Zelda games are amazing. There's no doubt about that. But even Miyamoto is willing to admit that the appeal of Link's epic quests is waning, especially in Japan.
Miyamoto suggested many reasons why Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess isn't doing as well as expected in Japan. But could it be that the 20-year-old series, that now spans 14 games (Phantom Hourglass will be the 15th quest on Nintendo platforms) is dying a slow death?
Twilight Princess demonstrated that Nintendo's talented development teams are still more than capable of putting together a stunning Hyrulean adventure. The problem, some might say, lies in its repetition. Zelda games stick to a very familiar and rigid formula. Anyone who's played Zelda over the years will know that many of the themes, plots, locations, items, music and even puzzles are re-used (albeit in slightly adapted, updated ways) in one game after the next.
How many times have you re-arranged mirrors to bounce around a beam of light, or lit all the lamps in a room to open a door? How many times have you seen Link use bombs, throw a boomerang, or shoot an arrow to progress further into a dungeon? These are just some of the things all of Link's fans will have been doing since the first game of the series. We've come to expect it, now.
It is blatant repetition, but that's what comes with being an established franchise. They all do it - Halo, GTA, Metal Gear - all thrive off of repeating their winning formulas. But how long can repetition in Zelda games keep fans interested?
Much of the regurgitation of content in Zelda, particularly with locations, characters and music, is related to the series' huge nostalgic appeal. Zelda would not be Zelda if it didn't have that main theme tune, right? Or if the master sword went unmentioned, or if the pointy-eared, green tunic-wearing hero never turned up for the event. As a huge fan, would you accept a Zelda game without these things?
The tricky situation facing Nintendo is: completely changing the Zelda series and doing away with the typical things Zelda fans have come to know could upset more people than it pleases - particularly the series' most loyal fans.
That's the risk you face when making any changes to such a hugely established and much-loved series, as Nintendo found out when it suffered widespread criticism upon unveiling the radical cel-shaded graphical style of Wind Waker.
What about when Nintendo gave Mario the F.LU.D.D and fans complained that being able to hover was not traditional Mario - it changed the principles of Mario games.
Nintendo isn't the first to suffer complaints when changing major franchises. Lara left the tombs in sequels proceeding her original tomb raid. Metal Gear Solid 2 caused uproar when it took Snake out of the equation and forced players to play as Raiden. Sega has done all sorts with Sonic's 'Adventure' games, from fishing to gem-hunting, but most fans (if not all) love him most when he does what he does best: run fast through action stages.
People generally don't like to accept change.
But change doesn't always spell disaster. Final Fantasy introduces a totally new cast, setting and theme with each sequel and continues to please fans. Resident Evil 4 completely revolutionised Capcom's horror series and is now viewed as one of the best games ever made.
The issue remains. Nintendo can't continue making repetitive Zelda games. We still totally adore Zelda but eventually the appeal will tire and the series risks bombing. Nintendo needs to take the bold step and inject something totally new into Zelda. We're not talking about a couple of new items, or a new location - that's been done. We mean a significant change that affects the whole structure and gameplay.
And indeed Nintendo knows this. The series' daddy, Shigeru Miyamoto, was quoted as saying: "[Twilight Princess] will be, without a doubt, the last Zelda game [in the series] as you know it in its present form," back in 2005. That could mean Nintendo already has a radical Zelda makeover on the cards.
Rumour has it that the next Zelda game for Wii is already in development, and Zelda director Eiji Aonuma has already expressed his wish to inject a greater focus on motion control into the next Zelda Wii game. Great things could be ahead for Zelda fans.
We think if Nintendo is to strike the right balance between changing Zelda enough to refresh the franchise and keeping enough of its traditions so as to maintain its heritage and please loyal fans, it needs only to look at its chubby mascot: Mario.
With every Mario game that comes along, Nintendo tries to do something inventive, unique and pioneering. Think of the leaps in gameplay from Super Mario Bros. to Super Mario Bros. 3., or from Super Mario World to Super Mario 64. And now from Super Mario 64 (and the slightly less hailed Mario Sunshine) to the upcoming SM Galaxy - which looks absolutely stunning.
If Mario can do it, so too can Link. It's just going to take some careful thought and a lot of balls.
I think the problem is that since the series turned 3D on the N64, the formula hasn't changed at all. The only major difference between each game is they put the focus of a new element, for example, Ocarina, Mask, Wolf...etc Then they claim that its innovation and the Nintendo fans lap it up. The truth is Zelda is desperately in need of a rehaul. The series is in danger of fading away unless Nintendo can do what Capcom did with Resi Evil. Until then count me out of any Zelda's epic adventures..
I vote for a GIANT overhaul! Back to the drawing boards and start fresh now. I still havent played twilight princess since launch day purely because i keep thinkin about how its another 40 hours of same old stuff. I actually prefer the 2d zeldas anyway just like Metroid. Bring back 2d METROID..
The reason TP didn't do as well might have something to do with them expecting the biggest title so far and being disappointed it wasn't?
I remember another statement saying they were disappointed at Metroid 2's sales as well...
Reasons why it might not have gone as planned:
1. Not everyone being able to get a Wii. 2. Blatantly snubbing Game Cube customers buy releasing it around 1 year too late and when they did making it available to GC customers, online only, in Japan and pitiful stocks of the GC elsewhere. 3. Only counting Wii sales.
As far as I can tell, it was very well received. Sometimes I genuinely don't know if Nintendo know their bottom from their elbow.
Ideas? This is the newest thread in CVG on this. Older but crammed with stuff!.
The thing with Zelda is you can't change it that much. Otherwise it wouldn't be Zelda.
Different time period. Different mode of transport. Different legend and thats about it.
That's a tough one. How to improve the Zelda franchise?
First thing I'd do is stop treating each tale like the others never happened. You should be playing from the end of the previous game. Not necessarily with all the right gear, but with that experience. So if you discover you're a hero in the previous game, you already know it in the next one.
Second, explore the darker side of Link's personality. He's either a child or a teenager. If he's a child them he'll be drawn to do selfish things. If he's a teenager, the possibilities are endless, from thievery to betrayal. Use the evolution of the character to make the player think about what they're doing.
I had written out more stuff about a dynamic world, but I'm not sure how possible that would be. Deformable terrain so that you can change the face of the world you're in? Maybe a little taxing, although being able to do stuff like change a river's path would be cool. More side quests would be good too, especially if completing them results in something changing at the end.
A system of factions maybe? Rival towns or the like who have relationships with each other. You can do favours for any of them, but obviously you might annoy one of the others in the process. Proper RPG stuff there. Scary.
How about an XP system with character points? Then you could choose to improve stuff like hitpoints, or learn the ability to cast spells. You could even have them cast using some kind of gesture system (Wiimote or DS touchscreen). There's more character advancement.
How about this? Touching on rivalry between towns etc, how about Link as part of an army which fights against Ganons army? Link leading others into battle and that way it could keep some of the more traditional elements such as the master sword could you imagine a battle on horseback against 100s of Ganons minions? Zelda is set in a sort of medieval time, why not incorporate these type of elements such as burning towns, stealth, horseback battles instead of Link going it alone?
The way I see it, Twilight Princess was more of a fan-service more then anything else, because any time they attempt to do anything else with their high profile games, they get a backlash of complaints coming from the fanboys telling them they dislike it. See: Mario Sunshine/Wind Waker
That said, I agree. 3D Zeldas reached it's peak with Majora's Mask, since then it's just been more of the same thing. Luckily Nintendo knows this and have already sais that the next Zelda is going to be a complete change. Hopefully they'll get it right.
I'm worried about this re-invented Zelda that we are going to see. I mean, the series obviously needs a massive overhaul. I love Zelda to death but Twilight Princess was just to similar to the previous games. However, with all the emphasis Nintendo now have on casual gaming they are obviously just going to dumb it right down to make it more 'accessible'.
To be honest, I worry that conservatives and fanboys are going to ruin the franchise - I adored Ocarina of Time, but the series has been waning ever since, and I'd prefer good memories ended to something that dwindles off with poor rehashes of a tired formula. There were moments I loved Twilight Princess, and most of them focused around reappearances of old OoT music (a 19 year old shouldn't know the meaning of nostalgia). But the series as it is has become dull, and it'll take more than a few changes to repair this.
Anyone else see that apparently faked video that did the rounds a while back of a Zelda set in the future? And was I the only one who felt this looked like a really good idea?
as far as i'm concerned anyone who say's twilight princess is better than ocarina should be sectioned. here's a thought: the zelda series has slowly degraded,in terms of quality,since ocarina right? this seems to have coincided with miyamoto taking a less hands on approach with nintendo's flagship franchises,devoting more time to company responsibilities and bad mouthing bungie ( ).nintendo have some very able deputies but only one miyamoto.
Balls. Final Fantasy is cack nowadays. I used be a fan of the FF series until twelve turned me off the series. All they do is wow fans with cutscenes and rehash the gameplay. Look at the advert for FF on DS currently doing the rounds on TV.
I don't believe there is anything much wrong with Zelda games. The only thing that p**ses me off is that they can't decide on a definitive visual look for the series. I loved the cel-shaded look of WW it just worked in my opinion.
here's another one: do you think zelda will 'do' an oblivion and go first person in future? maybe first person for combat and third person for puzzles and the overworld?
Most games are in need or a rehaul, its getting to the point where you can pick up an FPS and its like you've always played it, which in essence you have.
That last article about the zelda developer complaining that people are losing intrest in the genre bugged me a bit. Someone needs to point his head in the direction of oblivion sales.
Half way through majoras mask i realised. How many times do nintendo expect to pull that - light all the torches and open the door puzzle.
Oblivion i think really shows up the last zelda game. oblivion had a better story pushed by some excellent acting talent -picard and sean bean did such a good job. Zelda still uses crusty midi music while oblivion featured some grand orchestral music.
What im saying is theres nothing wrong with zelda its as good as ever- but thats just it, it hasnt gotten better just stayed the same, zelda TP feels like an adventure that could have been created on the 64. sometimes its little things you look up at the sign posts and there still a blur like in ocarina of time.
A lot of sites scored zelda TP an instant 10. But thing have moved on, if TP is 10/10 oblivion is 11/10.
after playing shadow of the collossus i think that nintendo are incapable of making a genuinely modern zelda game. Longer periods between them would help. every zelda game should have the same devotion effort and resources thrown at it that something like shen mue or final fantasy 7 had. anything less just wont cut it anymore.
I personally don't think the Wii is the right console to rehaul Zelda on. I have yet to see a game on the Wii that has convinved me that using the motion controls make a real improvement or reinvent the way we play games. All i can see Nintendo doing is incorporating lots of ways to make use of the controls in the next Zelda. Will that make it a better game? Will that reinvent the series? Time will tell...
I would personally rather Nintendo just take 3-4 years on coming up with a totally reinvented Zelda game that will blow everyone away rather than waiting 2 years to release another same-as forumla with some more Wii-mote features thrown into the mix...
I played quite a lot of the zeldas going back to the zelda 2 on the nes(even with game genie i couldnt beat that! bah). When playing Twilight Princess i was worried it might get boring, i was worried walking into a dungeon that maybe this one i will realise its same thing and get bored. but hey ho something would happen which would make me love it. I think zelda is class and whether its gonna in same format or new format i will prob buy it. I cant get enough of it
if they DO decide to overhaul it... then i can't wait. The thing that i felt missing in TP was that desire to dive into the game and play non stop. Sure, i couldn't wait to play it a lot of the time, but other times, i just... didn't. However, im not sure if this is because of the zelda formlua growing stale. I personally adored Wind waker... it seemed so HUGE, and in depth as well. I was safe in the knowledge that i could, if i wanted, just sail into the horizon, find a few islands, and explore them to my heart's content. And each time, i would feel a little light bulb in my head, going "ah! this is that guy they were talking about on that tree", or whatever. That's why i personally really liked the triforce bit. and those GRAPHICS.... oh... my .... GGGGOOOODDDDDD..... horrendoulsy gorgeous. aahh... beautiful....
So to summarise, i agree, but i don't. Time well spent typing in my books.
I think the series should be renamed 'The Legend of Link', as that's who you play as 99% of the time. There was little or no mention of the Princess in MM. I think it's time to mix it up a bit. How's about playing as Zelda against a corrupted Link? Give her some great abilities to reach new areas and solve puzzles - I don't mean swap 'Hookshot' for 'Grapple Lightbeam' or something silly like that (btw, I'm going to take this opportunity to commend Ninty for the use of the two hookshots in tTP... clever).
Isn't the question of whether or not Zelda needs an overhaul a bit redundant? Nintendo said quite a while back that twilight Princess would be the last Zelda game to use the Ocarina template.
Personally I thought that TP was the worst Zelda since Zelda 2 on the NES, with that said it being the worst 3D Zelda game still makes it better than 99% of the games out there, I think it was just compromised by Nintendo giving in to public pressure and making a homage to Ocarina of Time.
And quite frankly there are an awful lot of game series out there that need an overhaul far more than Zelda does (EA I'm looking in your general direction...) shame that it'll never happen to most of them though.
The only thing really wrong with TP was a lack of side missions. The story was good, the wolf thing was good, ya had your horse back, the graphics were what most people wanted (after WW). TP was a fantastic game, it just need fleshing out a bit. Castle Town looked like it would be fun and have loads of possible side missions but it didn’t. You couldn’t talk to 99% of the people walking around (that is a first for Zelda!) and could only go in a few shops – and they were all rubbish! I didn’t feel anything when I saved the day because I didn’t have any connection with the people in the world, which gave the whole thing a kind of hollow feel.
Nintendo did overhaul the game when they did WW and it was a breath of fresh air and is my personal fav out of the 3D offerings. Can’t wait for the DS game!
When I played Twilight Princess I was a bit disapointed with the fact it was just an Orcarina of Time add on, but saying that I did really enjoy the game until I finished Arbiters Grounds after that it was pure dungion hopping which made it extremley repetitive.
Twilight Princess was made for the fans of Zelda purists who were disappointed with Wind Waker and we all know Nintendo aims to please!
So in the end I believe that Twilight Princess will be the final game to use this fomula and perhaps the last time we see Gannon or Hyrule, so I like to think that Twilight Princess was the long good bye for the series as we know it!
I don't think they need to change the gameplay too much too make the game a lot fresher. I just think they should make all the characters talk. It is 2007, and it is about time Nintendo let their characters speak. Wind Waker Link was very expressive with his big eyes, but he didn't talk! Just settle it, audition some voice actors, and let ther be speech in Hyrule once and for all!
Also, I think a modern day Hyrule would be incredibly cool, with a modern day Link discovering his destiny to save the Princess Zelda.
Here's another one: Combine it with bits of Animal Crossing! Have a home you can always return to, and actually befriend characters in your village. If you don't get on they could move to another town in Hyrule and you may meet them again on your travels! As you grow in strength and ability, so could they, and certain characters may be able to help you out on your quest... if you have befriended them. Items, tools, pastimes... add them all in!
All right, so maybe I do think they need to change the gameplay quite a bit but I think, so do Nintendo...
I saw THIS a few days ago, and despite the fact its an April Fools joke, I actually wonder if they're on to something here. Would a futuristic Zelda game, a few thousand years after OoT, actually do well?
Have it a cyber city in the same vein as Akira, have Epona replaced by a motorbike, Links bow with a pistol, etc etc. This would certainly be radical, and may well p**s off a lot of the 'hardcore Zelda fans', but it would CERTAINLY be different to previous Zelda incarnations, which, reading many of the comments here, most agree it's gotten stale and needs something like this...
You could say that zelda needs a rehash yes. But you could say that about alot of games. For example FPS's. I know there are alot of different series of them but lets face it most of them are the same. But yes zelda could do with a rehash. the only thing about that is what if they ruin it by doing it?
Future setting? no no no! It wil be the same game but witl new graphics - still not getting to the heart of the problem (Emperor's new clothes?). Before TP the last Zelda game I played was OoT, and although I'm enjoying TP, I keep thinking it is the same as OoT, and "when is the Zora dungeon / when do I get to the desert part / when do I get the master sword". TP is more of a re-imaging (a term last used for the Planet of the Apes film and see how bad that was!). Evolution not revolution is needed.
Then they claim that its innovation and the Nintendo fans lap it up.
This has been Nintendo's problem of late. So caught up are they in their obsession with buzz-words, and their approach to avoiding direct competition with their competitors, that they seem to have forgotten the old SNES days, and what they once created. Namely some of the best videogames of all time, stuff that made the SNES the world beater it was. I'm truly ashamed to admit that during its heyday I was a rabid SEGA fanboy...
Blatantly snubbing Game Cube customers buy releasing it around 1 year too late and when they did making it available to GC customers, online only, in Japan and pitiful stocks of the GC elsewhere.
This I have a real problem with aswell. It took a local shop months to order in enough copies to meet demand. Honestly, I thought it was only Sony who didn't like making money, but now it seems that Nintendo don't want to sell anything to their customers either. I just hope that the sales figures don't create a board-room panic that causes Miyamoto's legend to be figuratively raped.
The thing with Zelda is you can't change it that much. Otherwise it wouldn't be Zelda.
Different time period. Different mode of transport. Different legend and thats about it.
Yes, and No. To deface what Zelda is would be folly. I've played every Zelda released in the west, and I've discussed this enough times to know what makes Zelda Zelda. However, as Majora's Mask has demonstrated, everything can be changed, save a few core elements, and the basic progression structure, and it's still recognisably Zelda. What the series needs is for more variety in terms of storyline, items, and characters, whilst tweaking the progression mechanics slightly to deliver what would then seem to be a very new experience.
First thing I'd do is stop treating each tale like the others never happened. You should be playing from the end of the previous game. Not necessarily with all the right gear, but with that experience. So if you discover you're a hero in the previous game, you already know it in the next one.
Given any good non-fanwank interperetation of the storyline, there are currently eight or nine different Links, and when they feature in more than one game, the player is typically made aware in the next game in which they star.
LoZ > AoL aLttP > LA OoT > MM WW (possibly PH) TMC FS FSA Oracles TP
Second, explore the darker side of Link's personality. He's either a child or a teenager. If he's a child them he'll be drawn to do selfish things. If he's a teenager, the possibilities are endless, from thievery to betrayal. Use the evolution of the character to make the player think about what they're doing.
Zelda has never been a game about moral ambiguity. Even the act of barging into complete stranger's houses and vandalising their pottery has always (until WW) been portrayed relatively innocently.
Link is (most of the time) a Legendary Hero, sent by the Gods themselves to wield the Blade of Evil's Bane, a magical sword that evil ones may never touch. I think that in addition to ruining the parable like qualities of the Zelda series, and destroying the symmetry that the stoic, heroic, and selfless Link, and the greedy, power-crazed, and rutheless Ganon(dorf) have, it might also screw up the story by preventing Link from wielding the Master Sword.
It could be made to work. Perhaps Ganon(dorf) has used his vile scorcery to slay Link's parents when he was an infant, and seen to it that he is taken in the care of a fagin-type character, who corrupts the poor lad, and turns him to a life of crime and vice. Only by retreiving the three symbols of virtue, and making amends can Link redeem himself and reclaim his true destiny as the Legendary Hero of Hyrule. Of course, that sounds a lot like my idea for a game I'd love to make, so I don't think Nintendo should do it.
I
had written out more stuff about a dynamic world, but I'm not sure how possible that would be. Deformable terrain so that you can change the face of the world you're in?
This won't happen. Nintendo runs a tight ship nowadays in order to remain profitable, and the development of something like this would very likely contribute nothing to the gameplay/progression, which is based heavily on scripted sequences and controlling what the player is capable of doing at any given time. Something similar enough is already acheived with the destructible wells/rocks that are used throughout the series.
Maybe a little taxing, although being able to do stuff like change a river's path would be cool.
This could work as a scripted event. Just have Midna plonk a damn or giant rock in the middle of a waterway, and robert is your father's brother, the Zora in the bay are no longer bothered by Hyrule Castle's sewage, which is now routed out to sea in a different direction.
More side quests would be good too, especially if completing them results in something changing at the end.
Welcome to Majora's Mask. Every mask obtained extended the end sequence, showing what happened to each of the townspeople.
A system of factions maybe? Rival towns or the like who have relationships with each other. You can do favours for any of them, but obviously you might annoy one of the others in the process. Proper RPG stuff there. Scary.
Link's qualities are based on the ideal balance of a Samurai. Such potential divisiveness and deception would be seen as a bad influence, and would never be included in a Zelda game.
How about an XP system with character points? Then you could choose to improve stuff like hitpoints, or learn the ability to cast spells.
Adventure of Link had this. The player could choose to invest experience into their various capabilities, like Health and Magic. The problem however, is that such a thing doesn't encourage one of the most fundamental tenets of Zelda's gameplay, which is exploration. Would you rather grind monsters in Hyrule field for half an hour, or destroy rocks and terrain features in the hope of finding a secret cave with a piece of heart or some treasure inside? Obviously one of the two is more fun.
Grinding/exp works for MMOs, because they're a subscriptin based service that thrives on the basis of c**k-blocking so that people will keep piling money into them. Grinding also tends to have rewards like opening up extra content, or making a character more appealing to groups because of the items or services they now have access to.(I should know, I just made Exalted with the Aldor on WoW this week, and got the gayest looking sword in history for it) Outside of that social environment earning experience o grinding becomes a progression mechanic, which brings us back to the question about fun. Zelda is a game, first and foremost. Particularly one that seeks to recreate the thrill of exploring.
Zelda is set in a sort of medieval time, why not incorporate these type of elements such as burning towns, stealth, horseback battles instead of Link going it alone?
Burning town, see OoT, Kakariko Village, prior to Shadow Temple. Stealth, see OoT sneaking into the castle, also WW, sneaking into the Pirate's Fortress. I think there was even a stealth bit in TMC. TP has horse-back battles, pretty good ones aswell.
I loved the cel-shaded look of WW it just worked in my opinion.
I bet you use a Mac don't you?
That's why i personally really liked the triforce bit.
gb2everquest.
Personally I thought that TP was the worst Zelda since Zelda 2 on the NES
Go play WW and FSA and you'll eat those words.
Nintendo did overhaul the game when they did WW and it was a breath of fresh air and is my personal fav out of the 3D offerings.
To each his own...
When I played Twilight Princess I was a bit disapointed with the fact it was just an Orcarina of Time add on
I really don't get what you mean by this. Sure it runs on the same progression/mechanics template as aLttP/OoT/WW, but it introduced a load of new items, early on there's a much bigger emphasis on the non-dungeon events, and the whole thing seems like the perfectly logical evolution of the franchise.
Twilight Princess was made for the fans of Zelda purists who were disappointed with Wind Waker and we all know Nintendo aims to please!
I've been on the NoA forums since WW was out, and I've been making myself heard over there. I must say, everything I asked for, they put in TP. I really feel like the game was made for me.
Wind Waker Link was very expressive with his big eyes, but he didn't talk!
I think he looked more cartoony, over-exaggerated, and unrealistic with giant eyes, which detracted from my ability to connect with him, prevented the establishment of any form of empathy, and ultimately made the over the top animations meaningless to me.
Evolution not revolution is needed.
Never a truer word was spoken. Truly, the problem with Zelda now is that certain elements have been so omnipresent throughout the entire series that it's all a lot of people can focus on.
Most seem to ingore the various bombs, the spinning top, the advanced (and much more involved and skillful) combat that has been implemented, and the raft of things that are different in TP, in favour of knocking the things that haven't changed over the years.
While Zelda does need to change with the times, and attract young blood, it also needs (emphasis on NEED) to keep long term fans interested. It's one of the few franchises where Nintendo can still show their prowess at creating a great game that has mainstream appeal, but which also showcases their art and design talent, aswell as their ability to create a reasonably believable world, packed with interesting themes and identifiable inspirations. I'm not just banging on about the 16-bit glory days here. There are no other games available that are cast in the Zelda mould that even come close to being as good, or as different between each instalment of their respective series(').
zelda : ocarina of time, and zelda : majoras mask are without a doubt on my top 10 games of all time list.
they were amazing.
twilight princess absolutely sucked. i was so bored, i could hardly keep playing.
one stupid, boring dungeon grind after another.
it did nothing previous zelda games hadn't already done, or done better.
i cannot believe that fans of previous zelda titles were anything but angry about twilight princess. that game was a regurgitation. a money-making regurgitation.
' if they keep buying it, and it's cheap to make, i guess we'll keep making it. again. '
ok..
ocarina: did 3d games right, z targeting was perfect, the wide open space of hyrule field was amazing, the ability to steal and ride a horse, the ability to manipulate the world with the songs... awesome.
majora: the time of day system. the world felt alive, everyone was going someplace or doing something at a different time, there were so many amazing quests dealing with being around at a certain time to help people, and seeing the reverberations and repercussions of those actions on the world around you was awesome. the time system and the 3 days plotted out were incredible, the mask system that let you change into animals with different abilitys... just awesome. great story too. you get transformed into a plant deku, and he's sad afterward amazing game
wind waker: awesome graphical style, hugely expressive animations, pirates! a cool story, great physics system, being able to slice people and watch them fly off cliffs into the water hundreds of feet below was sweet.the giant open sea recreated the open world feel of hyrule field in oot. cutting the supports off rope ladders and sending enemies to their deaths. =)
what did twilight princess do? it made money, that's for sure.
what did twilight princess do? it made money, that's for sure.
TP is one of the best in the series! And it did plenty. The best fighting system in any zelda game, The amazing boss battles(The last boss and the spinner boss in Tp are 2 of the best in any game i've ever played), The excellent puzzles, The horse-back fighting, The combining of certain items, The great controls(Both are great, But the wii one's are Much better!), The wolf, And the new items! Is that enough?
I have to say, the ideas of a futuristic Zelda, and a emo-esque "dark side" of Link sound a bit rubbish. Both have been done to death in video games recently, hardly a good way to make a series more innovative. I’m very weary of voice acting as well, it’s ruined a lot of games for me because western voice acting jobs for games don’t seem to go to many decent actors.
What I’d like to say is more focus on decent characterisation, ever since Ocarina of Time the Zelda games have excelled at it (in particular in regards to female characters). In fact I’ve always thought it was one of the Zelda games strongest assets, Midna in Twilight Princess and Ganondorf in Wind Waker are both excellent examples. In fact they’re among the few games that can boast of being well written.
The problem with changing an established franchise is you have to attract new people, without removing what it is that current fans love. For example I loved Resi 4, but I hated the old style of Resident Evil games, whereas many fans of the original hate the new approach. In fact look at Wind Waker, and the reaction to the graphics and the sailing element (both of which were mint by the way).
I think a major problem is the reason I've stopped playing a load of certain type of games (like Final Fantasy, for example), which is that I just don't have time for whopping, seventy hour epics. I like the idea of a Zelda game which is actually a collection of smaller games, linked to an overall quest, maybe each game featuring one of the different Links we all know and love. Then once they've all been completed, there's a big finale game which brings them all together, in the same way that when you completed the two Oracle games there was that extra section. Something like that would be cool, possibly as a double release with a Wii version of Wind Waker, along the same lines as the Resi 4 re-release.
Mind you, I think it’s clear there are changes afoot anyway. By what we’ve seen of Phantom Hourglass there could be an entirely new control system. Also, the impression I got from Twilight Princess was that it was kind of a best of, end of an era kind of thing. I wouldn’t be surprised if we saw some big changes in the next console title as well.
I’ve just noticed how much I’ve written about this, I’m a little alarmed actually. Gosh.
I'd hate it if Nintendo were to make Zelda a collection of mini-quests. My mum and sister play Runescape and it sounds like it would be similar to that, rubbish. Nintendo needs a few epic games and Zelda is one of the best they have. I don't understand how people say they don't have time to play epic games - you can save at any time in Zelda so you come just back to it whenever you're next of work or whatever.
I don't understand how people say they don't have time to play epic games - you can save at any time in Zelda so you come just back to it whenever you're next of work or whatever.
Because I have more in my life than just computer games, when I was a teenager I could play loads of games along the lines of Final Fantasy which required hours and hours of play. I just don't have that kind of time now, so other than Zelda I don't play any.
It does need to be change a lot and the graphics need to be made smother characters need to speek and new characters need to brought in. mabey links son or daughter or a new evil lord like ganadorf to come back from the dead.
my biggest problem with the zelda series is the kiddie aspect nintendo is keeping in it. lose goofy characters like tingle, the mailman and the picori, lose the cell shaded saturday morning cartoon look, and lose the E rated cliche story. and if i ever see link snowboarding against a yeti again, i'll punch a baby.
give the story more depth than zelda/hyrule in trouble, link find master sword, link save zelda/slays ganon.
work on the dungeon/overworld layout more. the major issue i have from MM, WW, and TP is the lack of dungeons and/or the pretty crappy layout. i loved the dungeon layouts in Oot and LTTP, where there was a little more than just a basic gimmicky room after room of box puzzle or torch puzzle, i liked the dungeons with multi room puzzles and expansive labyrinths. i want to wander dungeons more than the overworld. 4 dungeons and a billion side quests does not a zelda game make. the minimum is 8, preferrably 10+.
The problem in my opinion is how the central gameplay has become so formulaic that there's no real story to run on. Many RPG series maintain most of the core gameplay, with tweaks and changes, but what cets them apart is the different worlds and stories told. The problem is with so many games Nintendo seem too afraid to change anything. As such Twilight Princess once again saw Link having to power up, reclaim the master sword, and beat Ganondorf. The ending pretty much left me thinking "where was the plot?" as pretty much all of it had been laid out from the start.
They still need to move away from the same old Hyrule map (The one established by OOT seems to have been far too rigidly stuck to as an attempt to adhere to some continuity), the same old weapons, and the same old bad guy. But think how pretty much every Final Fantasy game (except XII), are similar in the basis of their gameplay, but its new characters, locations and story which get people playing again.
I think the reason it did not do that well on the wii is because it did not use the wii's power to the full, the graphics were gamecube and after completing the quest there is only 1 or 2 small quests unlike orther zelda games which have loads. Still I thinks loztp is great and have completed it.
Nintendo should make you watch Link die in the opening (or so) cutscene. Then you'd play as Zelda through the whole game.
The castle town was extremely disappointing, after reading/looking at all the previews leading up to the game's release. So much apparently going on, but you can't interact with the people.
The whole emptiness of the overworld is a turn-off too. What looked amazing, in terms of Hyrule Field's size, on N64 is now unacceptable in the current age. I'd much prefer a more compact world, if they fill it with more action.
I haven't played The Twilight Princess but the fact that Link riding on a horse is the most frequent screenshot I have seen of this game strongly gave the message : 'We know The Wind Waker turned some of you off with its cel shading and its sailing- look there's a horse- everything looks a little bit more 'mature'- it's like when you were younger when you played Ocarina of Time all day- it can be like the old days again when people with other consoles didn't regard Zelda as childish!'
The Twilight Princess just looks like a watered down Ocarina of Time to me. At least The Wind Waker was trying something distinctive.
Watered down OoT? It certainly was not that. I recommend you try not to form an opinion until you've at least tried it. I though Twilight Princess was brilliant, and a great addition to the Zelda family.
I was thinking, perhaps a Zelda game more in line with something like Oblivion would work. A lot more free form, with numerous quests and things to occupy your time, but a central core story that you follow too. Oblivion was a great example of a fantasy game, and there's no reason AT ALL why the next Zelda could be similar to this (only smaller I suspect ).
Stupid article. So Nintendo said they'll overhaul Zelda as we know it, let's make an article about the decline of the series formula and when they finally release the next one in 5 years everyone will be all like WOW CVG WAS RIGHT TO THINK THEY HAVE TO CHANGE IT AND NINTENDO LISTENED AND IT RULEZ! Sad.
Vulcanraven, your comment is as stupid as the editors that pinned it to the front page. Nothing Nintendo said indicates their overhaul is solely based around wiimote controls so why are you so negative about the platform it's likely to be on (Wii) just because it can offer that ON TOP of the actual gameplay and mechanics they may or may not plan to change. When they say it's the last Zelda as we know it it's rather clear new controls isn't all they have in mind because then it'd be Zelda as we know it, but on the Wii. Well, that's what Twilight Princess was, even if the use of the Wiimote wasn't so radical.
In the recent games (MM, WW, TP) we have seen Nintendo move away from controlling Link directly. We have used the skills of Zoras, Gorons, Deku Scrubs, Wolves, weird postal pigeon things and Koroks amongst others. Is this a testing of the water for things to come?
Nintendo needs to kick start its' online service and their two most famous RPGs Zelda and Pokemon would both be suited to MMORPG adventures. Pokemon would seem the logical choice but Zelda has been given much more of a narrative in recent games. Perhaps one of the many wars of the Triforce would be an appropriate story to suit an MMORPG?...
I'm always in if a developer tries something different rather than repeating the same formula over and over again. But on the other hand I don't mind if the gameplay remains as it is now,yet.
Copyright 2006 - 2009 Future Publishing Limited, Beauford Court, 30 Monmouth Street, Bath, UK BA1 2BW England and Wales company registration number 2008885
).nintendo have some very able deputies but only one miyamoto.
