What should Zelda change?

[PsychedelicDiamond]

Maybe 'm not the best person to answer this question but... make it more like Majoras Mask. It's in my opinion the best Zelda game (It's also the first one i've ever played so maybe i'm kinda biased) and it's still pretty much perfect in every way. I love the atmosphere, i love the structure, i love the sidequests and i really wish some of the other games were more like it.

 

[Brighton_Game_Trader]

Yeah, quite a lot needs to change really.

They need to stop "honouring" previous Zelda titles and think outside of the box. Move away from the 2-hour intro - 2 hour learn the basics - 2 hours in the Forest Temple etc. formula.

Link to the Past was where it was at - you got story, game mechanics and the sense of adventure while you were playing rather than while you were watching a bland but colourful cutscene.

Basically, they just need to try something different to keep up with the times.

Failing that, maybe swap out Link for Lindsey Stirling! ([link]http://eclectic-review.blogspot.com/2012/04/video-violins-and-cosplay-070412-daily.html[/link])

 

[MaxiP62]

I'm very much an outsider to these new Nintendo games. I don't get it. They're like NES zombies arising the the grave each Nintendo console generation.

What do you want from them? Nostalgia? What did they ever do to you?

I need a good argument for why we need to keep conjuring up these poor fellows. Can they not rest in peace?

Shit, I love Willow, even the damn video game but I wouldn't dare ask for anymore Willow.

No, most people who haven't played the popular Nintendo games don't seem to get it.

The argument is, is that Zelda works on so many different levels, and it CAN be used again and again because of the way they make it different each generation. It ISN'T recycling the same game over and over, each generation they make something different, even if it's only a slight difference.

And each game links together, which is probably a terrible reason, but for example Ocarina of Time and Skyward Sword are linked, as well as it linking to Wind Waker, and it also linking to Twilight Princess.

Wind Waker links to Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks.

There are more connections, but they are the most basic ones, also the game structure they have set for the game just works really, really well. It could be changed, that's the whole point of this thread, but it doesn't mean it's flawed by any means.

I could go into more detail, but I won't. My point is that nostalgia has NOTHING to do with it, the fact that it's one of the greatest game franchises of all time DOES.

 

[Don Savik]

- More villages and characters, Skyward Sword felt pretty lifeless to me

-More options, text speed and such

-Give link a voice maybe? Or at least end the silent hero crap, you can tell he responds in Skyward sword from how characters react to what he says, you just don't hear his side of the talking.

-Maybe break up the formula somewhat? even if it's just changing up the temples/dungeons, make new ones and put them in a different order or something.

I don't think more villages characters would help. Now, I find Zelda games lifeless and boring (link to the past, majora's mask, and phantom hourglass are the only ones ive really liked) but I don't think thats the way to go with it. A bunch of static people that say one thing when you press A is WHY the Zelda games are so lifeless. Everyone is just a cardboard cutout, save a few major characters. I don't have a solution, but I think everyone would rather be hitting things with their sword in an adventure game, then running around solving people's problems Dr.Phil style in the middle of a crysis involving the end of the world.

 

[Lamss]

Stop making bosses so obvious. for example: King Dodongo has a big Mouth and you have bombs. or Tentalus as one giant glowing eye and you have a bow...

 

[AyreonMaiden]

Honestly, if some of Dark Souls' brand of open-endedness could work itself into the current Zelda formula, I'd think it's perfect. That, and more sidequests and lively towns.

 

[Dansen]

I alway thought it would look cool with a victorian steam punk ascetic, it could work seeing as all of the games seem to be set at different times and places. I'll try and dig up the drawing of how I envisioned Link and Zelda in the setting.

 

[go-10]

as a Zelda fanatic
- Voice acting, now hear me out I really don't want Link, Ganondorf, or Zelda to talk but everyone else in the world should
- varied dungeons and locations, Skyward Sword is a big NO re-using the same locations over and over is dull and boring go back to the old formula of a big overworld
- Hub towns, Minish Cap, Majora's Mask, Skyward Sword all had Hub towns, and they felt oppressive I like the marginalization of freedom we've had in the past
- different modes, after playing through OoT 3DS Master Quest and SS hard mode I've realized that Zelda could very well use a difficulty option, specifically one like the one used in Silent Hill 2 and 3 where you can set the difficulty of battles and puzzles independently
- replace tunics with armors and weapons, think about it, the red tunic is still fire resistant but have it fit to some lore about how it was forged from the Great-Dodongo King and is fashioned after a feudal Japan red samurai armor and the sword turns into a katana. The blue tunic is the one from Twilight Princess but his sword now changes into the axes that usually Zora's have but never use
- bosses up on their diversity and difficulty, stop holding back! Imagine how awesome it would be if every boss in a Zelda game was like the bosses in Shadow of the Colossus where you have to use all of your currently acquired items to reach the weak point of the monster and expose it for damage and they're all massive like the desert colossus

 

[Avatar Roku]

More sword fighting. You got a sword and shield and half the time you are fighting slimes and bats, ect. Really don't mind those types of enemies being in there, I want more baddies that wield weapons. Pretty much want them to have the A.I. of wanting to block and parry. Have them look for a weakness and then strike. You see a Stalfos in the game and you know your in for an intense battle.

I agree. In Twilight Princess, the most fun I had was fighting Darknuts, and I would replay the Cave of Ordeals multiple times just to get back to that room where you fight those 3 darknuts again.

I would be down for voice acting as long as it is not the Metroid Other M voice acting.

The intro sequences of the newer ones take way to long and I start losing interest.

I hope Nintendo learns from Fi and stop giving us support characters.

Make boss fights that are not just hitting their projectiles back at them

As for support characters, they've already proven they can be done well. Midna, for example, was probably the best character in TP.

...and now I've done a strange amount of gushing about TP. Weird, because I like SS so much more.

 

[BishopofAges]

I have to agree with most of your ideas, except for voice acting because no matter how many people like the voice, it might drive away some fans because they had believed he 'didn't need a voice before, so why now?'

When it comes to wind waker and others in a mini section I call 'The Legend of Big-Headed Link' I do like how it is very classic in its ways while at the same time introducing small new elements, abilities, etc. which is good. It sticks to a general formula while making interesting changes for exciting play, mostly for handheld.

The 3 dimentional Ocarina of Time/Twilight Princess/Skyward sword games are the place where they can really start messing with stuff and making changes to the formula, because even if it doesn't fit well with the regular formula, you could always get the next handheld zelda for nostalgia, console should be a place for the new ideas, most times anyway.

For small-time reference of my standpoint, I've played the Zelda series since the first, with only missing out on the GB and GBA games which I will soon be accquiring.

Small sidenote: How nice was it that they gave up the timeline? It actually made sense too! (to me at least)

 

[Avatar Roku]

- replace tunics with armors and weapons, think about it, the red tunic is still fire resistant but have it fit to some lore about how it was forged from the Great-Dodongo King and is fashioned after a feudal Japan red samurai armor and the sword turns into a katana. The blue tunic is the one from Twilight Princess but his sword now changes into the axes that usually Zora's have but never use

SS was a step in the right direction, because it at least made it clear that Link was wearing chainmail under the tunic.

 

[Lugbzurg]

I think there should be full-blown dialogue. Link himself doesn't need to speak. But, we can definitely hear him screaming a lot. The Legend of Zelda is one if Nintendo's more serious, realistic, "hardcore" franchises. I can excuse the 64 titles for not having any speech, anything after that... No. There's no excuse for us not being able to hear what anyone else is saying, anymore. Clearly, the characters can speak, so, we should be able to hear them. Nintendo has shown that they can get such things done, like in the StarFox games and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. And it worked great! But, The Legend of Zelda could really use that, now.

I also think it might be nice to see the series do what Assassins Creed is starting to do. These are so many different Links from many different time periods and cultures, right? Well, expand upon that! Show us more completely different cultures and time periods! It would work!

 

[Smeggs]

The voice acting I totally agree with (Save for Link, of course).

It almost seems wrong for the characters in SS not to have had any actual speech. I mean really, they already make so many noises with their voices and shouts in the game it almost seems odd that none of the NPCs actually talk. Obviously it would need to be done really well, but it can already be somewhat told that Nintendo are very good at choosing voices for the characters, even if all they do is make random noises. Groose's voice sounded perfect, now if only he'd actually said something.

Keep going with the narrative changes. We've traveled back in time to the beginning of the legend, the only place we have yet to see are the various futures it could have. I'm still waiting for a steampunk-esque LoZ. Surprised there hasn't been one yet, actually. Steampunk seems like it'd fit perfectly into the Zelda universe.

I think there should be full-blown dialogue. Link himself doesn't need to speak. But, we can definitely hear him screaming a lot. The Legend of Zelda is one if Nintendo's more serious, realistic, "hardcore" franchises. I can excuse the 64 titles for not having any speech, anything after that... No. There's no excuse for us not being able to hear what anyone else is saying, anymore. Clearly, the characters can speak, so, we should be able to hear them. Nintendo has shown that they can get such things done, like in the StarFox games and Super Smash Bros. Brawl. And it worked great! But, The Legend of Zelda could really use that, now.

And it's totally not awkward at all using spoken dialogue to talk to a character without a name.

They pulled it off pretty smoothly with Tidus in FFX.

Seriously though, I doubt anyone would much care if Nintendo did away with the name change system. Everyone knows him as Link. That is his name.

 

[Innegativeion]

They shouldn't change anything. I loved Skyward Sword just as much

Skyward Sword is amazing. It's like a piece of art.

It IS a work of art, as most games tend to be. It was certainly a great game. HOWEVER, you're deluding yourself if you think it was without noticeable flaws.

--Ditch the level-oriented design of SWS and stick to OoT's more-open world feel, with more areas.

-The statues-as teleporters thing REALLY breaks the illusion of vastness that other hyrules created. Seriously preferred the teleportation songs. The SWS model also eliminated the need for secret teleporters like in OoT, which were really satisfying to discover.

-I like the concept of the item upgrade system, but put a little more thought into it. Make all or most items upgradeable, maybe even customizable with branching upgrades. Don't put a flat upgrade in (arrows do more damage... uh-duh), add something unique(beetle speed boost and slingshot scatter comes to mind). Maybe extend the hookshot range or stun duration, making it necessary for some side-quests. Maybe give arrows minor subtle homing. Maybe make bombs remote-detonated. Or upgrade them to bomchus. Maybe upgrade the whip to do damage. etc. etc.

-Drop the fucking item pouch system. Or better yet, replace it with a pouch that only carries medals that can have its capacity upgraded. Let ammo bags, bottles, and such be built-in and limited in number again.

-Not sure if I'm the minority, but I really liked the swordplay in SWS. I'm happy they're keeping it. The final fight with

Spoiler

Ganandorf's grandpa

was truly intense. The motion controls will only improve as time and technology goes on, anyway.

 

[Innegativeion]

They pulled it off pretty smoothly with Tidus in FFX.

Better more modern example;

Spoiler

Where Shepard is replaced by any appropriate title, like "hero", "kid", "fairy boy", "boy", "knight", etc.

edit:blegh, sorry for double post.

 

[Smeggs]

They pulled it off pretty smoothly with Tidus in FFX.

Better more modern example;

Spoiler

Where Shepard is replaced by any appropriate title, like "hero", "kid", "fairy boy", "boy", "knight", etc.

edit:blegh, sorry for double post.

Oh, right.

Doesn't the Protagonist in Bastion just get called "The Kid" by the narrator through the whole thing?

 

[SD-Fiend]

Try something new . Let's play as zelda for once , hell even peach got her own damn game ( and it wasn't a bad game either).

Try something old , let's try a new top-down zelda , a la 3d dot game heroes ( and i'm not talking about on a handheld system).

Give us some difficulty settings . Seriously , the hardcore crowd would eat that shit up.

Stop being so goddamn presictable .Periode.

1 they did and it twice and they were terrible. (C-Di)

2. I can't really see that happening. there isn't a reason to. unless Link starts going the way of the blue hedgehog...

4.i don't even know how that would work. it's stories are the most basic of thing in the world.
(but that would be the point in being unpredictable)

OT:I'd just say that for the next game don't make it like skyward sword. Skyward sword was a nice game but there was nothing to do in skyloft, the whole dropping down from the clouds bit and lack of towns or anything sort of transition between the areas made me feel that I was just being plopped down and not actually exploring. the characters also need to be more likable, I didn't care for any of them like i did (for example) Saria or Darunia.

and for the love of the goddess make the support character say something useful!

 

[Snotnarok]

They could change the game for once and not have the same story/plot/characters every time. Minor tweaks over the series (minus the jump to 3D) really doesn't count. The best one they made was Twilight Princess in my opinion with characters you actually wanted to help and a actual feeling of growth from the character.

OoT as I've said before has a lot of idiots I'd rather see burn rather than saved.

I'm not sure why it's always Link but they could change out the characters, maybe even give new gear that isn't the bloody Master Sword.

 

[Magikarp]

I think there should be more civilisation. I don't know why, but it really got to me that Skyward Sword only had one town.
Also, a bigger overworld. I didn't like skyward sword's tiny sky & limited questing areas.
I don't like the idea of voice acting. It can be good, but just look at things like Sonic. Also, I don't think it would work with Link's progression from childhood to adulthood.

 

[dragsaw]

- Building upon the free running ideas, building puzzles upon that idea, having to run across a wall and then use the hookshot, or extra platforming sections.

Auto-jumo make platforming pointless


- Voice acting. After seeing Kid Icarus: Uprising, Nintendo clearly has the resources to create great voice acting, even in English. Kid Icarus' writing was top notch and made me enjoy the game even more than I already was, if they added that humour to Zelda, which is generally an already funny game, it could really improve the game. However I am against the idea of Link having a voice.

No, just no