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Tyler Townsend

@thetylertownsend

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I make shitty youtube videos, listen to metal, and play lots of games

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I got to watch @elletownz crowd surf 6 times- oh, and dead poet society was pretty entertaining too 🤩

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Tears of a Masterpiece

After doing everything that I wanted to do, I feel ready to give a spoiler free review of the Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom. Like many Zelda fans, I was incredibly hyped for this game despite the tame marketing. Breath of the Wild was and still is one of my favorite Zelda games of all time, so a sequel that not only had to build off of that games design philosophy while giving off a different feel was a very hard task. With that said, if there was one team I knew that could do it, it was the Zelda team. And all I can say is that this is not only my game of the year, but it is one of the greatest video games I have ever played in my life.

The amount of expectations I set for this game seemed way too high, and somehow this game was able to obliterate every expectation I had. Somehow it was able to top what I already considered an open world masterpiece, but it also did it in a way where the entire game felt different. What was so incredible about this game? Was it the amazing main quest, where each region had such an awesome subplot to play through? Was it the incredible new gameplay mechanics thrown in your face that added so much gameplay variety? Was it the unique and extremely fun dungeons and bosses, fixing most of my issues with the ones in breath of the wild? Was it the three different maps, from the sky all the way underground, packed with unique content? Was it the incredible side quests and side adventures, which might have even topped majoras mask for me in that department? Simply put, it’s all of that. All of those things and more make this a such a special game. There’s so much I want to say but it’ll definitely dive into spoilers, so I’ll put out a lot of content talking about my favorite things about this game. For now, I’ll leave it at this and answer a question that I’ve been asked. Is this my favorite Zelda game? Yes. It is absolutely number 1 for me. As much as I adore Twilight Princess, and still hold that story to a higher regard, Tears of the Kingdom truly gave me the best experience of a Zelda game. It is a gem that leaves you with no words by the end, and I already can’t wait to play again. Peak Nintendo.

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1. An Epic And Somber Masterpiece

We’re finally at my number 1 Zelda game which still is (at least maybe until tomorrow) Twilight Princess. The story of this game sees a young ranch farmer named Link getting thrust into the twilight realm, and must team up with a mysterious imp named Midna to save his world, as well as hers. Let’s just cut to the chase: Twilight Princess is the game just appeals to everything I love in a Zelda game. No it wasn’t my first Zelda game, but it is the game that made me a Zelda fanatic. It is one of my favorite games of all time, and if tears of the kingdom can’t top it, I don’t know what will.

I love every facet of this game. Even some of the things people don’t like like the intro, wolf segments, and miscellaneous stuff I love, and a big reason why is the story. This is easily my favorite Zelda story. It is a little vague so you definitely have to pay attention, but I just love how grand, epic, and adventurous it is. The tone and atmosphere is absolutely amazing, the writing with the light and the twilight realm as well as the sub stories in each area is awesome, the stakes feel real, and the characters are so good. Midna is easily my favorite Zelda character of all time, and I doubt she’s ever getting topped. Aside the story, I think this game just does other things better than every Zelda game. It has my favorite dungeons and bosses, both with incredible design and gameplay. It has my favorite combat system, with the hidden skills adding variety to the gameplay. It has my favorite mini games, presentation, an Incredible soundtrack, and a super awesome world to explore. However, most importantly is that Twilight Princes has my favorite atmosphere of any game I’ve ever played. There are moments of peaceful ness, creepiness, somberness; the atmosphere is really varied, and it immersed me so much in this game. There really isn’t much more that I can say about this game that I haven’t said a thousand times. Could Tears of the kingdom top this game? Absolutely. However, I’m never gonna stop loving this incredible game. It’s not flawless, but it is a legend in my opinion, and definitely my favorite game in my favorite franchise.

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2. A Breathtaking Achievement

The runner up for my favorite Zelda game is the game that took the franchise to a whole new direction: Breath of the Wild. This was the franchises first attempt at an open world (open air) adventure, and sees Link as he wakes up to ruined Hyrule and must recover his lost memories and liberate the kingdom from calamity Ganon. Breath of the wild is a game that ditched classic Zelda staples in favor of this vast open ended experience, which worked for so many people, but there are also people that miss the traditional feel. I’ll admit, I do miss that experience, but I can’t deny my actually feelings. Breath of the wild is one of the most incredible games I’ve ever played in my life, and I’ll be honest it was almost number 1. The game exceeded my expectations when it came out, and it still does.

Sure, the main quest isn’t as strong as other Zelda games, I do miss classic Zelda dungeons, and the boss and enemy variety is lackluster. However, what this game set out to do was achieved in spades for me, that I end up not caring about the problems too much. I actually enjoy the games story. While the plot isn’t engaging as you progress since it’s more of what happened 100 years ago, I love the way the lore is presented and I love when you uncover some diaries and get more story context that way. Also, while I do miss dungeons, I enjoyed the beasts due to the overall mechanics. The puzzles felt really inventive, and that extended heavily to the shrines, which were a ton of fun to do. However, that’s not even mentioning the appeal of this game: the freedom. Breath of the wild doesn’t just give you freedom to explore what is one of the greatest open worlds I’ve ever been in, but freedom in so many other ways, which even extends to how you can solve puzzles in different ways. All of that is just extremely fun for me, and it’s some of the best gameplay in a video game. This game has been praised so much, winning even game of the year, which it completely deserves. This game is an absolute masterpiece in my opinion, and I can’t wait to see how they expanded in this idea in tears of the kingdom. I know it’s gonna be absolutely amazing.

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5. Zelda’s Maximum Charm

Kicking off the top 5 is gonna be The Wind Waker. Kicking off the adult timeline after the end of Ocarina of Time, our adventure is set on the great sea, and Link must sail the seas to rescue his sister from Ganondorf, while uncovering the mystery of the sunken kingdom of Hyrule. As many people know, when Wind Waker was announced, the reception was mixed due to its cartoony art style. However, when people played the game, they absolutely fell in love with how charming and how enjoyable it ending up being. As for me, Wind Waker is by far the most charming Zelda game in my opinion, and underneath that charm is a great sea of awesomeness.

This game was honestly so close to being top 3 Zelda games for me. The only thing that’s holding it back is that I think it ends so much sooner than it should. The game ended up being rushed, which led to two dungeons unfortunately getting cut, and there’s also a Triforce hunt that breaks the pacing in the endgame. If it was just a little longer, i would have ranked it higher, because in my opinion, everything about this game is a blast. I really enjoy this games story. I love the lore involving Hyrule and the great flood, the characters were so charming and really make your heart happy, and Ganondorfs level of depth and sympathy make this the best version of the villain yet. Its also got some really dark undertones for a charming game, which I really liked. Besides that, the art style is beautiful and has aged excellently, the music is easily my favorite in the series, and it’s got some really fun dungeons and times. However, my favorite thing about wind waker is the great sea. Exploring this vast ocean and uncovering all the islands was extremely exhilarating for me, and even just sailing the ocean and listening to that incredible music was one of my favorite things to do in any Zelda game. As far as over-world goes, the great sea might be my favorite one. All in all, this game is joy. It won me over when I first played it, and like I said, if it had just a little more meat, it would have been higher. With that said, this game is a banger, and I’ll always enjoy it for its charm and sense of adventure.

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8. A Timeless Classic

This may get me killed, but number 8 is going to be Ocarina of Time. Being the first 3D Zelda game, it revolutionized not only this series, but the gaming industry, and it’s the story of a boy named Link who must answer the call of destiny to stop Ganondorf and save the Land of Hyrule with the power of time. Now, you will often see Ocarina of Time be considered the greatest Zelda game, and for some, greatest game ever made. It’s very easy to see why. Even though I don’t have this game that high, I absolutely love this game, and it’s still incredible to this day.

Ocarina of Time was my first Zelda game, so it holds a special place in my heart. It’s what got me into what I consider the greatest gaming franchise of all time. There’s only one reason I don’t have it as high: it’s simply because the ones above it are games I love a little bit more. That said, rankings change, and who knows this may be higher next time. There’s so many amazing things about this game. It’s got a really strong line up of temples, each with their own theme, atmosphere, and design that make it stick out as a strong way to introduce 3D Zelda dungeons. It’s got a really well done story about Link becoming the Hero of time, where he has to lose his childhood and become a man in order to save a world taken over by Ganondorf. I love the thematic elements of the story regarding time, growth, and loss, and the game subtlety conveys these really well: especially with it’s incredible music. The world is small by today’s standards, but it’s got a sense of magic and charm that makes it still feel special: from the magical kokiri forest to the scorching Gerudo desert. The time travel element is awesome as well; it’s really cool exploring a joyful world as a kid to a darker world as an adult. The bosses are also really dope: might be one of my favorite sets in the series. There isn’t much to say that hasn’t already been said a thousand times over. Not my favorite Zelda game, but it’s still a banger to this day. It was an awesome introduction to this series for me, and every time I replay it, I get a sense of nostalgia to 10 years ago. Ocarina of time is a timeless classic.

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14. The Changing Seasons

Whether it’s spring or winter, Oracle of Seasons takes the 14th spot in this ranking. In this game, Link (from a link to the past) gets transported to Holodrum via the Triforce, and must save the oracle Din from Onox. Now, the oracle games were actually made by capcom with the intention of both the games being linked together as a continuous adventure. Seasons focused on combat, and ages focused on puzzles. Many people like to rank to oracle games as one entry, but I’m not of them because to me they’re very different, and I have a preference towards ages. Seasons though? Not a favorite of mine, but it’s still fun game to play.

I have issues with the game though. For one, for a combat focused game, it doesn’t feel like it pushes that to it’s potential. I know it’s a 2d game, but it woulda still been nice to see a fleshed out system in this game. I’m also not the biggest fan of the world. It doesn’t grab me like other Zelda worlds, and I feel the world building falls flat as a result. Finally, this isn’t really a huge complaint, but I do wanna say that I think Onix sucks. He’s without question my least favorite Zelda villain: he’s literally a fucking iron knuckle😭😭. However, there’s a lot of good in this game that makes it fun. The items in this game are awesome. The magnetic glove is just so unique and has a lot of great uses in the world. In addition, even if the main overworld wasn’t the best, I loved Subrosia. It’s a really good parallel world to Holodrum, and it’s really fun to go explore and get new abilities for ur rod of seasons, which leads on to the games best feature. This is a really cool mechanic. Being able to change the seasons in the game adds a new way of exploring and interacting with the world, and it makes for some really awesome puzzles. It might honestly be one of my favorite mechanics in the series, and if an open world Zelda game adopted this, that would be legendary. There’s not much else I can really say so I’ll wrap this post up. While oracle of ages is a good time, there are issues that do lower the experience for me. That said, I would love to see a remake; maybe I’ll end up loving it like ages🙂.

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15. A Solid Beginning to Gamings Greatest Franchise

In this part of the ranking we’re tracing back to the franchises roots: coming at 15th place is the original legend of Zelda. The goal of this game is to simply conquer all the dungeons, gain the Triforce pieces, and use it to defeat Ganon and save Princess Zelda. This was the one that started it all: all the games that we love and cherish wouldn’t have existed without this. I first played it two years ago, and it was actually a pretty solid time. It’s definitely been overshadowed now in my opinion, but its still a good game that I think everyone should definitely play at least once.

This games biggest strength is its freedom. The game literally just throws you into the world without even a sword, and doesn’t hold your hand since. It’s invigorating to be able to make your own path, and you can see how much inspiration Breath of the wild got from this game. Going anywhere anytime is a really cool feeling even for a small map like this, and some of the ways you can interact it like the rafts and burning trees is pretty dope. This game is loaded with secrets, and it’s a lot of fun uncovering it. The dungeons in this game are very complex and unlike Zelda 2, not unfair. It has a cryptic nature that can get kind of annoying, but it doesn’t detract from it too much. I really like the map designs too, as they look exactly like the name of the dungeons your in, such as the eagle. The bosses are pretty cool too, and actually had some good deal of strategy at times. In general though, it’s just really cool seeing how the things we love in Zelda originated. Seeing enemies like pehats and lynels, seeing the first people in the series with quotes like “it’s a secret to everyone”and the way items originated from was dope. There’s not really any major flaws with the game, but the reason it’s so low is because the while I like it, there are several games if replay over it. It made a good first impression for the series, but it’s been surpassed in a lot of areas. Still, if you haven’t played it, you need to give it a shot. There’s a good deal of fun with the og zelda game, and it’ll definitely put your skills to the test.

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17. A Brutal Sequel

I’m fairly confident a lot of people knew this was gonna come sooner than later. Number 17 for me is Zelda II The Adventure of Link. Taking place after the original game, Zelda has been place under a spell that puts her into sleep, causing Link on another heroic quest. He must also avoid being killed by ganons minions, who need to sprinkle Links blood on the ashes of ganon to revive him. Now, Zelda 2 is a very infamous game among this series, and the biggest reason why is its extreme difficulty. I actually think that there is a good game underneath all that, but unfortunately, because of the difficulty, it ends up becoming a very frustrating experience.

Zelda 2 has some really cool elements. For one, even though it’s not story driven, I like what the Manuel tells you. It’s pretty interesting to see how Zelda got put into sleep, and I like how they bring Dark Link. This is also the first game to introduce towns in Zelda, and the ones in this game are pretty cool, with some charming npcs. Also, I think the side scrolling does work in a way, and it be something I wouldn’t mind seeing again. Finally, I love some of the rpg elements, with you leveling up through the game. With that said, all the good is impossible to focus on because of the brutality of this game. First off, the dungeons aren’t good. Not only do they feel like glorified fighting zones, but there’s parts where you have to walk through walls, and it can be really annoying figuring out which walls to do that. The bosses aren’t also great because it just feels annoying to land hits on, and there’s not really a strategy to take ‘em down other than land hits. But of course, none of that wouldn’t be a huge deal if this game wasn’t so fucking harddd😵‍💫. This game bombards you way to much with enemies, and the enemies are a bitch to deal with. I get the game is suppose to feel like an rpg, but it’s not good game design to keep blasting you with enemies. Overall, Zelda 2 is honestly a game that needs a remake. Not only could it bump the game a few spots higher, but it can actually make it playable and enjoyable. As is, it’s a very frustrating experience, but it isn’t a terrible game.

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18. Mediocrity times 4

Coming in next on this Zelda ranking is The Legend of Zelda: Four Swords. Story wise, this game takes place after Minish Cap, where Vaati breaks free of the four sword, kidnaps Zelda in an attempt to apparently marry her(?), and it’s up to Link to use to power of the four sword to save her. Gameplay wise, this was the first multiplayer Zelda game. Now, Four swords is not a game I played directly, but I have seen a video play through of it several times that I think I can form my own opinion. Unfortunately, that opinion is not positive. Four swords is no where near the level of hell Triforce heroes is for me, but in my opinion, this may be the most soulless and mediocre Zelda game out there.

To be positive, I do think the pacing and the multiplayer aspect is pretty damn cool. Since there’s no tedious totem mechanic, getting through the levels is a lot less aggravating than Triforce Heroes. The multiplayer aspect is also way better here, and the way you can use items is pretty interesting. Finally, Vaati gets introduced here, who’s one of my favorite Zelda villains. Unfortunately, Vaati can’t save this game for me, because Four Swords feels extremely half baked and mediocre. This game is way too short in my opinion. I understand it’s the first multiplayer game, but you can fly through this game way too fast. This wouldn’t be to much of an issue if the content was good. Well, I don’t think it is. Each level just doesn’t feel that interesting in my opinion, and it overall feels pretty repetitive around. In addition, the story: what story? The whole story can be summed up in that opening sequence honestly: it’s lacking severely. Also, I have to say it: this game’s soundtrack is not good. Not only is there a short selection of songs, but I don’t really like most of them. And for gods sake, that enemy music is fucking grating and hurts my head😵‍💫. All in all, I’m not a fan of this game. If I didn’t think Triforce Heroes was a terrible game, this might have been my least favorite Zelda game. I understand it has fans, and I’m happy for them. Four Swords is not a game I gel with at all unfortunately, and is my second least favorite Zelda game.

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The Final Call

It’s been a few months, and I thought it was about time to get my long overdue thoughts on what was, in my opinion, the best season/show that released last year: the final season of Better Call Saul. This is essentially the end of Jimmys transformation into Saul Goodman, the end of Better Call Saul, and for all intents and purposes, the end of the entire Breaking Bad universe. It’s honestly hard to even say that, given how it’s the greatest media universe I’ve ever been a part of. That being said, if it’s all over, it ended on the best note it could have. Season 6 of Better call Saul is far and away my favorite season of this show, one of the best seasons I’ve ever seen in my life, and it was the perfect way to close out what I consider a perfect show.

In a day where we see most shows fuck up the ending so hard, im happy to say that this show did the opposite. Everything. Everything about this final season was perfect. Better Call Saul has always proven itself to be one of the most well written pieces of fiction ever made, and because of this season, this show sits right next to Breaking Bad as my favorite show of all time. Vince Gilligan and Peter Gould are the best writers ever. I mean they managed to complete not just Sauls story, but all the other characters like Kim, Nacho, Lalo, Howard, and many others arcs flawlessly. I’m telling you I was on the edge of my seat and my heart just pounded so many times with how intense things got, how explosive it all was, and how poetic and emotional this season got. Seeing where all these characters end up is just truly an incredible yet somewhat somber feat that once you ended to the show, you not only felt this sense of bittersweetness but also satisfaction. I feel like I have way more to say but I really don’t wanna get into spoilers because it’s a lot to unpack. I’ll just simply say this. Better Call Saul is a spin-off that is just as good as the show that spawned it, and hell if you think it’s better, I wouldn’t argue with it. It’s a masterpiece in character work, writing, cinematography, and much more. This is absolutely one of the best shows ever made, and the ending was perfect.

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