Extra Freedom/Fun Elements

Nintendo has already gone on to talk about how Twilight Princess will be bigger, better, and longer in the main quest than Ocarina of time and have more sidequests and minigames, thats cool, but what about gameplay elements that don't have to do with the main game yet aren't sidequests or minigames? Don't get it? thats fine, here are examples. . .

-Examples-

+ Animal training -we already saw Link breeding (or doing something friendly with) kittens in the forest, and in the Toaru village demo, Link was playing fetch with a dog, expanding on this idea would be great

+ fishing anywhere there is water -so its not really a minigame, but part of the normal gameplay yet has nothing to do with a main quest. It would be cool if you could sell the fish you catch for cool prizes or fish out a optional boss

+ Planting flowers or gardening- Expanding on the idea from Windwaker. . .

+ bug catching- OK bug catching sounds lame, but the idea of being able to do normal things that really have nothing to do with the mainquest yet arent quite minigames or sidequests would give TP a completely new sense of freedom and realism. The thing about these non-minigame/sidequests (not sure what to call them. . . maybe Extra freedom elements?!?) is that there is really no item or rupee reward, you just do it because you have that freedom.

I probably should have expanded on this idea more before posting it, but tell me what you think anyway.

you have good ideas, I also have thought of that. It would also be cool if you have your own house and such. And I always wanted to be able to collect al the enemies weapons(not only use them during the battle) and put them into a showcase just for showing that you have been able the kill that enemie. ALso it would be cool to take your horse to a small lake so that she can drink some water or eat grass or that you can stroke your horse would also be cool.

I've always had the funny idea that it would be cool to paint Link's face with war colors.

But since it will never happen I can always dream.

A lot of that sounds very Animal Crossing-ish. But yeah, it definitely sounds like a fun idea. I also like the customization possibilities of keeping enemies' weapons. It might also be fun to find another job opportunity like the mail sorting in The Wind Waker. I'm sure there are tons of little things that could be added to make Twilight Princess (or any other future games) much more realistic.

I can live without the bug catching and flower planting but I like your ideas on fishing anywhere there is water and using your caught fish for trade in Hyrule market or Kakikiro village. As for the animal training I would like to see mini games in which you can train Epona to go faster and jump higher such as obstacle courses, competitive racing against other horses, and engaging in jousting duels with random badguy minions like Moblins or Darknuts on horseback somewhere in hyrule field.

Well I'm fine if fishing is just a minigame. The thing is you can do it and that is all that matters.

Your ideas for all of this sound somewhat fimilar, oh yes, Animal Crossing. But I'm fine with the fishing thing, but bug catching?

This reminds me of that one thread I made about Zelda items.

Anyway, that all sounds interesting. Having the power to manipulate the environment would definitely be cool. Maybe being able to plant a tree that will help you get to a higher place for sidequests, or maybe using dogs to help solve puzzles, or being able to summon creatures. The list goes on, and I truly think that Twilight Princess may offer the biggest variety yet.

I for one hope to see a return of some sort of 'figure collection' element. I adored to death the Nintendo Gallery in Wind Waker, though I still have a few figures to get.