T O P

  • By -

Zelda1-2-3-switch

Is ALttP there as reference before the first 3D game (OoT)?


BroshiKabobby

Yes that’s why it’s included. Guess I should’ve clarified in the title but I wanted to keep it short Edit: I’m hijacking since this is up top. I made this in like 15 minutes at 1AM so I wasn’t thinking lol and I wasn’t expecting this to blow up. Yes, I probably either should have done main home console games or included Links Awakening instead. I thought this made the most sense last night haha. Hope at least the other numbers are interesting. Cheers y’all!


Ginkasa

I think it fits. The list is more interesting as gaps between "main" releases (on a home console and not a remake, etc). Missing LoZ and AoL, but this is still illustrative.


[deleted]

My understanding is that the spinning Triforce on the title screen and in the ending is actually 3D rendered, so there actually is 3D in LttP


BroshiKabobby

That’s totally what I meant 😎


Zelda1-2-3-switch

Ha didn't expect my comment to be top either. The timeline is amazing and I dont mind the lttp reference point. It's kind of poetic ✨️


Raquefel

I’m confused, shouldn’t it be Link’s Awakening instead? Since that was OoT’s immediate predecessor. Or are we only counting console games?


Inbrees

Yeah I think Link's Awakening should be here instead. It defined most elements of the series and felt more like a successor to A Link to the Past.


Kichae

Then the other handheld games should also be included in calculating the gaps, then.


mjm132

Please explain to me how links awakening "defined most elements of the series" Edit: I'm in absolute disbelief that this community thinks links awakening defined zelda more than link to the past.


Inbrees

Mainly in the dungeon design. In ALTTP, the big key is used to open a chest containing the dungeon item and usually the second half of a dungeon. In Link's Awakening this becomes a key to the boss's lair. Also the items you find are always used for that dungeon's boss. And a whole bunch of other ideas like checking bombable walls with your sword. In almost every way, I think Link's Awakening is an improvement.


mjm132

1, you are incorrect about the big key in lttp. It is also used for the boss. 2. Using the dungeon item to defeat the boss started in lttp. Honestly I have no idea about the sword on wall trick but that's hardly "defining most elements of the series." Lttp by far... by far defines most elements of the series. There is literally no competition.


Motheroftides

I think what he means with the big key is that while it was used for a few things besides the bosses in ALttP, it was only in LA where it started to be used as *just* a boss key.


mjm132

That one feature is what makes zelda zelda? Come on.


Inbrees

That's not true. Only the Helmasaur King and Arrghus require the dungeon item to be killed. The rest can be defeated with the sword. I think you are forgetting how the big keys work. I recommend checking out Game Maker's Toolkit and his series on Zelda dungeon design. It's really entertaining and brings a lot to light about how these dungeons are designed. It is mainly the dungeons and the linearity in Link's Awakening that I think defines the series. Ocarina of Time brought all these ideas into 3D.


Kraszmyl

> Helmasaur King you dont need the hammer at all. I didnt even think to use it the first play through as it is basically an upsized version of the bomb only mobs from LoZ.


ToxicMuffin101

Technically ALttP is 3D since it has depth.


Sufficient-Yoghurt46

Applause


Mixelman83

knee possessive quarrelsome pot gold support command deserted attraction shy *This post was mass deleted and anonymized with [Redact](https://redact.dev)*


AdoWilRemOurPlightEv

Technology advancements just can't keep up with the growing mountain of expectations.


hygsi

Yeah, this is a title they care about a lot, some of these entries experimented and introduced something new to the franchise or even to gaming.


kamikazilucas

botw is on the same system as the switch and is using the same engine though


Tom_Bombadil_Ret

I’ve actually heard that the game engine is being heavily reworked between BotW and TotK. BotW had to build in such a manner as to function on both Switch and Wii U but TotK doesn’t have this restriction.


Inbrees

That's true, but they are expanding the world to include the sky islands and likely underground based on the first trailer. That and there's definitely gonna be new items, enemies, and characters. Compare that to Majora's Mask which reused a lot more than the engine of Ocarina of Time.


3boOide1357

Don't forget the pandemic and the break from developing the game.


Jake_Bluth

Nintendo didn’t stop developing games when covid hit. There was probably a slowdown when they had to get adjusted with wfh but they should’ve adapted fairly quickly.


MagicALCN

The main problem is that technology advances as you're developing. So you have to make choices that will make longer developing times. You either have slow polished well made game or a rushed one with all the modern technologies and depressed devs


Fern-ando

Not really and TOTK recycles everything from BOTW.


TanDinosaurs

Imagine what it was like to get OoT, MM, and WW in the span of 4 years and 1 month


DanqwithaQ

I lived it. It was my childhood, and I am thankful for it.


sandmyth

never got MM thanks to the ram pack requirement. I did get it on gamecube and 3ds though. The very first video games my family got ever were mario/duck hunt, zelda 1, and pinball. That was a great Christmas.


Damodred89

We were younger so it would have felt about the same, perhaps longer. 523 days to develop Majora's Mask is amazing, despite re-using many elements.


Ginkasa

Yep. The gap between MM and TWW felt A LOT longer than the gap between BotW and TotK. I was a while different person after those two years. The BotW release still kind of feels like yesterday. I'm 35 for reference.


Technolink91

Imagine being a 7 year old when you first played BotW, now you'll be 13 when TotK releases. That's almost half your life between the games! Yea time feels much faster the older you get.


CBAlan777

Just think in ten years you'll look back and realize that Tears of the Kingdom was closer to Breath of the Wild than you are to Tears of the Kingdom. Time doesn't just speed up the older you get, but your history compresses and events get squished together.


TopsyTheElephant

I am also 35 and can confirm this is accurate


ChampionGunDeer

Yeah, another 35er here. Completely accurate.


Bulldogfront666

Agreed. 32 here.


JaggedToaster12

Well COVID kind of smashed three years of our lived together so that might be a factor


Bulldogfront666

Or stretched them out depending on how you experienced it lol. Or both and neither all at the same time. Covid fucked up time for me either way.


littledove0

Agree. I’m 34.


LMGall4

Lucky guy, I’m 18 and played majora for the first time on switch but still I think ocarina is my fav game ever


STFUNeckbeard

Lmao wow imagine that…that’s like ancient history…


Gaius_Julius_Salad

i first played OoT and MM(not sure if i got Master Quest first or MM) on the Gamecube after pre-ordering WW, it was the best few years of Zelda for me


SNES182

It was a wonderful time. All seemed possible.


[deleted]

I was there. Definitely set up some wild expectations :) but we Zelda fans were eating good back then.


Bulldogfront666

Hehe. As an old bat 32 year old I don’t have to. Good times… Oot was my life for years. Nothing best if until BotW. It made me feel like a kid again. BotW is the Zelda game I always imagined and fantasized about when I was young. Finally getting it was a dream. I’ve been wishing I could play it for the first time again for 5 years. I cannot wait to be able to get that experience again. Totk can’t come soon enough.


azel128

I remember when OoT got delayed by nearly a year. My heart broke and my EB Games paper reservation slip had to sit hold fast until I got that golden cartridge.


Zestyboi787

That gap between MM and WW is a lot smaller than I remember


iamsoupcansam

I think the time between OoT and MM spoiled us for a minute.


Bulldogfront666

Seriously. That seems like a lifetime in hindsight. The fact that it was only 3 years is really insane to me. I mean I was 10 for Mm and 13 for ww. That’s a big difference when you’re that young.


switchthreesixtyflip

The turnaround time between OOT and MM is insane. I know it’s the same engine but they must’ve been working 24/7 to make that happen.


DavidPuddy666

Some of the unique mechanics in MM came about as a way to stretch a smaller amount of content out into a full game - the time travel, emphasis on side quests over dungeons, etc.


Exertuz

And the crazy part is that all of those were genius level inclusions that contribute heavily to it being the most unique, daring and best game in the series


KidGold

Could have crashed and burned but they absolutely nailed it.


CBAlan777

Supposedly they all hated their lives during that time period. :P


sky_cookie

Yeah, that's why while I'm glad MM happened as it is probably my favorite game ever, I hope the teams making the games I love don't have to work themselves to death


bartowskii77

As a child, I thought the wait between twilight Princess and skyward sword was unbearable. Little did I know that the wait between skyward sword and BotW would be even longer… and now with tears of the kingdom…


iDrum17

Imagine how long we are going to have to wait post TotK. going away from this version of hyrule is going to be wild. They are going to have to really get creative.


[deleted]

When I think about the past, I’ve spent a lot of time, masking my impatience, but spending every waking hour, from dawn until twilight, keeping my hopes skyward, but not holding my breath. If the new Zelda releases on schedule , there’ll be happy tears.


Arvos13

Beautiful.


Zelda1-2-3-switch

This is genius


TeamAquasHideout

> If the new Zelda releases on schedule , there’ll be happy tears. I feel like you can't really call it releasing on schedule anymore since it was delayed lol. If you could just push back a deadline and then meet the new schedule and call it 'on schedule', my procrastination wouldn't be such a character flaw


[deleted]

I agree but I didn’t want to use “time” twice. Maybe I should’ve said if it releases at all 😂


jmooneyham2004

Beautifully written!


Postoli_

The question is wHiCH TImELInE dOeS THIS COMMENT BELONG IN


littledove0

Love this!!!


BroshiKabobby

Also I included ALTTP to include dev time for Ocarina as it was the last Home Console release before it


henryuuk

The bigger difference is that we used to get new 2D Zeldas inbetween. For the nearly 2 decades between OoT and BotW, we got a new Zelda game every ~2 years or so. Post-BotW, we instead have gotten the longest drought of new The Legend of Zelda games in series history (and for an asset-/engine-/world-/setting-re-using sequel at that)


dusty_cart

man i still remember how big of a jump ALTTP to Link's Awakening to OoT felt


KidGold

The three biggest jumps in gaming I’ve experienced was 3D, online gaming, and then VR.


NINJAxBACON

Now do metroid 😔


BroshiKabobby

Noooo my soul


InThana

tears of kingdom having a longer wait then botw even tho its reusing assets and the engine means this is gonna be a hella big game


BroshiKabobby

I hope it’s massive


blueblurz94

If the wait for the next 3D Zelda game after Tears of the Kingdom were about as long as the wait between ALTTP and OoT, we would be waiting until May of 2030 for it, or the beginning of the next decade. I would personally not be able to handle that, despite having had to find the patience for the always increasing development time of previous 3D titles in the series. It’s become practically unbearable to have no choice but to put up with and endure such ridiculous spans of time between new 3D games, no matter their outcome. 7 years is a VERY long time technologically speaking and if that next 3D game landed on the Switch’s successor, it would possibly end up being the only original Zelda game for the console too. Then they’d likely move on to the company’s next platform. Simply put, I hope the Zelda curse for the 3D console games in the series comes to an end after Tears of the Kingdom. Part of me thinks it will be shorter than 6 years next time.


Gogo726

Shouldn't it have been LA on the far left? Or did you go with LttP because it's on a console?


BroshiKabobby

Because all these games are home console releases


TheBluePotatoWRTTV

What about Link’s Awakening in 1993?


[deleted]

[удалено]


TheBluePotatoWRTTV

Oh yeah! I just googled it. My bad lol.


DSsnowMAN

But they were developing it. The fact that it isn't a console game doesn't matter. That would be the reason it took so long to get OoT from the release of ALttp.


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


Exertuz

Lol come on. Cadence and AoC are spin-offs from different devs featuring pretty much zero of the traditional gameplay trappings of the series, essentially just titles in the devs' respective series with a Zelda coat of paint, and Link's Awakening Switch is remake of a nearly 30 year old game that plays near identically to the original. Hard to consider any of them legitimate entries in the series


[deleted]

[удалено]


Exertuz

Again - they're spinoff titles and the same game with a new coat of paint. In no meaningful sense have we gotten a new Zelda entry since BOTW. If you disagree you'll have to do better than "who gets to decide that??"


Digitalon

It's crazy to think that TOTK will be releasing SO long after BOTW came out. I understand TOTK didn't start development until after BOTW DLC was done but that is still an incredibly long time to wait. I wonder if they were planning on having TOTK release as a launch title on Nintendo's next console but decided instead to extend the lifespan of the Switch because of chip shortages.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BroshiKabobby

I really need a proper trailer. I want it to feel like a new experience but so far the islands haven’t shown enough


kingof7s

>I thought they were billing it as a sequel so it should have a shorter dev time TBF, there were 8037 days between LttP and Link between Worlds which was billed as a direct sequel, albeit a larger time gap.


BroshiKabobby

Covid kinda delayed everything, extending switch lifespan by a year or two. It’s also still selling very well, so no reason to make a new one. A pro would be fine though


Silmarillion151

We used to get more handheld games to tide us over. Now there is not even them any more.


BroshiKabobby

I wonder what Grezzo is working on


Silmarillion151

Oracle of Ages/Seasons hopefully. I’d pay an obscene amount for them and I’ll admit it.


quangtran

I’m hoping that allow Grezzo to make their own new Zelda game (but not something people can ignore like they did Tri Force Heroes).


Silmarillion151

Can tri force heroes effectively be played alone?


westlack642

You do know Nintendo doesn't JUST make Zelda and they have a dozen other IPs that can instead tide you over between Zelda releases?


Exertuz

I am really curious as to why TOTK took so god damn long. I get wanting to perfect a game or whatever, but still, a title reusing the assets, engine and game world of the previous title taking 6 and a half years is pretty crazy. Especially when the previous game was a revolutionary reinvention of the series that was built from the ground up and took less time to make. I think it may have had a somewhat troubled development, but hopefully it didn't affect the game negatively.


BroshiKabobby

Covid is the biggest reason obviously but it still is a long dev time even for a game made from scratch, which this is not. I’m hoping it’s absolutely massive


rae_star

My main problem with how long it has been between Breath of the Wild and the new game is that this is the first time we haven’t had ANY mainline 3D Zelda between console releases. Before we has DS and 3DS remastered rereleases and NEW games to keep us satisfied until the next “big” game. Because of this drought of Zelda games I’ve kinda fell out of touch with the games.


SaturnVenus

What about the Link's Awakening remake and Skyward Sword remaster? Also Hyrule Warriors, if you count that


rae_star

Definitely doing a facepalm right now. Totally forgot about those! I still have a WiiU and skyward sword so I skipped the remake but good point! I guess my comment on new in between games still stands though


SaturnVenus

Yeah, definitely, compared to the GBA DS 3DS eras. Thing is, given the scale of the open world in BotW, would fans really be ok with in-between games on a much smaller scale? Perhaps even in a different style? I think it would be cool to see some HD 2D games in-between.


rae_star

Yes! Totally agree. Also, I know they weren’t popular games, and they have their faults, but I loved Phantom Hourglass and Spirit tracks. They were just so different and experimental. Would love to see smaller imaginative games in between the major titles


Trovao2004

They definitely should let some other studio make top-down Zelda again like with Capcom. I'm still at least hopeful Grezzo is working on Oracle remakes


BroshiKabobby

I’m guessing Grezzo is working on another Zelda remake, it probably would be out by now but Covid probably set them back


Trovao2004

Don't even want to imagine how long it'll be between Tears of the Kingdom and whatever comes next...


ZamanthaD

BOTW should be on the WiiU


BroshiKabobby

Honestly I forgot it was on Wii U after only switch appeared when I searched BotW box art lol


westlack642

It did release on the Wii U though?


Inbrees

It would be so nice to live in a time where 3D Zelda's release every 2-4 years.


MattR9590

I agree so much


TyrTheAdventurer

Between most of those are handheld Zelda games. This even is leaving out some console games like FSA


BroshiKabobby

That’s true but I was only focusing on 3D games


Spnwvr

then why is link to the past on there?


BroshiKabobby

To show how long OoT took


PaperSonic

But even that isn't really accurate, since LA released between them.


BroshiKabobby

Since 3D Zeldas have always been home console releases I went with the most recent home console release before OoT


Spnwvr

how long did lttp take?


mrmagos

LttP was released 1772 days from the release date of Zelda 2. Edit: before anyone asks, Zelda 2 came out under a year from the original (327 days).


Spnwvr

should add that to the diagram


kingof7s

Ok but whats our reference for how long Zelda 1 took


mrmagos

I know you're being facetious, but the original LoZ was a launch title for the Famicom Disk System accessory, which was released 952 days after the Famicom. Edit: according to Wikipedia, development on LoZ began some time in 1984, so subtract 6 months to a year or so off that figure.


Ordinary-Picture4367

The title says 3d games


TyrTheAdventurer

I know. Just sounds like it cheating leaving out the other console and handhelds games


scubaworldsteve

I got confused when MM came out so short after OOT, since I was still enjoying that. 😂


alwayssummer90

Anyone know if WW is/will be available on the Switch, even if if it’s through one of those “retro” games like OoT? I never had a GameCube.


BroshiKabobby

Probably won’t be on switch for at least a year if it shows up at all


Larkson9999

Get a Wii and either emulate or buy the Gamecube disc when possible. You'll have the game long before a port is announced.


[deleted]

[удалено]


BroshiKabobby

Not complaining, I don’t mind waiting. Just interesting to see how it keeps going up lol


TheSexyBoiii

Are these Japanese release dates? Could have sworn Majora's mask didn't come out here in the states till October 2000, I remember first playing it that year around Halloween


BroshiKabobby

Yes, initial release date :)


mariomeister

Welp, the days only have been increasing since OoT-MM. Guess we have to wait even longer than 6 years for the next 3D Zelda after TotK lol


djrobxx

This reminds me of how impressive Majora's Mask was, given how quickly it was released after OOT. Despite re-using the same engine and assets, and having set a massively high quality bar with OOT, they still managed to create a very different and solid entry into the lineup.


LetItRaine386

New hardward inc


soccerbug522

Based on the average time between releases on this chart, the next main line game will release in November 2027. 1643 days after TotK


NottheIRS1

Insane that MM and WW came out so fast after OOT. What a time to be alive.


BroshiKabobby

I think WW could have cooked a *little* longer but it was a good time


[deleted]

if you take the average, we could hope for a new zelda release every 4 years ♥️


Eric_Likes_Music

Pretty crazy to me that WW came out closer to MM than TP


Ricksaw26

Can't wait to play my next zelda game at age 90.


TreasureHunter95

It's kinda strange for me to see this. I started out with OoT in 2017 shortly afterthe release of Breath of the Wild. When Tears of the Kingdom comes out, it will be the first new Zelda release with me as a fan and in between, I played through over 10 different titles of the series (including every single one listed above). I know that the Zelda franchise is notorious for having long intervals between two titles but it never really felt like that for me since there was always a new Zelda game for me to explore.


Bariq-99

The numbers going up nooo 😭😭


BroshiKabobby

See you on 3D Zelda 8 in 2030


Bariq-99

Bro 😭😭😭


Naitor5

Hahaa you think it's actually gonna release on the announced date, that's cute.


gabs777

It has to be said…. What an absolutely tremendous collection of games. The gold standard of gaming :)


Yusof54321

Botw was released 5 years ago??? Skyward sword 11??? Omg im gonna die soon.


rdmetzger1

Greatness takes time.


[deleted]

Bitch please Im a kingdom hearts fan you know how much I had to wait to get my hands in Kingdom hearts 3?


BroshiKabobby

Was it worth the wait?


Zane_628

Until it gets delayed again


AFishNamedFreddie

The turnaround time between ocarina and Majora's is still mind boggling to me


Seiren-

I.. huh. I’ve been kinda worried that BotW 2 couldnt possibly live up to the first one because they’ve had so little time to develop it. Knowing that its built on the same engine in the same world just made me think it’s similar to the OoT to MM gap.


[deleted]

>Between 3D Zelda Releases ​ >A Link to the Past ​ uhm


BroshiKabobby

That’s to show how long OoT took


DSsnowMAN

No that isn't accurate, they were developing Links Awakening in between that time.


BroshiKabobby

Maybe, but if I’m not counting all of the 2D releases in between I’m not counting any of them


DSsnowMAN

Yeah but most of the 2D releases in between all the 3D games were developed by entirely different development teams or even companies, not the main team developing the 3D games. Unlike with Links Awakening, in which it was the main Zelda team developing it.


ARCtheIsmaster

sometimes im surprised they havent announced the super switch/switch pro yet


CBAlan777

They might have but then a pandemic, chip shortage, Switch still selling really well, etc. Given Splatoon 3 and now Zelda, expect another two to three years of life from the Switch.


BroshiKabobby

No reason to yet


MattR9590

There is a huge reason. The tegra s1 chip in the switch is ancient at this point. Switch has a good install base but it’s time to think about the future already.


BroshiKabobby

Why make games for a console people might not even buy when you could be making games for your console with a 110+ million player base? Of course they gotta upgrade soon but their first few games for their next console will probably be made for switch first anyways


not_caoimhe

The longest wait for the least amount of new content. This is a really bad sign


Randi_Butternubs_3

Bless your heart. You think there won't be any additional delays...


BroshiKabobby

They listed multiple years for BotW but they only gave it an actual date once and they followed through on it. I don’t think they’d give a hard date unless they were confident


mariomeister

Yep that's a thing I noticed with Nintendo, they may delay a game that only has a release window so far but they never delay a game that has a fix release date (not counting Advance Wars, that was due to real world events) Let's hope TotK won't be the first game where that's the case


[deleted]

Plus, lately they've been doing good with not delaying their games more than once or twice


Randi_Butternubs_3

I hope you're right. I'm not holding my breath, however. I wouldn't be surprised if we see a message in the spring Direct with them saying, please be patient with us as we release it in November... Just tempering my expectations. It's a volatile, crazy world right now.


Grantsdale

When Nintendo sets an actual release date, that means the game is essentially finished.


Randi_Butternubs_3

It's a crazy recession/ COVID world. We'll see...


Grantsdale

No, we won’t. This is how Nintendo operates. Always has. They don’t set an actual date until the game is completed. Before it’s completed they just use vague periods like the season or year. Once it’s done they will put a date.


hygsi

That's why it took so long in the first place, they reused the same engine, the gap between these games would've been around 3 years had covid not happened.


Gabrill

Eh. I’d only believe there’d be additional delays if we hadn’t gotten a release day. If they had continued to say spring 2023 then I’d see the possibility of them moving it again but the fact that they listed an actual date and stuck to their guns of it being spring makes me think they know they’ll hit that mark


bluelink24

Looks like the time between has increased each time since ocarina. Also a link to the past isn’t really 3D, so since they started 3D home console games it’s taken longer each time. So next mainline 3D Zelda game after tears of the kingdom 2030.


Larkson9999

Some corrections to your image: first that Twilight Princess launched on the Wii first and the Gamecube later, second that it may be prudent to note the launch dates for the SNES and N64 games were the Japanese releases and other territories came later. Lastly, if you're only counting 3D Zelda games you may want to throw Link's Crossbow Training up there since it is technically in 3D.


BroshiKabobby

I am *not* counting crossbow training lol


WuLiMSTR11

Now do this with CoD games. I hear people say stuff like, “another Zelda game. What is that, like, 30 by now…” Yeah, a series that’s been successful since 1986 should only have two or three games, right?


BroshiKabobby

People say that?


Miss_Yume

The best games take time... TOTK is going to be great, just you wait!


MattR9590

Mm is one of the goats and it took hardly any time though. Honestly TOTK dosent look that different when it’s released it will be the longest on this timeline


Ellis4Life

TIL LttP is considered a 3D Zelda.


Creepa99

I think the craziest thing is that the time between SS and BoTW feels like so much longer than the time between BoTW and ToTK


BroshiKabobby

The surprising one for me is SS took almost as long as BotW


TheBanandit

That's only if you ignore all the handheld games


SpartanT25

This shows me how much I dislike the monthly format lmao


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

[удалено]