light Rpg Elements?!

I think future Zelda games should incorporate light rpg elements. for example, some people may dispose of more enemies than another person, causing you to level up, and perhaps more diversity in swords. I don't want to weild the master sword in every single game...i thought it'd be cool if you could make your own link unique, not too durastic though (i can't spell, sorry)...what do you think?

hmm, I'm not sure, maybe very light.

We don't want to ruin the GLORIOUS Zelda name.

I think, you're still Link but you can customize tunics (colors, accessories, etc...) and you'd still have real-time combat, only not dice-rolling RPG-style fighting. It would be great to have something where Link could earn experience and level up and learn new sword tecniques, and maybe ever learn some from others (for example, the fairies in OoT.) For me, it would go no farther than this. Implementing RPG combat would change things to a completely different game. It just wouldn't be Zelda. You see what I mean? This idea would be good if used in the right way, but other fans may not agree with me and you. If we go too far, it would ruin things. They might try to put in RPG elements, but I'd do it without it being so obvious. Make it seem like a normal Zelda game.

Any comments on my post or I3raman's would be great, I'd like to see how many agree and how many disagree.

I agree with some light RPG elements (I made a thread some time ago). However, I do not believe leveling up has a place in the Zelda Series. Sometimes I think developers use a leveling up system to shadow the fact that they can not come up with a competent battle system. In Zelda, there is no need to increase your skills through numbers because you increase your skill by getting better at the game. Also, character customization just for the sake of character customization is not a good idea for the Zelda Series either.

Originally Posted by Shiek 84

I agree with some light RPG elements (I made a thread some time ago). However, I do not believe leveling up has a place in the Zelda Series. Sometimes I think developers use a leveling up system to shadow the fact that they can not come up with a competent battle system. In Zelda, there is no need to increase your skills through numbers because you increase your skill by getting better at the game. Also, character customization just for the sake of character customization is not a good idea for the Zelda Series either.

Hmm, elements like becoming faster or stronger? Too much RPG-like. Sometimes I just find it too easy to dispatch of the enemies in Zelda. Sorta like butter through a knife. Even Ganondorf seemed easily defeated. I don't really want character customization, but lets see like you can atleast get new tunics as in OoT. That sort of customization with your tunic. (Okay, maybe that's not really customization).

trv016, Im going to have to disagree with some of the things you've said and heres why, we've had the same zelda for what..like 10 years. A fiary boy or whatever is called to save a princess (zelda) and alot of fun and innovative things have been thought up..but...i for one would like more, now im not saying, full blown turn based rpg elements, that'd be boring and stupid. I suppose i am agreeing with you somewhat, but i'd like to become faster from running alot, or develop a neat kind of roughness from sleeping outside..something like that.....anyone else?

Hmm yeah, I think that might be too intense. Maybe if you just noticed a sudden change in speed in your character rather than leveling up and making him faster.

EDIT: If this is what you mean, I agree with most of what you think.

Well, yes, i don't necessarily want to level up, but if the villians were more difficult as you became increasingly stronger that would be a plus, or if you had to survive off of the land such as, catching fish for dinner, or hunting, that would be a nice switch I believe (somewhat like metal gear 3) and come on! ruin the glorious zelda series! I don't think so, look at wand of gamelot, that game blew and it didn't ruin the zelda name.

Because I wrote something a while ago that I felt pretty much covered some of my ideas I will copy it here, because I do not want to write it again and would otherwise leave some things out. Everything in the following paragraph is something I wrote a while ago, so if it sounds weird that is why!

Prior to reading this, understand that I hate RPGS, especially action RPGs such as Fable and Morrowind and Kotor. The main con of these games is that there is too much menu scrolling and the character movement/action is lame. No matter how good you are, you will get hit, and these games just tend to give me a headache. I don't want Zelda to be an RPG

But...

Have any of you played Resident Evil 4? That game is just great, and it has limited, yet extremely effective RPG elements. Unlike action RPGS the action is intense and smooth, and it plays as good as an action game. I would like to see Zelda move in this direction.

For example swords. You begin the game, and soon meet up with a blacksmith. He gives you an alternate sword. Throughout the game, you may trade in this sword, along with a large sum of rupees, for a new alternate sword. You can always keep a basic sword (which is replaced by the master sword if its there) and one alternate sword. Once you unlock an alternate sword you can trade in for it at any time. Some ideas for these alternate swords are;

Kokori Knife-Extremely fast, low damage, low range
Biggoron's Sword-Powerful, no shield, long range, slow
Gerudo Sabers-Dual wielding, no shield
Double Helix Sword-Shoots lasers, drains magic.

and so on.

Every alternate sword would feature pros and cons. Every alternate sword could have some sort of special feature as well, triggered by pressing A+B. For example, a Great Fairy Sword could have a one time use full heath recovery. Unfortunently, if this game is as easy as WW, there will be no need for special moves. I want a much harder game.

RPG elements could also work for shields.

Throughout the game, you could purchase new shields capable of blocking more types of attacks and withstanding more damage. Much like the Giant's Knife from OoT, your shield could take only a certain number of hits. Then you would have to buy a new one. While this could provide annoying, consider this:

-It is something to spend those rupees on. Face it, your often stuck with a lot of rupees in Zelda.

-It provides incentive to dodge attacks. I would propose a side roll (Side jump press A very fast), to duck under blows, the traditional backflip and side jump, and a re-worked parry system. Rather than use A, I would use the clicking function of the R-button.
Pressing R down would raise the shield, but gently pressing it down within a fraction of a second would allow you to block most incoming hits with your sword, putting you at the advantage in combat. I want this Zelda to be more action oriented, forcing you to master dodges and know when to block. Of course I also want to retain the exploration and puzzles that make the series legendary as well.

Another possible object to upgrade is the bow. You could upgrade a bow's

-firing speed
-Add a reticule
-Increase arrow capacity
-Shoot more arrows at a time

As for the arrows, you could buy cheap, less powerful arrows or more expensive power arrows. It may be farfetch'd, but homing arrows are a possiblility as well.

Keep in mind, not all of the RPG elements would happen at a store, you could earn many upgrades through some fun mini-games as well.

I want to depend a little more on shops though. I would welcome the ability to sell things. I think there should be about four towns, all with unique items. I don't think there should be replenishments out of the grass. Only rupees. You could heal at fairy fontains or buy potions. Now don't get me wrong, the developers must be smart about this. If there is a room where you need arrows or magic, they will provide it to you through treasure chests. There would be convenient healing places in dungeons. The whole point of this would be to increase the difficulty of the game, and make you prepare for dungeons.

Of course there could always be armor upgrades. You've probably noted that Link wears chainmail in this game, but he should not start with it. You could also purchase or earn faster running boots.

I could go on and on, and I want to, but I will stop here an see the reaction for now. Just imagine this, an epic masterpiece of a game with a high difficulty level, and the above RPG elements. It would be great, it would add to the game, and Zelda would instantly become extremely popular again.

well i disagree
Zelda wouldnt be Zelda if it had many RPG elements

No.

The more RPG elements, this less interaction. If anything, I would say Zelda should borrow the weapon sytem idea from Ninja Gaidan.

Sometimes change is good. and Zelda wouldn't be a complete rpg..just more realistic...

Originally Posted by Shiek 84

Because I wrote something a while ago that I felt pretty much covered some of my ideas I will copy it here, because I do not want to write it again and would otherwise leave some things out. Everything in the following paragraph is something I wrote a while ago, so if it sounds weird that is why!

Prior to reading this, understand that I hate RPGS, especially action RPGs such as Fable and Morrowind and Kotor. The main con of these games is that there is too much menu scrolling and the character movement/action is lame. No matter how good you are, you will get hit, and these games just tend to give me a headache. I don't want Zelda to be an RPG

But...

Have any of you played Resident Evil 4? That game is just great, and it has limited, yet extremely effective RPG elements. Unlike action RPGS the action is intense and smooth, and it plays as good as an action game. I would like to see Zelda move in this direction.

For example swords. You begin the game, and soon meet up with a blacksmith. He gives you an alternate sword. Throughout the game, you may trade in this sword, along with a large sum of rupees, for a new alternate sword. You can always keep a basic sword (which is replaced by the master sword if its there) and one alternate sword. Once you unlock an alternate sword you can trade in for it at any time. Some ideas for these alternate swords are;

Kokori Knife-Extremely fast, low damage, low range
Biggoron's Sword-Powerful, no shield, long range, slow
Gerudo Sabers-Dual wielding, no shield
Double Helix Sword-Shoots lasers, drains magic.

and so on.

Every alternate sword would feature pros and cons. Every alternate sword could have some sort of special feature as well, triggered by pressing A+B. For example, a Great Fairy Sword could have a one time use full heath recovery. Unfortunently, if this game is as easy as WW, there will be no need for special moves. I want a much harder game.

RPG elements could also work for shields.

Throughout the game, you could purchase new shields capable of blocking more types of attacks and withstanding more damage. Much like the Giant's Knife from OoT, your shield could take only a certain number of hits. Then you would have to buy a new one. While this could provide annoying, consider this:

-It is something to spend those rupees on. Face it, your often stuck with a lot of rupees in Zelda.

-It provides incentive to dodge attacks. I would propose a side roll (Side jump press A very fast), to duck under blows, the traditional backflip and side jump, and a re-worked parry system. Rather than use A, I would use the clicking function of the R-button.
Pressing R down would raise the shield, but gently pressing it down within a fraction of a second would allow you to block most incoming hits with your sword, putting you at the advantage in combat. I want this Zelda to be more action oriented, forcing you to master dodges and know when to block. Of course I also want to retain the exploration and puzzles that make the series legendary as well.

Another possible object to upgrade is the bow. You could upgrade a bow's

-firing speed
-Add a reticule
-Increase arrow capacity
-Shoot more arrows at a time

As for the arrows, you could buy cheap, less powerful arrows or more expensive power arrows. It may be farfetch'd, but homing arrows are a possiblility as well.

Keep in mind, not all of the RPG elements would happen at a store, you could earn many upgrades through some fun mini-games as well.

I want to depend a little more on shops though. I would welcome the ability to sell things. I think there should be about four towns, all with unique items. I don't think there should be replenishments out of the grass. Only rupees. You could heal at fairy fontains or buy potions. Now don't get me wrong, the developers must be smart about this. If there is a room where you need arrows or magic, they will provide it to you through treasure chests. There would be convenient healing places in dungeons. The whole point of this would be to increase the difficulty of the game, and make you prepare for dungeons.

Of course there could always be armor upgrades. You've probably noted that Link wears chainmail in this game, but he should not start with it. You could also purchase or earn faster running boots.

I could go on and on, and I want to, but I will stop here an see the reaction for now. Just imagine this, an epic masterpiece of a game with a high difficulty level, and the above RPG elements. It would be great, it would add to the game, and Zelda would instantly become extremely popular again.

...Wow. You have some truely awesome ideas. I agree with just about EVERYTHING that you said.

Bravo!

going in this direction would be great, because like I said above, dispatching enemies in Zelda is often too easy, even bosses. Increasing diffuculty would definately go for a better game. And the RPG elements you suggest are what I mean. Not really leveling up, but as you say, getting faster by buying new boots. This is excellent.

This is what I go by when I mean RPG elements for Zelda. Thanks Shiek 84.

Zelda isn't even slightly realistic as of now.

Zelda has never NEEDED to be realistic.

Yes, change can be good, but if they can why not simply add on to what is already there? (I.E. RE4)

I don't see how RPG elements make things more realistic seeing as they take away from the overall interaction. I like things to be based off my own skill, not how long I make the character I'm playing as fight monsters.

Shiek 84 has cool ideas. lol good job

No, i mean, living off the environment, it'd be interactive...its just an idea, like, some foods would have a positive or negativ affect on you in combat or any kind of activity...etc

IMO, RPG elements don't take away from interaction unless it's a full-RPG. Just light elements won't hurt. Shiek is talking how I'm thinking it should go.

EDIT: An example, in a True RPG, you don't even control combat. You choose what they do and watch them execute or pick a card...how boring?

Interaction is low in these kind of RPGs, but with some light elements as Shiek has explained would do good.

I think it could turn out bad or good, maybe just some slight ones, other wise I think it could ruin the Zelda experiance.

Originally Posted by Trv016

IMO, RPG elements don't take away from interaction unless it's a full-RPG. Just light elements won't hurt. Shiek is talking how I'm thinking it should go.

EDIT: An example, in a True RPG, you don't even control combat. You choose what they do and watch them execute or pick a card...how boring?

Interaction is low in these kind of RPGs, but with some light elements as Shiek has explained would do good.

Having read his post, it turns out he has the same ideas I do.

Ninja Gaidan style. Yes.

I dislike the Idea of rpg like elements in zelda because it just wouldn't be Zelda. Because then You could level up to be as high as you could go and all the bosses would be able to be defeated in one hit(exaggeration). Because no matter what in any Zelda game you the character Link dont level up, the bosses and other enemys are just as hard, but your skill as the gamer playing zelda goes up, and if it was based on a level based system then I dont think it would be as good. But I do like the Idea of getting more that one sword(but not too many)and being able to switch through them.

Originally Posted by makar14

I dislike the Idea of rpg like elements in zelda because it just wouldn't be Zelda. Because then You could level up to be as high as you could go and all the bosses would be able to be defeated in one hit(exaggeration). Because no matter what in any Zelda game you the character Link dont level up, the bosses and other enemys are just as hard, but your skill as the gamer playing zelda goes up, and if it was based on a level based system then I dont think it would be as good. But I do like the Idea of getting more that one sword(but not too many)and being able to switch through them.

I don't know about anyone else but the bosses in any of the 3D Zelda's have never been hard, that might just be me though! so i don't think it would really be one sided if rpg elements were added, because it already is one sided, no one has ever really been a match for Link, sort of like the way Dante is in the Devil May Cry series.

The only RPG element I would like is being able to upgrade your weopons and possibly feeding him, like they have been doing lately in games (GTA San Andreas, Metal Gear Solid 3 Snake Eater)