Think We'll Get the Zelda We Want Next Time Around?

[JohnCrichton]

Everyone but the true blue lovers and fans of Nintendo are generally grumbling about the unfortunate turn for the Hanna Barbara that Zelda took from its former Final Fantasy rivalling incarnation that got scraped.

So, with this general rumble throughout the gaming world, do you think the next installment will give us what we wanted?

Or will Nintendo stick to its pride and go about what it wants to do?

[Achika]

You mean we aren't getting the one we want?

I'm not in love with Zelda or anything, I thought the second one was terrible and I never bothered to play the 64 or GB/C ones, but I did love the original and SNES Zelda. And those were both cute and cartoony fun.

Now we're getting another one in the same style, the way its creator intended and not to many people are happy about it?

And for example if any widescreen-only people are dissatisfied with this look then I'd say those people really don't care about watching or in this case playing what the creator intended.

[JohnCrichton]

I'll buy it and play it... might even like it, but it's not what I wanted.

I've played the GBC games and seen the 64's in action. People say these were some of the greatest Zelda Adventures ever created and I'm inclined to agree.

It was leaning more and more toward true anime/fantasy and growing up along with its players.

This new Zelda seems like a huge step back and it's not what I was looking for.

We'll see....

[Joe Wagner]

I think it's truly going to depend upon the game play that the game brings to the table and the amount of time that they put into the designs for the game. Personally, with Ocarina of Time I could run around for hours just drooling over the amazing backgrounds. However, with Majora's Mask the time constraint was added and basically removed a lot of the fun of the original 64 Zelda. If the GC Zelda follows Ocarina of Time then I think we'll all be in for a treat but if it goes closer to Majora's Mask I don't know if I'll even bother picking it up.

-Joe!

[Naraht]

My problem with the graphics is it's one thing to be really cartoony when you're working with very new 16bit technology as in the SNES version.

It's quite another to be Cartoony when you have a kick ass what is it in the GC? 128, 256 Bit?

Also...I didn't like EITHER N64 version, cause the 3rd person shooter format doesn't work for me. I like the top down, puzzle solving, not the aim & shoot nonsense of the 64 versions..

[KingKoopa]

Yes, I think we'll get the Zelda we want next time around.

It'll be released on the GBA.

[Shnay]

People criticize Nintendo for just rehashing old games, and failing to make innovations. But then they give Mario a water pack, and people whine about it. They give Link a new look, and people whine about it.

I don't know why people don't like this style. It looks absolutley beautiful. Maybe most people want to play as the "realistic" Link in the N64 games with more polygons, but that doesn't sound nearly as appealing to me as using the GC's graphical power to make an awesome work of animation.

[ButteredToast]

Don't know about you guys, but any Zelda game is a game I want. Period. I have yet to be let down, and I seriously doubt that this one will be the first one. Just the fact alone that this is one of the few TRUE cel-shaded games out there (as in not just the characters, but the entire enviroment down to the details) makes it worth buying.

If you don't like the style, then don't buy it. It leaves more copies for those of us who want something fresh, innovative and new.

[Chris Sanders MSX]

Well like BT any Zelda game is the Zelda game I want. No Zelda game on a Ninintendo system has let us down before and I don't expect this one to. I like this format because it removed all of the limits that would have been placed on a game that was taken more seriously. The game kind of actually reminds me of Samuri Jack in it's style and look.

[Bird Boy]

I gotta ask--have you guys seen some of the recent videos of it? The way it's done--it's BEAUTIFUL! There isn't a jaggie in sight, and it's just stunningly beautiful. The water in it is awsome as well..just amazing.

I was never a fan of the original Zeldas, I loved OoT, and I never completed Majora's Mask (I HATE being rushed--same reason I never finished Pikmin).


People criticize Nintendo for just rehashing old games, and failing to make innovations. But then they give Mario a water pack, and people whine about it. They give Link a new look, and people whine about it.

I hear ya man. I'm just happy for a new Mario and Zelda..

..now I just need my updated version of Pilotwings..

-BB

[guinaevere]

Nintendo has taken a few bizarre steps with the Zelda line over the years (not necessarily in games), and they seem extremely comfortable taking fans & gamers down roads which otherwise, we wouldn't expect to have gone down.

I admit, seeing the first shots out of E3 about two years ago, I was so disappointed. I mean, here we had a great adult Link that any grrl would love to see in action again (as I'm sure guys like his adult character, but for rather different reasons ;)), and then we were given this bizarre cartoony youngish Link on the upcoming Cube! Horror!!

But play will tell out, and I've known no reviewer yet to diss the game, the story or the visuals. And listen to our admin, Bird Boy, check out the pics & movies and hang in there!

As to whether we'll get another Oot style, we'll have to wait, but I don't think it unlikely. If anything, Nintendo seems to like trying new formats and styles... but that doesn't mean they give up on old favorites that still work.

Sorry, Nahrat, I don't know if we'll see another top-down on anything other than the GBA. I was a big fan of that style, too... but then, I still think the side scrolling Castlevania games were the best... ::shrug::

[moldorm]

Originally posted by Naraht
what is it in the GC? 128, 256 Bit?


32-bit PowerPC processor, actually. Similar to XBox (with it's Pentium III, which is also 32-bit.) I believe that the Dreamcast was also 32-bit. The only systems that are 64-bit and higher are the Nintendo 64 (Mips r4300, IIRC), Atari Jaguar, and PS2 (oddball mips extended out to 128-bits). I believe my HP48 calculator is also 64-bit. :p

[bfmusashi]

It all boils down to gameplay in the end. And since this latest Zelda game's sticking with the basic engine-scheme of the N64 Zeldas (which I personally liked), everything's okay by me, so far. Yes, the graphics are much less "Final Fantasy" than the last batch of Zelda games, but if you look at the official artwork and graphics of the Zelda titles before the N64 era, you'll see that Zelda was never much of a realistic series to begin with. It's a series that's thrived off of terrific and enjoyable gameplay...not necessarily the flashiest graphics ever. And even if you can't stand Link's cel-shading look, you've gotta admit that the actual graphical presentation is outstanding. I've never seen cel-shading so fluid and smooth, and the game actually looks like an interactive cartoon. Even though I too would personally prefer a more anime-style look, the current graphics have grown on me. I'll take 'em fine as long as this new Zelda game proves to be just as good as the last couple.

And if it makes you feel any better, JC, Nintendo's supposedly developing another Zelda title currently. For the GC. With a more "adult" look. Take that as you will, though I'm not so sure if it'll ever see the light of day.

[Weatherman]

Personally, I love the new look. Yes, I was kinda put off at first after the E3 2001 vid, but the more I see if the look the more I love it. It's just so fluid and expressive.

Also, for those of you who didn't like MM becuase of the clock, personally, I loved the idea of incorporating the flow of time into the game. Made you plan out what you would do when and what you could do in a particular game play session. Anyway....

[Zyzzybalubah]

I'll admit the this new Zelda is probably going to be a fun game, and the cel-shading is some of the best I have ever seen, but I honestly was looking forward to playing the one from Spaceworld 2000. While I love Zelda 1, Zelda: LttP, Zelda: LA, and the Oracle Games, there was so much graphic limitations with those systems regarding realistic graphics (if you play Chrono Trigger and some of the FF games on SNES, you'll see those games are kind of cartoonish, yet their PS and PS2 succesors aim for a more mature, realistic look). While I understand Nintendo wants to keep Zelda "family-friendly", I think they went to far on this one. Link looks too paperish, kind of like PaRappa the Rapper.

I think if they wanted a cartoon look, I personally think they should have gone for an anime-like cel-shading (more in the lines of Jet Set Radio and Robotech: Battlecry). While I don't have a link (no pun intended), I remember Nintendojo.com proposed a different Cel-da look that resembled Young Link similar to how he was made in the Oracle series for Game Boy Color. I understand that Zelda is animated but I wish this new title would be like an animated show similiar to the "new He-man" rather than "Looney Tunes".

While I am likely to buy this title, I am not that happy. I think it is likely Nintendo will take note of most of the demands going on and make a more realistic, more "mature" look for the next title (it's looking likely after all there are rumors of the re-releasings of the N64 Zeldas). Well at least I hope they do.

[Sandro]

I don't like the new Zelda, not because of the look necessarily, but because of Nintendo's mindset that the original look would scare kids. So what? I honest to God hope they know what they are doing.

[Shnay]

Originally posted by Sandro885
I don't like the new Zelda, not because of the look necessarily, but because of Nintendo's mindset that the original look would scare kids. So what? I honest to God hope they know what they are doing.

Was there anything official saying that's why they changed it? Or, perhaps, is that a rumor started by people dissatisfied with the look? (I'm really asking, I honestly don't know).

Also, I think we can assume Nintendo know's what they're doing. I don't think they've let us down yet in the quality department.

[Zyzzybalubah]

Was there anything official saying that's why they changed it? Or, perhaps, is that a rumor started by people dissatisfied with the look? (I'm really asking, I honestly don't know).

Well I did say something early, and I might have jumped ahead of myself. While Nintendo is picking up more mature titles (Capcom with their RE games and Nintendo publishing Silicon Knight's titles such as Eternal Darkness and hopefully some day "Too Human"), spokespeople from Nintendo have stated many times that Nintendo is a family company (overall) and they like to make titles for all ages. Miyamoto has also stated that he always pictured Link more in the animated way than realistic (I question why he made Ocarina of Time then). Miyamoto is IMO one of the best gaming developers/producers out there, and when he releases some crazy ideas that may sound weird to me, he'll normally prove me wrong (Pikmin, Super Mario Sunshine, who would have thought Mario using water would have been fun?).

While I can't force Miyamoto to change his vision (nor would I want to because that would make Nintendo and others mad) I really would wish that he would have stuck with the direction that he was going with Zelda: TOoT. Recently other developers have had the opportunity to try to make a Zelda game (no not the CD-I developers :p ). I'm talking about Capcom with the Oracle Series and Miyamoto said he only watched over the Majora's Mask game and didn't have a major influence on it. In my opinion, I only liked the Oracle Series and felt that Majora's Mask was a dissapointment.

[Conekiller]

I would have preferred the art design of the Oracle games to be incorporated into 3-d instead of kidde South Park, I got over that a long time ao, I have since seen the game in motion and it looks stupendous, I'm sure the game will be as much fun as the previous ones ( 'cept Adventure of Link, that was kinda weird and ..not fun) . I would love an update to the N64 ones (never had n64, just played demos at my store) but I'm not demanding it.

the only real disadvantage I see is that it just's adds to the "nintendo is a kiddie system" argument instead of trying to combat it (but I'll leave that to Metroid, Eternal Darkness and Resident Evil)

[Parallax]

They gave Luigi a vacum, the game was cool.
They gave Mario a water backback-thingy Super Game.
They give Fox a spear Wonderful game.
Nintendo has changed Zeld into a cartoon and I have a feeling it's going to be great. The graphics look beautiful and crisp. Nintendo knows what there doing trust me.If it's not I'll eat my GBA.

[Chris Sanders MSX]

I dunno why people compare this game's looks to anything but Samuri Jack. The styles are strikingly more similar than South Park of Looney Tunes or anything else.

[SNS]

You see the difference between those games & Zelda is that they just got new game play elements, Zelda just got the visuals changed.

Note: Star Fox Adventures does not count considering it was going to be an N64 game called Dinosaur Planet but Nintendo convinced Rare into replacing the characters with Star Fox characters. Soon the game was moved to Gamecube & the title "Dinosaur Planet" was dropped (for awhile though, the game was called "Star Fox Adventures: Dinosaur Planet")

[Shnay]

Originally posted by Chris Sanders MSX
I dunno why people compare this game's looks to anything but Samuri Jack. The styles are strikingly more similar than South Park of Looney Tunes or anything else.

I think the comparison comes from the colors. I can't quite put my finger on it, but I sort of get the same "feel" from the colors in each, and maybe that's what others are basing their comparisons on.

[Zyzzybalubah]

Originally posted by Chris Sanders MSX
I dunno why people compare this game's looks to anything but Samuri Jack. The styles are strikingly more similar than South Park of Looney Tunes or anything else.

I said Looney Tunes because it sounds like they're going for a more humorous look (colors and video). While things might have changed since the last time I viewed a video, I remember multiple Gannons chasing Link and them flying into the walls. That just makes me think Zelda is getting a little more slapstick (since it involves one of the more serious bad guys in the games).

Ocarina of Time had a little slapstick comedy with the Gorons, and Onox (I think it was) trying to pull out his axe, but it was missing. Also Koume and Kotake were pretty humorous. I liked those elements, because some things don't have to be all serious, but then again somethings should be all-out humorous.

I do see alot of similarities between this Zelda and Samurai Jack. When I see a close up on Jack's eyes, I almost think "Are these the people working on the new Zelda?" I would like to see Nintendo develop a Samurai Jack with that cel-shading, I think they could make a heck of game (unfortuanately BAM! has the rights to the console versions of Samurai Jack, so I am not expecting too much).

I see some similarities to South Park, mostly the heads and the human character bodies. The game looks somewhat like it's paper, and I agree with Shnay... the color does make me think of other cartoons.

[JohnCrichton]

Originally posted by Chris Sanders MSX
I dunno why people compare this game's looks to anything but Samuri Jack. The styles are strikingly more similar than South Park of Looney Tunes or anything else.

I dunno. It's teh design and proportions that bug me the mose. Proportions that're closer to Charlie Brown than Samurai Jack.