Through the years The Legend of Zelda has become an iconic video game franchise. While people still remember the first game fondly and the upcoming Skyward Sword excites the typical fanboy, there is a dark truth lurking in the shadows.

Link may have four swords, but here are his three strikes. It would have been better if they hadn't happened.

3. Legend of Zelda 2: The Adventures of Link

I don't care what IGN or anybody-else-that-has-anything-good-to-say-about-this-game says. It sucked. Anybody that wants can feel free to challenge me, or tell me I suck, or whatever. I have said this game sucks since I was in kindergarten, and I'm not about to stop now.

The fan created 3D version is innovative, and looks great. Unfortunately it's still Zelda 2.

2. The Legend of Zelda cartoon (Episode 1.1 The Ringer)

It wasn't a popular series, it aired on The Super Mario Brothers Super Show during 1989. It was released on video a couple times in the 1990s, and IGN.com ranks the full DVD release a 3.0 ("bad") citing poor writing and too much repetition.

1. The CD-i Zelda: The Wand of Gamelon

The worst of the worst. It looks like Link is wearing lipstick, and the ridiculous dialog coming out of his mouth just makes you want to turn off your television set.

UPDATE: No Longer Uncool: The Legend of Zelda cartoon is now considered cool, as it is officially the number one choice for chillgazing. For those unfamiliar with chillgazing, it's a passtime for hipsters currently obsessed with the new sardonic faux-genres of music (i.e.chillwave, glo-fi, shitgaze, etc). These hipsters refer to themselves as "Chillaxers." While listening to a track on pandora or last.fm tagged with one of the aforementioned labels, a chillaxer will turn on their television, mute it, and put something on that is meant only to be enjoyed for it's visual aesthetic. Go ahead, light up a J and space out on some Zelda-mation and DuckTails. Gannon Say Relax.