[Ginkasa]

Throwing my two cents in with OoT vs. TP: I think Oot is much better than TP. I don't see how they can really compare on equal terms. The only thing that TP does better than OoT is having better graphics, but that's a given. Specific points:

1) Story. TP's story was/could have been good, but not as a Zelda game. Link was practically a none factor story wise; he was relegated to Midna's errand boy. Zelda and Ganon could have switched to entirely different names and it wouldn't have mattered. Everything Zelda about it felt tacked on. OoT meanwhile is the epitome of the classic Zelda story. Not that other games (MM, TWW, LA) don't have better stories, but OoT is the perfect distilled Zelda story. It has all the bare, classic essentials boiled down to pure awesome.

2) Gameplay. Everything good about TP's gameplay was taken from OoT. There was nothing good added and nothing bad taken away. They would simply be equal except for the whole "new item's only good in one dungeon" thing going on with TP. Off the top of my head I think the only item that is absolutely worthless outside of its main dungeon is the Iron Boots. And I guess maybe the different tunics if you want to count those. But everything else could be useful at other points in the game.

3) Legacy. If TP is truly remembered years from now it will be as "the game that reminded me a lot of OoT." I am still amazed, however, at the things I notice in modern games that I can trace back to OoT. There are some things the industry is finally improving and moving away from direct systems (i.e. you don't see the lock-on system as much anymore; camera controls have gotten better with the second analogue stick), but OoT definitely impacted how 3D games were made for several years to come. TP made not such innovations.

Thre are probably other items as well. Basically, I think you can say that you enjoy TP more than OoT and, I suppose, you could argue that means which is "better" is subjective. However, I don't think you could honestly argue over which is the most influential, classic, or essential.

I mean, someone could probably argue that Super Mario Sunshine is a better game than Super Mario 64 due to technical advancements, but reallY?