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What's Next For Zelda?

simpatico

Member
My take is, the more Zelda they make, the more likely to land on the style I want. If they always wait that long between games, I might die before they get around to it. So keep the offshoots, remakes, and general milking going please.

I like the Link's Awakening remake more than BOTW/TOTK.
I'm a LTTP purist. The NES->SNES->64 evolution will be a dragon we chase with Nintendo forever. The reason I proposed a break is because I can't even think of what I want from Zelda right now. We've been somewhat spoiled since Twilight Princess, getting a good spread of art styles. To the point that whatever I could think of seemed derivative of one of them. I hope Nintendo enlists their best magicians on whatever they do next with it. Mario and Metroid are much easier IPs to direct imo. Maybe it is time for the "realistic" shot. Switch 2 should be able to handle that graphical style. I'm hesitant to go there, but it's the only think I can find with that spark. A highly polished, linear, dungeon-based Twilight Princess style would also be good. Maybe they can really polish a cool take on third person action combat. If anyone can pull it off, it's Nintendo.
 

MAX PAYMENT

Member
zdemo23-186170.jpg

Something dark and gritty.
 
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lachesis

Member
Not open world. At least for next few games.
Nor heavily story driven. Zelda games doesn't get developed around a story, but story gets developed around gameplay.

The core of a Zelda is exploration, dungeons and their clever puzzles.
I think next game will have to do something with next Switch's gimmick, if there is any.

They used the mix/match/craft concept already for TOTK. Physics for the BOTW... Ability changes for the recent Zelda one...
I think something other than those types would be key new feature - or combination of all of them.
Maybe it would be something about woodworking/stone carving/blacksmithing while collecting materials - that you create your own weapons?
Not as ultrahand, but more of condensed, more concise and infinitely different types of weapons that can really creative - and can be used to solve the puzzles...

But the art style wise - don't know. I doubt if they'll release SD/Chibi style for their mainline 3D zelda now - I think it will stay as 3d cell shaded look (which I don't mind, provided with excellent animations)
 

V1LÆM

Gold Member
All I want is open world and for them not to use that awful art style from Links Awakening remake and Echoes of Wisdom.

I think they will not stick to BOTW/TOTK style but anything else is better than the creepy LA/EoW look.

Being able to play as Zelda in a main title would be cool because I’m never gonna play EoW.
 

Darkmakaimura

Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
You know what I would like to see? I would like to see a Zelda game where you can travel to different worlds. I'm not talking about going from one world to another but actually skipping to different worlds within the same game.

One idea I had was where Ganon has conquered multiple worlds kind of like the Guardian in Ultima IX. SOMETHING TRULY EPIC.
 

Bridges

Member
Set it in modern day. Fully voice acted. Give Link two pistols alongside his sword. He swears and drives a motorcycle. Zelda is a freedom fighter who communicates through an ear piece and knows everything. Ganon is a greedy capitalist who controls society behind the scenes through consumerism. Near the beginning of the game during a fight a green cap falls on Link's head and he turns to the camera and says "not in a million years" before throwing it off like a badass.
 

DKPOWPOW

Member
If they are smart, they will take a step back from the Open Air Zelda style and give it some room to breathe after the inevitable 4K Remasters/ Switch 2 upgrade of Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom.

While both games were roaring successes, Tears of the Kingdom doesn't seem to have the legs that Breath of the Wild does, and may end up selling 15 million copies less which is a pretty significant drop. Releasing another game in this style will likely stagnant the series or follow in worse sales.

Neither which is what I imagine Nintendo would want. I remember hearing plans of them having a Zelda related title on a yearly basis, but with Echoes of Wisdom probably not selling better than the Link's Awakening remake... Again I suspect they will slow their roll on that plan.

With the apparently strong upgrade Switch 2 provides, a classic 3D style Zelda game could be the best path forwards to keeping the series invigorated. Utilizing the hardware for some impressive visuals, a focus on dungeons and better combat mechanics would likely be the best route for the series in the interim. It would provide fans what they have been clamouring for, and at the same time allowing anticipation to build for another open air Zelda game to follow afterwards.

Timing is important here though, the classic Zelda style game should release in the next 2 years, and following that the Open Air Zelda should follow within 3 years. Tears of the Kingdom simply took too long to come out after Breath of the Wild, though a big part of this had to do with COVID I'm sure.

Nintendo has had a long time to plan the success of their next console, the games to accompany it, and most importantly bolstering their staff to accommodate the new Switch.
 

Darkmakaimura

Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
Set it in modern day. Fully voice acted. Give Link two pistols alongside his sword. He swears and drives a motorcycle. Zelda is a freedom fighter who communicates through an ear piece and knows everything. Ganon is a greedy capitalist who controls society behind the scenes through consumerism. Near the beginning of the game during a fight a green cap falls on Link's head and he turns to the camera and says "not in a million years" before throwing it off like a badass.
Oh I really hope you're joking but I'm sure you are. That's the last thing I want to see. The closest to that would be some kind of huge magical city that Link can explore.

If they are smart, they will take a step back from the Open Air Zelda style and give it some room to breathe after the inevitable 4K Remasters/ Switch 2 upgrade of Breath of the Wild & Tears of the Kingdom.

While both games were roaring successes, Tears of the Kingdom doesn't seem to have the legs that Breath of the Wild does, and may end up selling 15 million copies less which is a pretty significant drop. Releasing another game in this style will likely stagnant the series or follow in worse sales.

Neither which is what I imagine Nintendo would want. I remember hearing plans of them having a Zelda related title on a yearly basis, but with Echoes of Wisdom probably not selling better than the Link's Awakening remake... Again I suspect they will slow their roll on that plan.

With the apparently strong upgrade Switch 2 provides, a classic 3D style Zelda game could be the best path forwards to keeping the series invigorated. Utilizing the hardware for some impressive visuals, a focus on dungeons and better combat mechanics would likely be the best route for the series in the interim. It would provide fans what they have been clamouring for, and at the same time allowing anticipation to build for another open air Zelda game to follow afterwards.

Timing is important here though, the classic Zelda style game should release in the next 2 years, and following that the Open Air Zelda should follow within 3 years. Tears of the Kingdom simply took too long to come out after Breath of the Wild, though a big part of this had to do with COVID I'm sure.

Nintendo has had a long time to plan the success of their next console, the games to accompany it, and most importantly bolstering their staff to accommodate the new Switch.
I kind of be up for some kind of space adventure. But done fantasy wise, something like Spelljammer.
 

chakadave

Member
Open world.

Items collected in dungeons unlock more areas and ways to interact to explore that world

Same physics interactions like BoTW.

Combat overhaul making more move sets and unique attack combos.
 
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DKPOWPOW

Member
Oh I really hope you're joking but I'm sure you are. That's the last thing I want to see. The closest to that would be some kind of huge magical city that Link can explore.


I kind of be up for some kind of space adventure. But done fantasy wise, something like Spelljammer.
I think it's really likely we get a remake of some kind when it comes to classic 3D Zelda. Though, with the Open Air concept I feel Space and Underwater would be the next logical concepts for them to tackle. They already did underground + sky so, makes sense.

I just feel things should be fleshed out more, regardless of what they go for in the Open Air concept. Combat, enemy variation, enemy A.I., environmental destruction, there is a lot that deserves an upgrade in mechanics. BotW teased gigantic creatures roaming along the lands like Kaiju's or Shadow of the Colossus.

I think it's something that could be built upon and incorporated in an exciting way to the overworld. Allowing real consequences to happen if you dilly dally, almost like the Moon crashing down in Majora's Mask.

Weather events could be totally upgraded, just a lot of the systems in general and explanations for things. It's still a bit jarring when you are struggling to survive during moments of the games and then you open your item screen and you have 50 prepped meals ready to go.

Not saying they should dive full into realism, just provide an explanation that makes sense within the world.
 
Aside from Wind Waker HD, and BOTW Deluxe coming to Switch 2, I think were Zelda goes next is to the past.

I think they either remake OoT in the BoTW (go anywhere, solve *some* puzzles in any order). My hope is it is in the Wii U Tech Demo art style.
 
Aonuma hates the old formula now, so I don't really care. I guess I don't mind the open world line of games, but now that side projects like Echoes are gimmicky too instead of traditional action adventures, all I look forward to is remakes.
 

Darkmakaimura

Can You Imagine What SureAI Is Going To Do With Garfield?
I think it's really likely we get a remake of some kind when it comes to classic 3D Zelda. Though, with the Open Air concept I feel Space and Underwater would be the next logical concepts for them to tackle. They already did underground + sky so, makes sense.

I just feel things should be fleshed out more, regardless of what they go for in the Open Air concept. Combat, enemy variation, enemy A.I., environmental destruction, there is a lot that deserves an upgrade in mechanics. BotW teased gigantic creatures roaming along the lands like Kaiju's or Shadow of the Colossus.

I think it's something that could be built upon and incorporated in an exciting way to the overworld. Allowing real consequences to happen if you dilly dally, almost like the Moon crashing down in Majora's Mask.

Weather events could be totally upgraded, just a lot of the systems in general and explanations for things. It's still a bit jarring when you are struggling to survive during moments of the games and then you open your item screen and you have 50 prepped meals ready to go.

Not saying they should dive full into realism, just provide an explanation that makes sense within the world.
Didn't they sort of cover open air with Skyward Sword? I mean it didn't cover entirely the air but there was still a significant portion of that.

As for outer space, that would be more difficult. I'm talking about something more fantasy related then science related when it comes to space but if you play the most recent Zelda game, that might interfere with the lore. If you haven't played it I won't go in to it any further as to not spoil it.
 

ZoukGalaxy

Member
Probably more of the same for 10 years before they change the formula or go back to an older one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's not a complain, I like it all except the f****** weapons degradation, I hate that in ALL GAMES or any kind of inventory micro management like in recent Metro where you have to "clean" your shitty weapons. What they were ALL thinking ? OH, I know, they were NOT THINKING AT ALL aka let's artificially make the game longer and a chore to play.

Weapon degradation is one of the worst idea ever in history of video games.
anakin skywalker hate GIF
 
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RomanceDawn

Member
Probably more of the same for 10 years before they change the formula or go back to an older one ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
It's not a complain, I like it all except the f****** weapons degradation, I hate that in ALL GAMES or any kind of inventory micro management like in recent Metro where you have to "clean" your shitty weapons. What they were ALL thinking ? OH, I know, they were NOT THINKING AT ALL aka let's artificially make the game longer and a chore to play.

Weapon degradation is one of the worst idea ever in history of video games.
anakin skywalker hate GIF

Genuine question, what’s a good alternative to weapon degradation in an open world? I’ve been thinking about it a lot but not sure what’s been tried and true in the gaming world already.
 

DKPOWPOW

Member
Didn't they sort of cover open air with Skyward Sword? I mean it didn't cover entirely the air but there was still a significant portion of that.

As for outer space, that would be more difficult. I'm talking about something more fantasy related then science related when it comes to space but if you play the most recent Zelda game, that might interfere with the lore. If you haven't played it I won't go in to it any further as to not spoil it.
When I say Open Air, I am referring to what Eiji Aounuma said. He titled the style of Zelda games like Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom as their "Open Air Concept" if I remember correctly.

I haven't played Echoes of Wisdom yet so yeah, can't say I know or want to know yet. Sounds interesting though.

I can't say I'd really want a Space Zelda game in the traditional sense so, a different interpretation would be something I'd be more open to.
 
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