The Legend of Zelda: Collector's Edition Reviews

• A must for all zelda fans!

  
  By A36OZM5CENQ7LW on 2006-03-30
  This collection includes four complete zelda games: Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. I played two of the games with their original systems when they first came out. And it was really great to be able to experience those again with the gamecube since I don't own any of the old Nintendo systems anymore. And I also got to play two more great games that I had missed out on before. There is also a demo for the windwaker (another great game!). Highly recommended!
  
  

• A horrible collection of great games.

  
  By A37RXDGAWSVQVK on 2007-03-28
  Ok, all the reviews here have been positive and have completely ignored the severe problems plaguing this game. The Games themselves are fantastic and timeless and they are not the issue. The presentation is. First the good. Zelda 1 and 2 have been partially retranslated and they along with ocarina of time look very nice. Ocarina of time here is the final N64 version. Blood has been censored and the Gerudo logo along with the music in the fire temple have been changed. This may be a form of censorship but it's somewhat for the better.
  Now, the bad. Nintendo never bothered to port the games. They are emulated and it shows and the extras are fairly pointless.
  Now, the really bad. Majora's Mask. The game has "audio irregularities", meaning stuttering and the whole thing suffers from terrible lag at times. It also craahes unexpectedly which considering the save format of the game means that you will lose lots of data unless you go through some very complicated backup procedures every time you meet an owl statue. I'd recommend this game if you don't own an N64 with an expansion pack or don't use the Wii's virtual console. Otherwise, avoid.
  
  

• Best Zelda collection I've ever seen!

  
  By AIYWC7KOKM7WO on 2006-02-20
  This collection includes 4 classic Zelda games: Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, Ocarina of Time and Majora's Mask. It even includes a demo of the Wind Waker. The best thing about it is they're all on gamecube so even if you don't have the other two systems these games were originally made for, you won't need them since they're all on gamecube! The resolution is also higher on these versions which make the graphics a little sharper. Sometimes while playing though, the sound gets a little distorted when entering a new area since these were put on to discs and the disc needs time to think. Overall though, this is the ultimate collection of 4 classic Zelda games all on one disc. Perfect for any Zelda fan!
  
  

• Bad emulation issues with Majora, but overall a winning comp. Notable for being the first major rerelease of the 2 NES Zeldas

  
  By A1X4JO8EJ1U5BR on 2007-11-16
  A lot of people (myself included), were exited to learn Nintendo was releasing this compilation. 2002/2003 was a very time frame for Zelda fans. Not only did we get this comp, but we also got the long fabled Ura-Zelda that was for the cancelled 64DD attachment that never made its way out of Japan (like so many other video games in history, I'm looking at you Mother, Final Fantasy, and Lost Levels). It was a whole second quest for Ocarina, just like the original Zelda with two different remixed quests.
  
  In 2003, Nintendo began the first of many Zelda back game reissues, which was a long time coming. The whole reason for this compilation's existence was so you can play the entire Legend of Zelda series (at that time, anyway) on one system: the GameCube. With the Gameboy Adapter, you could play the entire Zelda catalogue on your GameCube, including the three Gameboy Titles that were out at 2003. Being Zelda fans, a lot of people (myself included), were exited to learn Nintendo was releasing this compilation., especially since we could play the entire franchise on one system.
  
  For close to ten years (1994 to 2003), you had not been able to buy a new version of THE LEGEND OF ZELDA or ZELDA II due to them not being in production or released on any current system. Every time you wanted to play NES ZELDA, you had to dust off the old NES and fire the game up. In my 2001 review of the original game, I lodge that complaint against Nintendo that there hadn't been a legitimate release of these two games. They've more than made up for that oversight in the intervening years.
  
  Well, Zelda Collector's Edition changed all that. Though never sold in stores, you got the game buy either preregistering for the then new WIND WAKER, or you bought a new GameCube. I actually traded my original GameCube in for 50 dollars, bought a new one for 100 dollars (which I viewed as the cost of this compilation, which isn't bad since it's 12.50 a game) so I could get this. At the time, there was no other way to play LEGEND OF ZELDA without a NES legally. So how does it stand up?
  
  Pretty good. The four games are actually emulated, not ported. As noted in previous reviews, this leads to some bad frame-rate issues with Majora, as well as saving in that game. Majora also has some bad audio issues as well.
  
  The GameCube controller adapts fairly well for the two N64 titles. The Rumble Pack feature, which obviously doesn't work for GameCube, causes crashing issues with Majora and saving, which is sad. I actually don't like the configuration for the NES titles but that's more of a complaint against the GameCube controller in general. I find using the D-Pad puts the thumb in an awkward position, and using the stick not quite the same on those two games.
  
  Nintendo ported the latest versions of all four games. What does that mean? Only that OCARINA had the fire-temple edited due to potential offense to the Islamic faith, and some blood colouring. However, newer versions of the N64 cartridge had these changes as well.
  
  Also notable (and which I have), they releases a (very) barebones game guide covering all four games in the comp.
  
  Here's a brief overview of the games and features itself.
  
  Legend of Zelda: A game that needs no introduction. If you've played any Zelda game, you will instantly recognize that most of the series' conventions and major gameplay features were present from the very beginning. Like Stephen Hawking said of Einstein's theory of relativity, the new Zelda games put some new ribbons and bows on the game design, but the series is still all about this title.
  
  Zelda II: Adventures of Link: The weird cousin or uncle of the Zelda family tree, it's strictly sidescrolling with an overworld map. It's also hard as hell.
  
  Legend of Zelda - Ocarina of Time (Collector's Edition) - Nintendo 64: One of the most critically acclaimed games of all time, equally rivals Super Mario 64 for best game on the N64.
  
  The Legend of Zelda: Majora's Mask -- Collector's Edition (Nintendo 64)Majora's Mask: same game engine as Ocarina, much darker, sadder Zelda. Short with only four dungeons, but lots of side quests and plenty of innovation with the Masks that Link can dawn.
  
  Zelda Retrospective: pretty disappointing. Just a video clip showing screenshots of previous Zelda music while playing the overworld theme (if I remember right, haven't looked at it in a while). It's ok, but I was hoping for more.
  
  Wind Waker Demo: pointless, just Nintendo trying to sell you Wind Waker. Twenty minute demo. Not that offensive, but still very much just an advertisement.
  
  And that's really it.
  
  As far as the omission of my personal favorite Zelda game, Link to the Past, I understand why they did it. Why cannibalize the sales to of the GameBoy advanced title by including it free here? The other four titles hadn't been reissued at that time. As far as those people who say the hand-held market is different from the console, that's true, but remember, the whole point of this release was to ennable the gamer to play the entire series on one console. You can play the Link to the Past reissue on the GameBoy Player. It was a valid business decision, but I still wish they had included that and Link's Awakening, which still hasn't been re-released on any of the 7th generation consoles.
  
  Let's hope they add GameBoy games to Virtual Console, release Majora and Ocarina Master Quest, and then we can really play the whole Legend on one game (excepting Phantom Hourglass, of Course)
  
  Overall, some bad emulation bugs with Majora, but a good comp nonetheless. Sad it wasn't more widely released, but you can pick it up on eBay or a lot of game stores. The ironic part of the whole transaction is there's a big red warning the bottom of the game cover saying "Not For Re-Sale."
  
  Life is funny like that sometimes.
  
  
  

• Come on Nintendo

  
  By AH16M7W1400FP on 2007-07-09
  First off, this collection is great. Aside from all the titles being
  stellar games, this rerelease have a few added perks:
  
  The ability to play the N64 games with the Gamecube controller is a
  definite plus.
  
  The NES titles run smoothly, and having a memory card save slot means
  you never have to worry about the battery back-up saves failing.
  
  Ocarina feels quite true to form graphically, with a few small changes
  for the better. Though the emulation has changed improved the screen
  resolution, the 2D sprites now seem more removed from the 3D items.
  Overall that is trivial and the screen resolution change is for the
  better.
  
  The retrospective video is a neat throwaway, but you'll find yourself
  going back to it once in a great while.
  
  The Wind Waker demo is not necessary, but I won't complain about a demo.
  
  ===
  Now for THE BAD
  
  The exclusion of the SNES title "A Link to The Past". They just re-
  relased the game for the GBA, so I can see why they did this:
  Because they were greedy and were milking the re-issued GBA title for
  all its worth. When Rareware parted ways with Nindento for Micrisoft
  Xbox, they swore to continue making handheld games for Nintendo,
  becuase they didn't see that as a competitor system because it's a
  DIFFERENT MARKET.
  Aside from that, wasn't this Collector's Edition hard enough to get? You
  have to have five games registered, renew a Nintendo Power
  subscription, reserve Wind Waker, or buy a new Gamecube.
  Thanks, Nintendo, you Jerks.
  
  The exclusion of "Link's Awakening" AND "Link's Awakening DX" This is my
  pie-in-the-sky suggestion, i mean it's a gameboy/gbc title so it's not
  really relevant to the other titles included. But this is called a
  COLLECTOR's Edition, so kind of a bummer.
  
  Majora's Mask. This emulation has HORRID sound glitches, freeze/crash
  problems when saving.
  Disabling the rumble feature miraculously rids this glitch, but it's
  a shame that you have to sacrifice something that was so nostalgic
  to the N64 games.
  Now for the absolutely inexcusable atrocity:
  THE FRAMERATE.
  
  NEVER have I seen so much lag on an N64 title. Never.
  
  Majora's Mask slows down at every chance it can. Why? I don't know.
  I know who's at fault. Nintendo. This is absolutely inxecusable. I can understand why they emualted the N64 games to save time instead of converting them to actual Gamecube games. I can understand running into something minor like sound glitches during emulation and letting them slide.
  
  Horrid, and I MEAN horrid framerate slowdowns in clock town while walking around... how are the enemy battles going to be? Worse.
  
  This reminds me of a 15fps Playstation game, not a smoother, crisper version of a 30fps N64 game with a 4mb memory expansion.
  
  Bad Nintendo. Bad.
  
  ===
  My Suggestion? If you have a wii, buy Majora's for Virtual Console. If you have N64, dust it off. Otherwise, get an N64 emulator (Project 64) and download it for PC, AS LONG AS YOU OWN Majora's Mask for N64, wii's VC, or this game.
  
  You can get the great higher resolution, no sound glitches, and no framerate slowdowns.
  
  
• The collecters edition best zelda game so far
  By on 2006-05-22
  Andrew The legend of Zelda collectors edition is one of the best zelda games disc ever. The games included are Legend of Zelda, Zelda 11 the adventure of link, Legend of Zelda Ocarnia of time and Majoras Mask. This game is really fun because once you pass 1 game there is three more, and i did pass Ocarina and Majoras Mask and im almost done with legend of zelda. it allows you to play four classic Zelda games. This game is good for Zelda fans. Im sure you Zelda fans like My self will like this game!!!
  
  
  
• Yay!
  By on 2006-04-01
  If you are a Zelda addict-heck even if your not a Zelda fan you'll love this game! It's great to be able to play the older games that we all love, (A little before me.) and be able to relive the experience on the Gamecube! Yay! I can't take my hands off the controller (Makes it kind of hard to play when Mom's yapping at me to clean my room.) I highly reccomend this game. Four games for the price of one c'mon how cool is that?
  
  
• The collecters edition best zelda game so far
  By on 2006-05-22
  The legend of Zelda collectors edition is one of the best zelda games disc ever. The games included are Legend of Zelda, Zelda 11 the adventure of link, Legend of Zelda Ocarnia of time and Majoras Mask. This game is really fun because once you pass 1 game there is three more, and i did pass Ocarina and Majoras Mask and im almost done with legend of zelda. it allows you to play four classic Zelda games. That is why u should buy this game!!!!!!!!!!!!
  
  
  
• Great Game!
  By A39W6HOX3H7KNU on 2007-01-04
  When I first got the gamecube I was very excited to get this game with it for I remember when I was about three or four playing these for hours and I didn't really even get the controllers and also when I was slightly older playing them on the Majoras Mask and Ocarina of time on the N64. If you are a Zelda fan and don't have a Nintendo,Super Nintendo, or and N64 I highly reccomend this game. This game includes The Legend of Zelda, Zelda II- The Adventure of Link, The Legend of Zelda Ocarina of Time, The Legend of Zelda Majora's Mask. If you are a Zelda fan or even if you don't enjoy the series I still highly reccomend buying this game.
  
  
• the greatest game I have for gamecube.
  By A3AV8R0A62PP1N on 2008-01-24
  I'm not even kidding. This is so awesome. It comes with 4 great games. Majora's Mask isn't as bad as they say and ocarina of time looks a lot better. Zelda 2 is very fun. the first Zelda is just plain Classic.
  if you have any sense you would at least try this.
  
  
• Meh favorite!!!
  By on 2006-01-20
  A friend of mine lent this to meh a while back and I got totally addicted and almost forgot to give it back. Anywho.... you total Zelda addicts, if you don't have it.... GET IT!! The old graphics are really fun to play with... you'd have to play it to see what I mean... I especialy love the fact its got four games in one. And BONUS! it's for GCN. I recomend it to you hardcore addicts that don't have a N64.
  
  
• The Jackpot!!!
  By on 2006-03-28
  This game was amazing four wonderful games only released on Nintendo64 is now avalible on gamecube! So sweet.
  
  
• Ocarina of Time is amazing!
  By A27SQBH65BL9A6 on 2007-02-25
  A lot of people who reviewed this already played the games on other systems. I am kind of new to Legend of Zelda. I loved Wind Waker, so I bought the Collector's Edition because it seemed fun. I was not disappointed. The first Legend of Zelda is fun, but I stink at it and my sister and I take turns because my sister doesn't like Ocarina of Time or Majora's Mask. Adventures of Link was good but not as good as Legend of Zelda. I kept confusing it with Super Mario Bros. Ocarina of Time is amazing. The story is epic and unique and the music is unbelieveable. Majora's Mask is fun but the beginning is kind of stupid. Overall 5 out of 5 because it is Zelda and you can't go wrong with Zelda no matter what.
  
  
• A Hero's Collection
  By AXKDNVCNN50RZ on 2008-02-17
  Three words:IT IS AWESOME!!!!!!!!It has the four greatest Zelda games of the late 80's and 90's.They are:The Legend of Zelda(1987)Zelda 2(1988)Ocarina of Time(1998)and Majora's Mask).The collection of games is very well done and I think that it is worth every penny spent on it.But...there is ONE BIG PROBLEM.Majora's Mask will crash and has big audio problems.Luckily the audio problems become unoticable and to prevent crashing frequently on the game turn the rumble feature off.Other than that this is definately the finest collection of Zelda titles ever.
  
  
• AWESOME!
  By A14BBYQ552HW4E on 2008-08-30
  I love this game. It gave me a chance to play the Zelda games i was too young to play when they were around. I'm over all pretty pleased with the game. The onle real problem I have with the game is the way Majora's mask freezes occasionally. (which is frustrating if you just beat a temple and it locks up before you can save!) Despite the problem i would recommend this game for any Zelda die hard!
  
  
• Old School Zelda is Awesome!
  By A2YB3U4CZNN00O on 2007-01-21
  I can't express how excited I was to see the old games come back! I don't have to bust out the dusty old nintendo to play anymore. 4 Zelda's in one game. Can't beat it.
  
  
• Marvels.
  By A3527F13H4T4N0 on 2007-05-14
  Marvels.
  You can't see how enjoyable it is until you play with it , if you really a fan of legend of Zeldas .
  And you will make good saving.
  You will be busy for long time with it.
  mona
  
  
  
• price tags
  By ASZOZY664JYWC on 2007-12-22
  The game is good, but the price tags are unbelievably high. I'm surprised the sellers haven't been arrested for price inflation yet.
  
  
• Consider this!
  By A21BJOSHPN2UN4 on 2008-04-09
  Wow! The first four Link games have come to Gamecube! These games are worth the price.
  The first Link game is exactly like the original, except in CD form. It doesn't have any bugs either. I've tried the old final fantasy games on PS1 and every time you save your game you have to start it over. There are tons of bugs in that game. But with the link games I have yet to see a single bug like that.
  So if you would like the relive the link hype. This is a great product to do it with, on the nintendo gamecube.
  No more batteries to worry about replacing in the NES cartridges!
  
  
• Oh Princess Zelda...
  By A3S9EZ8I1903CL on 2008-10-13
  This is any collector's dream , anyone with a good experiance in gaming would know that this item is to be cherished to decades to come, a title that your kids will have to pass on into the future , having all a game need , a fantastic story line, a very good gameplay scheme , and amazing replay value , and you've got 4 games with it too , each showing you the evolution of The Legend Of Zelda , a must own to all who respect video games.
  
  

• GameCube RFU Adapter

• Legend of Zelda The Wind Waker
• The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess
• Gamecube Memory Card 251
• The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time (w/ Master Quest)
• Gamecube Console Platinum