Heh, I do agree quite a bit with what you say. I'm going to start quoting any second now...

*ding*

Here we are.

For the most part, that still is true. The problem is that today we have blind fanboys, people who aren't even willing to try something before judging it, etc., who are clogging the video game market. Video games used to be a small industry, now they've ballooned into something huge. It's only natural to have more idiots out there. You'd be surprised, though...more than you may think still respect Zelda. It's just that the industry has changed and for many, gore, sex, other mature themes = good game. It was never like that "back in the day".

I also agree with that, and I think that many will. I too felt that while the Oracle games were amazing in their own right, even better than the famed Link's Awakening in some areas, they simply didn't have the classic "Miyamoto Magic" that the other games have had. Maybe it was the new settings, or the changes in puzzle types, but it definitely did feel different...for better or for worse, however, is somewhat hard to tell. Remember, though, that Nintendo was closely overseeing the project. It's not like Capcom was free to do whatever they wanted. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they were under strict guidelines.

For the third time, I agree. While I don't feel that Nintendo has cheapified the series to the point of no return, so to say, but it really is a bit strange to see that they are allowing other developers to do work on their beloved franchises. I think that this has to do with them trying to come out with more "first-party" games more often, as they're the ones that sell the most. An expansion of their development team would have been just as effective, although it's easier to get someone else to do the work with you watching over them. I have a lot of trust in Capcom, however. They're one of the best developers out there; it's not like they got Midway to do the games instead.

I agree, once again. They're taking the wrong direction. Zelda has always been about Hyrule, not Labrynnia or The Great Sea. Although I don't think that he's trying to destroy Hyrule (there's a good chance it will return in the next game, I think), he shouldn't seem so eager to get rid of it.

Ocarina of Time took about seven years if I remember correctly. I don't mind there being more games out, but if it means sacrificing quality then I'd rather not have it. After all, an extra two dungeons in The Wind Waker really would have been a blessing, and I'm sure just about anyone would be able to wait a few months more for it. The game, in comparison to other Zeldas, was too short, and this didn't help.

Nintendo is doing what they think will make money. And it will. People see Zelda, they almost automatically buy. The same has gone with Final Fantasy over the years. The latest games have been far from brilliant, but they have sold on the name alone. Let's face it, Nintendo is taking the same strategy, albeit in a somewhat different direction, and the first reason you go into business is to make money, not to necessarily make good games.

I don't mind the new look of the series, and Link doesn't bother me all that much. However, I do agree that a more traditional anime style would be better. It seems we may be getting that in The Wind Waker's sequel as well; Link's character model has been changed quite a bit apparently.

I'll agree that the sound effects in the GBA version of A Link to the Past were incredibly annoying, but I don't agree that it nearly ruined the game. I don't like the Disney comparison, though. The Wind Waker is quite a deep game, possibly moreso than Ocarina of Time. Let's face it, the drowning of thousands of people and an entire country (or world, or whatever Hyrule is) isn't exactly the lightest thing around. I really like how the plot is becoming more mature, and I disagree that it is becoming too child-oriented.

That was a problem in The Wind Waker, and I think that making Link take more damage would have had a darastic impact on the difficulty, despite it being such a small change.