An Item system I created for a new Zelda

Unlike most ideas I see for new games on here, I actually like this one! The item system would be interesting enough to keep you trying out different combinations against different enemies to see what works best, or to just keep spamming your favorite weapon until it gets old and then moving onto the next one.

The only problem I have is that I don't like the constant dungeons. You're set up for them is nice and I can't actually argue with the dungeons themselves, but I feel like the freeroaming aspect would need to stay in order forit to have a Zelda feel.

Originally Posted by GamenerdAdvance

Yeah, but as soon as you start adding upgrades and essences for every single item, it just starts getting out of hand.

I want see a new intuitive, productive item system that differs from in OOT/MM/TWW/TP, in which every item is relevant and useful, things are simple (yet no gameplay is sacrificed), and there's no need for reams of HUD and menus like in every other Zelda. Until they can do this, keep unnecessary upgrades out of it, I say.

Aiight, I'm not denying this is a bit massive.

Because, it is massive, and it might be overdone. The way I do things is come up with a massive, huge, wonderful idea and chip it down, so I apologize if this hurt your eyes.

Originally Posted by Hombre de Mundo

"The Shadow Tunic makes Link transparent and invulnerable to physical attacks."

I'd say over 70% of enemies in Zelda use physical attacks. If you could use some sort of catch, like it can only be used when you're under the shadow of a tree or something, that might work better and add some strategy to it. Just on top of my head.

>_> Uh, oops. The Shadow Tunic makes Link invulnerable to physical attacks, but makes him VERY susceptible to magic.

Originally Posted by Stuit

Aren't you just combining several weapons into one? In that case it's just a system for managing huge amounts of items. And I just don't think huge amounts of items is something they're actively trying to pursue, more like trying to avoid.

Wow...hmmm, you could be right. I DID come up with an an alternate Zelda game, which is more like the traditional Zelda. That idea is much more streamlined...

The thing is, I came up with this little system, and I think that it would be fairly intuitive (nobody's ever complained about having "3 forms" for the Bow starting in OoT, or 3 different Tunics in OoT and TP), but 27 items might be much.

Originally Posted by Cloud_1st CLASS

Is there free roam still.? If there are more than 8 dungeons that would be awsome. iS THERE a storyline

Uh, yeah. Ugh, I shouldn't have called it a dungeon crawl.

There would be an overworld, for sure.

And I barely came up with a story; the Hylian army is investigating a series of strange events all around the country. Zelda is heir to the Throne and also holds the position of High General, as the tactical leader of the Hylian Army. Link's grandfather is the Lord of his village, which is attacked by Bulblins. The Bulblins are led by a man who is almost a doppelganger of Link. Link's grandfather instructs him to go to the capital to inform Princess Zelda.

Link enlists in the Hylian Army while he is there, and embarks on a campaign against the Bulblins at the Ravine of Pillars, as well as another campaign. After this second campaign, Link gets lost and is led to the Hero's Grave, the grave of the previous Link, the location of which was previously unknown.

Link and Zelda find out about Ganondorf fairly early. Ganondorf escaped his sealing and is currently in control of a roaming army. A powerful sorceror named Agahnim is at the head of his roaming army, while Ganondorf is manipulating events here and there, and Zelda eventually finds out his plot. The three have been separated from the Triforces somehow; the Triforce of Wisdom is no long inherited by Zelda, Ganondorf somehow lost it, and Link doesn't have it.

Link is sought out by Zelda due to the fact that he managed to find the Rusted Sword, and can still hold it. He reforges it into the White Sword, a depowered Master Sword. Link and Zelda tie up some loose ends in Hylian politics, and direct attention at Ganondorf and his growing army. Link then goes on a quest to claim the missing Triforce, and does so by being recognized as the new Hero, gaining his clothes.

To remedy the growing problem of Link and Zelda, Ganondorf brings together two of his creations; Agahnim and Shadow Link, who is revealed to have been aiding the Bulblins. Agahnim is a powerful sorceror-disguise for Ganondorf, and Shadow Link is a copy of the previous Link.

So, after the first 7 dungeons, Link heads off to claim the rights to the Triforces. Ganondorf sort of races Link to each of the Essence Dungeons, and Link and Ganondorf both gain the rights to each piece of the Triforce, except for Power. Ganondorf flees before Link can obtain the rights. The Essence Dungeons were built after the Sages realized that the Triforce of Wisdom disappeared from the Hylian Royal Family, and they needed a way to make sure anyone who attempts to go after it would be worthy.

Ganondorf enacts his last ditch effort; he uses powerful magic to erect three towers, in an effort to stall Link and the Hylian Army while he searches for a portal to the Sacred Realm, so he and his creations can claim each piece of the Triforce.

Link gets to Ganondorf, who reveals that he managed to leave the Sacred Realm again about a hundred years ago, and killed the Zelda at the time. However, he lost his Triforce of Power after killing the previous Zelda, and ended up sealed again. The current dynasty is not directly descended from that Zelda. Link and Ganondorf have their usual epic battle as Hyrule Castle is being sieged. Link nearly dies, and Zelda goes off to revive him, and the capital does not last much longer without her leadership. Ganondorf marches in triumphant, but Link appears and fights him as Ganondorf's army stands in awe of the events. Link kills Ganondorf in front of the Hylian populace and is hailed as a true hero.

Originally Posted by McDuck

Hey, wait a second! You've actually crafted a pretty neat Zelda game, dude! Hecks, I think I'd play that AND enjoy it. Kudos!

My only issue is with your in-game interface. I like that you've gone for a whole new along-the-top view, but I just can't see myself pointing and clicking with the Wii mote to select my items during combat. I think it would work a lot smoother if you stuck it all in the inventory instead.

Aside from this . . . wow! Very nice work.

lol thank you, but I don't think you have it correctly.

This is just an inventory screen. But it DOES need work, and a thing where you scroll items and point it or something.

I think you have a good grasp of your concept, which is good. It is a good concept, if perhaps a bit out of the way from what we're used to seeing.

I think the elemental forms for each weapon is good, and focuses on a core arsenal instead of a long list of arbitrary items. This could be the hardcore zelda everyone's been looking for!

Your story has good flow to it, if a bit sketchy in some parts, and has a great epic feel to it that really fits the series whatever anyone else may think. I think it may conflict with some things we know about the Zelda timeline, but that's OK, it doesn't have to fit.

Maybe if you took focus off of the dungeon crawling and gave more focus to the overworld, though your dungeon ideas are good.
Cheers,
~MARU~

Originally Posted by TheBattler

Uh, yeah. Ugh, I shouldn't have called it a dungeon crawl.

There would be an overworld, for sure.

And I barely came up with a story; the Hylian army is investigating a series of strange events all around the country. Zelda is heir to the Throne and also holds the position of High General, as the tactical leader of the Hylian Army. Link's grandfather is the Lord of his village, which is attacked by Bulblins. The Bulblins are led by a man who is almost a doppelganger of Link. Link's grandfather instructs him to go to the capital to inform Princess Zelda.

Link enlists in the Hylian Army while he is there, and embarks on a campaign against the Bulblins at the Ravine of Pillars, as well as another campaign. After this second campaign, Link gets lost and is led to the Hero's Grave, the grave of the previous Link, the location of which was previously unknown.

Link and Zelda find out about Ganondorf fairly early. Ganondorf escaped his sealing and is currently in control of a roaming army. A powerful sorceror named Agahnim is at the head of his roaming army, while Ganondorf is manipulating events here and there, and Zelda eventually finds out his plot. The three have been separated from the Triforces somehow; the Triforce of Wisdom is no long inherited by Zelda, Ganondorf somehow lost it, and Link doesn't have it.

Link is sought out by Zelda due to the fact that he managed to find the Rusted Sword, and can still hold it. He reforges it into the White Sword, a depowered Master Sword. Link and Zelda tie up some loose ends in Hylian politics, and direct attention at Ganondorf and his growing army. Link then goes on a quest to claim the missing Triforce, and does so by being recognized as the new Hero, gaining his clothes.

To remedy the growing problem of Link and Zelda, Ganondorf brings together two of his creations; Agahnim and Shadow Link, who is revealed to have been aiding the Bulblins. Agahnim is a powerful sorceror-disguise for Ganondorf, and Shadow Link is a copy of the previous Link.

So, after the first 7 dungeons, Link heads off to claim the rights to the Triforces. Ganondorf sort of races Link to each of the Essence Dungeons, and Link and Ganondorf both gain the rights to each piece of the Triforce, except for Power. Ganondorf flees before Link can obtain the rights. The Essence Dungeons were built after the Sages realized that the Triforce of Wisdom disappeared from the Hylian Royal Family, and they needed a way to make sure anyone who attempts to go after it would be worthy.

Ganondorf enacts his last ditch effort; he uses powerful magic to erect three towers, in an effort to stall Link and the Hylian Army while he searches for a portal to the Sacred Realm, so he and his creations can claim each piece of the Triforce.

Link gets to Ganondorf, who reveals that he managed to leave the Sacred Realm again about a hundred years ago, and killed the Zelda at the time. However, he lost his Triforce of Power after killing the previous Zelda, and ended up sealed again. The current dynasty is not directly descended from that Zelda. Link and Ganondorf have their usual epic battle as Hyrule Castle is being sieged. Link nearly dies, and Zelda goes off to revive him, and the capital does not last much longer without her leadership. Ganondorf marches in triumphant, but Link appears and fights him as Ganondorf's army stands in awe of the events. Link kills Ganondorf in front of the Hylian populace and is hailed as a true hero.

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW you should become a Video game designer. WOW that story is amazing.

Originally Posted by Maru Nui

I think you have a good grasp of your concept, which is good. It is a good concept, if perhaps a bit out of the way from what we're used to seeing.

I think the elemental forms for each weapon is good, and focuses on a core arsenal instead of a long list of arbitrary items. This could be the hardcore zelda everyone's been looking for!

Ha ha. Yeah, the point of my "game" is to sort of be a huge, super-Zelda on steroids. However, I know that won't completely fly...

To be honest, I think my idea isn't that amazing, and it might be too convoluted. But what I usually do is take a giant, ridiculous vision, and take a hammer and chisel and try to streamline it from there.

I kind of brought it here to get some critique, but I made two mistakes; I didn't describe the item system properly, and I should have posted this as just a general idea for a Zelda game to clear up things.

Your story has good flow to it, if a bit sketchy in some parts, and has a great epic feel to it that really fits the series whatever anyone else may think. I think it may conflict with some things we know about the Zelda timeline, but that's OK, it doesn't have to fit.

Heh. I didn't really come up with much of a story. I originally had the retardedly epic Zelda, and I was even scripting it for a while, but it became way too ridiculous and Twilight Princess got in the way, if you know what I mean.

And I'm trying to come up with a story that incorporates a ton of dungeons and goes well in the timeline. :-\

I know that for sure my story needs the following things:

1) Ganondorf and his "unholy Trinity" of himself for Power, Agahnim for Wisdom, and Shadow Link for Courage.

2) Link in the army, Zelda taking on a more proactive, but not "battle action girl" role in the series, hence why I made her a General, but the kind of General who sits in the tent to work out logistics, and sits at the top of the hill in a battle.

3) Ganondorf showing some emotion, leadership skills, and interaction with Link BEFORE the final boss fight, so Ganondorf needs to be involved in taunting Link throughout the story and fighting with the Hylian Army.

4) The grave of the previous Link must be involved somehow

5) Ganondorf and nearly killing Link, a battle in the town, then Link slaying Ganondorf in nearly the same way afterward (throwing him off the top of a tower)

Maybe if you took focus off of the dungeon crawling and gave more focus to the overworld, though your dungeon ideas are good.
Cheers,
~MARU~

Yeah, you're right. I originally had this whacked out "Continent of Hyrule," which was a combination of Adventure of Link Hyrule in the North, Legend of Zelda Hyrule in the Southwest, and Link to the Past Hyrule in the Southeast. The Hero of Winds and Tetra would find after a few years of voyaging.

Originally Posted by Cloud_1st CLASS

WOOOOOOOOOOOOOW you should become a Video game designer. WOW that story is amazing.

Heh, thank you, even if the story isn't very well cut out and forged.

And yes, I would actually like to be a Video Game Designer, but I wouldn't want to be a designer on merits of writing alone; Gameplay >>> all else.

Yeah, you're right. I originally had this whacked out "Continent of Hyrule," which was a combination of Adventure of Link Hyrule in the North, Legend of Zelda Hyrule in the Southwest, and Link to the Past Hyrule in the Southeast. The Hero of Winds and Tetra would find after a few years of voyaging.

I would go with that. If you've seen the map of Hyrule from the old comics, that place is HUGE! With the amount of dungeons you're packing, it would fit perfectly, providing just the right amount of land to fill with this stuff.

Originally Posted by TheBattler

Ha ha. Yeah, the point of my "game" is to sort of be a huge, super-Zelda on steroids. However, I know that won't completely fly...

To be honest, I think my idea isn't that amazing, and it might be too convoluted. But what I usually do is take a giant, ridiculous vision, and take a hammer and chisel and try to streamline it from there.

I kind of brought it here to get some critique, but I made two mistakes; I didn't describe the item system properly, and I should have posted this as just a general idea for a Zelda game to clear up things.



Heh. I didn't really come up with much of a story. I originally had the retardedly epic Zelda, and I was even scripting it for a while, but it became way too ridiculous and Twilight Princess got in the way, if you know what I mean.

And I'm trying to come up with a story that incorporates a ton of dungeons and goes well in the timeline. :-\

I know that for sure my story needs the following things:

1) Ganondorf and his "unholy Trinity" of himself for Power, Agahnim for Wisdom, and Shadow Link for Courage.

2) Link in the army, Zelda taking on a more proactive, but not "battle action girl" role in the series, hence why I made her a General, but the kind of General who sits in the tent to work out logistics, and sits at the top of the hill in a battle.

3) Ganondorf showing some emotion, leadership skills, and interaction with Link BEFORE the final boss fight, so Ganondorf needs to be involved in taunting Link throughout the story and fighting with the Hylian Army.

4) The grave of the previous Link must be involved somehow

5) Ganondorf and nearly killing Link, a battle in the town, then Link slaying Ganondorf in nearly the same way afterward (throwing him off the top of a tower)



Yeah, you're right. I originally had this whacked out "Continent of Hyrule," which was a combination of Adventure of Link Hyrule in the North, Legend of Zelda Hyrule in the Southwest, and Link to the Past Hyrule in the Southeast. The Hero of Winds and Tetra would find after a few years of voyaging.



Heh, thank you, even if the story isn't very well cut out and forged.

And yes, I would actually like to be a Video Game Designer, but I wouldn't want to be a designer on merits of writing alone; Gameplay >>> all else.

you are welcome , You'de be really good at writing but I would be really good at game mechanics but I'de rather be a graphics designer.

Originally Posted by Sir Calibur

Unlike most ideas I see for new games on here, I actually like this one! The item system would be interesting enough to keep you trying out different combinations against different enemies to see what works best, or to just keep spamming your favorite weapon until it gets old and then moving onto the next one.

Ahh, thank you. Yeah, this was designed for people to mix and match Link's weapons and items around to find combinations that they liked, sort of like an RPG, in addition to changing forms to solve puzzles.

The only problem I have is that I don't like the constant dungeons. You're set up for them is nice and I can't actually argue with the dungeons themselves, but I feel like the freeroaming aspect would need to stay in order forit to have a Zelda feel.

Yeah, I am going to agree with everyone who stated that a freeroaming Zelda isn't going to properly work.

This is supposed to be Zelda on steroids, but I'm losing sight of what Zelda really is. >_<

Originally Posted by Sir Calibur

I would go with that. If you've seen the map of Hyrule from the old comics, that place is HUGE! With the amount of dungeons you're packing, it would fit perfectly, providing just the right amount of land to fill with this stuff.

You're right, and your wrong.

You're wrong in that my idea wasn't exactly like that. >_> Take that picture from the comics, then surgically attach Link to the Past's Hyrule to the left. Now, it doesn't seem so bad until one realizes that Link to the Past's Hyrule is the same place as Legend of Zelda's Hyrule.

But you might be on to something; perhaps this Zelda could fit in after Link brings peace to Hyrule in Legend of Zelda and Adventure of Link. The thing is, I'm not quite sure how it would fit in; by the time of Legend of Zelda, Ganondorf is stuck in Ganon form (which I believe is what Four Swords Adventure is trying to convey). Since I am such a huge fan of Ganondorf, this game would not be able to fit quite well into the expanded world of Adventure of Link, and it WOULD have gone where Twlight Princess went. Ah well. I might think up of something.

Originally Posted by Cloud_1st CLASS

you are welcome , You'de be really good at writing but I would be really good at game mechanics but I'de rather be a graphics designer.

I'm trying to be a polymath Game Designer. I can program code, write scripts, come up with game mechanics, draw both concept and sprites, and compose music (with my mouth).

I'm kind of off in the graphics designer part. >_>

Are you into Game Design?

Actually, LoZ's Hyrule isn't the same place. If you look at the map, LoZ's is surrounded by what is apparently an ocean (hence its place in the timeline), LoZ Hyrule is actually the only game tha does not seemed isolated by mountains. Unlike the ALTTP version, Catalia actually neighbors it to the left (which I believe is actually where LoZ/AoL Link hails from if I remember correctly).

Odds are I just skipped everything important in your reply, but eh, I'll get to it later >.>

Originally Posted by TheBattler

No, it isn't unintiutive.

You click on an item.

A Triforce pops out around the item, displaying one of 3 forms for the item. If you have the correct essence, you can choose the item's form.

You click on the form you want, and equip it.

Do you know where I got this "unintuitive" system from? I got it from the multiple Arrow system in Ocarina and Majora's.

And this would happen for every item (or most of them)?

Unintuitive...

The arrow systems for the mentioned games weren't intuitive. They weren't hard, but they weren't intuitive. Sorry if I came off as blunt.

Originally Posted by Double A

And this would happen for every item (or most of them)?

Unintuitive...

I have a feeling that you don't know what intuitive means. For something to be intuitive, it must be easy to grasp, as if there is a pre-recognized way to do something.

Clicking on an item, and then having a graphical "chart" appear in front of your face, with descriptions such as "Power Form," "Wisdom Form," and "Courage Form" isn't easy to grasp?

You have the main 9 items in the game; Boots, Clothes, Shield, Bow, Bombs, Boomerang, Hookshot, Hammer, Holy Cane.

You go to the Fire Fortress and obtain the "Fire Essence." The game informs you that you can now "charge up some of your items with the Essence of Fire! Your Clothes, Bow, and Hammer now have a Courage form!"

You go to your items, and you click on the Clothes, and BAM you see that you can make your clothes Red. Awesome. You highlight it, and the game has some text on the bottom saying "Flame Tunic: Resists heat and fire, but weak to ice." You can ask for a description Wind Waker style, too.

The arrow systems for the mentioned games weren't intuitive. They weren't hard, but they weren't intuitive. Sorry if I came off as blunt.

You clicked on the Fire Arrow, it "charges it up" and has a sound effect to go with it, and it went on your C-Button items. Piece of cake, and after that single "learning experience," you're ready to equip the Ice and Light Arrows.

It might not be "intuitive," but it's not like it takes rocket science to pull off.

Sheesh, we can't just hand feed gamers now, can we?

Originally Posted by Sir Calibur

Actually, LoZ's Hyrule isn't the same place. If you look at the map, LoZ's is surrounded by what is apparently an ocean (hence its place in the timeline), LoZ Hyrule is actually the only game tha does not seemed isolated by mountains. Unlike the ALTTP version, Catalia actually neighbors it to the left (which I believe is actually where LoZ/AoL Link hails from if I remember correctly).

Odds are I just skipped everything important in your reply, but eh, I'll get to it later >.>

Well, I just checked a few things and...

FSA's Hyrule is a huge island. And FSA clearly wants to be LttP's prequel.

So, it would be impossible to do my stupid previous idea.

HOWEVER, LoZ's Hyrule might be a different Hyrule from LttP's, and it might be perfect.

Okay, thanks. I think I will try to come up with a game that bridges TP and LoZ/AoL together. Or something.

Originally Posted by TheBattler

I have a feeling that you don't know what intuitive means. For something to be intuitive, it must be easy to grasp, as if there is a pre-recognized way to do something.

Clicking on an item, and then having a graphical "chart" appear in front of your face, with descriptions such as "Power Form," "Wisdom Form," and "Courage Form" isn't easy to grasp?

You have the main 9 items in the game; Boots, Clothes, Shield, Bow, Bombs, Boomerang, Hookshot, Hammer, Holy Cane.

You go to the Fire Fortress and obtain the "Fire Essence." The game informs you that you can now "charge up some of your items with the Essence of Fire! Your Clothes, Bow, and Hammer now have a Courage form!"

You go to your items, and you click on the Clothes, and BAM you see that you can make your clothes Red. Awesome. You highlight it, and the game has some text on the bottom saying "Flame Tunic: Resists heat and fire, but weak to ice." You can ask for a description Wind Waker style, too.



You clicked on the Fire Arrow, it "charges it up" and has a sound effect to go with it, and it went on your C-Button items. Piece of cake, and after that single "learning experience," you're ready to equip the Ice and Light Arrows.

It might not be "intuitive," but it's not like it takes rocket science to pull off.

Sheesh, we can't just hand feed gamers now, can we?

OK, I admit it. Intuitive wasn't the right word. You beat me this once.

But still, having three forms for every item could reduce the amount of usage each one recieves (for example, TP had nine dungeons, each with its own item, and each item hardly recieved any usage at all. Imagine how little use each of your three forms of nine (was it?) items will recieve).

Since Nintendo has an unnaturally large habit of making monsters... "not hard", giving the new items combat potential only makes the battles easier.

Still, it has potential, even though I personally find it useless to speculate about specific details of the next Zelda, such as the dungeons and bosses.

Originally Posted by Double A

OK, I admit it. Intuitive wasn't the right word. You beat me this once.

But still, having three forms for every item could reduce the amount of usage each one recieves (for example, TP had nine dungeons, each with its own item, and each item hardly recieved any usage at all. Imagine how little use each of your three forms of nine (was it?) items will recieve).

That all depends on the dungeon design. Come now; don't you think that if I'm pretending to be in charge of the next Zelda, I wouldn't have this in my brain already?

Since Nintendo has an unnaturally large habit of making monsters... "not hard", giving the new items combat potential only makes the battles easier.

This isn't so much speculation as an idea coming from me, not from Nintendo. Important point.

Still, it has potential, even though I personally find it useless to speculate about specific details of the next Zelda, such as the dungeons and bosses.

This isn't so much speculation. This is an idea.

Uh, oops. The Shadow Tunic makes Link invulnerable to physical attacks, but makes him VERY susceptible to magic.

I hate to be anal, but that still sounds too overpowered. I would be okay if it halved or quartered physical damage, but not complete invulnerability.

I think this item idea is fantastic, and I love the dungeon ideas.

Originally Posted by TheBattler

I'm trying to be a polymath Game Designer. I can program code, write scripts, come up with game mechanics, draw both concept and sprites, and compose music (with my mouth).

I'm kind of off in the graphics designer part. >_>

Are you into Game Design?

Ya. I take classes on it.

^^In order to make the "invulnerable to physical but weak to magic" thing work you'd have to SERIOUSLY beef up the amount and frequency of magic wielding enemies.

I say you should have an original map only loosely based on established existing maps, like what happened between OoT and TP. Seriously throw off people's geography based theories, it's fun!

I think some of the item abilities are a bit specific and would be seriously underused in an actual game. Then again, Nintendo has problems with that too, like the spinner in TP, or the Lens of Truth in OoT (not that I'm complaining on that one).
Cheers,
~MARU~

Originally Posted by Muhfish

Uh, oops. The Shadow Tunic makes Link invulnerable to physical attacks, but makes him VERY susceptible to magic.

I hate to be anal, but that still sounds too overpowered. I would be okay if it halved or quartered physical damage, but not complete invulnerability.

I think this item idea is fantastic, and I love the dungeon ideas.

Shadow Tunic is way better than that: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=umFAhh91hwk

^Ummm... That's a glitch. A rather elaborate glitch, but still a glitch.
Cheers,
~MARU~