Poll: Role reversal legend of zelda

waj9876

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Eh. The game would have to be good for it to work.

I don't see this kind of thing happening any time soon. On one hand, the only other time the spirit of the hero played no part in the story was in Wind Waker and the sequels to it, where that Link had to fight for the right to be the hero. On the other, it showed that it doesn't have to be the same hero every time.

If they could find a way to make it work, sure, I'd like to play a Zelda game with Zelda as the main character. She can't get the Master Sword or anything though, as that would pretty much make her Link with a different name.
 

gazumped

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Ooh, coincidentally just happened across yet another take, I think this one might actually be my favourite - (the artwork's pretty rough but the concept is well thought through based on Zelda's role, I think!)


- Design from morbi.tumblr.com
 
Jan 1, 2013
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Maxtro said:
I'd be more interested in a game where you play as Zelda who goes on her own adventure and Link has a very small part. He can just stay in his home village.
That's probably the better approach. Making the protagonist of nearly all games in the series someone you would obviously hold in contempt is not a good idea. This isn't even a role reversal since Zelda is never a character you would have reason to despise or look down on in the series, as this cynic reimagining of Link is.
Basically, screw this idea.
 

votemarvel

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I would quite like a Zelda game where Zelda was the main protagonist.

The series bears her name, so it would be quite nice to see the character step into the spotlight.
 

I.Muir

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Asuka Soryu said:
I don't really see the point? Why not just make a game with different characters that takes place in the same world, with a female hero? Role reversal seems pointless and odd.

Though, it could make for a paralel world story? Link gets tired of saving everyone and getting no real thanks, he grows tired and sour, eventually turning dark and Zelda has to train to confront him. They both end up killing each other after confessing their feelings, Zelda still holding onto the light of Link and her love of his former self while the dark Link has gone numb to it and they end up killing each other, Zelda killing Link and Link admitting that he still did love her, despite all that happened and with a smile he falls down dead, Zelda slowly walks out and collapses, dieing from her severe wounds.
Grim but id dig it

Dr. McD said:
ThePuzzldPirate said:
NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO.

I have gotten into huge arguments about this many times. This is not me against Zelda being the main protagonist of her own game but this version is such a horrible idea. Nevermind the fact even with what little we have to work with when it comes to depth of Zelda's character, this is not Zelda. What kind of message is it to girls (if we are going off of Anita's argument) after how many games with Link as the main, that for you to be strong, you have to pretend to be a man?

Doing just a gender-swap would be more harming than good. It would be extremely lazy in design and in writing. Zelda is a bad role model not because she is a frilly princess or is getting captured all the time bu rather because there is no depth of reasoning for those things. We never see her do her political work of running the kingdom, we never see her practice being the Triforce of Wisdom.

Girlishness is not a weakness and it is sad that I have to argue this point with feminists(most of the time however, white knights.) I understand that good things will come with more female protagonist but only if you offer the depth that male characters have reached. IF people actually looked at our Male characters, they would realize it is a bad idea because compared to other mediums(stories, music) we aren't that much better off, we just play as male more often.
Ninja'd.

Pretty much agree with everything here, just give some fucking depth to Zelda, show her working, have her simply not get kidnapped, but don't simply fucking give us a shitty role reversal.

This shit right here is why I don't like Anita Sarkessian, she never actually does anything to solve the problem.
I would find it difficult to care less about the actual gender politics involved and as I stated before Anita is a twit and mere role reversal does not equate to progressive thinking especially when Link is turned useless.

There are three reasons why the aforementioned article whatever interest me;
A) The slightly steam punk nature of the art style might be interesting to see in a Zelda game
B) A game based on this idea might have magic of various kinds used in it maybe for combat and the like. Making interesting puzzles involving telekinesis, lifting blocks to jump on them before they fall back down etc.
C) The franchise needs a mix up of some kind to keep it fresh. I'm usually for exploring new worlds but I found skyward sword a little lacking compared to it's predecessors and any large changes might be interesting at this point.

Can you imagine walking along a forest track to be confronted by a falling tree falling tree and to be ambushed by goblins which are the standard fodder but with more interesting tactics. You might throw the tree towards them but be out of mana for a short period, pull the archers in the trees towards you or just send out projectiles and melee the remainder. What if a shield was instead deployed out of your gauntlet to protect from the hellfire breath of a dodongo the flames of which nearly engulf you before going out and striking it in the mouth. Emerging from the Forrest onto the plains, from the plains to a tundra that further leads to a mountain range of ice and fire or the desert.

That is some of what I might like a Zelda game to be or to try and I disliked the travel to enclosed area via incredibly dull and empty sky over world of Skyward Sword. The endless sailing of the wind waker was way more interesting in comparison and there was at least an island in every square and a map to fill in.

I really do enjoy games with a rich back story and that can sometimes be done with text that runs alongside the main story meaning if the person wants to look it up it's there. Some games do it with item descriptions, audio logs, journals, lengthy expositions and books. Ive yet to see a game that mixed and matched these together well.
 

McMarbles

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Peach got her own game, it's about time Zelda got one (non-CDi). Just as long as she isn't powered by mood swings or some crap like that.
 

I.Muir

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McMarbles said:
Peach got her own game, it's about time Zelda got one (non-CDi). Just as long as she isn't powered by mood swings or some crap like that.
There is always the risk of an Other M
 

Sabitsuki

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I love the concept, because I would love it even if it were not a gender reversal.
The ideas for the world and game mechanics are all incredibly charming, and still have a very nice fairy tale quality to them. It seems like it would breath a nice fresh breath of air into the series without straying 'too' far away from it's structure. A lot of familiar set pieces still seem to be there, but with a greater emphasis on magic.

For what it's worth, I absolutely adore Zelda's design. I'd just general like to see more fantasy female protagonists that actually dress in a simple way that manages to make them look like an adventurer.

If it were a real game, I would pick it up in a heartbeat.
 

ThePuzzldPirate

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Odgical said:
ThePuzzldPirate said:
Right, well, I'm pretty sure that "Women shouldn't have to behave like men to be accepted!" is already an entire wave of feminism. I, however, prescribe to the notion that women can do whatever they want, including behaving in a masculine manner, such as rescuing members of the monarchy, if they so choose.

What I'm saying is, the concept of Zelda rescuing Link isn't bad just because she's the Wisdom part of the triforce. Gandalf, for instance, is more wise than he is courageous but he still goes on adventures and shizz. So can Zelda. It wouldn't be out of her character to be a capable individual who has a purpose. Nor, for that matter, would it be lazier, in terms of design and writing, than repeating the same story with the same protagonist and the same damsel in need of rescue. Hell, shaking it up a bit by reversing the genders would be quite the change indeed in the Legend of Zelda franchise.

I guess I've addressed your points. 1) Ragh, crazy feminists. 2) Zelda's the Triforce of WISDOM! 3) Lazy game design & writing! But tell me if I've missed anything.
You actually missed a few...like the whole point.

Women can do whatever they want, I never said they couldn't. However we are speaking of Zelda as a character and this would be a complete 180 of everything she has managed to build around her self. If you want a female character to save the male royalty, why not just gender-bend those characters and call it a day? We are however talking about swapping who is the playable character which means you have to take in consideration of who these characters are. Zelda is not Link and she should never be built as such if you want Zelda to be a strong character. Who said Zelda couldn't go on adventures? I said within the second sentence that she could but having Zelda play like Link would be a step backwards. The Triforce of Wisdom has nothing to do with being captured, only that we never see her actually use it.

I don't think you understood a single thing I said or I have badly written it which in I apologize.
 

thanatos388

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Neverhoodian said:
Actually, Zelda has been the heroine in two games already:

Hey, I never said they were GOOD games...

Anyway, it's definitely an intriguing concept. I'm digging the artwork and thematic nods to previous Zelda titles.
I would VERY MUCH hope that Nintendo would develop these and not a third party. The nightmares still come at times.... the controls, the voice acting...
 

Windcaler

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I would be much more interested in Zelda going on her own adventure or being an equal partner in some kind of joint adventure similar to the old cartoon shows in the 80s. Just a role reversal actually doesnt add anything to the franchise, its just pandering and that isnt good for an already established franchise that has a core audience of passionate people.

That said, I think theres still room for spin offs in the series that dont have to follow the formula of the previous games. Taking an established character and showing them grow into the characters we knew like Links Uncle in a link to the past can make a very interesting game. You could also take an interesting character and do something new with them. For example At the end of Zelda 2: Links adventure peace returned to Hyrule but Link was thinking of the future. What about future, more powerful dangers to the land? So he set off to train and become stronger, we got Links awakening before they rebooted the franchise with Orcarina of time. If they did something similar with an unknown or lesser known character that was still important in the story that could turn into something really interesting and simultaneously get away from the things that made the Legend of Zelda the Legend of zelda
 

FireAza

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I'd LOVE to see the concept OP posted made real! Unlike Anita's video, they author didn't just gender-swap the characters, but gave them a proper back-story as to why they are playing the roles they are. Zelda is a good fighter since she was raised as a warrior, Link is a sheltered prince, THIS is what would make Zelda is the hero and Link the victim, not their genders.
 

Scarim Coral

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Yes I would give it a go but not for just the role changed but for those item/ location in that game idea of hers too!
 

Elementary - Dear Watson

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It wouldn't work!! Unless you make link talk... and when you start to change fundementals of the game like that then you end up changing the entire set-up, and it would cease to be a Zelda game...

I would be more interested in a game where you get to play as both Zelda and Link to complete puzzles... kinda like Spirit Tracks, but with playing as actual Zelda... and not just her posessing a demon.

You could have Link Dungeons to get Link items, and you could have Zelda Dungeons to get Zelda items... and then dungeons for both, where you have to use a combination of both their items whilst switching between them... Although it would probably work better as a handheld game!

Link could have his usual Sword/Shield/Boomerang/Bow etc...
And Zelda could focus on more of the mystical artifact/magic items that link sometimes has, as well as her having her usual sword skills... She could also have a double jump ability and things like that. You could also revolve the story around the premise that she was the most important aspect of the story anyway... and include more of her Sheik back story?
 

Smeatza

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A gender swap? How mundane.

I was thinking someone had the idea to have Gannon as the protagonist.
Now THAT I would be interested in.
 

Moonlight Butterfly

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I loved those ideas linked in the OP and wish they could be a game. I don't see any problem with Zelda being girly but it may put guys off playing it if it's too bedecked in pink and frills. I love the idea of steampunk too.

I would like to see female Ganon too :p

Smeatza said:
A gender swap? How mundane.

I was thinking someone had the idea to have Gannon as the protagonist.
Now THAT I would be interested in.
That's what I thought when I first saw this thread. Loved playing as Bowser in Bowser's Inside Story for example.
 

Aiddon_v1legacy

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the problem with that idea is that it's essentially just a genderswap. That's not being progressive, it's just doing a paint job on something. I would much rather have a title where Zelda and Link share the protagonist role (kinda like in Spirit Tracks).