Next Zelda Game Examined

From the pages of Gamecube.IGN comes a look at the upcoming Zelda title for the Gamecube. Their examination includes both established facts: "Looking at the official screens and trailers, it's apparent Link will once again mount a mighty steed and battle on horseback", and some wishful thinking: "Will Link transform into a wolf in his latest adventure? Undoubtedly, it's the most talked about rumor."

IGN's history department

[alatesystems]

You'd think they'd know this but:

The Return of the Fish

Actually, the return of the fishing mini-game. Those of you who loved the supremely addictive fishing game in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time certainly missed its presence in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Considering the aquatic nature of the game, it struck many as odd that Nintendo chose not to include it.

The fishing game was in it since I can remember. I remember specifically playing on Legend of Zelda on my ORIGINAL gameboy. I guess y

Re:IGN's history department

[Corngood]

Sounds good... unless you use a Wavebird.

Re:IGN's history department

[ElleyKitten]

Huh? I don't remember a fishing game in Link's Awakening. Are you sure it had a fishing game?

Re:IGN's history department

[gimpynerd]

Most definately had a fishing game to the north of the main town.

Re:Zelda: Spore

[Destoo]

"I am Error"

That one was my favorite.

Re:Zelda: Spore

[ksiddique]

"You know Bagu?"

Big Bad Wolf?

[RyoShin]

Link's turned into a Goron, Zora, and Deku in the past. (Majora's Mask)

In Link To the Past, he turned into a bunny thing when you went to the dark world without the peral thingy.

In Ocarina of Time, he could change form by growing older or younger.

As long as they don't just say "You can change into a wolf!", it wouldn't be anything new. If they worked the wolf (maybe a new wolf species?) into the storyline for this game, it would be as if he had turned into a Deku or Goron.

Come to think of it, the Zelda series already has a wolf character, but as a common enemy: Wolfos. The article discusses him commanding nature (I believe the cats following him was just a rehash of the OoT sidequest to get the lady's dog in the town, though,) so if he could do more than command, but become 'nature', it would easily work out.

I'm just kind of worried that they'll stick with the music kick, which has been a core part of the last three console games. I don't hate it, but I want something new now. The nature thing would be a nice change of pace.

(Yes, there was an Ocarina in LttP, but it's functionality wasn't nearly as core to the game.)

Re:Big Bad Wolf?

[RyoShin]

Yeah, I thought about that as I was writing, but I figured that 'core' for the music games meant you used music all the time, versus 'core' for LttP Ocarina, where you only really needed it once during the game. Zelda Nerds Unite!

Re:Big Bad Wolf?

[Krilomir]

It's also worth noting that the music did play a big part in the story line of Zelda - Links Awakening for the GB, though it wasn't really a part of the gameplay. But the game was all about collection instruments from dungeons, and you could play up to three different tunes with your ocarina.

Examined?

[CMiYC]

Examined? How?

This is just a list of things two writers at IGN would like to see in the game. The list include innovative ideas like "good storyline" and "voice acting."

As for the Wolf rumor, all they say is, "we hope it's true."

This read more like someone's blog entry, not any kind of news what-so-ever. The subheading was: "We examine fact and take a took at the possibilities." That translates to: "We took what everyone already knows and guess."

Indeed

[aztektum]

As much as I appreciate /.'s attempt at covering game news, they aren't selective enough (which is really a /. problem as a whole). They just post any ol' thing. And Zonk's review of Mechassault 2 (released Dec.) and Nexus (released in Feb.) are a little less than timely.

If you have to read every rumor just goto Gametab [gametab.com]

Warrior Within all over again

[frikazoyd]

I hate to sound typical, but I'm afraid this is going to be Nintendo's "Prince of Persia: Warrior Within". Ubisoft listened to the fans, and came up with crap. And, it shows. The game didn't get NEARLY the amount of attention that Sands of Time did. The loudest fans got what they wanted, and everyone else groaned as a good game with its own style and character got ground into "Hack and Slash in ruins # 35".

And that's what's happening with Nintendo.

Sure, Link's an older teen, so undoubtedly Ninten

Re:Warrior Within all over again

[Headcase88]

Good post.

I honestly think that Nintendo is just doing what they feel like. They do a cartoonish one, they do a dark one, etc, etc. I don't think it's consumer pressure. If they responded to that, we'd see some pretty weaksauce online games right about now.

Personally the sea thing was a good idea, they just had to make each section like 10% as big as it was, then it wouldn't take so long to go everywhere (plus you'd see more islands in the horizon; it would look better IMO).

But to reiterate... good

Photo quality graphics!!!1

[pnice]

I was checking on the pictures of the new Zelda on that IGN link and I can't believe how real the game looks!! I mean, is this crazy or what? It looks photo-realistic...although I'm not sure if link is supposed to be Asian or not.

http://media.cube.ign.com/media/572/572738/img_214 8235.html [ign.com]

An Infusion of Pop Culture

[robbway]

I noticed that several theatrical elements from Harry Potter and mainly The Lord of the Rings are adopted to Zelda. Link=Frodo. Ghost city. Giant spider. Large razorbacks. It all seems so familiar. But cat herding? That's new for a video game. The only thing I don't like about the trailer is the reduced color palatte.

Re:An Infusion of Pop Culture

[Anonymous Coward]

There is nothing new under the sun. You can find shared elements in just about everything, really. Ghosts and giant spiders are staples of fantasy settings, and there are only so many ways to portray them graphically, especially in a realistic style (as realistic as giant spiders and ghosts can be, anyway). Spiders, for one thing, are real world creatures so we all know what they look like already, although the Zelda series has always had spider-like creatures (tektites, I think) that I hope aren't repla

Oh no

[obeythefist]

So Link is a furry now?

That is definately becoming more and more of a plague on our society. Furries are bad, mmkay?

Re:Oh no

[PhoenixOne]

I hear that Link's horse is named "Yiff"...

Re:Oh no

[PhoenixOne]

A troll? That was a joke. At least my furry friends thought it was funny. :)

Re:Two Zelda games for the same system?

[Anonymous Coward]

Majora's Mask does count.

It used a tuned version of the engine from Ocarina of Time, but it's a great game (if you can wrap your head around the 3-day timer system). It's a lot prettier, too, although it isn't as good of a game. Still very good, but Ocarina of Time is the greatest action-adventure game of all time.

For the record, the list of Nintendo systems with at least two Zelda games:

___GB___
Link's Awakening
LADX *

___GBC___
LADX * (same release, DX version works in enhanced mode on GBC & later s

N64

[Taulin]

I guess none of you here remember the N64 shots originally shown. Link fighting a 'shiny' 3d knight..etc. The final game, as we all know, was extremely polished. As with all Zelda games, I expect perfection, and they all delivered so far. These screens are next-gen pre-fab shots. There is no way this game is releasing this year. Look at this info as drool/direction value only. All it confirms is adult link, darker more serious world and good graphics.

No.

[Weirdofreak]

A lot of that really doesn't sound too great to me.
I don't want Link to speak, and I don't just mean voice acting.
I don't want to have to fish.
I don't want hugely complex tables of what combines to make what.
I don't want to have to pick a horse as if it were some sort of racing sim.
I don't want a hugely complex storyline.

Resoning?
Zelda games are iconic. Link is an iconic character. It's good versus evil, right versus wrong. Link fights for the same reason we do, and that's whatever we choose to be fighting