What do you prefer more in The Legend of Zelda: Graphics or Storytelling?

[Armos]

I usually suck at making polls but I hope this is fine... Anyways, I've seen numerous of comments in the Zelda fan base that some people prefer Graphics over storytelling or people prefer storytelling of your graphics, what do you prefer more? I my self prefer the storyline because it tells you whats happening in the game, etc. And I've seen Zelda fans complaining about not being enough Twilight Princess graphics in Zelda games, etc. I've seen allot of people hate on Wind Waker due to its cell-shaded graphics but the game was really great IMO, and I really enjoyed Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword. I'm not trying to start a fan war and I'm not bashing any games, etc. I just wanted to know what you guys think of this, thanks in advice.

[Spire]

I enjoy world design. I think it applies both to graphics and story.

[Armos]

Off topic: Sorry I've forgot to add in a "both" option, I don't know how to figure that out.

[HeavyZ]

When Wind Waker first came out, I was excited, and somewhere between 12 and 13 years old. Of course I wanted a spiritual successor to Ocarina of Time even more, It was my favorite. The first Zelda game I ever beat. Though I very much enjoyed Wind Waker and everything about it, I still wanted something like Oot.

When I heard the news about Twilight princess I was stoked. I prefer a darker story line. I loved Twilight Princess, but it still didn't give me those same feelz as Ocarina.

I never disliked WW or Skyward Sword for being cell shaded. Game play is the most important part. Think about it, if Superman 64 had a good story, music, graphics and ect.. would it still matter if all you did was fly through rings? Nintendo has been delivering on the story. I mean you can't say you hated skyward swords story and cutscenes.

Yeah I hated the lousy jungle beat music that played when monsters would approach you... that just really wasn't zelda music to me. I will argue that even while Skyward sword was one of the best zelda titles, it lacked difficulty. They need to provide a level up system, more Secret boss's, more secret weapons. Make me lvl grind for hours just because I can't beat a boss. If not then I could go without a lvl up system if zelda never seen another one, as long as the enemy's, the dungeons, and the puzzles are hard. Also more, more, and more side quest.

[giadrosich]

Story. You can have an awesome looking game and have a crap story. And you can have a really crappy looking game with an awesome story. Now, you can have both of course, but if one comes over the other, I'd rather have the story.

[JeDDyD]

Personally prefer Gameplay over both. But if I were to choose, I would easily go with Story over Graphics.

[mzxrules]

^this. If a game is no fun then the story/graphics are no fun.

[Librarian]

Lol, no votes for graphics. Let's keep it that way.

[Conker]

Neither. What Zelda games have always been about is gameplay and exploration(this ties into gameplay), storytelling is just an afterthought for them(they have been improving in this field, though). And I could care less about graphics, honestly, though if it has a beautiful style(TP), I will appreciate it.

 

Basically, gameplay and exploration or GTFO.

Meaning that in a playful way of course, people, don't get your panties in a bunch with me like you usually do.

 

 

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Sent from my cell phone, because ancient satellites from across the cosmic web are lame.

[Netsrac]

I'm also more of a gameplay fan like this guy here^, but I also like a really great story like the one in FFX or KH. I never really give a damn about graphics. So Story it is (since gameplay is not available).

[zaneebaslave]

I would like to say that graphics didn't matter to me, and that gameplay and story were all I needed for the enjoyment of a Zelda game. And yet... I just cannot even look at Skyward Sword for long periods of time. Skyward sword was so fun, and the story was pretty decent aside from some of the confusing canon-questionable bits such as... mole people and... um... robots. But the graphics seemed so uninspiring and often claustrophobic to me. I suppose the graphics were supposed to look that way to closely match the more light-hearted story, but even so, it was just unappealing to look at.

[Agnostic Priest]

It's a combination of both graphics, and gameplay for me.

 

which is why im on the windwaker hate-wagon. even if its a pretty awesome game. i have not played skyward sword so I can't judge it, but from the trailers, its easy to agree with zaneeba.

 

have to say based on my criteria my top 3 zelda games

 

1. zelda oot, because it's perfect, in every way. from the theatrical cutscenes to my knowledge were never in a video game before it. to the fact that the transition from kid link to adult link is the darkest, most amazing plot twist i've ever seen. its all family friendly, then fucking zombies that haunt your dreams. bitches.

2. zelda mm, because it's also perfect, but a little monotonous in relation to oot, but its story, and greatly improved graphics make up for it.

3. zelda tp, because while its not as perfect as oot and mm, its still the 3rd for me, because amazing gameplay, graphics, and story. but its not perfect. the wolf modes a total letdown, that's totally monotonous and totally predictable.

[HeavyZ]

Neither. What Zelda games have always been about is gameplay and exploration(this ties into gameplay), storytelling is just an afterthought for them(they have been improving in this field, though). And I could care less about graphics, honestly, though if it has a beautiful style(TP), I will appreciate it.Basically, gameplay and exploration or GTFO.Meaning that in a playful way of course, people, don't get your panties in a bunch with me like you usually do.

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Sent from my cell phone, because ancient satellites from across the cosmic web are lame.

You are absolutely right. In The Hyrule Historia Eiji Aonuma says

 

"One thing to bear in mind, however, isthat the question the developers of the Legend of Zeldaseries asked themselves before starting on a game was,“What kind of game play should we focus on?†ratherthan “What kind of story should we write?â€

[BullockDS]

I'm also of the gameplay/exploration camp, but of the options available, I definitely choose story. However, I also think that to an extent, the graphics can help drive a story: the tone of Wind Waker can only be best matched by its bright cartoonish style, as the psychedelic environments of Majora's Mask drive that tale, and the dark pseudo-realism(?) of Twilight Princess... You get the idea.

 

tl;dr: I find story more important than graphics, but I think graphics often help in the tone of Zelda storylines (at least those after Zelda II).

[Spire]

I would like to say that graphics didn't matter to me, and that gameplay and story were all I needed for the enjoyment of a Zelda game. And yet... I just cannot even look at Skyward Sword for long periods of time. Skyward sword was so fun, and the story was pretty decent aside from some of the confusing canon-questionable bits such as... mole people and... um... robots. But the graphics seemed so uninspiring and often claustrophobic to me. I suppose the graphics were supposed to look that way to closely match the more light-hearted story, but even so, it was just unappealing to look at.

 

I've grown to feel this way. Never thought I would, because I was really excited about Skyward Sword's aesthetic building up to the game. When I played it though... it felt lacking. Felt like it hadn't figured itself out. Maybe it was less the aesthetic and rather, what the developers chose to DO with the aesthetic. I just wasn't too keen on the world of Skyward Sword. Hyrule was incredibly boring to me and the bestiary was very limited, more often than not dishing out color/elemental variants of but a handful of enemy types. The bestiary is a big part of Zelda for me and Skyward Sword may be the most disappointing title in the series as far as enemy diversity and design goes. Granted, some of it was good, it was just too limited. And then there's Tentalus. Hoo boy....

 

Now, I'm not totally keen on the Wii U Tech Demo aesthetic either. I think it's definitely an improvement over Skyward Sword, but it doesn't fit my ideal Zelda aesthetic. We'll see what Nintendo does. Either way, I won't be unhappy. But when I think back to SS, I feel more disappointment than joy. I don't want to, but I do.

[Librarian]

You know that fake Majora's Mask U trailer, those are the graphics I'd like to see. Still, if they do go with HD Skyward sword graphics I wouldn't mind, the biggest problem I had with them was blurred textures and backgrounds. I'd really like it if they stayed away from realistic graphics, because for me, as much as I loved Twilight princess, the graphics have aged terribly, worse than OoT's. Really though, SS had much bigger problems than blurred textures, and as long as the next game fixes those, I'll be happy.

Graphics - 0

Story - 20

[Natsu Dragneel]

Solely gameplay, it could have the awesomest graphics in the world, but if the story and gameplay sucks, it's all for not ;u;

 

Because if you were to write a story about that game, you don't see graphics, and you just have a sucky story

[Saraka]

Story and Gameplay all day long.A game with a poop story and shoddy gameplay are not a game in my book.

[SeithDarkwraith]

Story and gameplay for me as well.

 

 

 

Hence why Shadow of the Colossus is my favorite game.

[Agnostic Priest]

why not all three?

 

graphics, gameplay, and story?

if you don't forget on the ps2 shadow of the colossus had some freaking excellent graphics, story, and gameplay, could this not have contributed to the awesomeness of the game? would the colossi have the same impact on you mentally if they were solid colors, and poorly textured? no they wouldn't. it would be kinda fun for a bit, then you would get tired of it. as the impact of seeing a monster isn't the same if its a poorly done paper cut out.

 

I am impressed with graphics, when they are excellent.I am impressed with gameplay, when it is excellent.

I am impressed with story, when its excellent.

 

That is really what gives me this awe and wonder, while playing oot, its story, its amazing, its not overly complicated, easy for everyone to follow, but its amazing. the graphics pushed the n64 to its limits. and the end product is one of the best visual experiences i've ever seen. and the gameplay, its like the character does exactly what you want it to do, the dungeons are amazing, and the puzzles are still challenging(unless you are one of those people who play it repeatedly all the time)

[Natsu Dragneel]

It's all a matter of opinion, being I'm a writer, I, indeed, prefer the storyline.

 

I played/beat the original final fantasy 4, because the story was good, not because of the graphics, my brother on the other hand, refused to play it because of graphics, and had to get the updated versions. I admit I want the 3D ds version too, but it's not very high on my list

[DarthDub]

Sorry, but I'd rather have a great story (and gameplay), instead of having a shiny turd.