game to be easier.
BUT, the recent games have been way too easy and I think if they’re going to make the game in general easier for gamers who like the exploration, the least they can do is offer a much harder mode for the people who do find the game easy, or in case somebody wants to replay the game and enjoy the challenge for that playthrough rather then the exploration.
Pancake
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 6:37 PMAgreed, from what I’ve seen of it OoT Master Quest is pretty challenging puzzle wise. If they included a Master Quest version of each of the new Zelda games it’d certainly give a challenging aspect to the game.
The Smelly Dog Who Pooed
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 6:39 PMI’ve not finished any post Link’s Awakening ’cause I got bored with Ocarina. Am I bad man?
Matt
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 6:45 PMZelda 2 is the only game I can think of where you start with “The only way to get to the first dungeon is to go through this cave; but it’s dark so you won’t be able to see the monsters that are hurting you, if only you had the item from the first dungeon you’d be able to travel through caves easily” – the game is difficult, easily on par with some Mega Man games – but the opening just feels so poorly designed. Maybe it’s a case of lost in translation.
I think Zelda 1 is a lot easier in comparison, but I think it’s also a lot more forgiving than Zelda 2.
mobo
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 7:11 PMI’m not as old as some of the people who played the first Zelda but I’ve been going through my first play through of OoT. It’s not extremely difficult but I think there is some obtuse game design in some aspects … still fun though.
andy
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 8:54 PMWhen it was released it was considered reasonably hard not to bad though. Times change though what once was hard is now considered fairly easy. exceptions do exist of course but peoples knowledge of how to approach the games has increased.
Raf
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 7:29 PMThe original Zelda was one of the first games I ever played. It was not that hard.
Zelda 2 was legit hard, but Zelda 1? Meanwhile other Nintendo games defined hard!
If this is what happened to the series after 3, I’m glad I defected to the Playstation after the SNES era.
OzHuski
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 9:15 PMThe new Zelda games arent hard.. But are far more solid and enjoyable. If you havent played them you are seriously missing out. Zelda 3 is my second fav all up, with Wind Waker taking first place and Twilight Princess taking 3rd.
Stevorooni
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 8:14 PMModern games have softened me up. Back in the day I could have made it through the NES Zeldas (but I had a Master System instead of a NES) but now it’s just impossible.
OzHuski
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 9:18 PMWho cares seriously if they are hard or not? I dont enjoy Zelda for its difficult, I play it for the story, exploration and dungeon puzzling. I dont need the difficulty ramped up to take away from a very solid and fun experience.
If I want hard, ill pull out Megaman or something.. Even then Megaman is pretty tame these days.
Franz
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 9:24 PMThe 2nd Zelda was ridiculous and boring or I must have been doing something wrong, I played it for at least an hour and never got in a single fight, I did however get in many conversations with town folk…
The 1st was epic but I think some people were playing without the map which made it harder.
And once you think you’re top dog Wizrobes bust your arse.
Seegrey
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 10:58 PMThe gameboy ones were the best. Zelda isn’t a game that needs 3Dness, and the hardest boss fight I’ve ever done remains the witch at the top of the tower of time.
Of course, OoA and OoS linked themselves together to make one game out of two carts so it’s possible it’s an unfair comparison.
Jake
Thursday, September 8, 2011 at 11:49 PMThey made 3 games out of 2 carts.
dave
Friday, September 9, 2011 at 1:45 AMIt’s funny, when I was 8 I was able to finish the original without too much effort. But now I can’t get past the 9th dungeon to save my life. The 3ds ambassador programme only just reaffirms my fear that I’m too conditioned to the ease of play found in almost every current title.
Ty
Friday, September 9, 2011 at 2:50 PMAonuma ruined the series for me. He has very little idea how to make a game I want to play.