The Corrupted Protagonist

Now I've seen it done in other videogames, and I'm not sure I want it done on Zelda. It's getting a tad cliche, but always works for a little gimmick that can come out as a game idea that plays out rather well.

Now I suppose I should explain myself.

Take Metroid Prime 3's Hypermode feature. Call it what you want, gimmick, clever idea, total innovation, last-minute decision. In MP3 we could make heroine Samus Aran much more powerful with her attacks, and practically invincible - at a cost. During the game, we watched Samus deal with the corruption enter her own body, hurting her in every which way, and leading up to the inevitable "overcome your power" stage in the game. The godly Hypermode was meant to only be used when you needed it most. It would drain an entire energy tank after using it, but you could put a boss into submission within seconds if you could use it right.

So along as the player goes, he/she becomes corrupted as well. You're conscious of the Hypermode being available, and you enjoy the power while it lasts. I'm not too sure about you guys, but I was able to connect with Samus and feel much more into the game, feeling as if I was there, in the power suit fighting every monster, toppling every boss. And the split-second decisions needing to be made - should I click that + button, or wait it out?

Now, I don't want the technique to become overused. But I want us all to be aware that Nintendo has picked up a deadly weapon in its hand, and it knows exactly how to use it. That weapon being the game's installment of the guilty power, and the decisive times when or when not to use it. So do you guys think there should be a Hypermode-like idea thrown into the next Zelda? If so, how should it be implemented? Advantages? Drawbacks? Does it make the gameplay immersive?

That would be cool, because I haven't played enough games with that in it to be bored of it.

It could be a transformation like the FD Mask that makes you super powerful. However, you can't use any secondary items while in the state. The form might horrify NPCs, and the more you use it, the longer it lasts. If you use it too many times, you won't be able to turn back at all. Then the demon within takes you, and forces you to destroy Hyrule.

Originally Posted by Chad

That would be cool, because I haven't played enough games with that in it to be bored of it.

It could be a transformation like the FD Mask that makes you super powerful. However, you can't use any secondary items while in the state. The form might horrify NPCs, and the more you use it, the longer it lasts. If you use it too many times, you won't be able to turn back at all. Then the demon within takes you, and forces you to destroy Hyrule.

I was just thinking about the idea of NPC interaction. Which if done right, could lead to all sorts of different options. Could have two groups of NPCs, the good side of society, and the underworld. In the corrupt form, you could gain access to new sidequests, interact with criminals and such. But if you try and interact with good NPCs, they would be horrified and close off sidequests. For how long, if ever, depends.

I would like to see the corruption be Dark Link. All the Links seem to be pure. Now i dont normally go around suggesting huge changes to our beloved here. But I think the idea of Link struggling with his darkside be interesting. Would be interesting to see Link rely on this dark side.

This could also lead to different endings. One where you overcome the darkness, or one where the darkness over powers you.

Then of course if you add the idea of staying for to long and using it to often you are stuck. Which could drastically change the whole game altogether.


The possibilities seem endless.

This would be a nice concept, but I wonder how it would be pulled off in a Zelda Game?

While, I don't know about corruption as a gameply mechanic, I'd love to see it as a plot point in the story.

Maybe link becomes possesed or something and starts showing bipolar light dark side moments. It would be cool to see link in a state where he is not good on all angles like in previous games.

Personally, I hated the hypermode. It just felt too. . . gimmicky. It was annoying to fight the last bosses, then you had to use the hypermode to beat them, even though you had one energy tank left or something.

However, the idea itself is fine but a tad cliché as you said Machina. Good and Evil's just too used in Zelda games, and I just hate the idea of Ultimate Good and Ultimate Bad.
Because, you know, there's no such thing really.

As I said, the idea itself is fine, if done in the right way. Less gimmicky like hypermode, more transformation like wolf-Link.
Maybe Link turning into a daemon, and chatting with a not-necessarily-bad daemon tribe existing in a 'mirror plane' of Hyrule. They would be shunned by 'normal' folk, creating problems for Link when he walks around in his daemon form. The focus of the game could be solving problems between the two.

Or maybe Link turning to a bloodsucking creature of the night after he's been bitten by a bat. (-Vampyre_gurl 97)

It seems to me that any new feature that someone doesn't like gets labeled a gimmick.

That might have been an interesting thing to do with the Twili. Or just make another nocturnal race. Each side may have kidnapped the other side's princess, and when Link goes off to save Zelda, he also decides to save the other princess. By the end of the game, peace between the two tribes will have been made.

Maybe I'm just being narrow-minded, but Spiderman 3 has permanently put me off of the whole conflicted protagonist idea.

I never watched or played Spiderman 3, but I heard it had Venom in it.

Originally Posted by Chad

It seems to me that any new feature that someone doesn't like gets labeled a gimmick.

Uhm, that kind of makes it a gimmick by definition; a new special feature with little relevance or use (for me, at least).

Originally Posted by Chad

That might have been an interesting thing to do with the Twili. Or just make another nocturnal race. Each side may have kidnapped the other side's princess, and when Link goes off to save Zelda, he also decides to save the other princess. By the end of the game, peace between the two tribes will have been made.

Just what I meant, not you changing into something bad, just something different that is considered evil by the other side.
And it could be a cool phase in the plot, after hearing the 'good' side propaganda you really get to see the other side and realize you have been misquided by lies and cake.

How about a sidekick with the corruption? Could be quite interesting as who is meant to help you sometimes goes against you

I think it would be an interesting take if pulled off well. I mean, Link has always been the "pure hearted" hero. What would happen if during his travels he was no longer so pure hearted? It would make an interesting scenario with the Master Sword since it's supposed to be only handled by somebody with a pure heart. (If I am remembering correctly) If Link has become too corrupted he may not be able to use it and that would affect gameplay.

I've never played the new Metroid games (I like the story, just the game is a bit beyond my skill level for me to bother) but that does sound rather intriguing. Nintendo would have to create a balance though between totally good (Link) and totally evil (Ganon). Even that does get a little old after a while.

MP3 used it very well and was impressive.

Perhaps Link draws a type of sword that, instead of being pure, grants him power at a cost?

Maybe it could happen with another item, like that weird head-stump in TP.