Does Zelda need an overhaul?
Thursday, May 17th, 2007 at 6:16pm by Blake
CVG thinks so: “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. ”
Oddly, having played Zelda: Phantom Menace Hourglass, I’m strangely not even interested. Not jaded, just didn’t dig on what I played at E3 last year. However, I ran into the same thing with Metroid Prime Hunters. I hated it for the first 15 minutes due to the controls. I even wanted to CRUSH it! But after I got used to it, I loved it. Hopefully Phantom Hourglass does the same and gives Link a nice little dose of freshness.
[via Slashdot]
May 17th, 2007 at 6:36 pm
completely agree, i’ve gotten to the point where i’m like ‘meh?’ good games, but i’ve played much better; change it….
May 17th, 2007 at 6:57 pm
Agreed. There were a couple cool parts to Twilight Princess (Twilight Realm art design, some of the puzzles) but overall it was not worth the 40 or so hours I put into it.
May 17th, 2007 at 7:08 pm
While I enjoyed Twilight Princess, I did get that “been there, done that” feeling more often than I’d like. The gameplay mechanics introduced in Ocarina of Time are beginning to show their age, and I believe it’s about time Nintendo did something a little different for their next console Zelda game. I remember reading somewhere about a Nintendo rep commenting that Twilight Princess would be the last “traditional” Zelda game, but exactly where I’ve seen that escapes me right now.
I’m optimistic, though. From what I’ve seen of Super Mario Galaxy it looks like they may be re-inventing the Mario franchise with that one. If they can tweak Mario than they’ll most likely give Zelda a wax and polish when it comes time for them to make a new one for the Wii (or, possibly, whatever system that comes after the Wii, knowing Nintendo’s time frame between console Zelda games)
May 17th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
You know, I’m all for trying new stuff, but I like Zelda for being Zelda. I could play another Link to the Past/Ocorina/Twilight Princess every two-four years and be happy. At the same time, I think that you can do interesting stuff with the Zelda Universe, like Majora’s Mask and Hourglass (or even Zelda II). I don’t mind them changing it, even a lot, but give me a little fan service, too.
I don’t want Zelda to get like the Final Fantasy, or even worse, the Mana series where there is so much “innovation” that you have a completely new game every time out.
May 18th, 2007 at 12:13 am
I agree with McClain142. Although I think there’s definitely room within the classic structure for some new slants, I’d hate to lose that which makes Zelda what it is. I don’t know of any other game that manages to combine strong narrative with pure and deeply satisfying (and challenging!) play so successfully.
With so few Zelda games released (1 or two per console, it seems), I think it’s odd to talk about getting burnt out on the formula — it’s not like the annual Call of Duties or Splinter Cells.
May 18th, 2007 at 3:35 am
TP war the first Zelda game I didn’t finish, and I mean I only saw the third dungeon or something and didn’t finish it.
Been there, done that. Zelda needs fresh ideas.
May 18th, 2007 at 5:05 am
The basic premise of Zelda is still great, but it needs a serious overhaul. What seems odd to me is that Twilight Princess seemed to move backwards in that it missed all the advances made in Majora’s Mask and Wind Waker. Unlike those titles there were absolutely no worthwhile sidequests.
Given the poor sales of Twilight Princess in Japan, I’d expect Nintendo to reposition the franchise as something a bit more RPG like, to appeal to its home territory.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:25 am
Yeah, TP was made only for the US people that were claiming for the new Ocarina of Time. Given poor sales, especially in Japan, there is no doubt we’ll see new things in the serie. I really have hopes in Phantom Hourglass at this point, we’ll see.
May 18th, 2007 at 11:48 am
I also see Phantom Hourglass as possibly changing some of the rules in the Zelda adventures…
Having said that, I still agree with McClain142 and Zyblorg: I see the Zelda adventures in the same vein as the Pokémon or the Madden series, in that every new entry is essentially the same game with new technology, new rosters/monsters, and sometimes new key characters/stadiums changed. Nothing wrong with that!
When I’m thirsty for a different kind of RPG, there are plenty of titles to choose from! And I’ll risk sounding like a broken record here, but if you want RPG innovation or a traditional RPG with new twists, check out what Atlus has been doing… Games like Summon Nights, Yggdra Union, or Etrian Odyssey put the traditional RPGs on their heads with new, strange ways to play. (That’s probably why they don’t sell well, too!)
May 18th, 2007 at 3:24 pm
Maybe Zelda should become a little more action than RPG… adding a little “God Of War” style of game to an already great adventure title…
May 18th, 2007 at 6:21 pm
Paper Zelda(Wind Waker Spin off) and Xelda Xtream (God of war version)
May 18th, 2007 at 7:33 pm
Hehe, when I mentioned Zelda II before, I kind of thought of an updated sidescrolling Zelda, but I never even thought of making a Paper Zelda game. That could be freaking sweet.
Also, I’ve seen some flash games online that made a turn-based game out of Zelda sprites. That could be fun if it’s in the paper style. SOmething a little less serious…
May 18th, 2007 at 11:18 pm
I would enjoy a more grown up Link. He doesn’t need to be “dark” but some facial hair and grit and some new weaponry would make him more fun (and he can dump that stupid hat too.)
It would be really cool if Link had some more down-to-Earth opponents. While I wouldn’t really want to see Link stab someone and have blood come out, I’m bored with Ganon and the usual monsters. I think the games ought to deal more with human villains and problems.
Or they could make a Ganon game too. That would sell gangbusters.
May 19th, 2007 at 1:08 pm
No way, the hat stays!
May 19th, 2007 at 10:07 pm
30 years pass. Link is a retired farmer who seldom rides or fights anymore. He is a widower and all he has is his daughter(Later you find out it’s Zelda’s love child she had in secret).
He stays in shape but is not as sharp as he once was. His daughter is kidnapped. Princess Zelda is also no where around. Link shaves his beard and once again puts on his green hat. He’s like Dirty Harry this time around. The world has gone all bad and he is tired of playing nice.
Someone is not doing this for world domination, but as a vengeance plot. Some Zant like follower trying to show honor to the great fallen Gannon. With every Piece of Triforce he receives he becomes more and more powerful. The boss battles are ass kicking hard and Link always ends them bloody and garments destroyed. He usually faints from the battles and is nursed back to health by fairies at nearby fountains.
It all ends with Link starting a militia of Tingles running the land smiting wrongdoers.
Fuck it, just let Frank Miller make it the Green Night Returns.
May 20th, 2007 at 1:23 pm
Frisby: You know, you almost had me until the army of Tingles …