An Epic Zelda

[Oizys]

I recently played (and beat in a sitting) Viking: Battle for Asgard on the PS3. It was a fun game, but repetitive and to short. The one thing that stood out that you don't usually see were the epic-ly huge battles that you take part in. This is a good example of a small battle. (WARNING: VERY GORY)
Literally thousands of individual allies and enemies with their own AI, duking it out. Even with it's Cell processor, my PS3 had to chug to get it done.

Anyway, I got to thinking that this would be an excellent addition to Zelda.
Think about it. Most kingdoms have an army, so it wouldn't be unrealistic for Hyrule to have one. And since Link is usually the Hero, he could be the one who takes out all the bigger stuff, like Darknuts and such. This isn't to say that temples and such would be removed, just maybe instead of a temple leading to a final boss, Link has to fight his way through hoards of monsters to get him/her.

Also I'd like to see a return to actual magic casted by Link, instead of him using magically imbibed tools.

Anyway, what do you guys think?

EDIT: Sans all the gore, of course. Kids need to be able to play it.

[M Sicopath]

I don't know. I might like it, if it wasn't too close to Dynasty Warriors style. I was unimpressed with a lot of similar large scale battles (think like LOTR) because once the enemies' numbers get that high I just stop caring. It's not about the individual anymore, just like throwing forces at each other, and that doesn't feel like Zelda to me.

[GentleArtillery]

I'd rather like, having a small selection of characters, and quite an amount of enemies, for some "epic" battle during the late game. You could switch between the characters in the Gongoron style of Phantom Hourglass. Or something.

[Deospawn]

No. I wouldn't mind if there were some occasional large-scale conflicts, but I don't think it's wise to apply warring kingdoms as a recurring theme throughout a Zelda game. One of the things that I think gives the series its charm is the feel that you are, in most cases, alone. Helps you get a better feel for the in-game world, and it helps you see through the eyes of the hero, in a way. I think your idea would take that away from Zelda...though if it was implemented well, and knowing Nintendo, they could pull it off, somehow, it might work. Still, I'd rather they stick with the tried-and-true, with some slight tweaks here and there...like the direction they've been taking with the series (more or less) since OoT.

Then again, I wouldn't mind straying off the beaten path every so often if the end result was a game somewhat like Majora's Mask...

[avroillusion]

If you want to control an amount of characters during a large scale battle or something, you might want to try Fire Emblem or other strategy games. (I kinda think a FE styled game set in the Zelda world might be kinda fun, but not as an actual game. I think the possible support conversations would be interesting, don't you?)

[Verrick]

Epic battles=yes

[Oizys]

Originally Posted by Deospawn

No. I wouldn't mind if there were some occasional large-scale conflicts, but I don't think it's wise to apply warring kingdoms as a recurring theme throughout a Zelda game. One of the things that I think gives the series its charm is the feel that you are, in most cases, alone. Helps you get a better feel for the in-game world, and it helps you see through the eyes of the hero, in a way. I think your idea would take that away from Zelda...though if it was implemented well, and knowing Nintendo, they could pull it off, somehow, it might work. Still, I'd rather they stick with the tried-and-true, with some slight tweaks here and there...like the direction they've been taking with the series (more or less) since OoT.

Then again, I wouldn't mind straying off the beaten path every so often if the end result was a game somewhat like Majora's Mask...

I wouldn't want it all to be just epic battles. Viking was like that, and it got boring quick. I'm suggesting that there be one huge battle at the end of the game, where Link has to fight to get to the final boss, who would be the leader of the enemy army.

I've been thinking of ways that would take Zelda in a new direction, cause I'm starting to get tired of the same game with slight variations being delivered at launch every time.

Of course, they tried that with WW, but everyone jumped at their throats for it.

[Grumble Guru]

I like the idea of a Hylian Army. We saw some soldiers wandering around in TP and OoT (not to mention the posessed ALttP ones), but they've been pretty useless.

What I would absolutely love to see would be more swordsman/mercenary kinds of people roaming the streets of Castle Town, either itching for a fight or trying to give you a hand. After playing Okami, I realized how interesting you can make a game with swordsmen roaming about. Especially if they all have their own styles, and they help you out in some epic battle where you fight alongside them. Oki and Waka from Okami were definately some pretty interesting characters, both being swordsmen with a questionable motive at first, but then you finally understand them.

Something similar to this implemented in Zelda would be lovely.

[formula1]

I think it would be fitting...
I would say if there was going to be an epic battle though, I would like to control troop locations...

[The Great Panda]

For some reason, I can't help but imagine the Hylian soldiers fighting very much like the Spartans from 300. I'm also reminded of a fanfic that I should probably finish.

Anyway, I like the idea of a great battle toward the end of the game, though I'm a bit iffy on Link taking part in the fight. On one hand, it could be a hugely fun segment to play through, and on the other, it's not really necessary. Still, nice idea.

[Hylian Princess]

Huh. Might be interesting.
In a way, it would almost be more epic to know that, while you were, say, trapped in a room fighting Ganon, hundreds of Hyrulean soldiers are fighting and bleeding and falling and dying while you can do nothing to save them...>=)

[The Great Panda]

At least they're dying for a good cause.

[Ganon the King]

Yeah, maybe... but I'd prefer an original Zelda that doesn't have those battles that have become cliche.

[GanonSlayer101]

dude, 99.9% of zelda is it's puzzling levels, it would sully the good name of LoZ to make one that's 1/2 mindless killing and violence. but wichever way LoZ goes, i shall follow!

[Layke]

I think it is about time for an epic Zelda. I want a Zelda game to come along and actually have huge battles and town sieges with Ganondorf trying to take over Hyrule through his army rather than just popping into power. I want it to be a struggle in which you have to got through dungeons and puzzles but also have to fight to save towns and villages from Ganon.

It's getting time to where Zelda needs to make a big step forward. They need to have the game that's huge and breaks the mold of 8 dungeons and vicotry. They may even need to consider making not only Link the playable character, but others as well, or have them fight along with you as Allies. They need to do something big that pays homage to the original Zelda but steps up the franchise as well. I would like a Zelda game to have a true sequel too, not where he leaves to Terminia, but is a continuation of a consistent storyline. This franchise just really has so much potential and I'm tired of getting the same old story time after time. Something BIG needs to change.

[avroillusion]

Originally Posted by The Great Panda

For some reason, I can't help but imagine the Hylian soldiers fighting very much like the Spartans from 300. I'm also reminded of a fanfic that I should probably finish.

Why would soldiers from a Medieval World fight like soldiers from 480 BC Greece? Are you just saying that because it was the first epic ancient war movie that came into your head?

Anyway, if you think about it, I don't think a big battle will work for Zelda gameplaywise. Think about how Zelda plays and how games dealing with epic Medieval games tend to play. If it were on horseback it might work...adding more playable characters might actually aggravate other fans. Look at the Sonic series. Many fans made before the series' downfall are constantly complaining about the amount of playable characters.

[Oizys]

Originally Posted by Ganon the King

Yeah, maybe... but I'd prefer an original Zelda that doesn't have those battles that have become cliche.

That's the thing though. Zelda is far from original now, as Nintendo keeps releasing almost the same thing with a different twist in the story line and updated graphics. I want change, and this would be a good start.

Originally Posted by avroillusion

Anyway, if you think about it, I don't think a big battle will work for Zelda gameplaywise. Think about how Zelda plays and how games dealing with epic Medieval games tend to play. If it were on horseback it might work...

How do you mean? Do you mean that it wouldn't follow the formula for a Zelda game? Or that the control scheme and such wouldn't fit for that situation?

If it's the former, then that's exactly what I want. A new game, with updated graphics and and a new twist in the storyline. If it's the latter, I've heard rumors that the game engine is going to be replaced, so you'd have to get used to it anyway.

[avroillusion]

It's just that since the OP said that even his PS3 "had to chug to get it done"; I don't like the sound of that. Most of the epic battles in action games I can think of are in confined spaces. (kind of like KH's battle with 1000 heartless) Most games I'm aware of that depict them are either strategy games, hack and slash games or shooters. I just don't know whether or not the epic battle everyone is dreaming up of will be feasible. If we filter the units through a canyon and have Link go at it, that might be doable.