Games played: Super Mario Bros. (0:04), A Link to the Past (0:10), Ocarina of Time 3D (0:14), Super Mario 3D Land (0:30), Tears of the Kingdom (0:40), Super Mario Bros. 3 (0:48), Mario Power Tennis (1:30), Super Mario 64 (5:30)
OK, stupid phone went into airplane mode before I hit send and my comment is gone. Basically I said I had fun playing the OG NES Metroid after Prime Remastered was dropped… until I got to a bonkers hard area that not even save stated could help with… I mean I could barely get through, but you end up needing to go through a lot of crazy enemies back and forth looking for whatever the heck it is you’re supposed to be doing… idk, might get back to it someday…
@@mrhobs It's a game that requires farming for more health and missiles. The lack of a map and similar looking rooms can make it confusing but that is what we had to deal with.
@@GoodVibeCollecting I didn't like it when it was new lol. I also wasn't big into Castlevania but I'd get further into that game. I also didn't really find contra fun and never knew anyone that did. I get the appeal. But like twin stick shooters they just aren't my thing.
I go Mario all the way. The games have had a more consistent level of quality and an atmosphere that has carried through not only the mainline games, but the spinoffs as well. Zelda, on the other hand, has had so many changes in tone, atmosphere, and quality that it doesn't carry as consistent of a fanbase. Nearly everyone who likes Mario enjoys just about every Mario game. They may like Sunshine more or less because of the water mechanics or find the "New" line a bit repetitive, but you don't hear folks just trashing a bunch of the series. Zelda, on the other hand, can get pretty polarizing. I love Zelda II, but a lot of folks hate it. Some people hate Wind Waker's "Cel-da." Others hate Skyward Sword or Spirit Tracks. By and large, you'll find more people who hate a few Zeldas than Marios.
I'm more of a Mario gameplay person. Especially the retro games. I guess that makes me just a casual gamer. Which I know is frowned upon. But I do enjoy watching gameplay of Zelda games and the more modern or advanced Mario games. Also the music of both franchises.
Zelda is my favorite game series. Mario is enjoyable but ultimately feels like disposable entertainment. Every Zelda game is a work of art that I cherish and think about for years.
Mario games are definitely my favorite from the two ! You really hit the head on the nail with why Zelda games are harder to pickup and play at random once in a while.
They may have shared the Nintendo Cereal System equally, but the fact that it wasn't Mario who had to guest star on the Super Zelda Super Show once a week shows us clearly where Nintendo's priorities have always been.
@@thesultrystrangerdanger6824 Just watch, The Legend of Zelda: The Animated Series and you will completely understand. (Or just type "excuse me princess" in the TH-cam search)
Absolutely preferred Mario to Zelda when I was younger, but still loved both. As I've gotten older I've started enjoying Zelda more & more, but not quite ready to say I prefer one over the other anymore. Still prefer Donkey Kong Country (SNES Trilogy primarily) over either, I mean the Banana Horde is just too tempting.
For me, it’s always been all about Legend of Zelda. When I was 9, back in 1987, I got an NES Deluxe Set for Christmas. Yep, I was the weird kid who got R.O.B. the Robot and the Zapper with my NES. That meant I got two pack-in games; Gyromite and Duck Hunt… NOT Super Mario Bros. I never had the original Super Mario Bros. as a kid because it wasn’t sold individually, back then. Oh sure, I got Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3 in the Christmas seasons of their releases, but I never had the original. My parents were good enough to get me The Legend of Zelda during the Christmas if 1987, so that was what I played the most of. My friends all had Super Mario Bros., but I was the one who had The Legend of Zelda. It was a much more immersive game, at the time, and I was nuts about it. My friends all wanted to check it out, too, which meant I had something rare and cherished. Playing Super Mario Bros. at a friend’s house was an absolute dream, until I was able to explore Zelda. I had never seen anything like it. It had dungeons and hidden passages. It had secrets and multiple weapons. It had a real story that hooked me from day one. In a word, incredible. While I love many Mario game experiences, as a series, it’s just never compared to Zelda. Each new Zelda game has such depth and beauty that make me love it more than almost anything out there. Metroid is a close second, when it comes to Zelda, but the quality of The Legend of Zelda series consistently is overwhelming in terms of fun and quality.
I prefer Mario. I like the early 2d games + 3d games. I find those games to have high reply value. Zelda games I never got into until Breath of the Wild. Playing Tears of the Kingdom. Both games are amongst the best I have ever played but I may not have motivation to replay either of them as they are both extremely long games. Mario games are like quick hits. I can play through most Mario games in one day.
Gameplay discussion aside, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released in theaters earlier this year. I think that is proof of which one has an overall bigger fan base... (I love both series though😉)
I’m a huge Mario fan for many reasons, whether it’s the mainline games or the side games, there are so many wonderful titles out there. I feel like the most recent Mario titles don’t stack up to the more recent Zelda games in terms of polish and quality. Just because I don’t like Zelda games as much, doesn’t mean they aren’t as important. But if you said I could only play Mario or Zelda games for the rest of my life, I’d definitely say Mario. Also, as far as the color yellow, are we not gonna talk about how good lemons generally are? I love me some lemons!
100% agree. Zelda has the better games offering more in-depth and engrossing experiences overall. However, Mario is more marketable and more friendly to players of all ages, as well as being completely iconic of video games in general. Glad we have both!
Don't know if Zelda has the better games. I just know Zelda appeals to the hardcore Nintendo fans. Where as Mario appeals to everyone including Nintendo fans.
As I eat these praying hands homegrown nanners I pray retrobird will get more credit for making quality content I just wish you would curse more you know I mean the real bad stuff the real real bad stuff
I think Zelda is the pinnacle for Nintendo. It's the best series they (or any other video game company) has ever created. But Mario is the most important video game series Nintendo ever created. You mentioned Mario64 being the biggest advancement in video game history, and I totally agree with your assessment. However, I believe the original Super Mario Bros was even more influential in the advancement and evolution of video games. Sure, the idea of having a goal (other than points), platforming, scrolling, power-ups, warps, secrets, level environments, etc.. all sound like trite points today, but these were all revolutionary concepts when the original Super Mario Bros came out. Not to mention, this game almost single-handedly resurrected the home video game market and brought it back from the dead. So basically, I agree with you RetroBird. Zelda = The best series Nintendo has ever created while Mario = the most important series Nintendo ever created. In the end, you can't go wrong with either series. They both are magical and continue to captivate new generations of gamers.
By the way, if we were to extend this debate. My top 5 favorite Nintendo video game series would be: 1. Zelda; 2. Mario; 3. Metroid; 4. Donkey Kong; 5. Kirby
When I was a kid, Mario. Now that I'm in my 40s, Zelda. But let's be honest, it's really Star Fox that we all wish had enough games to compete on this playing field. I feel like we all got gypt out of a proper continuation of that series. Not that a 3D Zelda clone staring Fox McCloud was a bad thing, but everyone knows they REALLY wanted another on-rail/open-environment shooter. It was a mistake for Nintendo to change the genre, and then relegate any sequels to the dust bin of history.
The mario and luigi series is actually a lot like zelda except with turn based battles. You get new moves that open up the world for you to explore and solve puzzles.
And the games still have platforming so they could be argued to still be true Mario games. Are they any more different from Super Mario Bros than Tears of the Kingdom is from The Legend of Zelda?
My two favorite games of all time are Super Mario Sunshine and Zelda: Ocarina of Time in that order. However, I only slightly prefer Sunshine over OOT. They aren't necessarily interchangeable but I will say that I've beaten OOT more times as of recent. That makes a debate such as this very hard to commit on. As for each series overall, my love for them is almost equal. So I just say to heck with it. I'll choose Chrono Trigger since that's my No. 3 game of all time.
Mainline Mario games have been more frequent than mainline Zelda games but Odyssey and Breath of the Wild came out the same year and we've gotten a sequel to the Zelda game since but have heard nothing of the next sequel to Mario. Maybe times are changing.
For me it's definetly Zelda. ALTP and LA (especially the latter) were one of my first exposures to video games and the reason why I got hooked on them. I was drawn in by the sense of a huge world teeming with adventure and secrets. I even remember starring endlessly at the cover of the games. Something about that slightly battered sword and shield and the font ist still to this day so appealing to me.
I love them both, but since Majora's Mask is my personal favourite video game I'm team Zelda. My favourite Mario game is Super Mario RPG, and my favourite Sonic game is Sonic CD . Yes, I have quite obscure favourites.
I’ll always be more of a Mario fan, but Zelda is certainly an absolutely amazing series. While I’ve only finished Breath of the Wild (and that was 6 years ago!), I consider myself a decently big fan of the series as I’ve loved every game I’ve played and have invested a good chunk of time into most of them. Hopefully soon I can sit down and finally put some more time into the series, starting by getting back into Tears of the Kingdom after a month long hiatus…
Hey Banana Guy (as my wife likes to call you) fortunately we don’t have to choose, but I’d pick Zelda. This year I finally beat BotW and literally my heart beat at the rhythm of that epic song inside the castle. Nothing cant top that, it felt very fulfilling and reminiscent to Ocarina back in ‘98-99. Have a great weekend, maybe I’ll finally beat A Link to the Past (GBA version) this weekend 😊
Super Mario World was shockingly short and easy… maybe I’ll play around with it again someday… Still waiting for that perfect moment in life to play ALTTP
@@mrhobsyou probably already have played dkc since you’re on this channel but if you haven’t then play the whole trilogy. Theyre lot harder and better imo than smw
I think your advice to give up on completing games like Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom didn't exactly reach Jirard The Completionist in time. XD The madman won't ever stop! Course, that's why I love him so much.
If I had to pick between the two (please no), then it would have to be Zelda. I just adore the series. Love Mario too, but Zelda has always been one of my absolute favorites.
Great video.. thanks!! For me, it seemed like each Nintendo console had a clear winner (for me) in the Mario vs Zelda game comparison, and it swung wildly from side to side. NES: Mario wins Game boy: Zelda wins Super NES: close call but Zelda *barely* wins N64: Mario wins GameCube: Zelda wins Wii: Mario wins DS: Mario wins Wii U: Mario wins 3DS: Zelda wins Switch: Zelda wins Since it’s a console thing for me, I don’t know if it actually reflects the games so much as where I was in life at the time each console came out, but I’ve always felt this way about the games, and this has not changed with time. The SNES Mario World vs Link to the Past is the only comparison that’s close for me. And it’s extra tough since while Link to the Past and Mario World are a close call, the Zelda series has no response to Mario Allstars, Mario Kart, and Yoshi’s Island (the SNES is incredible!!!). But holy moly, LTTP is just about a perfect game for me. :)
Overall I would say Mario is my favorite series overall with me having played more Mario games and loving a lot of them, but at the same time Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are also my #2 and #1 favorite games ever rn
Mario puts a constant Awww in your face. It just makes you happy. Zelda makes you feel grand and epic. Really hard to choose, in their own reins they both win.
Interesting topic, I like both franchises but for different reasons. Mainline Mario games generally offer a really cool platforming experience (except SMG2), a game you can just jump in and out of quickly. I enjoy Zelda titles for the story, puzzles, and atmosphere. It's an apple and oranges err bananas comparo, and both apples and bananas are great.
Zelda’s been a major factor in compelling me to buy a couple consoles (Wii, Switch)… But I still remember how amazing the original Super Mario was in compelling us to beg our parents to get a NES…
Some of the Mario-spinoffs are on par with both series mainline titles in terms of quality Super Mario RPG and the first 2 Paper Mario games are considered among the finest RPG games ever made Mario Kart set a foundation for fun racing multiplayer and same for Smash bros with fighting games The Mario Party series, particularly the first 7 are timeless and always a blast That said, Zelda's peaks are undeniable and I find Zelda games more interesting in terms of atmosphere, lore
Not really a Mario or Platformer fan. Though I liked Paper Mario. I just remember that feeling I had as a 10 year old exploring the land of Hyrule. I was hooked then and now. That feeling of being on a grand adventure I never got from Mario games
My wife and I liked the line “and if people who say they don’t Mario games, are people who don’t like being happy” In all honesty, I get why Mario is the character in all these other side games, it does inflate the number of Mario games though. You called them mainline games, I use the term “super Mario games” we both mean the same thing
Great content as always Mr. Retro Bird man! Thought you might like to know that today is the day that I am playing Rocket Knight Adventures for the first time ever. Jealous? I thought not!
Follow up! Hey Mr Retro Bird. Rickety Knight Adventures was a fun break from Skyrim last night. I got a far as the level with the lava that does instadeath. Cool effect, but I didn't have the patience for that at that moment. That was just my first game over, and it was enough for me to check the game out. I will give it another go sometime! Great suggestion! I have it on a multi cart called Super 196 in 1, an excellent Genesis Collection. It has Super Mario, Donkey Kong Country, and Aladdin II (the SNES one) and I think the Street Fighter II on there might be SNES as well. Squirrel King is really just Rescue Rangers. Anyway..... bla bla bla . ... multi carts are great.
Call me Nanners, but I pick Banana Prince from 1992 on the NES!!! Got semi magic seeds that grow a bean stock, but not as big. Which I like because going to big & you may encounter Giants. 2D Platform, Game Show Feel & you can trade in bananas for upgrades! On my Nine Ten D'Oh List!
I pick Mario, for more nostalgia personally, but also for the pick up and play aspect. But lately I’ve really wanted to pick up Link’s awakening on the switch, looks fun.
I'd pick mario as I've played way more mario games over zelda. Many of my favorite games ever are 3d mario games plus the first 2 paper marios. Going off of what you said with zelda games, I have shied away from many of them them including the botw and totk. I remember getting lost multiple times in oot and coming back after long breaks and having no clue where I was or what I was doing and I hated that feeling. I also get tired of super long games, and because I usually want to do all side quests and with how long the 2 zelda switch ones are I just haven't wanted to play those. But I can certainly see why they are regarded as some of the best games out there. Just not for me.
@@Peeps7468 Zelda Maker would be perfect! I am generally surprised Nintendo hasn't done this yet. A Zelda Metroidvania would actually be pretty amazing. I know the market is already flooded with roguelike games, but seeing a Zelda one might be interesting.
I like Mario games, but for me, the Zelda games are master works of art. I even did a video recently on the original Legend of Zelda. I still play that game a couple times a year. Great video as always. Love the humour.
Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Hector is going to be running three Honda civics with spoon engines, and on top of that, he just went into Harry’s and bought three t66 turbos with nos, and a motec exhaust system!
Cool video! I don't know if I could ever definitively decide between Mario and Zelda. I replay Mario a lot more (I must have played through Super Mario World at least 15-20 times by now), but the experience that a Zelda game gives me is much more impactful. Ocarina of Time still remains my favorite Nintendo game to this day.
@@tonyp9313 Ohh, people definitely prefer other Zelda games on different corners of the internet. I’ve seen Ocarina of Time called “overrated” quite a lot, and how it “sucks” compared to Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, etc. It’s all opinions though, so there is no right or wrong.
@@tonyp9313 I literally can't pick between Ocarina of time, Majora's mask, Wind Waker or Twilight Princess as my favorite, also playing through the Link's awakening remake on Switch and it's becoming one of my favorites as well. As for Mario I have so many favorites as well, I love all mainline 3D games (minus Galaxy which I can't say I've gotten into as much as the others) and then we have the Mario spin-off series like the RPG, multiplayer games that are at times equal quality as both Zelda & Mario's mainline titles.
I can't ever remember a time when I didn't know who Mario was. However, my first exposure to Zelda was through Smash 64 and I can distinctly remember thinking, "oh, so this is Link? Then who's Zelda?!"
Everyone knows who Zelda is lol...I bet a lot of people thought Zelda was Link when they 1st played it. Why do they call it Zelda? It's not like we call Mario games Princess Peach or Toadstool.
@@tonyp9313 back in the day, not everyone had played the Zelda games but everyone had played Mario, especially 3. your second sentence kinda proves that not everyone knows who Zelda is. Gotta add on here: It's called The Legend of Zelda because she is an integral character in the lore and world of the game series even though she isn't the playable character. Peach can be replaced with any other princess...which they've done with Daisy and Rosalina...Zelda is irreplaceable. Zelda is Hylia.
It's really hard for me to say which is better, maybe I could assess on a case-by-case basis, console-to-console entry, even then it's incredibly difficult. I would say this though, if Nintendo never got past the NES, Zelda would have been a footnote to gaming history. While SMB 1,2, and especially 3 would be considered the greatest games ever made.
@@SonofSethoitae Yes but I don't think it's as good as Mario 3, also I don't like Zelda 2 and if the franchise had ended there, people wouldn't be talking about in the same way they do Mario.
I definitely prefer Mario games. They still have lots of secrets and exploration (especially starting with Super Mario World) without being cryptic. Having to look up online guides makes me frustrated and makes me feel as if I didn't earn the right to see the ending. Funny enough, I am fond of Zelda 2 because it's the one Zelda game where I was stuck only once (near the end, when you must find a hidden village). For all the other Zelda games, I need external help at least 3/4 times. Of course I don't hate the franchise, but it's far from my favorite Nintendo series. Besides Mario, I much prefer Kirby, Starfox or, yeah, F-Zero
It's so hard to pick just one! I cut my teeth on Mario and the first three are just iconic but when I played Zelda a link to the past for the first time last year I was absolutely blown away. I don't even want to make a decision because that's like choosing your favorite child and I only have one of those so I wouldn't have to make that choice. 😂😂😂
Link vs Adol. Bonk vs Joe & Mac. Sonic vs Awesome Possum. South Park rally vs Mario Kart. It Came from the Desert Vs Night Trap. Unreal Tournament Vs Quake III. Call of Duty Vs Enemy Territory. Shadow Warrior vs Redneck Rampage. Soldier Series vs Thunder Force, Golden Axe vs Final Fight. Tekken Vs Virtua Fighter. Power Stone vs Smash Brothers. Ridge Racer vs Daytona. Phantasy Star vs Cosmic Fantasy. Mario Vs Real Plumbers. Bananas Vs Pineapples. etc....
I feel like it should be Mario vs Metroid, (action platformer vs adventure platformer) and Zelda vs Pokemon, (Action adventure vs turn based adventure) but because of popularity and developer care it's become Mario vs Zelda 😅
Let’s just throw “Mario RPG” into the mix for fun. :) And after reading your comment, I REALLY want a turn-based Zelda game based on the lore, and a Pokémon Metroidvania game. Come on Nintendo… make it happen!!
My introduction to zelda was in 2000. I was 8 years old and my next door neighbor had Ocarina of time. I knew within 10 minutes, just how epic this game really was. I convinced my friend to let me borrow it in exchange for my beloved blue tony hawk game. I ran home so fast like I was commiting a crime. Popped the game in and i was on an adventure. Collecting rupees and tracking down the kokiri sword. As i am walking up to the Great Deku Tree, my mom comes in. "Tyler wants his game back" My adventure had just folded like a cheap tent, just like that. I start crying and crocodile tears start filling up the ocean. I came back home from school the next day with a new copy in my room. Thanks mom
Very easy choice for me. TLOZ. It’s the reason I’m a gamer. It’s the first game I ever played. I only buy Nintendo systems to play the Zelda titles. The other games are after thoughts.
Maaaannnn.... Comparing my interest and love for these games throughout the decades is tough. But I think you hit the nail on the head with what the experience offers. Running and jumping with power ups on platform level is great and easily consumable. However, a Zelda game you know you are in for a longer burn that gives a more lasting impression. Also with Zelda like what rb mentioned in the video, you have to commit and not put down for a couple weeks and pick back up or you will be even more lost then the last time you played. I guess if I had to pick between my favorite Zelda game vs my favorite Mario gams.... Zelda would win but just barely
I have to vote Zelda. No other game has had a bigger impact on me than OOT. As an 11 year old boy around its release, I was enamored, just absolutely immersed in it's world. I was obsessed with scouring the web for sites that detailed its lore. I wanted to learn more about all the different races etc. Mario is way up there, but Zelda is just my thing.
I was 13 when OoT released. November of 98' they had 1 copy left at Walmart so I begged and begged my Mom half crying I wanted it so bad. I had 4 brothers, if she got it for me that was going to be my ONLY gift, $60 dollars was a LOT for a spur of the moment purchase since my step dad was the only income, my mother is blind and un able to work. She FINALLY caved. A week before Christmas we had a snow storm and we had been out of school a couple days extending our Christmas break by almost a week I was bored out of my mind and my mom knew it. I woke up from a boredom nap to see Zelda sitting there on the coffee table along with "the perfect guide" I was in absolute awe of the game, the world and how huge it was. Being ADHD that series has always been amazing for stopping and checking out every shiny thing you see. I spent the next few months spending ALL of my free time playing absolutely 100% completion on 2 separate files. Getting on this crazy internet thing looking up info, and searching for anything I could find Zelda related, even printing off pages of tips and tricks sharing them with friends at school. One of my favorite childhood memories for sure!
@@michaelmanning9028 Great storytelling, mate. Sounds like one of those memories that remain clear and vivid for a lifetime. Glad it impacted you similarly.
Having enjoyingly played through both series as a child, as a working parent, I find the Super Mario games to be a bit more accessible now. Though I love the Zelda series, as said the video here, the SMB games require less time commitment during a sit down and can easily go back to them at anytime. (Plus my son love the SMB characters and he has yet to find interest in the Zelda series)
Games played: Super Mario Bros. (0:04), A Link to the Past (0:10), Ocarina of Time 3D (0:14), Super Mario 3D Land (0:30), Tears of the Kingdom (0:40), Super Mario Bros. 3 (0:48), Mario Power Tennis (1:30), Super Mario 64 (5:30)
The color yellow also gave us the iconic cover of Super Mario Bros. 3 (one of the greatest video game covers of all-time)...oh and Twinkies too.
and Super Sonic, and Samus Aran
Wow that is a really deep cut you just you just brought the banana out of Mario
Man, both are iconic. How can you choose just one? If I had to choose between the two, I'd go with Metroid.
I've never found Metroid fun. Just tedious.
OK, stupid phone went into airplane mode before I hit send and my comment is gone.
Basically I said I had fun playing the OG NES Metroid after Prime Remastered was dropped… until I got to a bonkers hard area that not even save stated could help with… I mean I could barely get through, but you end up needing to go through a lot of crazy enemies back and forth looking for whatever the heck it is you’re supposed to be doing… idk, might get back to it someday…
@@mrhobs It's a game that requires farming for more health and missiles. The lack of a map and similar looking rooms can make it confusing but that is what we had to deal with.
@@TheMysteryDriver The original can be hard to go back to.
@@GoodVibeCollecting I didn't like it when it was new lol. I also wasn't big into Castlevania but I'd get further into that game. I also didn't really find contra fun and never knew anyone that did.
I get the appeal. But like twin stick shooters they just aren't my thing.
I go Mario all the way. The games have had a more consistent level of quality and an atmosphere that has carried through not only the mainline games, but the spinoffs as well. Zelda, on the other hand, has had so many changes in tone, atmosphere, and quality that it doesn't carry as consistent of a fanbase.
Nearly everyone who likes Mario enjoys just about every Mario game. They may like Sunshine more or less because of the water mechanics or find the "New" line a bit repetitive, but you don't hear folks just trashing a bunch of the series.
Zelda, on the other hand, can get pretty polarizing. I love Zelda II, but a lot of folks hate it. Some people hate Wind Waker's "Cel-da." Others hate Skyward Sword or Spirit Tracks. By and large, you'll find more people who hate a few Zeldas than Marios.
"new" super Mario Bros literally has to be repetitive. The entire point of it is that it's an updated version of the 2D platformer version.
I'm more of a Mario gameplay person. Especially the retro games. I guess that makes me just a casual gamer. Which I know is frowned upon. But I do enjoy watching gameplay of Zelda games and the more modern or advanced Mario games. Also the music of both franchises.
Can we all say Retro Bird WINS!!!
That's a good point. There's no "Zelda Tennis". Interesting.
When i list my greatest games of all time, Mario 3 and Ocarine of Time instantly come to mind.
I think all of us developed lung infection when ocarina of Time came out so we can get out of school for a week
Zelda is my favorite game series. Mario is enjoyable but ultimately feels like disposable entertainment. Every Zelda game is a work of art that I cherish and think about for years.
tru about the disposable part.
Mario games are definitely my favorite from the two !
You really hit the head on the nail with why Zelda games are harder to pickup and play at random once in a while.
They may have shared the Nintendo Cereal System equally, but the fact that it wasn't Mario who had to guest star on the Super Zelda Super Show once a week shows us clearly where Nintendo's priorities have always been.
Well excuuuuuse me Princess!
What?!?
@@thesultrystrangerdanger6824 Just watch, The Legend of Zelda: The Animated Series and you will completely understand.
(Or just type "excuse me princess" in the TH-cam search)
Oh this is difficult!! These two game series are my fav!! Love both so much!
Both are WORLD CLASS!
Absolutely preferred Mario to Zelda when I was younger, but still loved both. As I've gotten older I've started enjoying Zelda more & more, but not quite ready to say I prefer one over the other anymore. Still prefer Donkey Kong Country (SNES Trilogy primarily) over either, I mean the Banana Horde is just too tempting.
Yeah I want to play tropical freeze but it's still fudge fudge fudge $55
For me, it’s always been all about Legend of Zelda.
When I was 9, back in 1987, I got an NES Deluxe Set for Christmas. Yep, I was the weird kid who got R.O.B. the Robot and the Zapper with my NES. That meant I got two pack-in games; Gyromite and Duck Hunt… NOT Super Mario Bros.
I never had the original Super Mario Bros. as a kid because it wasn’t sold individually, back then. Oh sure, I got Super Mario Bros. 2 and 3 in the Christmas seasons of their releases, but I never had the original.
My parents were good enough to get me The Legend of Zelda during the Christmas if 1987, so that was what I played the most of.
My friends all had Super Mario Bros., but I was the one who had The Legend of Zelda. It was a much more immersive game, at the time, and I was nuts about it. My friends all wanted to check it out, too, which meant I had something rare and cherished.
Playing Super Mario Bros. at a friend’s house was an absolute dream, until I was able to explore Zelda. I had never seen anything like it. It had dungeons and hidden passages. It had secrets and multiple weapons. It had a real story that hooked me from day one. In a word, incredible.
While I love many Mario game experiences, as a series, it’s just never compared to Zelda. Each new Zelda game has such depth and beauty that make me love it more than almost anything out there. Metroid is a close second, when it comes to Zelda, but the quality of The Legend of Zelda series consistently is overwhelming in terms of fun and quality.
I prefer Mario. I like the early 2d games + 3d games. I find those games to have high reply value. Zelda games I never got into until Breath of the Wild. Playing Tears of the Kingdom. Both games are amongst the best I have ever played but I may not have motivation to replay either of them as they are both extremely long games. Mario games are like quick hits. I can play through most Mario games in one day.
Gameplay discussion aside, The Super Mario Bros. Movie was released in theaters earlier this year. I think that is proof of which one has an overall bigger fan base...
(I love both series though😉)
I’m a huge Mario fan for many reasons, whether it’s the mainline games or the side games, there are so many wonderful titles out there. I feel like the most recent Mario titles don’t stack up to the more recent Zelda games in terms of polish and quality. Just because I don’t like Zelda games as much, doesn’t mean they aren’t as important. But if you said I could only play Mario or Zelda games for the rest of my life, I’d definitely say Mario. Also, as far as the color yellow, are we not gonna talk about how good lemons generally are? I love me some lemons!
Great video and no one can argue those points. Personally I tend to enjoy Mario games more than Zelda games. But they're both winners.
Fight of the century
100% agree. Zelda has the better games offering more in-depth and engrossing experiences overall. However, Mario is more marketable and more friendly to players of all ages, as well as being completely iconic of video games in general. Glad we have both!
Don't know if Zelda has the better games. I just know Zelda appeals to the hardcore Nintendo fans. Where as Mario appeals to everyone including Nintendo fans.
Fridays with R. Bird. It just feels right 👍👍
Yeah it used to be T.G.I.F when I was a kid
As I eat these praying hands homegrown nanners I pray retrobird will get more credit for making quality content I just wish you would curse more you know I mean the real bad stuff the real real bad stuff
I think Zelda is the pinnacle for Nintendo. It's the best series they (or any other video game company) has ever created. But Mario is the most important video game series Nintendo ever created. You mentioned Mario64 being the biggest advancement in video game history, and I totally agree with your assessment. However, I believe the original Super Mario Bros was even more influential in the advancement and evolution of video games. Sure, the idea of having a goal (other than points), platforming, scrolling, power-ups, warps, secrets, level environments, etc.. all sound like trite points today, but these were all revolutionary concepts when the original Super Mario Bros came out. Not to mention, this game almost single-handedly resurrected the home video game market and brought it back from the dead. So basically, I agree with you RetroBird. Zelda = The best series Nintendo has ever created while Mario = the most important series Nintendo ever created. In the end, you can't go wrong with either series. They both are magical and continue to captivate new generations of gamers.
By the way, if we were to extend this debate. My top 5 favorite Nintendo video game series would be: 1. Zelda; 2. Mario; 3. Metroid; 4. Donkey Kong; 5. Kirby
As a busy adult doing adulting things... Mario is the clear choice.
I can get a quick fix for my need to game, Zelda games are not that.
When I was a kid, Mario. Now that I'm in my 40s, Zelda. But let's be honest, it's really Star Fox that we all wish had enough games to compete on this playing field. I feel like we all got gypt out of a proper continuation of that series. Not that a 3D Zelda clone staring Fox McCloud was a bad thing, but everyone knows they REALLY wanted another on-rail/open-environment shooter. It was a mistake for Nintendo to change the genre, and then relegate any sequels to the dust bin of history.
The mario and luigi series is actually a lot like zelda except with turn based battles. You get new moves that open up the world for you to explore and solve puzzles.
And the games still have platforming so they could be argued to still be true Mario games. Are they any more different from Super Mario Bros than Tears of the Kingdom is from The Legend of Zelda?
I grew up with Mario games, and to this day they are some of my favorite games of all time.
I agree with you Retro Bird. Zelda had more impact on me but Mario is always fun
My two favorite games of all time are Super Mario Sunshine and Zelda: Ocarina of Time in that order. However, I only slightly prefer Sunshine over OOT. They aren't necessarily interchangeable but I will say that I've beaten OOT more times as of recent. That makes a debate such as this very hard to commit on. As for each series overall, my love for them is almost equal.
So I just say to heck with it. I'll choose Chrono Trigger since that's my No. 3 game of all time.
Mainline Mario games have been more frequent than mainline Zelda games but Odyssey and Breath of the Wild came out the same year and we've gotten a sequel to the Zelda game since but have heard nothing of the next sequel to Mario. Maybe times are changing.
For me it's definetly Zelda. ALTP and LA (especially the latter) were one of my first exposures to video games and the reason why I got hooked on them. I was drawn in by the sense of a huge world teeming with adventure and secrets. I even remember starring endlessly at the cover of the games. Something about that slightly battered sword and shield and the font ist still to this day so appealing to me.
Great way to sum it up Bird. Though highlighting the differences, just as you say, reinforces how the two series compliment each other.
I don't know why people argue so much when everyone knows the correct answer is...
...Metroid.
Your answer is in the minority but you are not wrong.
Yeah, I wouldn't argue with you either.
I love them both, but since Majora's Mask is my personal favourite video game I'm team Zelda. My favourite Mario game is Super Mario RPG, and my favourite Sonic game is Sonic CD . Yes, I have quite obscure favourites.
Those aren't THAT obscure lol, they're still part of the most popular franchises and most know about them.
Yeah that windmill guy REALLY loved that little music box. 😂
I’ll always be more of a Mario fan, but Zelda is certainly an absolutely amazing series. While I’ve only finished Breath of the Wild (and that was 6 years ago!), I consider myself a decently big fan of the series as I’ve loved every game I’ve played and have invested a good chunk of time into most of them.
Hopefully soon I can sit down and finally put some more time into the series, starting by getting back into Tears of the Kingdom after a month long hiatus…
0:24 it’s these faces that keep me coming back bro.🤣🤣 And the content is my favorite topic too. Great videos!!🔥
Super Mario World and Link to the Past are two of my favorite games. If I could pick two more it would be Mario 3 and WindWaker.
Id argue they are on the same team, not team Nintendo, TEAM VIDEO GAMES
Hey Banana Guy (as my wife likes to call you) fortunately we don’t have to choose, but I’d pick Zelda. This year I finally beat BotW and literally my heart beat at the rhythm of that epic song inside the castle. Nothing cant top that, it felt very fulfilling and reminiscent to Ocarina back in ‘98-99. Have a great weekend, maybe I’ll finally beat A Link to the Past (GBA version) this weekend 😊
Can you explain to me why Link dirs in cold weather in BOTW?
I approve of the name! Hope you have a good time with "A Link to the Past" this weekend.
@@RetroBirdGaming she’ll love to hear your approval, thanks!
I’m not picking, sue me, it’s my life. Super Mario World and LTTP are the pinnacle of their respective genres, they’re both absolute perfection.
I love Super Mario World
Timeless art.
Strongly agree 👍🏽 ❤
Super Mario World was shockingly short and easy… maybe I’ll play around with it again someday…
Still waiting for that perfect moment in life to play ALTTP
@@mrhobsyou probably already have played dkc since you’re on this channel but if you haven’t then play the whole trilogy. Theyre lot harder and better imo than smw
6:17 I don’t know…. Super Mario Bros. 3 had a BEAUTIFUL yellow box and art. Nanners may just have some mustachioed competition.
I think your advice to give up on completing games like Breath Of The Wild and Tears Of The Kingdom didn't exactly reach Jirard The Completionist in time. XD
The madman won't ever stop! Course, that's why I love him so much.
If I had to pick between the two (please no), then it would have to be Zelda. I just adore the series. Love Mario too, but Zelda has always been one of my absolute favorites.
Great video.. thanks!!
For me, it seemed like each Nintendo console had a clear winner (for me) in the Mario vs Zelda game comparison, and it swung wildly from side to side.
NES: Mario wins
Game boy: Zelda wins
Super NES: close call but Zelda *barely* wins
N64: Mario wins
GameCube: Zelda wins
Wii: Mario wins
DS: Mario wins
Wii U: Mario wins
3DS: Zelda wins
Switch: Zelda wins
Since it’s a console thing for me, I don’t know if it actually reflects the games so much as where I was in life at the time each console came out, but I’ve always felt this way about the games, and this has not changed with time.
The SNES Mario World vs Link to the Past is the only comparison that’s close for me. And it’s extra tough since while Link to the Past and Mario World are a close call, the Zelda series has no response to Mario Allstars, Mario Kart, and Yoshi’s Island (the SNES is incredible!!!). But holy moly, LTTP is just about a perfect game for me. :)
I think my Nintendo childhood was more on Mario than on Zelda.
Overall I would say Mario is my favorite series overall with me having played more Mario games and loving a lot of them, but at the same time Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are also my #2 and #1 favorite games ever rn
Mario puts a constant Awww in your face. It just makes you happy. Zelda makes you feel grand and epic. Really hard to choose, in their own reins they both win.
Interesting topic, I like both franchises but for different reasons. Mainline Mario games generally offer a really cool platforming experience (except SMG2), a game you can just jump in and out of quickly. I enjoy Zelda titles for the story, puzzles, and atmosphere. It's an apple and oranges err bananas comparo, and both apples and bananas are great.
I love you Mr. Retro Bird Sir
Love ya too my friend!
"Nanners are the best thing the color yellow ever did" ooooooo only because the RiscPC Phoebe never came out. :P
Zelda’s been a major factor in compelling me to buy a couple consoles (Wii, Switch)…
But I still remember how amazing the original Super Mario was in compelling us to beg our parents to get a NES…
Haven’t watched the video yet. Not sure if he picks a winner, but I would guess Zelda. Probably saved a Zelda win to be a green shirt video. 💚
Some of the Mario-spinoffs are on par with both series mainline titles in terms of quality
Super Mario RPG and the first 2 Paper Mario games are considered among the finest RPG games ever made
Mario Kart set a foundation for fun racing multiplayer and same for Smash bros with fighting games
The Mario Party series, particularly the first 7 are timeless and always a blast
That said, Zelda's peaks are undeniable and I find Zelda games more interesting in terms of atmosphere, lore
Mario has the higher highs for me but Zelda is more consistent in quality across each release.
Not really a Mario or Platformer fan. Though I liked Paper Mario. I just remember that feeling I had as a 10 year old exploring the land of Hyrule. I was hooked then and now. That feeling of being on a grand adventure I never got from Mario games
Mario but it’s real close. I definitely go back to Mario games more often though 🤷♂️
The holy trinity of nintendo. Mario, Zelda, and Metroid. The last gets treated dirty, IMO.
My wife and I liked the line “and if people who say they don’t Mario games, are people who don’t like being happy”
In all honesty, I get why Mario is the character in all these other side games, it does inflate the number of Mario games though. You called them mainline games, I use the term “super Mario games” we both mean the same thing
Retro Bird wins all the time
Id like to see a new shirt thumbnail combo featuring pastel blue, pink, lime green, and royal purple.
Great content as always Mr. Retro Bird man!
Thought you might like to know that today is the day that I am playing Rocket Knight Adventures for the first time ever. Jealous? I thought not!
Follow up!
Hey Mr Retro Bird. Rickety Knight Adventures was a fun break from Skyrim last night. I got a far as the level with the lava that does instadeath. Cool effect, but I didn't have the patience for that at that moment. That was just my first game over, and it was enough for me to check the game out. I will give it another go sometime! Great suggestion!
I have it on a multi cart called Super 196 in 1, an excellent Genesis Collection. It has Super Mario, Donkey Kong Country, and Aladdin II (the SNES one) and I think the Street Fighter II on there might be SNES as well. Squirrel King is really just Rescue Rangers. Anyway..... bla bla bla . ... multi carts are great.
Mario can talk and rap in the plumber ad in the movie so he wins keep the mumble rap for the Zelda fans
Call me Nanners, but I pick Banana Prince from 1992 on the NES!!! Got semi magic seeds that grow a bean stock, but not as big. Which I like because going to big & you may encounter Giants.
2D Platform, Game Show Feel & you can trade in bananas for upgrades! On my Nine Ten D'Oh List!
6:13 Objection, Wario and those silly cursed and stock image emojis.
Umm... Ever heard of a little Wii game called Link's Crossbow Training?!?
Mario N64 , Mario Odyssey, Zelda Breth Of The Wild, Zelda Falen Kingdom.
And that is all.
I pick Mario, for more nostalgia personally, but also for the pick up and play aspect. But lately I’ve really wanted to pick up Link’s awakening on the switch, looks fun.
I'd pick mario as I've played way more mario games over zelda. Many of my favorite games ever are 3d mario games plus the first 2 paper marios. Going off of what you said with zelda games, I have shied away from many of them them including the botw and totk. I remember getting lost multiple times in oot and coming back after long breaks and having no clue where I was or what I was doing and I hated that feeling. I also get tired of super long games, and because I usually want to do all side quests and with how long the 2 zelda switch ones are I just haven't wanted to play those. But I can certainly see why they are regarded as some of the best games out there. Just not for me.
'Who doesn't want to feel like a hero?' as he fires a bomb at two unsuspecting warthogs peacefully eating grass.
I like both. Can't we all just get along?! 😭 Although, where are Zelda Golf, Zelda Kart, and Zelda Party? 🤔
Where is Zelda Maker?? And per my other comment in the thread, where is Zelda turn-based RPG? Or maybe some sweet Zelda Metroidvania action!!
@@Peeps7468 Zelda Maker would be perfect! I am generally surprised Nintendo hasn't done this yet. A Zelda Metroidvania would actually be pretty amazing. I know the market is already flooded with roguelike games, but seeing a Zelda one might be interesting.
Well Link is in Mario Kart 8 Deluxe so I don't think there's going to be a Zelda Kart
Team Nanners all the way!!!
Yellow is the color of gold colored N64 controllers... at least to some kids.
I always feel very short-bus when playing through a zelda game.
Super Smash Bros - the only way to settle this debate in a fair and friendly manner ;)
Clearly, Zelda is the winner, because Tingle has his own video game, but Waluigi doesn't.
Whoah hang on. Do “Luigi’s Mansion” or “Wario Smooth Moves” not count for anything? 😂
Yoshi’s Island? Super Princess Peach?
I like Mario games, but for me, the Zelda games are master works of art. I even did a video recently on the original Legend of Zelda. I still play that game a couple times a year.
Great video as always. Love the humour.
Don’t let this distract you from the fact that Hector is going to be running three Honda civics with spoon engines, and on top of that, he just went into Harry’s and bought three t66 turbos with nos, and a motec exhaust system!
Cool video! I don't know if I could ever definitively decide between Mario and Zelda. I replay Mario a lot more (I must have played through Super Mario World at least 15-20 times by now), but the experience that a Zelda game gives me is much more impactful. Ocarina of Time still remains my favorite Nintendo game to this day.
I noticed people's fav Zelda game is either the Link to the Past or Ocarina of time. Nobody ever picks the newer ones after N64.
@@tonyp9313 Ohh, people definitely prefer other Zelda games on different corners of the internet. I’ve seen Ocarina of Time called “overrated” quite a lot, and how it “sucks” compared to Wind Waker, Twilight Princess, etc.
It’s all opinions though, so there is no right or wrong.
@@tonyp9313 I literally can't pick between Ocarina of time, Majora's mask, Wind Waker or Twilight Princess as my favorite, also playing through the Link's awakening remake on Switch and it's becoming one of my favorites as well. As for Mario I have so many favorites as well, I love all mainline 3D games (minus Galaxy which I can't say I've gotten into as much as the others) and then we have the Mario spin-off series like the RPG, multiplayer games that are at times equal quality as both Zelda & Mario's mainline titles.
Sorry, but your channel should have at least over 100K subscribers. Totally underrated channel.
I agree!
It’s gonna happen for sure. Bird is a treasure.
This channel has great quality content, it will blow up and get a bunch more subs very soon!
i love your start of the video "people get my name wrong to sometimes. they call me idiot :D
I can't ever remember a time when I didn't know who Mario was. However, my first exposure to Zelda was through Smash 64 and I can distinctly remember thinking, "oh, so this is Link? Then who's Zelda?!"
If you've played Zelda, you've played Mario. If you've played Mario, you may not know who Zelda is.
Everyone knows who Zelda is lol...I bet a lot of people thought Zelda was Link when they 1st played it. Why do they call it Zelda? It's not like we call Mario games Princess Peach or Toadstool.
@@tonyp9313 back in the day, not everyone had played the Zelda games but everyone had played Mario, especially 3. your second sentence kinda proves that not everyone knows who Zelda is. Gotta add on here: It's called The Legend of Zelda because she is an integral character in the lore and world of the game series even though she isn't the playable character. Peach can be replaced with any other princess...which they've done with Daisy and Rosalina...Zelda is irreplaceable. Zelda is Hylia.
It's really hard for me to say which is better, maybe I could assess on a case-by-case basis, console-to-console entry, even then it's incredibly difficult. I would say this though, if Nintendo never got past the NES, Zelda would have been a footnote to gaming history. While SMB 1,2, and especially 3 would be considered the greatest games ever made.
Zelda was considered extremely popular and innovative for a console game at the time of release. Hardly a "footnote"
@@SonofSethoitae Yes but I don't think it's as good as Mario 3, also I don't like Zelda 2 and if the franchise had ended there, people wouldn't be talking about in the same way they do Mario.
Mario likes ya and he wants ya🤣
I definitely prefer Mario games. They still have lots of secrets and exploration (especially starting with Super Mario World) without being cryptic. Having to look up online guides makes me frustrated and makes me feel as if I didn't earn the right to see the ending. Funny enough, I am fond of Zelda 2 because it's the one Zelda game where I was stuck only once (near the end, when you must find a hidden village). For all the other Zelda games, I need external help at least 3/4 times. Of course I don't hate the franchise, but it's far from my favorite Nintendo series. Besides Mario, I much prefer Kirby, Starfox or, yeah, F-Zero
Seems like this dispute can be settled in a game of Super Smash Brothers.
Awesome idea
It's so hard to pick just one! I cut my teeth on Mario and the first three are just iconic but when I played Zelda a link to the past for the first time last year I was absolutely blown away. I don't even want to make a decision because that's like choosing your favorite child and I only have one of those so I wouldn't have to make that choice. 😂😂😂
Link vs Adol. Bonk vs Joe & Mac. Sonic vs Awesome Possum. South Park rally vs Mario Kart. It Came from the Desert Vs Night Trap. Unreal Tournament Vs Quake III. Call of Duty Vs Enemy Territory. Shadow Warrior vs Redneck Rampage. Soldier Series vs Thunder Force, Golden Axe vs Final Fight. Tekken Vs Virtua Fighter. Power Stone vs Smash Brothers. Ridge Racer vs Daytona. Phantasy Star vs Cosmic Fantasy. Mario Vs Real Plumbers. Bananas Vs Pineapples.
etc....
I feel like it should be Mario vs Metroid, (action platformer vs adventure platformer) and Zelda vs Pokemon, (Action adventure vs turn based adventure) but because of popularity and developer care it's become Mario vs Zelda 😅
Let’s just throw “Mario RPG” into the mix for fun. :)
And after reading your comment, I REALLY want a turn-based Zelda game based on the lore, and a Pokémon Metroidvania game. Come on Nintendo… make it happen!!
My introduction to zelda was in 2000. I was 8 years old and my next door neighbor had Ocarina of time. I knew within 10 minutes, just how epic this game really was.
I convinced my friend to let me borrow it in exchange for my beloved blue tony hawk game. I ran home so fast like I was commiting a crime.
Popped the game in and i was on an adventure. Collecting rupees and tracking down the kokiri sword. As i am walking up to the Great Deku Tree, my mom comes in. "Tyler wants his game back"
My adventure had just folded like a cheap tent, just like that. I start crying and crocodile tears start filling up the ocean.
I came back home from school the next day with a new copy in my room.
Thanks mom
Tyler sounds like a weenie.
Love you, Bird 🕊️ !!!
Very easy choice for me. TLOZ. It’s the reason I’m a gamer. It’s the first game I ever played. I only buy Nintendo systems to play the Zelda titles. The other games are after thoughts.
Maaaannnn.... Comparing my interest and love for these games throughout the decades is tough. But I think you hit the nail on the head with what the experience offers. Running and jumping with power ups on platform level is great and easily consumable. However, a Zelda game you know you are in for a longer burn that gives a more lasting impression. Also with Zelda like what rb mentioned in the video, you have to commit and not put down for a couple weeks and pick back up or you will be even more lost then the last time you played. I guess if I had to pick between my favorite Zelda game vs my favorite Mario gams.... Zelda would win but just barely
I have to vote Zelda. No other game has had a bigger impact on me than OOT. As an 11 year old boy around its release, I was enamored, just absolutely immersed in it's world. I was obsessed with scouring the web for sites that detailed its lore. I wanted to learn more about all the different races etc. Mario is way up there, but Zelda is just my thing.
I was 13 when OoT released. November of 98' they had 1 copy left at Walmart so I begged and begged my Mom half crying I wanted it so bad. I had 4 brothers, if she got it for me that was going to be my ONLY gift, $60 dollars was a LOT for a spur of the moment purchase since my step dad was the only income, my mother is blind and un able to work. She FINALLY caved. A week before Christmas we had a snow storm and we had been out of school a couple days extending our Christmas break by almost a week I was bored out of my mind and my mom knew it. I woke up from a boredom nap to see Zelda sitting there on the coffee table along with "the perfect guide" I was in absolute awe of the game, the world and how huge it was. Being ADHD that series has always been amazing for stopping and checking out every shiny thing you see. I spent the next few months spending ALL of my free time playing absolutely 100% completion on 2 separate files. Getting on this crazy internet thing looking up info, and searching for anything I could find Zelda related, even printing off pages of tips and tricks sharing them with friends at school. One of my favorite childhood memories for sure!
@@michaelmanning9028 Great storytelling, mate. Sounds like one of those memories that remain clear and vivid for a lifetime. Glad it impacted you similarly.
This guy is great
I love both series, but Zelda games capture my imagination way more. I feel like im on an adventure.
Good things that are yellow (or can be): the sun, gold, blonde hair, mango bars, sunflowers...LOL!!! Great video as always RB! :)
i can never find my way through a zelda game. i’ve been playing ocarina of time for 10 years now and haven’t got to the end yet
What do you mean “what’s going on with the windmill guy”? A random kid came in and broke his windmill by using a magic song.
Having enjoyingly played through both series as a child, as a working parent, I find the Super Mario games to be a bit more accessible now.
Though I love the Zelda series, as said the video here, the SMB games require less time commitment during a sit down and can easily go back to them at anytime. (Plus my son love the SMB characters and he has yet to find interest in the Zelda series)