I don't envy the creative minds that have to work on Zelda games. The expectations are always high and while they always deliver, you have to wonder if it will last. Zelda games stick to the same rigid  formula most of the time, but we love them for that. It's gaming like mom used to make. Some others believe it needs to change, and that they need to break from the formula. I think it should gradually change over time. A sudden change might leave a lot of us gamers in the dust. What do you guys think?

Definitely. I don't mind them evolving in each game, but it should definitely be taken in baby steps. Anything too radical and they stand the chance of losing a chunk of their fan base, as is evident by the initial reactions to Wind Waker. It was way different from what anyone expected with it's visual style/tone and a lot of people couldn't look past that.

While I still love Zelda, if they don't change a bit in each game the game will quickly become stale to people (which I guess was what caused some problems with Twilight Princess for some people).

Why change a winning formula? i think they should try and exband on some things like make Hyrule bigger and with somthing 2 do after u beat the last boss.

"Definitely. I don't mind them evolving in each game, but it should definitely be taken in baby steps. Anything too radical and they stand the chance of losing a chunk of their fan base, as is evident by the initial reactions to Wind Waker. It was way different from what anyone expected with it's visual style/tone and a lot of people couldn't look past that.

While I still love Zelda, if they don't change a bit in each game the game will quickly become stale to people (which I guess was what caused some problems with Twilight Princess for some people)."

I think it desperatly needs changes. No one wants to play the same game again, sometimes even with the same bosses and with the same itens.
I love the series, I've been playing it since the first NES game... but now I've started to feel like I'm playing the same game. Twilight was a disappointment to me because of this, it felt like every other Zelda game again, but worse in every aspect. I agree it can't be completely revamped, but I can't see how it may stay the same way it is forever... most of us had enough.

This is something that has never really made sense to me.  Nintendo fans always want another Mario, Zelda, Metroid, Star Fox, etc etc etc.  However, for other franchises, people always gripe about how such and such is just more of the same, or it's a 0.5 iteration, not a true sequel. 

They can ditch the 8 dungeon formula, where you get every weapon in a specific order. I'd like to see them get more open world rather than how they're all linear. However, I don't want them to do anything stupid. I'd rather see a good re-hash than like, a modern-day Zelda, or a first person shooter Zelda, or something dumb like that.

"PureRok said:

"Definitely. I don't mind them evolving in each game, but it should definitely be taken in baby steps. Anything too radical and they stand the chance of losing a chunk of their fan base, as is evident by the initial reactions to Wind Waker. It was way different from what anyone expected with it's visual style/tone and a lot of people couldn't look past that.

While I still love Zelda, if they don't change a bit in each game the game will quickly become stale to people (which I guess was what caused some problems with Twilight Princess for some people)."

Wind Waker ended up being one of the best of the series.

Change is good. People forget that OoT was a huge change from it's predecessors. Video games evolve, Zelda should, too."

They don't need to ditch the formula. They just need to change it up in some way dammit.

There have been changes, just like there have been changes to the Mario formula.

Ocarina and Majora's Mask, They aren't the same now are they?

I think some changes in the formula are necessary... we won't be entirely satisfied with another Ocarina of Time clone next time.

I don't think they should necessarily ditch it, but I don't think they should rely so heavily on it like they did with Twilight Princess. C'mon, we've all updated to next-gen. Maybe it is time for the Zelda series to release another breakthrough game that raises the standard the way Ocarina of Time did. It's okay to stick to the core, but offer enough changes to make a game feel fresh and new again. You know, the same way games like Wind Waker and Metroid Prime did. If 1 to 1 sword fighting works well enough with MotionPlus, I wouldn't be too surprised if it was incorporated into the next Zelda, and that could be just the sort of change the series needs.

"Bellum said:

"PureRok said:

"Definitely. I don't mind them evolving in each game, but it should definitely be taken in baby steps. Anything too radical and they stand the chance of losing a chunk of their fan base, as is evident by the initial reactions to Wind Waker. It was way different from what anyone expected with it's visual style/tone and a lot of people couldn't look past that.

While I still love Zelda, if they don't change a bit in each game the game will quickly become stale to people (which I guess was what caused some problems with Twilight Princess for some people)."

Wind Waker ended up being one of the best of the series.

Change is good. People forget that OoT was a huge change from it's predecessors. Video games evolve, Zelda should, too."

No.

back on topic, I think there should be a few changes, but nothing radical, I still love zelda the way it is. :3

"

Eh, some changes, like actual swordplay(wii 1:1 controls), sidequests that actually have full-length dungeons, ORCHESTRATED SOUNDTRACK(ITS NOT THAT HARD, SMG DID IT)

You are one of the most annoying members on GiantBomb. All you do is troll.

Anyways, I think the formula is hackneyed. It's already been used for 10 years and a change is an absolute must if Nintendo wants to hold my attention. When I played Twlight Princess, I felt as if I've been there 'n done that. It's a good game but it's nothing groundbreaking.

"

I don't think they need to change much. Just a few mechanics and make the sword controls more intuitive.

The complaints about Wind waker were stupid and it's probably my favorite game in the series. I'd rather see another WW sequel than another Twilight Princess style game. I would like the same level of puzzle solving they've had in the past, but I agree that a more open world feel to Hyrule would be nice. It could also be cool for them to come up with another style different from those two. I'm all for changes, but these franchises need to be careful not to make the changes that ruin games like Sonic and going far enough that it doesn't feel like an official game like Mario Sunshine.

"They can ditch the 8 dungeon formula, where you get every weapon in a specific order. I'd like to see them get more open world rather than how they're all linear. However, I don't want them to do anything stupid. I'd rather see a good re-hash than like, a modern-day Zelda, or a first person shooter Zelda, or something dumb like that."

" Anything too radical and they stand the chance of losing a chunk of their fan base, as is evident by the initial reactions to Wind Waker. It was way different from what anyone expected with it's visual style/tone and a lot of people couldn't look past that."

I don't care as long as it's a quality game.  I've loved all the 3D Zelda games.

I just don't understand why nobody tries to make a similar game (or even just a ripoff) to compete with it.  Even if it's not as good, they could make some money from 360 and PS3 users that are missing out.

As long as they keep selling the way they do, the franchise will likely never change. Nintendo is not the type of company to screw around with their main IPs too much.  It can be a risky venture.

"I don't care as long as it's a quality game.  I've loved all the 3D Zelda games.

I just don't understand why nobody tries to make a similar game (or even just a ripoff) to compete with it.  Even if it's not as good, they could make some money from 360 and PS3 users that are missing out."

I don't know about Zelda, but I always thought Banjo Kazooie was a good knockoff of Mario 64.

While they shouldn't entirely ditch the formula, I do think that they should change some things around because the Zelda games are becoming a little too formulaic.

"Why change a winning formula?"

I think the formula needs to change, maybe not Crazy (ex. 1st person zelda FTW!) but I think it's gonna be real hard for them to switch up the formula enough for it to feel fresh.
They need:
-Better story
-Voice acting
-Not completely useless weapons, make 'em last the whole adventure
-As far as graphics go I could care less, however Wind Waker is probably one of my favorite Zelda games of all time.
-Clever use of Wii tech (1:1 sword fighting??)

But there are some aspects that aren't so "winning" anymore. I think there are essencialy two big things that need to change. First, change the itens you get and make them be useful outside the dungeon you get them. Second, writte a good and copelling story. If they keep the same gameplay but add these two factors it would already make a HUGE difference, on my opinion of course.

But I wouldn't mind if they changed the whole thing... as I mentioned before, it's starting to wear out.

Not ditch per se, but update. I would like voice acting...

This is definitely unreliable coming from me seeing as Zelda is my all time favorite game series but I don't feel it needs a reboot as much as it just needs to adjust some of its concepts. Story, I feel  though, is definitely not one of them. The focus has never really been about the meat of the story but rather the exploration of Hyrule itself. I don't need MGS caliber story telling to enjoy my Zelda, just an entertaining and interesting world to explore. The fighting, I feel, is what needs the most work. Putting a little more flair into his swordsmanship and a little more required skill definitely sounds interesting.

nintendo has gone crazy they will dumb zelda down even more and sell the same old pile of ass