The Legend of Zelda series first went 3D in 1998 with the release of the iconic Ocarina of Time. It was a challenging transition from two-dimensional to three-dimensional design for Nintendo as the game suffered numerous delays even with a team of over one hundred people. When the game finally released, it was met with an overwhelmingly positive buzz. In fact, to this day, Ocarina of Time is still held in a sacred spot in the hearts of many around the world.
Ocarina of Time was simply ahead of its time and Nintendo must have known that. The next four home console installments in The Legend of Zelda series tried to reproduce the magic from Ocarina of Time, all following a similar formula: travel to a specific dungeon; solve traditional puzzles within that dungeon; obtain a new item; and finally, slay the boss that awaits you utilizing the recently found item. The four adventures were fun and endearing in their own ways, but as the years went on and the competition intensified, The Legend of Zelda series wasn’t exactly ahead of the pack anymore.
Undoubtedly, the series needed to be reinvigorated and Nintendo understood that. In a July 2013 interview with Japanese gaming site, 4Gamers.net, producer Eiji Aonouma expressed his concerns with the conventional Legend of Zelda formula. "I'm kind of getting tired of it", he said at the time. "If I'm getting tired of it, then I'm sure other people are getting tired of it."
Aonouma later clarified his initial statement. "When I say I'm tired, I'm not talking about making Zelda, but rather, the same constituent that has been used to make Zelda up until now. In regard to how we've always done things the traditional way until now: 'Why does it have to be traditional?' That's the question I've been asking myself.”
Nintendo began to break tradition with the release of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS in November 2013. For the first time, players were able to purchase in-game weapons and travel to whichever dungeon they chose. Subtle changes, sure, but substantial for the Zelda series. Fans appreciated the tweaking of the system and wanted more. And Nintendo listened.
The next installment in The Legend of Zelda series debuted for the Wii U at E3 last month. Although still in early development, the reception was more than favorable. The brief yet stunning reveal showed off a gorgeous Hyrule Field surrounded by towering mountains that pleaded for extensive exploration. And that’s exactly what Nintendo plans on letting players do.
According to Nintendo, the Zelda Wii U, for lack of a better name, introduces the first completely open world in the series. In addition, Aonouma has stated in an interview with Game Informer that this next entry will provide “more than just a single-player experience,” hinting at an appearance of multiplayer as well. With these massive additions, Nintendo is addressing the competition while providing for long-time time fans that are eager to see The Legend of Zelda adapt.
Perhaps “traditional” is a term Nintendo is trying to break away from entirely when it comes to The Legend of Zelda and its characters. The protagonist to any Zelda game is Link, a blonde-haired boy decked out in a green costume. When Nintendo debuted Zelda Wii U, the protagonist was wearing a bright blue outfit with longer, more auburn colored hair resting on his shoulders. When asked about the change in Link’s look, Aonouma said, “No one explicitly said that was Link.” Aonouma later explained that he was merely kidding, that it was, in fact, Link. Regardless of the identity of the protagonist, Aonouma’s initial balk at implied convention shows the company’s seriousness of this overhaul.
Going further, in September, in a collaborative effort, Nintendo and Tecmo Koei will be releasing Hyrule Warriors, a mash-up of characters from The Legend of Zelda but with Dynasty Warrior style gameplay. Not only will players to play as Princess Zelda for the first time, but of the seven confirmed characters thus far, six are female. While Hyrule Warriors is not necessarily a true Zelda game, it is evident that change is now a formality for The Legend of Zelda.
Arguably the most popular part of any Zelda game is the puzzle solving. Puzzles in Zelda games revolve around pressing switches, moving specific items, or using a particular item to access new areas. Aonouma expressed his interest in changing the style of puzzle solving in the next installment. Aonouma didn't shed light on what type of puzzles will be introduced, however, leaving room for speculation.
There is a fine line to walk when changing something as historic in the gaming world as The Legend of Zelda. There’s a reason the franchise has lasted 28 years. Aonouma is aware of the potential troubles. "If we change it too much, I'm also concerned people will say, 'Okay, is it no longer Zelda if we don't have this formula?'" Aonouma, though, is even more aware that change is inevitable. “If we don't change we might die. We need to evolve. Things need to change. Things need to grow." Nearly 16 years ago, Nintendo was faced with the same realization that amendments had to be done when developing Ocarina of Time. Nintendo came out ahead of its time back then. What about now?
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this web site are soley those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of UnionVGF.com, and/or any other contributors to this site.
Undoubtedly, the series needed to be reinvigorated and Nintendo understood that. In a July 2013 interview with Japanese gaming site, 4Gamers.net, producer Eiji Aonouma expressed his concerns with the conventional Legend of Zelda formula. "I'm kind of getting tired of it", he said at the time. "If I'm getting tired of it, then I'm sure other people are getting tired of it."
Aonouma later clarified his initial statement. "When I say I'm tired, I'm not talking about making Zelda, but rather, the same constituent that has been used to make Zelda up until now. In regard to how we've always done things the traditional way until now: 'Why does it have to be traditional?' That's the question I've been asking myself.”
Nintendo began to break tradition with the release of The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds for the 3DS in November 2013. For the first time, players were able to purchase in-game weapons and travel to whichever dungeon they chose. Subtle changes, sure, but substantial for the Zelda series. Fans appreciated the tweaking of the system and wanted more. And Nintendo listened.
The next installment in The Legend of Zelda series debuted for the Wii U at E3 last month. Although still in early development, the reception was more than favorable. The brief yet stunning reveal showed off a gorgeous Hyrule Field surrounded by towering mountains that pleaded for extensive exploration. And that’s exactly what Nintendo plans on letting players do.
According to Nintendo, the Zelda Wii U, for lack of a better name, introduces the first completely open world in the series. In addition, Aonouma has stated in an interview with Game Informer that this next entry will provide “more than just a single-player experience,” hinting at an appearance of multiplayer as well. With these massive additions, Nintendo is addressing the competition while providing for long-time time fans that are eager to see The Legend of Zelda adapt.
Perhaps “traditional” is a term Nintendo is trying to break away from entirely when it comes to The Legend of Zelda and its characters. The protagonist to any Zelda game is Link, a blonde-haired boy decked out in a green costume. When Nintendo debuted Zelda Wii U, the protagonist was wearing a bright blue outfit with longer, more auburn colored hair resting on his shoulders. When asked about the change in Link’s look, Aonouma said, “No one explicitly said that was Link.” Aonouma later explained that he was merely kidding, that it was, in fact, Link. Regardless of the identity of the protagonist, Aonouma’s initial balk at implied convention shows the company’s seriousness of this overhaul.
Going further, in September, in a collaborative effort, Nintendo and Tecmo Koei will be releasing Hyrule Warriors, a mash-up of characters from The Legend of Zelda but with Dynasty Warrior style gameplay. Not only will players to play as Princess Zelda for the first time, but of the seven confirmed characters thus far, six are female. While Hyrule Warriors is not necessarily a true Zelda game, it is evident that change is now a formality for The Legend of Zelda.
Arguably the most popular part of any Zelda game is the puzzle solving. Puzzles in Zelda games revolve around pressing switches, moving specific items, or using a particular item to access new areas. Aonouma expressed his interest in changing the style of puzzle solving in the next installment. Aonouma didn't shed light on what type of puzzles will be introduced, however, leaving room for speculation.
There is a fine line to walk when changing something as historic in the gaming world as The Legend of Zelda. There’s a reason the franchise has lasted 28 years. Aonouma is aware of the potential troubles. "If we change it too much, I'm also concerned people will say, 'Okay, is it no longer Zelda if we don't have this formula?'" Aonouma, though, is even more aware that change is inevitable. “If we don't change we might die. We need to evolve. Things need to change. Things need to grow." Nearly 16 years ago, Nintendo was faced with the same realization that amendments had to be done when developing Ocarina of Time. Nintendo came out ahead of its time back then. What about now?
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed on this web site are soley those of the original author. These views and opinions do not necessarily represent those of UnionVGF.com, and/or any other contributors to this site.
