Nintendo’s Eiji Aonuma talked about ‘dat Legend of Zelda franchise back during E3, but I just caught wind of the interview today. And dammit, this is my blog so I can talk about things that happened over a month ago and not get in trouble for it. ::makes mental note to put self in timeout later::
But for serious, if you’ve been following The Legend of Zelda Wii U Whatever It Will Be Called as I have, you know there’s really not a lot of information out there. In fact, there’s close to zero. We know little about what Zelda U will entail, how it will utilize the Wii U Gamepad, when it’s coming out, if it’ll feature rager unicorns, etc. But the one thing we have heard about a few times are the vague desires to implement some changes to the franchise. Or something scary along those lines. Anyway, below is a quote stemming from Aonuma, and in short, he’s becoming a bit tired of the Zelda formula.
“It’s not that anyone is telling me we have to change the formula. I want to change it. I’m kind of getting tired of it. If I’m getting tired of it, then I’m sure other people are getting tired of it. There is an essential ‘Zelda’ I feel we need to stay true to. We are still testing things, exploring our options. We haven’t landed anywhere at this point. We’re still seeing what we can do.” [AKA DON’T EXPECT THE TITLE ANYTIME SOON. WAAAAAAHHHH. – Me]
Like I said above, this isn’t the first time we’ve heard about a change coming to the Zelda franchise. But because it’s being reiterated I think Nintendo has the serious feels about this one. I’m all about improving shit — when it’s due, that is — and I’ll remain cautiously optimistic. The truth is, however, I’m not growing tired of the formula. Sure, I think some mechanics can be improved (GET RID OF THE STAMINA METER!) but the formula? That’s what I love about the Zelda franchise. I love picking up a controller and knowing what I’m getting myself into. It brings me back to my days as a wee lass, and honestly, it’s comforting.
I’ve been saying this since Majora’s Mask, but I’d LOVE to see a super dark, gritty, HD Zelda game. Think Twilight Princess but twice as dark — wouldn’t that be exciting?! We’ve had our fair share of quirky, perky Legend of Zelda games. Let’s make one for the big boys and girls. After all, we’re all grown-ups now anyway. ;)
I asked several of you what change you’d like to see in the next Zelda game:
@Britt5091 Voice acting, new playable character. The worlds are amazing but the Link saving Zelda formula is played out.
— GalacticMouse (@GalacticMouse) July 23, 2013
@Britt5091 Put Link in modern day NYC. No explanation needed.
— Chuck (@SmarmyJerkface) July 23, 2013
@SmarmyJerkface @Britt5091 agreed. Miyamoto originally wanted a present day setting in the first game anyway. Nintendo could make it work
— Wayne Stainrook (@stainwaynerook) July 23, 2013
@Britt5091 hyper-realistic (hyper?) graphics on Wii U also a little blood and gore
— Edgar Santana (@BigE559) July 23, 2013
@Britt5091 Make it more mature. Let's see what the franchise can be like when Link's balls are to the wall!
— Sean Knight (@SeanDKnight) July 23, 2013
@Britt5091 Make the titular character the main character, at least for one game and make her capable, or just have a gender reversal.
— John Williams (@WickedSidButNot) July 23, 2013
@Britt5091 open world enough of the water, fire temples more like a AC / uncharted hybrid
— Langston (@reyford1) July 23, 2013
What about you? What changes would you like to see come to the Zelda franchise?
Zelda has been played out since Ocarina of Time…bout damn time for some new blood int he stale franchise
Actually, I’m kind of on board with the darker and grittier link. Maybe go the AC or Dishonored route and have update Link in to more of an industrial or Steampunk Hyrule instead of the old fantasy. Or maybe have Zelda having hidden her royal roots and be masquerading as Shiek as Link’s partner? Make him generally more brutal, though try to keep true to his core of being courageous character. He can still be a hero, just maybe more of an unpolished gem than the sterling hero he is. I’m thinking more like Gene Starwind of Outlaw Star, Spike from Cowboy Bebop, Mal from Firefly, or Han Solo. You know, turn Link from Luke Skywalker and make him more in to a scruffy-looking nerf herder.
Co-op Link/Shiek title. Stupid of Zelda to never STAY away as Shiek anyhow…/facepalm
I’d like to see a Bethesda-like model. Sidequests all over different cities of Hyrule helping out key NPCs. Different quest endings give you different tools to complete other quests or give different stat perks. Think Zelda as a Fallout game. :)
Okay, yes. Yes this.
Link is trapped in a mouse body abd has tiny adventures! That would be kinda cool.
Please tell me you aren’t stupid enough to think this is an original thought… or have you never heard of The Minish Cap?
Chill, and in The Minish Cap you aren’t a mouse.
The name is dooshnozzle for a reason! ;)
Yeah I noticed that after the fact :P
I’m sorry, but most of those responses are not likely. If you want blood and guts in a Zelda game go play darksiders 1. Zelda will never be the main character as games with a female protagonist don’t sell, even the one game with most famous female character and well selling franchise failed to deliver to (unrealistic) expectations with the best game in the series. Pretty much don’t expect a shake up, I’m pretty sure nintendo’s idea of a radical game idea was super lungi u.
The steampunk look would be cool and I could see it as more of an uncharted kind of game with a Link who’s a bit more rough around the edges.
And ya know, when I first heard of people wanting Zelda to be the main character I thought, “No, just no.” But after thinking about it for a while, I think it could work if you were to give that kind of multi-threaded, Mass Effect, choose your own adventure feel to it. If you want to play as Zelda, you can play as Zelda. If you want to play as Link, you get a similar storyline, just told from a completely different viewpoint.
Im personally excited about this. Aounuma also gave hint to open world becoming a possibility. Look at the first zelda game. You were given no direction and beat the game in the way you wanted it. Since then the path has been linear. I dont think a dark gritty zelda steampunk world would work either. if you want that go play ALICE.
If they give us something entirely new im all for it. Just look at what happened with Ocarina during its time and now its considered a masterpiece.
something unexpeced is what zelda needs. I want the reveal to be confusing,troubling,optimistic,and hopeful all at the same time like when they revealed cartoon Link in 2003
Now open-world is something I can definitely get behind!
Maybe if they made Zelda the main character for a game, you wouldn’t have a bunch of people referring to Link as Zelda, just because of the title.
There’s an idea! ;)
So essentially “Make this game like every other game”?
Haha honestly, I wouldn’t be disappointed with that.
Know what they should do? Take a hint off the new Tomb Raider game that came out and made Laura as badass as ever and make that happen to Link.
I don’t think the series needs re-vamping or drastic changes, I just think it needs to go somewhere. The tropes, traditions, and treats we’re used to from the fan-favorite fantasy franchise still work, we just need to not have a recycled story. I’d love to see a new protagonist (Zelda Jr, maybe?), for one thing.
Expand the story, don’t just ‘make it more realistic’ or ‘give me more to do.’ A fresh face, a fresh start, with all the goodness of the series, established gameplay, and mythos intact. The next game should feel both new and familiar, and I think this is the way to do it. Otherwise just give me an A Link to the Past HD remake. :)
I really, really want a Majora’s Mask remake but I am up for a more mature feeling dark an’ gritty Zelda. Sounds great by me. I wasn’t a big fan of Skyward Sword but I adored Twilight Princess. But Majora’s still stands – by far – as my favorite in the series.