If you're like me, then you were born somewhere around 1989 and you love video games. Your first Zelda game was probably Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, and you still love that game to this day. You were so excited, and maybe even a little scared the first time you went into the Dark World. You were blown away the first time you stepped onto Hyrule Field when you played OoT (I can't spell Occorania. See?) and your favorite Zelda game is probably either OoT, Majora's Mask, or Wind Waker. But the problem is, there is a whole generation of gamers out there who's first Zelda game was Twilight Princess, and that will probably be their favorite, even if they go back to play the ones we say are the best. This is why Zelda shouldn't change dramatically. It isn't for us anymore.

I was inspired to write this after this thread asked what you would change in a Zelda game. My response was the following:

 " I would like the Zelda games to have a story besides "guy in green saves princess from Gannon." It could even be that, but make me care about Link. I've never felt so detached from a character. "

It seemed like a few people agreed with that, and I moved on with my life. But then user KJellm87 said the following in response to me:

"Each Zelda game has its own story. But they are rarely about Link himself.
 When the gods slips up and things get out of control, Link enter the scene and makes thing right.
The reason for this might be that Nintendo want you to think you're Link himself. "

That got me thinking. Would I love Zelda and had played seven of their games if LttP was a story driven action game? Maybe, maybe not, but I guarantee you the kids that Nintendo is marketing Zelda to don't want this. Zelda isn't made for the story, it's made for that experience of going around to different set pieces and figuring out puzzles. I'm not saying kids are idiots and they don't deserve good games. The main complaint with Zelda today is it's "more of the same," not that it's a bad game. But for these seven-ten year olds who are just getting into Zelda, it isn't more of the same. We don't need deep rich story in Zelda games. We have games from Bioware that tell rich stories about different characters, or games like the upcoming L.A. Noire, which seems like one of the most mature games to come for a while (not mature in the sense of M-Rated full of boobies and blood, but in the sense that it's for mature players).

Every kid deserves to have "that Zelda moment" that we all had growing up. And while I would love a more mature Zelda for me, it's not in the cards. I will still play Zelda games, but I will play them for what they are. A way for kids to start loving video games.

If you're like me, then you were born somewhere around 1989 and you love video games. Your first Zelda game was probably Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, and you still love that game to this day. You were so excited, and maybe even a little scared the first time you went into the Dark World. You were blown away the first time you stepped onto Hyrule Field when you played OoT (I can't spell Occorania. See?) and your favorite Zelda game is probably either OoT, Majora's Mask, or Wind Waker. But the problem is, there is a whole generation of gamers out there who's first Zelda game was Twilight Princess, and that will probably be their favorite, even if they go back to play the ones we say are the best. This is why Zelda shouldn't change dramatically. It isn't for us anymore.

I was inspired to write this after this thread asked what you would change in a Zelda game. My response was the following:

 " I would like the Zelda games to have a story besides "guy in green saves princess from Gannon." It could even be that, but make me care about Link. I've never felt so detached from a character. "

It seemed like a few people agreed with that, and I moved on with my life. But then user KJellm87 said the following in response to me:

"Each Zelda game has its own story. But they are rarely about Link himself.
 When the gods slips up and things get out of control, Link enter the scene and makes thing right.
The reason for this might be that Nintendo want you to think you're Link himself. "

That got me thinking. Would I love Zelda and had played seven of their games if LttP was a story driven action game? Maybe, maybe not, but I guarantee you the kids that Nintendo is marketing Zelda to don't want this. Zelda isn't made for the story, it's made for that experience of going around to different set pieces and figuring out puzzles. I'm not saying kids are idiots and they don't deserve good games. The main complaint with Zelda today is it's "more of the same," not that it's a bad game. But for these seven-ten year olds who are just getting into Zelda, it isn't more of the same. We don't need deep rich story in Zelda games. We have games from Bioware that tell rich stories about different characters, or games like the upcoming L.A. Noire, which seems like one of the most mature games to come for a while (not mature in the sense of M-Rated full of boobies and blood, but in the sense that it's for mature players).

Every kid deserves to have "that Zelda moment" that we all had growing up. And while I would love a more mature Zelda for me, it's not in the cards. I will still play Zelda games, but I will play them for what they are. A way for kids to start loving video games.

I completely agree. I was going back through Wind Waker recently, and that confirmed to me that I don't want a gritty adult Zelda, because the point of Zelda is solving puzzles and exploring a large, interesting world. It's not about telling a great story. They are the epitome of Nintendo's craft: fantastic games for kids, while still being enjoyable to older players. 

Your title makes my brain hurt.

I don't find any of Zelda's mechanics to be dated, personally.

" @ryanwho: Tell me, what was your favorite game of last year?Mass Effect 2? Red Dead?These games had stale mechanics, and plenty of derivative shit in them but still were a great experience. Like Zeda. "

I look at Zelda games and a lot of Nintendo games the same way I do sports games. The games are played the same way, but with little tweaks here and there that make them feel fresh. But the core gameplay stays the same. As for story and Zelda, I just like exploring and the challenge of beating the game. The characters aren't bad either. Except for Tingle, who likes Tingle?

I don't want a deep rich story in almost any game I play because games that try to have them usually fail. What disconnects me from a character is when I'm forced to watch them act like a complete moron every time the game takes control away from me. Zelda games have decent video game stories already. Seriously, the story in Wind Waker was pretty damn good... for a video game. And as long as the game is fun, I'm okay with that. Twilight Princess was pretty damn bad though, and with the focus on motion control in Skyward Sword, I'm honestly a little worried...

" @ryanwho: Well then, tell me, how would you make Zelda better? "

" @GlenTennis said:

" @ryanwho: Well then, tell me, how would you make Zelda better? "

Im sorry, is this one of those things where if I can't come up with a Miyamoto innovation on the spot, my argument is invalid? . "

I never understood the need for a "mature" Zelda.  It's almost like asking for a mature Mario game.  What do most people clamoring for a mature Zelda want out of the game anyway?  These games are meant to be adventures for all ages, not gorehounds that think the depiction of severed limbs and fountains of blood are the only real sign of mature content.  It's one of the reasons why I never understood the idea that Darksiders was somehow the mature Zelda people had supposedly been waiting for.  It was the fourteen-year-old asshat's idea of mature, not something targeted at mature adults.

" If you're like me, then you were born somewhere around 1989 and you love video games. Your first Zelda game was probably Legend of Zelda: Link to the Past, and you still love that game to this day. You were so excited, and maybe even a little scared the first time you went into the Dark World. You were blown away the first time you stepped onto Hyrule Field when you played OoT (I can't spell Occorania. See?) and your favorite Zelda game is probably either OoT, Majora's Mask, or Wind Waker."

" I never understood the need for a "mature" Zelda.  It's almost like asking for a mature Mario game.  What do most people clamoring for a mature Zelda want out of the game anyway?  These games are meant to be adventures for all ages, not gorehounds that think the depiction of severed limbs and fountains of blood are the only real sign of mature content.  It's one of the reasons why I never understood the idea that Darksiders was somehow the mature Zelda people had supposedly been waiting for.  It was the fourteen-year-old asshat's idea of mature, not something targeted at mature adults. "

" @Hailinel said:

" I never understood the need for a "mature" Zelda.  It's almost like asking for a mature Mario game.  What do most people clamoring for a mature Zelda want out of the game anyway?  These games are meant to be adventures for all ages, not gorehounds that think the depiction of severed limbs and fountains of blood are the only real sign of mature content.  It's one of the reasons why I never understood the idea that Darksiders was somehow the mature Zelda people had supposedly been waiting for.  It was the fourteen-year-old asshat's idea of mature, not something targeted at mature adults. "

I don't think anyone was suggesting that kind of Zelda. It could be more mature in the same way Majora's Mask is significantly more mature than most Zelda games. Or Neverending Story, which is a children's movie but it still deals with heady things and wrecks your emotional core from time to time. You're the defense force for Other M and yet you oppose any kind of maturity here? "

i would not mind if link spoke

On your "more of the same" point, can somebody explain why that's a bad thing? If the first game was good, and every game after it is the same, then where does it start to suck? Where would the math collapse into itself?

" @Hailinel: I agree with that. But there are other things you can change and still the game will feel right. Like, is it truly integral to the experience that the music still basically be chiptunes? A real operatic score wouldn't kill the mood. Side characters having voices wouldn't kill the mood. Health recharging when you're not actively battling wouldn't kill the game. Its 2011, and when I die on a Skyward Sword boss, Im gonna be reset in the boss room with a portion of my HP. So I just died on this dude and now I do it again with less HP. Shit is bonkers, that's still happening. Small remnants of the past like that are all over the game and not all of them can be attributed to "charm". "

LoZ doesn't have to change too much. I liked Twilight Princess, the overall tone of the game was dark and the action was fun. One of the common complaints from reviewers was that the music was MIDI and that Nintendo didn't utilize an actual orchestra which could have been cool as the game itself screamed epic adventure. 

My first Zelda game was the original (Legend of Zelda NES). My favorite is Windwaker,  partially because it reminded me of my original Zelda experience and partially because of the art style and game mechanics. You can change it up quite a bit but it must still feel like a Zelda game. For instance you couldn't make it like assassin's creed and slap a Zelda title on the box. It still needs to have the Zelda elements in it to make it Zelda.

With that said, I don't want another Twilight Princess. If you want me to purchase a new Zelda it has to be as fresh and innovative with the art style as Windwaker.

I would actually like less story in Zelda games. Less hand-holding, too. More exploration is what the series needs. I remember in A Link to the Past when I found the ice rod, the flippers, the fairy behind the waterfall et cetera just by being curious and exploring, and when simply gaining access to a dungeon's entrance could be tricky. In Zelda games these days you're guided to every item and dungeon by unnecessary cutscenes and companions and whatnot, and you have to do all the dungeons in a certain order.

" I would actually like less story in Zelda games. Less hand-holding, too. More exploration is what the series needs. I remember in A Link to the Past when I found the ice rod, the flippers, the fairy behind the waterfall et cetera just by being curious and exploring, and when simply gaining access to a dungeon's entrance could be tricky. In Zelda games these days you're guided to every item and dungeon by unnecessary cutscenes and companions and whatnot, and you have to do all the dungeons in a certain order.

Improved combat and increased item variation would be nice, too.

"

The first Zelda game I played to completion was Twilight Princess. Darksiders was a lot more enjoyable to me than TP ever was, and if Zelda games keep being more of the same then count me out. I'll play Darksiders 2 instead.

I'm not at all for a more mature Zelda... that's why Darksiders exists. But Zelda needs at least one game in the near future that shakes things up and not just adding more modern touches like voice acting, but throwing a wrench into the typical "Ganon kidnaps Zelda, Link saves the day" story. Make Zelda a playable character for a while, maybe just ignore Ganon altogether, or something else different to spice things up. What the series needs is another Zelda Gaiden.

" I'm not at all for a more mature Zelda... that's why Darksiders exists. But Zelda needs at least one game in the near future that shakes things up and not just adding more modern touches like voice acting, but throwing a wrench into the typical "Ganon kidnaps Zelda, Link saves the day" story. Make Zelda a playable character for a while, maybe just ignore Ganon altogether, or something else different to spice things up. What the series needs is another Zelda Gaiden. "

" @Dalai said:

" I'm not at all for a more mature Zelda... that's why Darksiders exists. But Zelda needs at least one game in the near future that shakes things up and not just adding more modern touches like voice acting, but throwing a wrench into the typical "Ganon kidnaps Zelda, Link saves the day" story. Make Zelda a playable character for a while, maybe just ignore Ganon altogether, or something else different to spice things up. What the series needs is another Zelda Gaiden. "

What exactly is more mature about Darksiders, aside from the blood and fourteen-year-old's vision of what an awesome apocalypse looks like? "

" What the series needs is another Zelda Gaiden. "

" @Dalai said:

" I'm not at all for a more mature Zelda... that's why Darksiders exists. But Zelda needs at least one game in the near future that shakes things up and not just adding more modern touches like voice acting, but throwing a wrench into the typical "Ganon kidnaps Zelda, Link saves the day" story. Make Zelda a playable character for a while, maybe just ignore Ganon altogether, or something else different to spice things up. What the series needs is another Zelda Gaiden. "

What exactly is more mature about Darksiders, aside from the blood and fourteen-year-old's vision of what an awesome apocalypse looks like? "

" @Hailinel said:

" @Dalai said:

" I'm not at all for a more mature Zelda... that's why Darksiders exists. But Zelda needs at least one game in the near future that shakes things up and not just adding more modern touches like voice acting, but throwing a wrench into the typical "Ganon kidnaps Zelda, Link saves the day" story. Make Zelda a playable character for a while, maybe just ignore Ganon altogether, or something else different to spice things up. What the series needs is another Zelda Gaiden. "

What exactly is more mature about Darksiders, aside from the blood and fourteen-year-old's vision of what an awesome apocalypse looks like? "

You pretty much answered your own question. "

And while I would love a more mature Zelda for me, it's not in the cards. I will still play Zelda games, but I will play them for what they are. A way for kids to start loving video games. "

I'm actually one of those kids who didn't grow up with Zelda and you're pretty close since my first one was Wind Waker, which I actually recently finished and really liked. I'm also playing through the GBA version of LttP, but have been going through it very slowly over several years (almost done, 3 more crystals to collect). So clearly I'm not exactly qualified to answer what I would change, nor would I say I've had that "Zelda moment" yet. Maybe I missed the boat on that one, but who knows, the 3DS version of Ocarina of Time might be it though. 

I feel like the element of exploration is still a big part of Zelda. Problem is the payoff. Its a rupee or a heart piece. I wouldn't be opposed to secret tools found in secret caves that give you access to even secreter caves, that lead to a secret boss fight that gives you a secretest armor. Know what I mean? TP sort of had that, I wanna say you could go through the whole game without finding beetle bombs or the dungeon where they're needed. But yeah. More of that. The issue of cumbersome inventory can be solved several ways including having another character (Shiek) or splitting the game (light world dark world, past future, etc). The Zelda series has a habbit of coming up with an inventive idea, or multiple, per game, then they're never seen again. Why not build them. Why not have a game with time travel, a dark world, transforming masks, a ship, and a hat that shrinks you? How much ridiculous secret shit could be crammed into a game juggling all of that at once?