Biggest Fear Concerning Skyward Sword

I've read over a few posts in this thread and I just have to say this-

Wind Waker plus Shadow of the Colossus = Greatest Zelda Overworld Ever.

Why?

Because Shadow of the colossus had an incredible and expansive over world totally worth exploring just to see all of it. Yet, there was little in-game value to doing so. Contrarily, Wind waker's over world, while also expansive, was not much to look at. Though I personally don't mind it, I do not wonder why many call it tedious. HOWEVER, Wind Wakers over world was, in my opinion, one of the most exploration-worthy environments ever seen in a Zelda game. There was something in ever single sector worth doing. The only bad part was getting from one sector to the next.

SO... If you gave Zelda an overworld like SotC and gave it the exploratory value of Wind Wakers Great Sea, then you might have the greatest Zelda Over world in the history of forever.

I thought TP had both of those things...

HEY WHAT'S THAT

[runs away]

Originally Posted by Vulpes

I thought TP had both of those things...

HEY WHAT'S THAT

[runs away]

Frankly, I think TP's over world was a huge step down in terms of exploration value. Seriously. I mean, yes it was big and all but... as much as I hate to use this word and sound just like everyone else, it was pretty dang linear. And aside from that, there really wasn't anything to FIND or DO in hyrule field. I mean, I know the game had a few secret nooks and cranny's, but come on- it was nothing compared to what was available in wind waker.

I think people just aren't trying hard enough and are expecting big neon signs saying "HEY LOOK HERE".

Personally I was annoyed by all the islands in WW that required you to do this elaborate task to get a treasure chart.

And then it took 20 minutes to position yourself right to get the chest...

...which had 20 rupees in it.

Originally Posted by Vulpes

I think people just aren't trying hard enough and are expecting big neon signs saying "HEY LOOK HERE".

Personally I was annoyed by all the islands in WW that required you to do this elaborate task to get a treasure chart.

And then it took 20 minutes to position yourself right to get the chest...

...which had 20 rupees in it.

This wouldn't be a problem if Rupees were actually valuable, like in the original LoZ. The thing is, Treasure Charts are pointless in WW because you hardly NEED them.

Yeah, I get where you're coming from with the treasure charts thing, but they could do something similar and just make the reward much better. Frankly, I get tired of always finding large quantities of rupees at the end of the metaphorical rainbow. I wish they had something more similar to the Triforce fetch quest, but with a lot more bosses and a lot less Tingle... and sailing.

BTW- the only reaosn I'm bringing WW into it is because if they want to make the best Zelda game in the history of forever then they need to capitalize on the exploration value of the world. Wind Waker was... a step in that direction. I just hope SS is another step in that direction, because I think TP was not.

I just hope the game isn't too linear. And I hope that there are a lot of places to explore, and that the overworld is HUGE.

Oh, and the combat system. Wonder how that'll be.

My problem with the WW system is that it was unsubtle. It was obvious where everything was: it's in that hole at highest place on the island.

Originally Posted by Crazyfreak

Phi probably would have a character of fully good, it looks like she's installed that way. But as in real personality it won't work in my opinion. Phi isn't human, Phi acts like a robot and becomes the master sword. Why would the master sword have a personality? Could you see Phi as a tsundre? Like Midna? Hell that would make the Mastersword a really childish and annoying object. That would ruin the image of the Master Sword.

Phi is the Master Sword's spirit, not it's motherboard. Though Phi may very well be a robot (though I only think it's the voice) it doesn't mean she can't have a character.

Wall E is the perfect example of what I'm trying to get at.

And I'm not and never suggested that Phi should be a Midna clone or tsundere. I'm saying she should follow in Midna's footsteps and have a proper personality compared to the other guides. And Phi can have the same amount of character development as Midna without her taking over the whole plot, it just turned out that way in TP because I guess they wanted to avoid the traditional Zelda formula.

Besides I'm not against fleshing out characters, it's good that main characters get development. It's just plain annoying when only one main character gets it who never was a part of the series anyway and who only appears in one game. That's the difference Skyward Sword is already making. Phi isn't a random character, she's the mastersword.

Phi is pretty much a random person. Although she comes from something familiar, it doesn't get rid of the fact that she's a completely new character to the series.

Look Midna isn't bad, she's actually got great development and everything. But in my opinion she didn't add up anything to the old Zelda elements we know so littlle about. And the fact she overshadowed the old main characters didn't work either.

Which Zelda elements im particular are you talking about? And I agree that she completely overshadowed the other characters though I wasn't completely annoyed by that as I liked Midna's character. Ganondorf shouldn't have been in TP. Plain and simple. He wasn't important to the story at all and he wouldn't have been overshadowed if he just wasn't included. Zelda definitely needed more to her story. It's a shame because I really liked her parts in the game, but it didn't really end up going anywhere. And I can't really complain about Link's character development as it's rarely there in any game (except maybe TWW).

Originally Posted by MagicBeanKid

Phi is the Master Sword's spirit, not it's motherboard. Though Phi may very well be a robot (though I only think it's the voice) it doesn't mean she can't have a character.

Wall E is the perfect example of what I'm trying to get at.

Actually in the game we see Phi analyses things which a robot does. I think she does have a character but I think it will focus on how she analyses things as good or evil. She's probably persistent in doing the job right.

I just think she's very righteous and pure, which doesn't leave much for characterdevelopment. I guess the only thing Phi could learn is humantraits from Link.

Originally Posted by MagicBeanKid

And I'm not and never suggested that Phi should be a Midna clone or tsundere. I'm saying she should follow in Midna's footsteps and have a proper personality compared to the other guides. And Phi can have the same amount of character development as Midna without her taking over the whole plot, it just turned out that way in TP because I guess they wanted to avoid the traditional Zelda formula.

I guess that is a good thing, I'm just afraid Phi overshadowing Link, like Midna did. But seeing how the first time we encountered Ghirahim, it looks like this battle is more of a Link vs Ghirahim and the Master Sword/Phi is the tool for Link to save Zelda.

I'm actually wondering why and how Phi gets updated.

Originally Posted by MagicBeanKid

Phi is pretty much a random person. Although she comes from something familiar, it doesn't get rid of the fact that she's a completely new character to the series.

Well I don't think she is new, she's always been there as an important key element of the Zelda Series. Her Background story never been told, that's the new thing. Other than that Phi's character finally tells us the background story of the Master Sword. Which adds a lot to the Zelda series and the theories behind the Master Sword. So Phi is more of an added value to the series than Midna who was very random and could be part of any different kind of series.

Originally Posted by MagicBeanKid

Which Zelda elements im particular are you talking about?

Master Sword, Triforce pieces, Hyrule, Link, Zelda, Ganondorf. All of them were present yet nothing new came out of the series. For example Ganondorf as a character we've seen from Ocarina of time and Windwaker was always there for the Triforce. Everytime he encountered both Link and Zelda he mentioned the Triforce and tried to snatch them away. That was always Ganondorf's ultimate goal. The interaction he had with Ww Link and Oot Link wasn't random it was because the two were connected with the Triforce piece. In Twilight Princess they all flash with the Triforce chrest yet no one explains to us what the real meaning of it is. No one cares about the Triforce, it's been described very vague in that cutscene.

I know I know, Twilight Princess had a different focus to it. But like I said I wouldn't mind TP be a spin off like Mm. but the fact that they added all the old elements that made the older games like Alttp, Oot and Ww awesome and didn't do anything with it. Is just dissapointing.

Windwaker for example is a really good example how to add new various things to the series, yet have the old elements there.

Originally Posted by MagicBeanKid

And I agree that she completely overshadowed the other characters though I wasn't completely annoyed by that as I liked Midna's character. Ganondorf shouldn't have been in TP. Plain and simple. He wasn't important to the story at all and he wouldn't have been overshadowed if he just wasn't included. Zelda definitely needed more to her story. It's a shame because I really liked her parts in the game, but it didn't really end up going anywhere. And I can't really complain about Link's character development as it's rarely there in any game (except maybe TWW).

Yeah I really wanted Ganondorf not be in there. Not because I dislike him, he did a very good job in Oot and Ww. But in TP he just wasn't himself. I also think if they balanced out the characters without focusing too much on Midna things would have worked.

Like I said I just don't want Phi to end up like Midna in terms of overshadowing other characters. But I think the director of this game knows what he's doing. He did a great job in the Oracle series and The Minish cap.

Only concerns I'd have (these are hypothetical; I'm not speaking from what I know):

- Short dungeons with only sparse enemy interaction
- Surface world areas do not interconnect
- Freedom seen in overworld exploration and boss battle demos does not carry over to the final game
- Player growth outpaces enemy difficulty by a large margin
- Enemies aren't aggressive enough to be a threat
- Too much non-compelling side content (Golden Bugs, Poe Souls from TP); I didn't mind the Gold Skulltulas because the way rewards were spaced out (at least for the first 50) was nice, but the Bugs were boring and the Poes didn't seem worth the effort
- Not enough Heart Pieces/too many Heart Containers in dungeons

I liked the Golden Bugs...

And I disagree with your first point.

^You want short dungeons with no enemies?

Few enemies, yes. More puzzles! MORE!

After thinking for awhile about this I'll have to say my biggest concern is the inventory..Even with the upgrade items. How worth it are these upgrades going to be? I know this game will mostly focus on the sword combat. I'm hoping that items will stay useful at least. Like the spinner in TP. It was cool and all, but other than specific areas where you needed it there was no place to really play around with it.

Too much non-compelling side content (Golden Bugs, Poe Souls from TP); I didn't mind the Gold Skulltulas because the way rewards were spaced out (at least for the first 50) was nice, but the Bugs were boring and the Poes didn't seem worth the effort

If only I had a net to collect the bugs! I felt if they had that and made the bugs harder to catch it would have made it more interesting at least. They really do need to add more side quests with better rewards. I'm feeling that the upgrade items will be that..but I'm hoping for other ones too.

Phi reminds me of Fludd, I don't know why, but she just does. I hope the story doesn't revolve around her with Link being a sidekick, like with Midna, but I doubt it would happen. If it did, though, then you'll see fanboys saying, "So what if the story revolves around her? She's in the title!"

Originally Posted by Vulpes

Few enemies, yes. More puzzles! MORE!

You do realize that "smaller dungeons" means less puzzles too, right?

Originally Posted by Divine Might

How worth it are these upgrades going to be?

Two of them are confirmed:

Spoiler:  

The Beetle's pincers, which allow it to pick up cargo such as bombs and drop them in other locations/on enemies, and an upgrade to make the Beetle go faster, which allows it to travel farther. I can already see how these two would expand what you could explore or obtains.

Not if there're more dungeons. But I don't mind big dungeons as long as they're puzzle-focused.

Two of them are confirmed:

I forgot to mention the beetle. I was more concerned about the other item upgrades and what their uses will be. The beetle's upgrades though do seem like it'll add to it and be useful. Also fun to mess around with if you wanted to so I'm hoping the other items are equally as worth it.

If you can't have fun with an item and use it for different elements towards gameplay than I don't find them worth it.
The beetle's pincers being able to pick up bombs and dropping them on enemies I find to be amusing and can use in different areas of the game. Picking up different cargo should be interesting too.

I'd be really disappointed if there was no Epona or Hyrule Field. But I think my biggest fear is that the bosses will be too easy.