Ys Book I & II (TGCD) Vs Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) which game is better?

[Otaking]

The two system flagship action RPGs go in a head to head battle to the death!! 
Ys Book I & II (TGCD) Vs Zelda: A Link to the Past (SNES) which game is better?

I absolutely love love Ys Book I & II the music on the TGCD is sublime but in my opinion game play wise Zelda ALTTP beats it and gets my vote.




____________________________________________________

Checkout the previous versus battles I've done so far:

Magical Chase Vs Cotton
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=15530.0

Super Star Soldier Vs Final Soldier
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=15568.0

Gate of Thunder Vs Winds/Lords of thunder
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=15639.0

Dracula X (PC Engine) Vs Super Castlevania IV (SNES)
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=15745.0

[Psycho Punch]

The Y''''''s, of course. Nice rendition of a PC classic, with a great soundtrack and distinguished gameplay.

[Nec.Game.head]

Ys Book I & II all the way for me. The game play is just perfect and the audio quality of the great music on this game is just breath taking. Especially when running the audio through a nice loud surround sound home theater setup !!

[NecroPhile]

Ys and its kick ass voice acting and tunes for the win! 

[CGQuarterly]

Everybody tells me how LTTP is the best game ever made.  I spent a few hours playing it, but just couldn't get in to it.  I wonder if I would even like the original Zelda were it not for the fact that it was my first video game, and is therefore wrapped in a blanket of nostalgic goodness for me.

[ccovell]

Sorry, dudes, but besides the great music and good story, Ys has clumsy gameplay in comparison to Zelda.

[esteban]

Sorry, dudes, but besides the great music and good story, Ys has clumsy gameplay in comparison to Zelda.

I reckon you're referring to the battle mechanics?

I must be in the minority, but I've always enjoyed the "charge into battle recklessly" ramming system. It is so satisfying to rip through your opponents (assuming you are sufficiently leveled up) when you are running around trying to save folks and collect nuts from the Roda Tree. Sprinting in Ys I & II is swift, but you can ramp the speed up further so Adol is a veritable Whirlwind of Death. 

If you AREN'T super-leveled up, then you can't help but feel vulnerable when you dash into hand-to-hand melee.

The "ramming system" is so goddamn visceral, I simply love it.

For all the generic elements in Ys, there are many, many wonderful unique moments (masquerading as a monster to "pass" as one and understand their language, draining the sewers and revisiting a familiar area from the trenches underneath, etc. etc.)

One the most poignant plot points + hybrid cinema + PURE ACTION = racing to save you-know-who from certain death, before the bell tolls, only to NEARLY succeed, Adol braving the harsh, howling winds, unforgiving golden orange clouds whipping past, ONLY TO HEAR THE FATEFUL BELL TOLL.

HOLY CRAP, that one moment, which the game masterfully builds up (increasing tension, rising action, characters YOU ACTUALLY CARE ABOUT) ... Then tragedy, heartbreak in a moment literally DRIPPING WITH ATMOSPHERE (the somber mood penetrates even the coldest heart)...sadly, for all of its awesomeness, LttP simply can't match Ys.

This is not to say LttP isn't awesome. It is a great game. I loved the rainy rain and atmosphere it was able to achieve. But LttP simply can't compare. 

[CrackTiger]

I don't think thst LttP is a very good game. I bought it as soon as it came out and was disappointed, even though it was budget priced. It's appeal had more to do with the limited selection of adventure/RPG type games on SNES at the time. But it became boring to replay very quickly and s couple dungeons are a pain to plod through. It's not a bad game, but even for its genre it's not very entertaining.

Ys had that special quality, which makes a game so much more than the sum of its parts, even in its original version(s). Too many of the remakes lost too much of that magic, but the Turbo/PCE version only expands upon it. It's too bad too many people either don't get the battle gameplay or don't give it a chance. Ys II's dungeons can drag on on a bit at times, but is still very special and builds upon Book I to become an epic masterpiece. At this point I'm certain that the PCE version will always remain the best version of the game(s).

[NecroPhile]

I don't have a problem with the game play mechanics of Ys, as holding down the attack button and watching Adol swing a sword would add nothing to attack strategies or game difficulty.  Plus, you do get the wands in Book II for 'controlled' attacking.

[seieienbu]

I really like Zelda 3.  I felt that it was a fantastic game from start to finish.  It has pleasant graphics, a good soundtrack for SNES, some really well designed dungeons and boss battles, and it's got a pretty nice plot.

For all that though, it doesn't have nearly the majesty of Ys.  Ys was the first CD game I ever played.  CD Audio and spoken dialogue absolutely floored me way back when.  Obviously this stuff is not as big of a deal today but considering what Ys was up against when I first played it in (iirc) 1990, Ys was a technological masterpiece that had no rival.  It was light years ahead of everything else I had played at the time.

Perhaps my glasses are a bit rose tinted with nostalgia, but Ys gets my vote.

[GohanX]

Sorry guys, I have to vote Zelda.

[ToyMachine78]

I hate to dis-OBEY but I have to go with Zelda.

[JoshTurboTrollX]

Ys Book I&II for this one.  A link to the past is an excellent game, and I played them both around '92-'94 from beginning to end, but it didn't have me picking up my jaw off the ground after playing through it like Ys did.

Ys Fucking. Blew. My. Mind.  Period.... (dot)

In my oddball opinion, I'm not even sure if Link to the Past is my favorite Action RPG on the SNES!  (Secret of Mana holds a strong grasp on #1 for me ;)  )

[TheClash603]

LttP is one of the worst Zelda games ever made.  I love the series and play them all, but I would say LttP is only better than Zelda 2 on NES.

With that said, Ys has to win.  Also, because it is a fantastic game.

[seieienbu]

LttP is one of the worst Zelda games ever made.  I love the series and play them all, but I would say LttP is only better than Zelda 2 on NES.

Out of curiosity, why so much dislike for Zelda 3?

[esteban]

LttP is one of the worst Zelda games ever made.  I love the series and play them all, but I would say LttP is only better than Zelda 2 on NES.

Out of curiosity, why so much dislike for Zelda 3?

Yeah, LttP is a great game. I can't believe it's getting less respect than Rodney Dangerfield in this thread.

[ElSeven]

sad to say, but it's an easy vote for LttP.  No shade to Ys at all, but it just can't compete this time.

[TheClash603]

LttP is one of the worst Zelda games ever made.  I love the series and play them all, but I would say LttP is only better than Zelda 2 on NES.

Out of curiosity, why so much dislike for Zelda 3?

The problem with LttP for me may be nostalgia based, because I played (and still play) the original game many times.  I usually say it is a toss up if Zelda 1 or Street Fighter 2 are my favorite games of all time.

With that said, LttP lost some of the wonder and experimentation / exploration of the first game.  Also, seems like the back tracking was higher in this game than any other Zelda I ever played.  When I played LttP BITD, I just wanted to be playing the original game instead.

[turboswimbz]

Both are fantastic games for me.  I really like each.  So to break the tie I went with my favorite in the series.  And so far YS 1 and 2 are by far my favorite game of the series, while A link to the past is not nearly my favorite game in the zelda series, although pretty high.  I think either way you got some good games there.  I'm guessing it is just a matter of prefrence on which one people will perfer.

I must say overall though I would put it as:
Zelda Series > Ys Series

[Tatsujin]

LttP is one of the worst Zelda games ever made.  I love the series and play them all, but I would say LttP is only better than Zelda 2 on NES.

Out of curiosity, why so much dislike for Zelda 3?

Yeah, LttP is a great game. I can't believe it's getting less respect than Rodney Dangerfield in this thread. 

I also like aLttP a lot. I'm also just playing it right now with my older lil

it sure is a very good game with a great atmosphere, and therefore a more worthy successor of the zelda franchise.

[Arjak]

This is a tough one, so I'm going to break it down.

Gameplay

Both games have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's take a look at the two main areas both series have in common, combat and puzzle-solving.

In combat, Zelda wins, hands down. There is just something more satisfying about actually swinging a sword at just the right time while dodging an enemy's attacks, and the options to switch things up by using a lot of different pieces of equipment, like an ice beam or a hookshot, some of which are actually required to defeat certain enemies (albeit usually just bosses).

There's a reason Ys eventually started copying this idea to an extent, and that's because combat in the early Ys games, with the exception of certain bosses, was really quite boring once the novelty of the combat system wore off. There's no variety. It's almost completely stat based. Once you discover that you can attack off-center without consequence, that's about it as far as strategy is concerned, except for bosses. In most cases, if you can't beat the enemies, you just go back to the previous area and grind until you can. Most enemies are a joke if you've leveled properly, because once you hit them, they sort of get stun-locked and you can just blitz them until they die. The Fire Spell doesn't help, because again, there's no strategy with normal enemies, just fire until dead. Now, if I recall correctly, there's a couple enemies that are fire-resistant, but they are VERY rare. You also usually have so much MP that it becomes easy to exploit fire magic on the majority of enemies that can be killed with it. Combat in the early Ys games is almost always braindead simple.

Zelda also wins as far as puzzles go. The puzzles in Zelda are intriguing, hard to figure out at first, but once you know the secret, it usually seems obvious in retrospect. And while a lot of the puzzles fall into the trap of 'use most recently obtained item here', in most cases, new surprises are rampant, keeping the player on their toes.

The puzzles in Ys, by comparison, are generally simple roadblocks opened with key items. In most cases, what you have to do is more obvious than in Zelda. Most items are only used once or twice in Ys, whereas most items in Zelda usually have many uses throughout the rest of the game. There are a few REALLY clever ideas in Ys, like turning into a monster and speaking to them, which are so brilliant and well-executed that it makes you want to cheer, but those moments are few in quantity.

In general, Zelda wins in the gameplay department. Ys has its clever moments and unique ways of doing things, but Zelda's gameplay is much more refined and intelligent.

Presentation

Both Link to the Past and Ys I & II have graphics that are serviceable, but usually not feasts for the eyes. Ys edges Zelda out due to the advantages of CD hardware, though. The cutscenes in Ys are great feasts for the eyes, and every dungeon looks different. Zelda has...text monologues, and most of the dungeons, if not all of them, use the same tileset with a different palette, and perhaps a few unique elements here and there. Later Zelda games would fix these problems, but here, the limits of the SNES, and cartridge games as a whole, really show.

Audio is a very similar story. Both games have impressive soundtracks, but Ys wins due its CD advantages. Almost every area has a unique music track, and there is not one bad track among them. Zelda has excellent music as well, but less of it. There is a song for the light world dungeons, and one for the dark world dungeons. Both are...OK. Neither ranks among the better songs in the game, which is a problem because the dungeons are where you'll be spending most of your time. Ys also has the 'wow factor' of competent voice acting. Zelda only has text.

Story

In this category, Ys blows Zelda out of the water. In fact, it blows the modern Zelda games out of the water! Every Zelda game has followed the exact same template. You always know what to generally expect. And this template wasn't that interesting to begin with. It basically boils down to saving the land by collecting mystic artifacts.

Ys I falls into the mystic artifact trap too, with the collecting of the Books of Ys, but it still had a dynamic plot compared to Zelda. You were always learning more about what was going on. It set up mysteries early on that were eventually solved. Where did all the silver go? Who is the man in the black cape? Is he the mastermind behind the monsters? Just what DID happen to Ys? It is this mystery that keeps the plot of Ys alive, whereas Zelda's plot is secondary to the action. Ys also has an emotion to the plot that Zelda is lacking. The characters in Ys are drivers of the plot and its impact, whereas Zelda's characters rarely move beyond stereotypes and givers of side-quests. The plot of Ys is also just plain original even to this day, whereas in Zelda's plot every game feels like a retread.

Replay Value

I have only played Link to the Past all the way through once. I have played Ys I & II multiple times, in both the Turbo version and the Eternal/Complete/Chronicles version. While later Zelda games were much better at adding things to keep you playing even after completing the game proper, LttP doesn't have much to say once you've beaten it. There are a few easter eggs and hidden items, but the game itself is such a long, hard haul that I've never really desired to go back to it in earnest. Ys has that special something, that perfect combination of elements that can't be explained, that really makes you want to experience it over and over, even though you're just playing through the same game again. It doesn't make logical sense, but Ys wins here.

Overall Impression

Let's face it, while LttP was a great game for its time, it hasn't aged as well as Ys in many ways. The story is trite, cliched, and formulaic. The dungeons are monotonous in their graphics and sound. In retrospect, it's just another Zelda game. It's not bad, but later games in the series have surpassed it to the point where it's not worth playing today.

The reason Ys stands the test of time so much better is something that I cannot fully explain, but it has to do with being more than the sum of its parts, and almost every part is well crafted. Even though LttP has "better" gameplay, it feels like much more of a slog to play through today than Ys. There's something about Ys that just makes it stand apart even today.

Ys wins.

[Lochlan]

Both games are really overrated.  Although the ending sequence (especially the ending song) to Ys is absolutely amazing.

[geise]

For a lot of people that didn't play Ys back in the early Turbo days only to play it decades later are usually first turned off by the gameplay.  "What!!!??? You ram them?  LUDICROUS!!!!  Stupid!!!!"  only to "not get it" and just move on. 

That is usually the first thing people always say to me about Ys Book I & II.  As for LttP, it is a great game, but it took me a few times to come back and really sit down to play it.  It didn't grab me at first.  I don't really know what it is, but I tend to have a hard time getting into Zelda games.  All I will say is that I agree with everything Esteban said.  So  my vote is for Ys.

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

[jperryss]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

Because Neutopia is a blatant ripoff of Zelda and not nearly as good.

And the collision detection sucks.

[BigusSchmuck]

LttP doesn't add anything nor innovative to the genre. Ys was both innovative and had a lot of firsts. Ys wins hands down.

[roflmao]

I never played *any* Zelda game bitd, so maybe I'm tarnished, but I LOVED playing through Ys I&II.  I have played through it multiple times since it was released.  However, I have recently picked up LttP and it is a lot of fun.  But I wouldn't trade my memories of Ys for this in a longshot.

[Otaking]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

Because Neutopia is a blatant ripoff of Zelda and not nearly as good.

And the collision detection sucks.

yes jperrys that's what I thought too.

[Otaking]

This is a tough one, so I'm going to break it down.

Gameplay

Both games have their strengths and weaknesses. Let's take a look at the two main areas both series have in common, combat and puzzle-solving.

In combat, Zelda wins, hands down. There is just something more satisfying about actually swinging a sword at just the right time while dodging an enemy's attacks, and the options to switch things up by using a lot of different pieces of equipment, like an ice beam or a hookshot, some of which are actually required to defeat certain enemies (albeit usually just bosses).

There's a reason Ys eventually started copying this idea to an extent, and that's because combat in the early Ys games, with the exception of certain bosses, was really quite boring once the novelty of the combat system wore off. There's no variety. It's almost completely stat based. Once you discover that you can attack off-center without consequence, that's about it as far as strategy is concerned, except for bosses. In most cases, if you can't beat the enemies, you just go back to the previous area and grind until you can. Most enemies are a joke if you've leveled properly, because once you hit them, they sort of get stun-locked and you can just blitz them until they die. The Fire Spell doesn't help, because again, there's no strategy with normal enemies, just fire until dead. Now, if I recall correctly, there's a couple enemies that are fire-resistant, but they are VERY rare. You also usually have so much MP that it becomes easy to exploit fire magic on the majority of enemies that can be killed with it. Combat in the early Ys games is almost always braindead simple.

Zelda also wins as far as puzzles go. The puzzles in Zelda are intriguing, hard to figure out at first, but once you know the secret, it usually seems obvious in retrospect. And while a lot of the puzzles fall into the trap of 'use most recently obtained item here', in most cases, new surprises are rampant, keeping the player on their toes.

The puzzles in Ys, by comparison, are generally simple roadblocks opened with key items. In most cases, what you have to do is more obvious than in Zelda. Most items are only used once or twice in Ys, whereas most items in Zelda usually have many uses throughout the rest of the game. There are a few REALLY clever ideas in Ys, like turning into a monster and speaking to them, which are so brilliant and well-executed that it makes you want to cheer, but those moments are few in quantity.

In general, Zelda wins in the gameplay department. Ys has its clever moments and unique ways of doing things, but Zelda's gameplay is much more refined and intelligent.

Presentation

Both Link to the Past and Ys I & II have graphics that are serviceable, but usually not feasts for the eyes. Ys edges Zelda out due to the advantages of CD hardware, though. The cutscenes in Ys are great feasts for the eyes, and every dungeon looks different. Zelda has...text monologues, and most of the dungeons, if not all of them, use the same tileset with a different palette, and perhaps a few unique elements here and there. Later Zelda games would fix these problems, but here, the limits of the SNES, and cartridge games as a whole, really show.

Audio is a very similar story. Both games have impressive soundtracks, but Ys wins due its CD advantages. Almost every area has a unique music track, and there is not one bad track among them. Zelda has excellent music as well, but less of it. There is a song for the light world dungeons, and one for the dark world dungeons. Both are...OK. Neither ranks among the better songs in the game, which is a problem because the dungeons are where you'll be spending most of your time. Ys also has the 'wow factor' of competent voice acting. Zelda only has text.

Story

In this category, Ys blows Zelda out of the water. In fact, it blows the modern Zelda games out of the water! Every Zelda game has followed the exact same template. You always know what to generally expect. And this template wasn't that interesting to begin with. It basically boils down to saving the land by collecting mystic artifacts.

Ys I falls into the mystic artifact trap too, with the collecting of the Books of Ys, but it still had a dynamic plot compared to Zelda. You were always learning more about what was going on. It set up mysteries early on that were eventually solved. Where did all the silver go? Who is the man in the black cape? Is he the mastermind behind the monsters? Just what DID happen to Ys? It is this mystery that keeps the plot of Ys alive, whereas Zelda's plot is secondary to the action. Ys also has an emotion to the plot that Zelda is lacking. The characters in Ys are drivers of the plot and its impact, whereas Zelda's characters rarely move beyond stereotypes and givers of side-quests. The plot of Ys is also just plain original even to this day, whereas in Zelda's plot every game feels like a retread.

Replay Value

I have only played Link to the Past all the way through once. I have played Ys I & II multiple times, in both the Turbo version and the Eternal/Complete/Chronicles version. While later Zelda games were much better at adding things to keep you playing even after completing the game proper, LttP doesn't have much to say once you've beaten it. There are a few easter eggs and hidden items, but the game itself is such a long, hard haul that I've never really desired to go back to it in earnest. Ys has that special something, that perfect combination of elements that can't be explained, that really makes you want to experience it over and over, even though you're just playing through the same game again. It doesn't make logical sense, but Ys wins here.

Overall Impression

Let's face it, while LttP was a great game for its time, it hasn't aged as well as Ys in many ways. The story is trite, cliched, and formulaic. The dungeons are monotonous in their graphics and sound. In retrospect, it's just another Zelda game. It's not bad, but later games in the series have surpassed it to the point where it's not worth playing today.

The reason Ys stands the test of time so much better is something that I cannot fully explain, but it has to do with being more than the sum of its parts, and almost every part is well crafted. Even though LttP has "better" gameplay, it feels like much more of a slog to play through today than Ys. There's something about Ys that just makes it stand apart even today.

Ys wins.

Even though I voted Zelda myself, yours was a very well argued point.   

[spenoza]

These games are dissimilar enough that this is an apples to oranges comparison. I do enjoy LttP more, however. Still, a comparison like this doesn't do either game justice. If we're going to continue this "which is better!" trend, let's stick to games that are a little more apples to apples, lest we wander under bridges in search of trolls.

[BigusSchmuck]

These games are dissimilar enough that this is an apples to oranges comparison. I do enjoy LttP more, however. Still, a comparison like this doesn't do either game justice. If we're going to continue this "which is better!" trend, let's stick to games that are a little more apples to apples, lest we wander under bridges in search of trolls.

Right, like Guillver Boy vs Lunar The Silver Star. Might want to make a different thread for that.

[geise]

Yes that comparison definitely needs a thread of it's own.  Both games are amazing.

[CrackTiger]

Gulliver Boy is unique as far as traditional JRPGs go and a comparison to Lunar SSS wouldn't be much different than this one. Something like the Tengai Makyous or Cosmic Fantasy <3 would be much more comparable to the Lunars.

I think that a "which do you prefer/enjoy more?" is a better topic than the argument baiting "which is better".

[seieienbu]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

In this vein, perhaps a Zelda 2 vs Ys 3 comparison thread would be in order?

[esteban]

I think that a "which do you prefer/enjoy more?" is a better topic than the argument baiting "which is better".

Indeed. It shift things away from trying to "prove" that an argument is universally true (which is impossible), and allows us to do what we do best: persuade each other

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

In this vein, perhaps a Zelda 2 vs Ys 3 comparison thread would be in order?

Yes.

CHOPPY SCROLLING IS NEVER A DEAL-BREAKER.

It remains lamentable, of course.

Ys III -- too short and easy. needs more finely-tuned platforming. is charming, though.
Zelda 2 -- challenging, needs its platforming to be refined as well. it scares away folks, thereby ensuring that a devoted, tiny cult develops around it. I am in the cult, but I won't proselytize.

I wish Zelda 2 and Ys III were revisited, back in early 90's, with tweaks and improvements to their basic mechanics, structure, etc. Great potential that needed at least another iteration, IMHO.

I SHOULD WARN YOU THAT I WAS SEVERELY DISAPPOINTED WITH YS III back when it was released because I wanted to get my money's worth and it was too short and easy. Decent game? Sure. Sufficient to satisfy long-suffering TG-CD owners? Hell no. IN THE LAST FEW YEARS, of course, I've learned that I need to appreciate games for what they are, and not penalize them for the unfortunate conditions that existed when they were originally released.

[CrackTiger]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

In this vein, perhaps a Zelda 2 vs Ys 3 comparison thread would be in order?

Zelda II is again quite a bit different. It's not as big of a deal with other relatively straightforward genres like horizontal shooters. But like I said, this all solved by and leads to much better explanations of personal choice, when asking for favorites instead of judging them against each other. It will also legitimize Black Falcon's comments.

I also don't think there's much of a point of picking random games to match up from different consoles when either happens to already appear on both.

Indeed. It shift things away from trying to "prove" that an argument is universally true (which is impossible), and allows us to do what we do best: persuade each other

I'm not as interested in persuading people as I am in just hearing why people love or hate different games. The best is when people talk about their unique view of a game, whether they like an unpopular game or vice versa or simply play it in a unique way.

[esteban]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

In this vein, perhaps a Zelda 2 vs Ys 3 comparison thread would be in order?

Zelda II is again quite a bit different. It's not as big of a deal with other relatively straightforward genres like horizontal shooters. But like I said, this all solved by and leads to much better explanations of personal choice, when asking for favorites instead of judging them against each other. It will also legitimize Black Falcon's comments.

Well, personally, it's intriguing that Z2 and Y3 represent the rare moment when a familiar+popular formula is jettisoned for what ultimately becomes the black sheep of each series. I can't help but see both games, especially from the vantage of 2013, as traveling along parallel paths.

All of these layers and trajectories (and fads) in the game industry makes the Z2-Y3 examination ripe for discussion. Are they so dissimilar?

Indeed. It shift things away from trying to "prove" that an argument is universally true (which is impossible), and allows us to do what we do best: persuade each other

I'm not as interested in persuading people as I am in just hearing why people love or hate different games. The best is when people talk about their unique view of a game, whether they like an unpopular game or vice versa or simply play it in a unique way.

Absolutely. That's why we are here. 

[CrackTiger]

Well, personally, it's intriguing that Z2 and Y3 represent the rare moment when a familiar+popular formula is jettisoned for what ultimately becomes the black sheep of each series. I can't help but see both games, especially from the vantage of 2013, as traveling along parallel paths.

Earlier on, while video games were becoming popular in Japan, it wasn't normal to put out a sequel that was essentially the same game. That's why so many early sequels in series were completely different games, -to justify their existence. Unfortunately, people got used to to buying the same games with updates again and again and the concept of per-determined genres became standard and games that don't fit nicely within cookie cutter molds end to be judged unfairly.

I love the battle gameplay in Ys. Unfortunately, Ys II and IV became more Wold of the Battlefield style, which makes it all the more ridiculous when people dismiss them for 'stupid ramming' gameplay. Ys III was only an even more radical departure.

All of these layers and trajectories (and fads) in the game industry makes the Z2-Y3 examination ripe for discussion. Are they so dissimilar?

I think that the kind of discussion you bring up is perfect for these games, but that they're mismatched for this kind of "which is best" head-to-head comparison. War of the Dead is as much like Zelda II as Ys III is, yet is completely different from Ys III.

[awack]

I went with Zelda, I don't like either game that much actually, Now Ys IV is a different story,
By the way, im would love for some one to sell me a English patch Rondo of blood or Ys IV, just message me with a price, i especially want Rondo of blood.

[majors]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

^This.

Comparing apples and rotten oranges here, Nintendo can only product trite trash for kiddies. OBEY or GTFO.

[Xak]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

In this vein, perhaps a Zelda 2 vs Ys 3 comparison thread would be in order?

This would have been much more fair of a comparison.

[o.pwuaioc]

Off topic:  Why in the hell is this not a Zelda VS Neutopia thread?

In this vein, perhaps a Zelda 2 vs Ys 3 comparison thread would be in order?

This would have been much more fair of a comparison.

Except I don't know anyone who would actually give Zelda 2 the advantage. It's easily Ys III, even the SNES and Genesis ports.

[Bernie]

Gonna have to go with Zelda on this one.  I really enjoyed the Ys, and although it is an awesome game....IMO, Link to the Past just outdoes it.

[geise]

What do you like about Zelda over Ys Bernie?

[greedostick]

ha! I just posted a very similar poll and saw this one after. Y's is awesome, but is no Dynastic Hero

[OldRover]

I honestly can't decide. LttP has somewhat better gameplay, but there's nothing wrong with the gameplay in Ys either. LttP lacks creativity in storyline and world design, Ys lacks variety in combat design. The story in Ys buries LttP several times over, but the variety of things you can utilize in LttP makes Ys feel extremely limited. Usually, if one game has a much better story but much worse gameplay, the one with the worse story and better gameplay will get my vote. However, despite being limited in what you can do in Ys versus what you can do in LttP, Ys is still very playable. I've played both games dozens of times and I love them both. I can't decide so I have to abstain from voting on this one. I'm not a fanboy so Ys doesn't get a fanboy vote.

[Arkhan Asylum]

Aside from Nostalgia, Ys is the better game.

The visuals in LTTP aren't really mind blowing.   The gameplay IS solid, but I find that I like Ys's run/smash/boom/bang stuff more.

Not to mention, the story is a bit more serious.

LttP has nice songs, but the instruments blow compared to srs as fuck CD audio, also.

[FraGMarE]

These two games aren't really all that similar, but both are amazing.  If I had to choose one, I'd probably go with Ys.  Zelda's gameplay mechanics win, hands down, as do Zelda's puzzles.  But Ys's atmosphere, dungeon complexity, cutscenes, soundtrack and overall presentation are something that's hard for *any* 16-bit era game to touch.  To this day, I still consider the Ys Book I & II soundtrack one of the greatest video game OSTs ever created.  With Ys, I had this looming feeling that something BIG, IMPORTANT and EPIC was happening.  With Zelda LttP, I already knew what was going to happen before I even put the cartridge in the SNES... I was going to complete the Triforce and go kill Gannon.