Did Twilight Princess put the Zelda franchise back on track?

In a recent interview with Aonuma on this very site, he mentioned how Wind Waker had almost killed the franchise, and how if Twilight Princess hadn't of worked it would have basically been the last Zelda. Now, I know most of you want to put up arms and defend Wind Waker to the bitter end, but please remember, you are a minority. The issue is not whether Wind Waker was a good game or not, because it most definately was....it's how the game was recieved by the mainstream gaming public.

Has Twilight Princess really made the Zelda franchise top tier again in the eyes of the average gamer? I don't live in North America so I wouldn't know.....but judging from the reactions I see on this site, I would say Twilight Princess has suffered somewhat of a backlash. I imagine a majority of people who play games are not nerds like us that bother to notice what other people think on some gaming site.

So how was Twilight Princess recieved according to the masses? Is Zelda back in a big way, or is it just another entry in a franchise that is slowly slipping of the mainstream gamer's radar and into a niche category with the likes of Castlevania and Mega Man?

Any opinions?

It was never off-track :|lzorro

It was never off-track :|lzorro

I also agree, it hasn't been off-track.  If you didn't like WW, then I wouldn't call you a true fan to the series anyway.

If anything, the argument for TP being too easy is more valid than WW putting the Zelda series off-track.

In a recent interview with Aonuma on this very site, he mentioned how Wind Waker had almost killed the franchise, and how if Twilight Princess hadn't of worked it would have basically been the last Zelda. Now, I know most of you want to put up arms and defend Wind Waker to the bitter end, but please remember, you are a minority. The issue is not whether Wind Waker was a good game or not, because it most definately was....it's how the game was recieved by the mainstream gaming public.

Has Twilight Princess really made the Zelda franchise top tier again in the eyes of the average gamer? I don't live in North America so I wouldn't know.....but judging from the reactions I see on this site, I would say Twilight Princess has suffered somewhat of a backlash. I imagine a majority of people who play games are not nerds like us that bother to notice what other people think on some gaming site.

So how was Twilight Princess recieved according to the masses? Is Zelda back in a big way, or is it just another entry in a franchise that is slowly slipping of the mainstream gamer's radar and into a niche category with the likes of Castlevania and Mega Man?

Any opinions?

LordelX

 Zelda.......back? what are you talking about?

[QUOTE="lzorro"]It was never off-track :|_Devastator

I also agree, it hasn't been off-track. If you didn't like WW, then I wouldn't call you a true fan to the series anyway.

If anything, the argument for TP being too easy is more valid than WW putting the Zelda series off-track.

Lastly for all the people who claim that TP is too much like OoT its your fault, for whining about how much Windwaker wasnt like Oot.

Maybe it put the series "back on track" to the mainstream consumer, but to me, it failed to advance the series at all. It was OoT version 2, and nothing more. I would have rather they stuck with the more mature visuals and all to appeal to the masses, but also mix things up so it didn't feel so outdated. I'm really hoping the next Zelda makes some major changes to the series - and as long as it still has the "mature" look for mass appeal, everyone wins.

[QUOTE="_Devastator"]

[QUOTE="lzorro"]It was never off-track :|NECR0CHILD313

I also agree, it hasn't been off-track. If you didn't like WW, then I wouldn't call you a true fan to the series anyway.

If anything, the argument for TP being too easy is more valid than WW putting the Zelda series off-track.

If it would make you feel better, then no.  I wouldn't call you a fan based on your post.  You haven't mentioned why you didn't 'dig' WW.  Being critical and stating an argument is one thing, but WW is nothing short of any other Zelda game created.  I'm not going to try to convince you to like WW; imo it is your loss and I don't care.

But I will try to clarify my point.  WW did nothing to put the LoZ series at risk.  If you have played the series, then there are certain elements that make the series what it is.  Gameplay is the most common thread.  The LoZ gameplay is the same for WW, aLttP, OoT, TP, MM, etc.  You solve puzzles, search for items and have minor combat in between.  WW in no way varies off this track.  In addition, the plot for WW is even more in-line with OoT (LoZ Gold Standard) than TP (Twilight Realm? Zant?) and some other LoZ games.  Don't read into that because that obiviously doesn't have to be a requirement of LoZ, (Minish Cap, aLttP, MM).  The graphics are what separate WW from TP and OoT.  Just because they were 'cartoonish,' most people want to burn WW at the stake.  If not that, then the sailing...it's too much.  Were you also mad when LoZ went 3D?  Give me a break.

Lastly for all the people who claim that TP is too much like OoT its your fault, for whining about how much Windwaker wasnt like Oot.

the zelda series was never off track... wind waker was probably the best modern day zeldakhron0248

The Zelda series was never off track. Who is Aonuma? Why would that person's opinion mean anything?gatsbythepig

It was never off-track :|lzorro

[QUOTE="lzorro"]It was never off-track :|_Devastator

I also agree, it hasn't been off-track. If you didn't like WW, then I wouldn't call you a true fan to the series anyway.

If anything, the argument for TP being too easy is more valid than WW putting the Zelda series off-track.

[QUOTE="_Devastator"]

[QUOTE="lzorro"]It was never off-track :|420_Forever

I also agree, it hasn't been off-track. If you didn't like WW, then I wouldn't call you a true fan to the series anyway.

If anything, the argument for TP being too easy is more valid than WW putting the Zelda series off-track.

Since you would like to split hairs on my comment allow me to explain.  The series is a set.  If a member is removed from the set, then the collection is no longer complete.  Hence if you don't like one game of the series, you don't like the collection.  If you don't like the collection, then you wouldn't be a fan of the complete series now would you?  It's simple math really.

You misunderstand the statement, he isnt saying the game was bad or anything, he is just saying that since Japanese gamers werent buying games anymore, and US gamers whined about the look of the game Windwaker didnt do so well. Lastly for all the people who claim that TP is too much like OoT its your fault, for whining about how much Windwaker wasnt like Oot. Even though the similarities are only in the beginning of the game, and the stories are in no way similar.Sepewrath

It was never off-track :|lzorro

Completely agree, I was going to say the same thing. Zelda games have always been successful.