4th May 2013, 9:48 AM
I see now. Thank you for that insight. For my part, I don't fault LTTP's map much at all, as I was satisfied with the presence of "markers" and such, but I understand where you are coming from.
Fact is, I have elevated the position of LTTP in my mind, but LA is still a strong competitor, in its own ways. The Oracle games are fun, but don't come close to how good Link's Awakening is. The DX version of LA is itself very good. I actually think it is colored well, if a bit brightly compared to the more subtle tones used in the Oracle games. It is acceptable to me in that the colors are similar to the very primary very bright colors of the NES Zelda games. If I could fault it, I would note 3 things. First, as you've noted, the extra dungeon hints are a bit too "on the nose". I prefer the riddle-like hints in the first version. While the new statues CAN be avoided, one would have to know to avoid them. It would be better if there was an option at the start, but Miyamoto tends to shy away from overt "difficulty selection" in his games. Also, while I love the new quest to complete a photo album, it is annoying that I need to be labelled as a THIEF to complete it. It would have been far better had the game provided an alternate photo for that slot (as it did for the first slot photo). Maybe if I pay for both expensive items, I get a photo of Link grudgingly handing over a massive sack of rupies to the shopkeeper to get the bow. Sure technically I can still label myself a thief after that, but oh well, it would be an option. Thirdly, the "color dungeon" was a nice bonus with retro Zelda 1 dungeon music, (although it was just a tad disappointing in that it didn't have a bonus boss and it was rather short). However, it would have been nice to switch BACK to my classic green outfit instead of being locked in with the red or blue tunics, just as an option anyway.
Fact is, I have elevated the position of LTTP in my mind, but LA is still a strong competitor, in its own ways. The Oracle games are fun, but don't come close to how good Link's Awakening is. The DX version of LA is itself very good. I actually think it is colored well, if a bit brightly compared to the more subtle tones used in the Oracle games. It is acceptable to me in that the colors are similar to the very primary very bright colors of the NES Zelda games. If I could fault it, I would note 3 things. First, as you've noted, the extra dungeon hints are a bit too "on the nose". I prefer the riddle-like hints in the first version. While the new statues CAN be avoided, one would have to know to avoid them. It would be better if there was an option at the start, but Miyamoto tends to shy away from overt "difficulty selection" in his games. Also, while I love the new quest to complete a photo album, it is annoying that I need to be labelled as a THIEF to complete it. It would have been far better had the game provided an alternate photo for that slot (as it did for the first slot photo). Maybe if I pay for both expensive items, I get a photo of Link grudgingly handing over a massive sack of rupies to the shopkeeper to get the bow. Sure technically I can still label myself a thief after that, but oh well, it would be an option. Thirdly, the "color dungeon" was a nice bonus with retro Zelda 1 dungeon music, (although it was just a tad disappointing in that it didn't have a bonus boss and it was rather short). However, it would have been nice to switch BACK to my classic green outfit instead of being locked in with the red or blue tunics, just as an option anyway.
"On two occasions, I have been asked [by members of Parliament], 'Pray, Mr. Babbage, if you put into the machine wrong figures, will the right answers come out?' I am not able to rightly apprehend the kind of confusion of ideas that could provoke such a question." ~ Charles Babbage (1791-1871)