The Legend of Zelda - Speculation Time!

[Fresh V]

Well, the trailer for the New Legend of Zelda for GCN has already been released, and it looks like we're all gonna be in for a treat when it hits stores this year. This is by far the most anticipated game of 2005 for the GCN.

So, what do you think or want this game to have? The trailer unveils some features that the game might contain. IGN has some revelations up. Check them out: http://cube.ign.com/articles/597/597052p1.html
(http://cube.ign.com/articles/597/597052p1.html)

[Invader_Spooch]

1)A more interesting and intriguing storyline.

2)Better writing. My gawd, the dialogue (if you can even call it that, it's always been "goofy villager talks at you") is awful in the LoZ series, and hasn't evolved past the 16 bit era.

3)Link should have a PERSONALITY. I don't buy the "oh he is an avatar for me to role play through" crap. If I want to do that, then I'll go play KOTOR (where I can actually EXPRESS myself through dialogue branches, event choices, and character customization). If I'm supposed to give Link a personality, I want actual OPTIONS. Either go the KOTOR route and allow me to actually speak for him, or give him pre-writen voice acted dialogue. Gaming has evolved beyond the silly nonsense noises (outside of the Sims).

4)Skills/moves and combos that you learn through your experiences in the game. I'm sick of the same 3 hit attack you do over and over and over....

I want to feel like I'm working towards something, not dreading another battle.

The battling should be more complex than it has been (ie. new combos, preferably a level up system and the like ala Kingdom Hearts or Brave Fencer Musashi).

If this just turns out to be another retread of Ocarina of Time, but with flashier graphics, then I give up on the LoZ series (I enjoyed WW for what it was, but seriously, evolve or die).

[Artimus Gigan]

I hope they give an option for Link to wear a dress


Every great Action RPG or RPG series has always given that option at one point in time(i.e. Fable, Final Fantasy)...it is now time for Zelda to follow the anchient tradition...in high heels no less.


Also I don't want to collect 147 statues....because then you end up missing one and end up not being able to turn back and get it

[TheGLIVEN]

Can't. Wait. For. This. Game.

[Mog]

I'm in the same boat as Spooch. If it's the same thing as OOT/MM/WW, I'm going to give up. The LoZ series needs depth, and there is no excuse not to give it any. A few words here and there, some RPG elements, a few combos, that's all. It's not like it's going to hurt anything.

[Demonic Raven]

I've always wanted more RPG elements. A simple leveling up system, that's all I ask! Well...maybe not. But still, they should at least try to roll something new into the mix.

[William C. Maune]

I'm not sure I want Zelda to "evolve," then it wouldn't be Zelda any more. I like the fact that Link doesn't speak. I think there is too much mixing of adventure and rpg elements in games these days. Some is fine, but not when it happens to so many games. In my opinion, Zelda should stay firmly on the adventure side of the line. I guess in one sense it could be called a retread, but the same could be said about most Zelda games since the original. To me it's not about doing something different with this series, it's about playing through a brand new adventure, with new puzzles, dungeons and etc. in the formula that works so well.

[Borg4of3]

Thank you Maune! The best way to make a franchise better isn't to turn it to something its not, or, on the other hand, to keep doing the same thing, but find ways to capitilize and improve upon that which makes the franchise special and distinct among the masses.

The 'Who is Link to you' thread showed that a voiceless Link gives a subtle depth and universal quality to the games, so, while it would be interesting giving Link a personality (but dear God, lets not have 'The Gerudos killed my parents! I will not rest until I avenge their deaths, slaughtering everything in my wake!' type of characterization), its not necessary.

I enjoy the type of 'level up' system that you find in Zelda and Metroid games - you gain your own experience handling the types of puzzles and enemies, that gradually get more difficult, and you 'upgrade' by finding the special items(Ocarina, Hookshot, Boat, Deku Leaf, etc), each one of which can change the way you play the next part of the game.

Its hard to see how someone could feel like they're not working toward something, and actually dreading upcoming battles. First off, the battles and boss battles are massive and perhaps the most interactive and fun parts of the games. And you're always working toward something, either grabbing one more piece of the Triforce while freeing another land from Ganon's rule, or slowly discovering the secrets of Hyrule's past.

Hmmm... dresses, eh? Well, Link could turn into a faery in the second game - does that count? :p

BUT! There is one thing that I can't wait for the Zelda series to get rid of - If I see one more 'Push the block onto the huge switch in the middle of the room as if you'd never seen this before' puzzle, I'll... I'll... I dunno, be annoyed or something.

[Killtacular]

I want it to be a dungeon crawler like Zelda games are supposed to be instead of a travellogue that has very brief, very small dungeon interludes like Wind Waker.

[Chosen Raven]

Hmmm. I'm sorta in the middle here. If the new LoZ was exactly like Ocarina of Time, but with different dungeons and better graphics, I'd still pick it up in a heartbeat.

But I definitely believe there are some things that can be added to improve the quality of the game.

1. Give me a Link with scripted dialogue or give me a Link with at least 3 or 4 dialogue options. The time for silent heroes is past. Seriously.

2. Adding an experience system would really cut down on the monotony of the battles(excluding the boss battles which were awesome).

3. More sword-fighting techniques would also be nice. There's nothing like pulling off a sweet multi-hit combo.

Not having any of these things would in no way make me decide not to buy this game. They would just make me like it more.

[Obi]

I would really prefer it is Link stays a silent character. I've tried to think of Link as an actual person with motivation and dialogue and everything and it just doesn't feel right. It would be like Mario having a cutscene where he discusses battle tactics with Toad (bad analogy, I know, since Mario is more comedic). It just wouldn't feel right.


But yes, I hope there are more sword techniques, even though I'll be perfectly happy if it's the same old moves we've had for years.

[Fresh V]

I agree. I don't think Link should have a voice. Some heros just aren't meant to speak. Like Obi said, it's like Mario. Imagine him with a voice(he does say stuff like "lets-a-go!", but I'm talking about speaking full sentence). It wouldn't sound right, right? I know in the old Mario cartoons, Mario had this voice, but that doesn't seem like it fits him to me. So, I think Link's just fine without dialogue.

From the trailer, it looks like you'll be able to fight enemies while your riding. That's just ausome.

IGN predicts that this game might be the darkest Zelda game ever. It looks true, based on the trailer. There's all these skeletons and stuff everywhere.

[Obi]

Hearing Link speak in the Phillips CD-i games has scarred me for life.

[mookie75]

I want a Zelda game that is true to the grand tradition that made me love past Zelda games.

Sadly, I won't find it this time.

This will rank right up there with George Lucas deciding to mess with the original Star Wars movies because "This is what he wanted to do back when he made the films, but he didn't have the means to do it." :mad:

[Obi]

Care to elaborate?

From what we've seen, what makes you think you're going to dislike it? Unless you didn't like Ocarina of Time.

[mookie75]

It's quite simple in my mind. They're turning Link into the Legolas of the Nintendo world (I'm assuming most people on this board will recognize a LOTR reference). I have never gone for this whole Elvish warrior crap. Give me the little kid hero and all the silly comedy that so many LoZ fans despise ANY day. You know, somewhere around here I still have the box and booklet from the original NES Zelda game. Am I expected to flip through that, look at the depictions of Link, and then believe that this is where it was meant to go? Granted, that was many years ago and the creators have a right to create new visions as they go, but I don't have to like it when they do. :sad:

On the other hand, I think my opinions on the game are somewhat misunderstood. I don't doubt that it will be an engaging game....a great game even. More than likely it will even end up in my collection someday (either through my own purchase or as a gift). It would be a superb game in my mind if it was a completely new creation with a new hero. However, since it's a Zelda game, I view it as someone throwing up on what I've always believed LoZ was meant to be. Sure, that's harsh, but it's my opinion on the matter.

[Crow]

It's going to be exactly like Ocarina of Time, only dressed up a bit. All the franchises that have made the jump to 3D whether they be certain beat-em-ups or shoot-em-ups or 'stealth sims' or 'crime dramas' are only different with each new installment by the new gimmicks put into each of them.

He's going to be able ride animals other than Epona in this one, that's the example of one.

[Invader_Spooch]

It's quite simple in my mind. They're turning Link into the Legolas of the Nintendo world (I'm assuming most people on this board will recognize a LOTR reference). I have never gone for this whole Elvish warrior crap. Give me the little kid hero and all the silly comedy that so many LoZ fans despise ANY day. You know, somewhere around here I still have the box and booklet from the original NES Zelda game. Am I expected to flip through that, look at the depictions of Link, and then believe that this is where it was meant to go? Granted, that was many years ago and the creators have a right to create new visions as they go, but I don't have to like it when they do. :sad:
:hug: You aren't alone in that sentiment.

It's going to be exactly like Ocarina of Time, only dressed up a bit. All the franchises that have made the jump to 3D whether they be certain beat-em-ups or shoot-em-ups or 'stealth sims' or 'crime dramas' are only different with each new installment by the new gimmicks put into each of them.

He's going to be able ride animals other than Epona in this one, that's the example of one.
Agreed. Though unfortunately, that's exactly what most LoZ fans want.

I for one, am sick of Nintendo's habit of doing that, and would like for them to either change or stop.

[Mynd Hed]

I'm with Maune-- the Zelda franchise doesn't need more depth as far as story and personality go, because those have never been the focus of the games. At the heart of every Zelda title, the level on which it succeeds or fails, are the exploration of the overworld and the puzzle-solving and boss-fighting of the underworld. A little plot here and there can be fun window dressing, but if I want plot, I'll play Final Fantasy or one of its many imitators.

As for "leveling" in Zelda-- God no! You already gain more powerful weapons and items and more life in the form of Pieces of Heart as the game progresses, what more do you want? The LAST thing I want to EVER do in a Zelda game is think to myself, "Oh, that boss killed me. Guess I'd better go fight about fifty identical moblins and level up before I face him again." Now THAT'S monotony. Combat in Zelda (at its best) has always been about skill and intelligent use of the weapons in your arsenal, not number-crunching based on how many faceless enemies you've killed, and I'd hate for that to change.

Now, more sword techniques I wouldn't mind-- and since the franchise seems to be moving in that direction anyway (starting with having to acquire the spin technique in OoT through collecting the seven[?] sword technique scrolls in Minish Cap) it's a wish that I wouldn't be surprised to see granted.

Also I don't want to collect 147 statues....because then you end up missing one and end up not being able to turn back and get it

I'm with you on this one-- personally, I thought collecting Pieces of Heart was about the right amount of token-collecting for a Zelda game. You usually have to solve a puzzle of some sort to get your token, you get a nice reward every fourth token in the form of a bigger life bar, everything is peachy. I didn't like when they started tinkering with the formula in OoT with the Skulltulas-- the rewards came less frequently, and the collecting itself was usually a matter of being in the right place at the right time, making it a tedious affair. WW made things even worse with its buggering statues.

I want it to be a dungeon crawler like Zelda games are supposed to be instead of a travellogue that has very brief, very small dungeon interludes like Wind Waker.

WORD. I want a real overworld with tons of secrets to discover (a la LttP / Minish Cap) and I want devilish, well-designed dungeons with puzzles to solve, treasures to find, and bosses to beat (a la LttP / OoT). No more of this sailing crap (WW), and no more nearly-empty overworld with easily-avoidable enemies that's only present for eye candy between dungeons (OoT).

[guinaevere]

not have 'The Gerudos killed my parents! I will not rest until I avenge their deaths, slaughtering everything in my wake!' type of characterization), its not necessary. Well said. Some people take it upon themselves to do what they can to help others, because that's the sort of person they are (the word "hero" comes to mind). Stretching a story to give the characters cliche motivations just comes across as juvenile.

I want it to be a dungeon crawler like Zelda games are supposed to be instead of a travellogue that has very brief, very small dungeon interludes like Wind Waker.As Mynd Hed so eloquently put it, WORD!

[Crow]

:hug: You aren't alone in that sentiment.


Agreed. Though unfortunately, that's exactly what most LoZ fans want.

I for one, am sick of Nintendo's habit of doing that, and would like for them to either change or stop.
They're not the only culprits, that is my point. GTA/MGS/Mortal Kombat/Mario Kart/Metroid Prime (harsh, yes)/any FPS with sequels should be giving us reasons to buy the next installments, sports sims can get away with updating player lists and stats each year with their sequels but nearly every other franchise/genre shouldn't take such an easy way out.