Why so much hating on AoL?

[Aralith]

Perhaps this isn't true here, but it's been my general experience with gamers that they consider AoL to be a bad game, and be the black sheep of the series (though with its side scrolling gameplay and RPG elements, the latter does hold some truth to it). And, if this community shares that opinion, I was just wondering why?

The reason I bring this up is because I just bought the game on the Virtual Console for the Wii and after just a few minutes of playing it, I was already in love with it. For one thing, it's a challenge. Finally, a hard Zelda game. Secondly, it has the RPG elements that I have always felt a Zelda game should have, or at least try out. Though obviously because of the limitations of the NES technology, I still feel that there should be a few more. But it seems like they're trial in RPG elements ended fell on deaf ears and ended in disaster, as they haven't returned to it yet.

So, yeah, my question is, why is this game so disliked?

[Temple of Time]

I do feel that the game isn't bad but making it a side scrolling game shouldn't had been done because this is changing all the original elements of the first game. I suppose because it was the 2nd game in the series Nintendo wanted to try something new but the birds-eye-view style game play works the best. It's like SMB2 is also the black sheep in the Mario games. In SMB2 Nintendo eliminated all the question blocks and replaced them for weeds that you pull up from the ground. They also tried a new method of picking up your enemies to throw at others to kill them. I guess Nintendo saw this again and decided to go back with the original Mario game play which works the best.

So this seems to me like, Why change what is already Perfect?

[Aralith]

Originally Posted by Temple of Time

I do feel that the game isn't bad but making it a side scrolling game shouldn't had been done because this is changing all the original elements of the first game. I suppose because it was the 2nd game in the series Nintendo wanted to try something new but the birds-eye-view style game play works the best. It's like SMB2 is also the black sheep in the Mario games. In SMB2 Nintendo eliminated all the question blocks and replaced them for weeds that you pull up from the ground. They also tried a new method of picking up your enemies to throw at others to kill them. I guess Nintendo saw this again and decided to go back with the original Mario game play which works the best.

So this seems to me like, Why change what is already Perfect?

Because then you're just making the same game over and over, which the Zelda series arguably is doing now. Miyamoto himself stated that he doesn't like making sequels to his games unless they can really bring something new to the series. And I like that attitude. It pretty much assures that you'll get new experiences. And why be so opposed to change? I felt that although the side-scrolling certainly is a departure from the norm that it was executed very well. I actually love it in this game. Not to say that I don't think the top-down view is good, because it is, but I think the side-scrolling is good too.

[TheManInTheMoon]

In SMB2 Nintendo eliminated all the question blocks and replaced them for weeds that you pull up from the ground. They also tried a new method of picking up your enemies to throw at others to kill them. I guess Nintendo saw this again and decided to go back with the original Mario game play which works the best.

Yume Kōjō: Doki Doki Panic - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[Sherm]

AoL is a great game! I would rank it #2 in the entire series.
But the reason I love it is probably the reason most people dislike it........it's difficult!
Enemies are tough, puzzles tricky, and there is alot to uncover. There are no Midnas, Navis or any other "helpers" to hold your hand and guide you throughout the quest. The game requires a great deal of effort that alot of gamers aren't willing to put forth.
But if they dedicate themselves to the game they will begin to enjoy it. They can really appreciate it. If and when they do beat the game, they will have a feeling of accomplishment unlike any other!

[Aralith]

That is exactly how I feel. I love that it's difficult. That it actually challenges me as a gamer. A lot of games these days, especially the big name ones like Zelda, Final Fantasy, and Metroid (though Metroid does have a saving grace with unlockable higher difficulties) are just way too easy because they're trying to be "accessible to all gamers" or something like that. Well, f*** that sh**! I haven't played an actually challenging game that made me turn the system off since God of War. I'm glad to see that there is a Zelda game that can make me do that now. I'd held off on buying it for so long because I'd heard so many bad things about it, but now I love it.

[Stuit]

It's too hard and boring. I guess there is a certain charm to standing on the map screen and carefully calculating the path for your next kamikaze mission, but that wears of pretty fast after the rage kicks in.
Luckily there's the Wonderboy series for Sega Master System and Genesis, they have the same kind of sidescrolling hack 'n slash gameplay in a fantasy setting, except they're fun.

[Hylie]

Another "why do ppl hate aol" thread? Gawd.

Ok, so it's different, it's hard, it looks ugly and all the elements changed. So what? That's, in my opinion what makes it great. It's by far the hardest Zelda game in the series and I thank Ninty for that.

It's getting a little cliche with the black sheep comments but hey, people are entitled to their opinions. From my view though, and I can probably speak for Aeffles here too, it's an amazing game.

If you've never played it, I suggest you give it a shot. xP

[Gregg]

I concur completely! Having only played the original LoZ, I have nothing else to compare it to, but what a blast! The "leveling up" challenge was open to your own creativity, i.e, one could find their own areas to build up points to get to the next level. The puzzles in the palaces were quite challenging as well.

I'm in the process of playing all the games (available on a GameCube), and I've just started OoT. So far, it is a lot of fun, but clearly not as hard as AoL

[Dillon_Sommervold]

I think that when compared to the original, AoL was completely different. First, the overhead camera view was changed to a side-scrolling view, the game was much harder, and instead of having the enemies placed where you could see them, there were random battles that you had to go through if you couldn't get away from them. I guess that it isn't a completely bad game, it is just probably considered bad when compared to the original.

[Hylie]

Also, it's the only Zelda game to see link wielding a green sword. Very colour coordinated. xP

[Aeffles]

There are just too many "black sheep" "why do people hate.." etc threads on this game. Though it's my favorite and I could talk about it all day and all night, it's just not appropriate to have yet another of the same thread.

*locketh*