Something about skyward sword bothers me.

Remember when you visit the Lanayru mining facility and see all this advanced technology and screens? Something about this bothers me, it's just not Zelda, I keep seeing fantasy games with tacked on sci-fi elements and that touches me the wrong way. Discuss.

Originally Posted by Destructoid

Remember when you visit the Lanayru mining facility and see all this advanced technology and screens? Something about this bothers me, it's just not Zelda, I keep seeing fantasy games with tacked on sci-fi elements and that touches me the wrong way. Discuss.

I wouldn't even call it advanced technology. They're using time crystals for that sort of effect, so I would say that it's magic.



Also, as of now I think this thread is more appropriate in the Skyward Sword forum.

*moves thread*

Sorry for the double post, but this leads me to the conclusion that Zelda may just take place in a post-apocalyptic world or a different universe where technology and magic are together (think "infinity blade"). This may green light a sequel with cyberpunk stuff like that rumored game from a few years ago. Also, no double post, I'm used to the forums that tell you when someone posted before you, btw thanks mod.

I'm okay with this "technology" stuff in Zelda as long as it feels "magical". Having TV screens? No. But the electronic robots were a great addition because they were powered by a lightning dragon, which ties the fantasy into the sci-fi. I loved the Time-Shift stones because they gave a magical glow, and the "time traveling" really didn't make it seem like sci-fi to me. I think Nintendo did a very good job at mixing in the robots and such.

Originally Posted by Eternal Legend

I wouldn't even call it advanced technology. They're using time crystals for that sort of effect, so I would say that it's magic.

Actually EL all the technology in Lanayru desert is advanced and it have nothing to do with the timeshift stones. Because the stones just show how the place was in the past. So what we see in Lanayru Mining Facility clearly is technology not magic.

I tend to agree with the consensus here. The time-shifting didn't really feel like sci fi too much to me, even with the glowy stuff that seemed techy. I thought it had a very "Zelda" feel to it and fit in nicely with the past games, while adding a new element to the gameplay. I always liked time travelling when I played OoT, but at least in SS you could come and go in and out of the past and present at any time, where in OoT, you were stuck in one time or another unless you replaced or removed the sword in the Temple of Time.

Yeah, I feel like it retained it's "fantasy" feeling due to the reasons Esalia mentioned above. What also makes it feel more fantasy is the fact that the technology in the game was clearly sanctioned by gods, and not the work and genius of man. Even the robots feel like something straight from a fantasy; they aren't typical robots; they are vibrant and full of personality(and ironically rude to humans; we'd expect them to be monotone, subservient beings like Fi), and worship a thunder dragon god.

Originally Posted by TurkeyMcBean

Yeah, I feel like it retained it's "fantasy" feeling due to the reasons Esalia mentioned above. What also makes it feel more fantasy is the fact that the technology in the game was clearly sanctioned by gods, and not the work and genius of man. Even the robots feel like something straight from a fantasy; they aren't typical robots; they are vibrant and full of personality(and ironically rude to humans; we'd expect them to be monotone, subservient beings like Fi), and worship a thunder dragon god.

Stole my response xD But totally true. I mean there are things in SS that I felt weren't very Zelda, but I thought this addition fit well, I didn't even question it when it first appeared. I loveeedd the time-shift aspect, and to me that was so so very Zelda, a different type of throwback to OOT. and lol Turkey I lovedd how rude the robots were to people, it cracked me up everytime. Again, perfect Zelda characters.

The design of the dungeon is very Zelda-ish and Nintendo did indeed do a good job of mixing this futuristic tech with old-timing magic, but the existence of this facility seems to somewhat validate the post-apocalyptic world thing. The dungeon was pretty fun though.

I totally see the merit in your argument, but I never had that feeling when I played the game. Although the robots seemed futuristic, they were set in the past, so it just seemed like ancient technology. And as for the timeshift stones, they were just another magical element, which which is normal for Zelda. I think it had a nice balance.

I'll admit to being somewhat surprised when I first caught glimpse of the robots in Lanayru Desert (though technically, I saw busted up Scrapper in the bazaar before I saw any of the working ones). I'm generally the type of person that isn't very into bringing technology into timeless things like Zelda or -- here's a great example -- the world of Avatar: The Last Airbender (like they did with The Legend of Korra), but as I explored the depths of the mining facility and got used to the timeshift stones I eventually found that it all had a very natural Zelda feel to it, even though I wouldn't have suspected to ever grow used to such a thing as electrical robots. All in all, I agree that it may have seemed a little out of place at first, but come on -- robots that not only have personality, but work and live under a magical Thunder Dragon? If they were ruled by something like, say, a giant brain in a test tube, then I would get the same feeling that OP is getting. I think Nintendo did a good job of making it seem different, but not so different that it was no longer Zelda.

Besides that, we really don't know exactly what the surface was like before the battle between Hylia and Demise, or even immediately afterwards. I think the robots give us a mysterious glimpse of that lost past.

The only thing that bothered me is that they tied the technology to the most epic weapon in the game and made that technology its actual origin.

Im sorry but having an "ancient" god program humanoid robotic AI into a blade via technological advances of a previous civilization is not only corny has hell....but just a damn shame. Why a god wouldnt use magic and spirits vs technology and robots is beyond me and to tie it in with the very origins of the master sword....ugh.

I don't have this problem, as long as it's a good game I don't care if it has guns, trains or tanks to it
So, I didn't actually be bothered by the Lanayru part of the game, in fact it was my favorite in the whole game. (And it do a better job with Beamoses and cranked Armos' difficulty up to eleven (or is it just me?))

I actually love ancient advanced civilisation stories myself. I enjoyed it, but I'm not sure I want it to be TOO explored. Keep it mysterious.

The Lanayru Mining Facility was brilliant. The whole desert - Sandsea included - was brilliant. It was designed well and looked beautiful. And the whole deal with the Ancient Robots I found to be perfectly fine - there were still little quirks that I felt made it Zelda.
Also, if you remember the opening sequence, the Goddess Hylia was standing with the races of the Surface.

From right to left, Mogma, Goron, Hylia, Kikwi, Parella, and Ancient Robot. The fact that the robots were included makes me think that, although they are powered, not living, they are still a race in their own right. So there's still some Zelda magic in there. Plus, the Robots are my favorite race. I love their rudeness.

I totally agree. Tacked-on Science Fiction elements in fantasy games are an annoyance.

I'm still not sure how these robots were tacked on. Isn't lost technology one of the most common things in any Fantasy setting?

Either way this is nothing new. I mean come on, the hookshot is probably a much more impressive invention than robots that are most likely magical in nature.

Originally Posted by Kostya

I'm still not sure how these robots were tacked on. Isn't lost technology one of the most common things in any Fantasy setting?

Either way this is nothing new. I mean come on, the hookshot is probably a much more impressive invention than robots that are most likely magical in nature.

Not to mention that the electromagnets used in the Goron Mines in TP weren't invented in the real world until 1825 by William Sturgeon. Bossa Nova music in MM wasn't created until 1957 too, and Goht is a Masked Mechanical Monster, i.e., a robot.

We'll just have to assume the Zelda universe takes place in a completely different universe than ours where technology progresses at a very different rate. It doesn't make sense other wise.

Originally Posted by Thegargoylevine

Not to mention that the electromagnets used in the Goron Mines in TP weren't invented in the real world until 1825 by William Sturgeon. Bossa Nova music in MM wasn't created until 1957 too, and Goht is a Masked Mechanical Monster, i.e., a robot.

We'll just have to assume the Zelda universe takes place in a completely different universe than ours where technology progresses at a very different rate. It doesn't make sense other wise.

Yeah and there was a cannon in TP that could be carried in a person's hands and fired. Guns are probably only a century or two away in that timeline. This is also leaving out the City in the Sky which isn't even modern like that canon, it's ancient. If anything I think TP stretches the limits of a Fantasy setting more than SS or ST. Unlike the robots and trains in those games which are implied to be magical the things in TP work using technology like similar to what we have in our world.

Also I would love to know why robots are suddenly very advanced. The basic concept behind them has existed since the early Hebrews invented the golem.

Zelda isn't intended to stay faithful to the medieval age. They can have torches and screens in the same mine.