Solution for divided Zelda fans?

So, as far as I can tell, we have roughly - very roughly - two groups of Zelda fans, yes? The first group is compromised of diehard OoT fans who want a remake or a sequel or a very very nostalgic Zelda; something that takes them back to the good ol' days, but with better quality that puts today's technology to the test. The other group wants more Zelda, new Zelda - they want to play the series they love in a new way instead of the same old tiresome stuff each time.

Back around the turn of the decade (that'd be 2000ish, don't quite remember), Square started developing both Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy X. For those of you who aren't familiar with the series, the two games are very different from each other despite being in the same series; IX is very traditional, and X is totally crazy in the way it goes about leveling and stuff. The differences aren;t in just leveling up, but in gameplay, story, setting...the point is, Square was purposely catering to their nostalgic fans and their fans who wanted to see something new. Both games were cinematic, had good-for-their-time graphics, and were fun to play, but each delivered something different to a different type of gamer. Both of them were huge sucesses.

How cool would it be if Nintendo tried this? Their problem seems to be that they're trying to please both groups of fans in one game, and of course that can't happen - the two concepts are radically, radically different. But if they developed the next Zelda, and, say, an OoT remake at the same time, they could release both games later on (not at the same time!) and see which does better, or even get two huge sucesses out of it like Square did!

Too bad there's no way to convince them to try it...

I am in the Die Hard OoT Fan group.

Man, me too. I know many who are in the other group, though. I feel like it would be better for Nintendo to just make two games...we'd see once and for all which sold better and where they should be going...

i belong in the third group.

"Fans That Want Both"

i want to see a mix of both old and new...

I wouldnt really copy Square, Final Fantasy has been hemeraging fans for years and relying on popularity of the name for sales,

Nintendo just need to be aware what people don't want and go there own way.

I'd say that Zelda has already split into two seperate series, with the celshaded handheld games and the more realistic console games both being released regularly. As for the Square Enix example; remaking the same two or three games over and over again is pointless and creatively void. I'd rather see Zelda end than OoT remade fifteen thousand bloody times.

Originally Posted by TheGeminiSage

Back around the turn of the decade (that'd be 2000ish, don't quite remember), Square started developing both Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy X. [...]the point is, Square was purposely catering to their nostalgic fans and their fans who wanted to see something new.

How cool would it be if Nintendo tried this?

Wait, isn't that basically what Nintendo did with Twilight Princess and Phantom Hourglass?

Like JoGoron said, we already have two seperate series going on. The more realistic console Zeldas and the cell-shaded series on the Nintendo DS focusing more on fuzzy new ideas like trains. And actually we already got a very traditional Zelda game with Twilight Princess, don't need a second one.

It's a bit more complicated than "die-hard OoT fans", at least in my case. I want to see something new, but with the mature vibe that OoT and MM had. I certainly don't want another TP.

Originally Posted by TheGeminiSage

Back around the turn of the decade (that'd be 2000ish, don't quite remember), Square started developing both Final Fantasy IX and Final Fantasy X. For those of you who aren't familiar with the series, the two games are very different from each other despite being in the same series; IX is very traditional, and X is totally crazy in the way it goes about leveling and stuff. The differences aren;t in just leveling up, but in gameplay, story, setting...the point is, Square was purposely catering to their nostalgic fans and their fans who wanted to see something new. Both games were cinematic, had good-for-their-time graphics, and were fun to play, but each delivered something different to a different type of gamer. Both of them were huge sucesses.

I have to disagree a little here. FF X is not that radically different, few of the FF games are. New things such as VA and a changed battle system (which still is 90% the same as all the other FF fighting system and use the same summons/skills/items) was introduced. The story though, is very similar to FF VII and has elements of VI as well, the big difference is that it revolves around religion instead of say the planet as in VII. It' s a group of people rebelling against the governing oppression and the evil force behind it (Yu Yevon in FF X, Jenova in VII). Furthermore FF X went back to their FF VII/VIII style character design (more asian looking characters) because the fans demanded it.
Hell, FFX's "poster boy" villain (Seymour) even used his dead mother (Anima) to fight you, just like Sephiroth used Jenova.

I have to agree on your last statement though, they were both sucesses

Originally Posted by IkanaGeneral197

It's a bit more complicated than "die-hard OoT fans", at least in my case. I want to see something new, but with the mature vibe that OoT and MM had. I certainly don't want another TP.

How the hell was TP not mature! I also belong to the third group, which is interesting considering i never initially played the games when they came out.

I just want Zelda to be "Zelda." The fans don't have a clue what they want, nor do they ever. I just want Zelda to feel like Zelda, and to never play a boring dried up rehash like Twilight Princess ever again.

I loved Oot, sure, it's a fun game, I still play it time to time, but it's not the only Zelda I enjoy. The original LoZ and the Wind Waker are up there for me in my all time favorites, those two games in my opinion represent what I love about the franchise the most. TP didn't have any of that special lore most Zelda's have that I still enjoy to this day.

You mean like Spirit Tracks and Zelda Wii? Granted I know crap about the new Wii Zelda...but ST looks more liberal already.

I'm a diehard OoT fan, but I most certainly don't want the series to stand still...I want some big new revisions in the series that will only help bring out the atmosphere of the Zelda world.

I read the first paragraph and I can confidently say that I am whatever that second choice was.
OoT really wasn't all that great. :\

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

How the hell was TP not mature! I also belong to the third group, which is interesting considering i never initially played the games when they came out.

An NPC from OoT and Majora's Mask. Note the non-exaggerated features: http://www.zeldawiki.org/File:Shikashi.png

An NPC from TP. Note the ridiculously exaggerated features: http://www.zeldawiki.org/Fileorville.png

TP had characters that looked like they belonged in TWW. Such a cartoonish art style doesn't work with the kind of graphics TP used. Those types of characters would fit in another cel-shaded game, but not if the next game is more realistic than TP.

As for other things that make TP lighthearted compared to its predecessors, I could spend hours going into that, but I know nobody would listen.

How are the designs cartoonish? I never say that. Why do you think the doctor looks cartoonish. He's just an old man, i believe he's meant to look silly, doesn't mean he's cartoonish.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

How the hell was TP not mature!

I loled. But really though, I think he was just talking about how TP only lived up to one of his ideals, i.e. being mature, whilst not catering to the other one, bringing something new to the table. Edit: or not

I myself really want something new at this point. Sure, Ocarina was the best game ever etc. etc. etc. but I'd much rather they brought a new game that can usurp said crown through a different way than just take what it already had and "lol bettar grafx" over and over. That kind of stuff just gets stale. Really stale.


But even so, I can't stress enough that in the face of quality, innovation frails like precious little else. There's nothing worse than a game that does too many new things and forgets to make them good.

I am in the camp that that wants Nintendo to reboot the series, with a completely new formula. Zelda has stagnated so much that it desperately needs it.

And OOT needs to just ****ing die. It was great, definitely, but it's a thing of the past. People need to stop clinging to their childhood memories of the game, wake up, and face the music. Nintendo needs to stop defiling that poor body and let it rest in peace.

Besides, there is an OOT remake. It's called TP.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

How the hell was TP not mature!

You just keep making me laugh, kid.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

How are the designs cartoonish? I never say that. Why do you think the doctor looks cartoonish. He's just an old man, i believe he's meant to look silly, doesn't mean he's cartoonish.

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

How are the designs cartoonish? I never say that. Why do you think the doctor looks cartoonish. He's just an old man, i believe he's meant to look silly, doesn't mean he's cartoonish.

Being "an old man" does not require an exaggerated nose and protruding lower teeth. And of course, he was meant to look like that. That's how Nintendo is designing characters, unfortunately...

Originally Posted by Silver

I am in the camp that that wants Nintendo to reboot the series, with a completely new formula. Zelda has stagnated so much that it desperately needs it.

And OOT needs to just ****ing die. It was great, definitely, but it's a thing of the past. People need to stop clinging to their childhood memories of the game, wake up, and face the music. Nintendo needs to stop defiling that poor body and let it rest in peace.

Besides, there is an OOT remake. It's called TP.

TP is not a remake! It doesn't even appear that you know the definition of the word! I just beat OOT and have no childhood memories and still believe it to be a great game! Innovation isn't bad it's just not as important as you seem to think! Silver, once again Falibi, Fyer, and all those people were meant to look silly! But you can't honestly say that every single character in TP was like that!

Originally Posted by Oni Dark Link

TP is not a remake! It doesn't even appear that you know the definition of the word! I just beat OOT and have no childhood memories and still believe it to be a great game! Innovation isn't bad it's just not as important as you seem to think!

Why are you so funny? Seriously?

Listen, mate, without innovation, a series withers and dies, like Zelda doing now. The fact that you think innovation isn't important sends my already low opinion hurtling downwards at an incredibly high velocity.

Though I must admit, you provide excellent signature quotes.