Instead, they seem to be obsessed with either recreating Ocarina of Time (see: Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword) or re-imagining Wind Waker (see: Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks).
Personally, I'd prefer it if the company's designers and programmers took the series back to its 16-bit glory days and produced a game that brought to mind A Link to the Past. It wouldn't have to be sprite-based, of course--although I certainly wouldn't complain if it were--but I do think it should use a top-down perspective similar to the one seen in the above-mentioned SNES (or Super Famicom, if that's your thing) classic.
Going back to this so-called New Legend of Zelda's graphics for a second: Sure, the game could ape the New Super Mario Bros. titles and feature acceptably-crafted-yet-somewhat-boring polygonal characters and environments, but I'd much rather see Nintendo's developers push the envelope a bit. For example, they could make it appear as though everything in the game were created using clay or fabric (à la Kirby's Epic Yarn). Or they could turn to the Paper Mario series--or the image above--for inspiration and make it look like a pop-up book.
That said, I'll gladly accept slightly uninspired visuals if it means I'll get to play a "modern" Zelda game that feels and plays like A Link to the Past.
What do you think? Would you like the folks at Nintendo to release New Legend of Zelda for the 3DS, Wii U or both? If so, how would you want the game to look and feel?
17 comments:
I still maintain that ALttP is the best Zelda game, if not the best game, ever made. I'd love a new one with new map and dungeons, but I don't think that'll ever happen now because of: a) touch/movement controls (PH, ST, TP), b) unnecessary quest extension and bulking out of the map (WW, ST), c) voiced effects that add nothing and d) Nintendo seemingly staggering about like a drunk not quite realising how to make games, hardware or effective services.
I think ALttP may be all we get.
What if Nintendo manned up, took a risk and made a 2D Zelda for WiiU? High resolution sprites? How about everything created in vectors so it could scale infinitely yet still retain smoothness? Textures halfway between sprite art and the cartoon of Wind Waker or a fabric style that you mentioned? Yes, please! Or is that all a bit beyond modern day Nintendo?
Hey there, BotheredPocket! Thanks for sharing your thoughts :)
I agree with you, BTW, that ALttP is one of, if not the, best games Nintendo has ever produced. It honestly boggles the mind (or at least *my* mind) that they've yet to try to recreate that magic in some meaningful way.
Although I agree, too, with some of what you have to say about why Nintendo may never make a LttP "part 2" (or a New Legend of Zelda, as I called it in this post), I actually think both the 3DS and the Wii U could be the perfect systems for such a game.
After all, the touch screen seems to be much less of a focus on the 3DS, which seemingly would open the door for more of a traditional control method (a la ALttP). Also, the system's "diorama-esque" 3D display could be put to good use should Nintendo craft the game's characters and environs out of paper, etc.
Also, like you said, a 2D Zelda could be crafted for the Wii U and feature HD sprites (be still my heart) and, again, more traditional gameplay thanks to that system's controller. Hell, maybe this game could be a mix of ALttP and Four Swords Adventures (which I guess is a bit redundant) and make use of the Wii U controller's screen for multi-player experiences.
Really, the sky is the limit, as far as I'm afraid. I know it seems unlikely at this point, given Nintendo's current status (esp. in regards to the Zelda series), but they've already done some of this with the Mario series (and the NSMB games), so who knows? My fingers are crossed regardless...
It's as if I know the answer to the question you're asking in this post but I can't actually think of an answer. Though, I always thought that Phantom Hourglass etc were in fact sorta' traditional / retro Zelda games. Like, I mean, they play from the top down and all. Y'know?
I know what you're saying, Suika -- and you're right, Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks are more like ALttP (or at least seem to be more like it) than OoT, TP and SS. Still, I'm looking for something that's much more of a throwback -- kind of like how New Super Mario Bros. Wii is a throwback to SMB 3.
I would LOVE a new 2D Zelda that doesn't suck! If it were in the style of LTTP, I'd buy it instantly.
Yes, that's what I'm looking for, too, Justin. Really, I'd prefer it if the game were 2D, with sprite-based graphics and a top-down perspective, but I'm open to just about anything at this point. Which is probably good, as I'm pretty sure that if Nintendo goes for this idea (of a 'New' Zelda) it will take inspiration from the New Super Mario Bros. games (polygonal graphics with two-dimensional gameplay).
I'd be okay with that, honestly. As long as it wasn't Zelda II style...although, that kind of game with a less crushingly difficult challenge might be kind of nice.
Eh, yeah, I wouldn't like a Zelda II-like game either. A return to the original Zelda would be OK with me, but I think most people would prefer something akin to ALttP.
I don't really know what I want from Zelda any more - the games now seem to be a strange mixture of overly-safe rehashing ("Ooh a lantern/bow/hookshot/forest temple") and needlessly "innovative" ideas that don't mesh so well with the main game (Wolf Link, trains, etc).
I think I really just want them to make up their minds - either give me a classic style Zelda that's all about exploration and digging up rupees or go completely the other way and do something completely new (much like Kirby's Epic Yarn).
Does that make any sense?
Yes, I think I know what you mean, Kimimi -- and I think I agree with you, too :)
I want Nintendo to either take the series back to its roots (this is where my idea for a 'New' Legend of Zelda comes into play) or try something completely wacky (a la Paper Mario or Kirby's Epic Yarn). Or at least I think I do ;)
What I don't want is for the series to continue down its current path, as I just don't have any interest in it anymore.
I know some people love its current path, though, so there's another reason to keep a mainline series and then a New Zelda, or whatever you want to call it -- kind of like what Nintendo has done with the 2D and 3D Marios.
I love the idea of a new, retro-style Zelda, and I think it's possible given the success of New Super Mario Bros., but I wonder if that classic, NES or Link to the Past-style, overhead perspective game wouldn't be familiar enough to the youngins who are now NIntendo's primary audience. I mean, what's they're earliest Zelda game -- Ocarina of Time?
I'd agree with you, Drew, but I do think the more recent portable Zeldas could help with this, as Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks seem to be somewhat traditional (top-down view, etc.).
Also, I think a return-to-its-roots, top-down, 2D 'New' Zelda could appeal to the youngins simply due to its simplicity -- a word that can't exactly be used to describe the most current console Zeldas.
Hopefully we'll find out sooner rather than later...
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Hey there, Blake! Thanks for letting me know about your blog. Looks like you've been around for a while, too. Good job :) Anyway, I'll definitely visit your blog when I can -- hope you come back here sometime, too!
Will do good sir!
Even though the Zelda games have been celshaded a few times, it feels like the whole series have some degree of "cartoon" style in them. I mean, Link in the first game looks totally chibi! :) The Hyrule universe have always been magical in its style, it's hard to think the graphics in new ways. Hm.
I would rather see a more serious sida of Hyrule now. But not turn it into a greybrown mess that many modern games of today are stuck in. Maybe a whole new aspect, when Link is.. an animal or something. Well, maybe I just want to play Okami again.
I see what you're saying, Linnea -- at least up until Twilight Princess. Even then, though, I think most of the console Zeldas have been pretty dark/serious ever since Ocarina of Time (save Wind Waker, of course). Skyward Sword actually looks to me to be a bit of a combo -- of the bright and colorful Zeldas that were the original and ALttP and the darker, more serious Zeldas that have been OoT, MM and TP.
Anyway, going back a bit -- the way you feel about this is kind of why I like the idea of splitting the series into two distinct parts, a la New SMB. The mainline games could be more adult and serious, while the 'New' Zeldas (or whatever they'd be called) could be more retro, fun, etc.
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