Zelda Evolving for Wii U - Aonuma Interview

Credit to D4W1L4H for finding and posting the article.

Article from GAMEINFORMER

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/12/02/eiji-aonuma-and-koji-kondo-on-voice-acting-and-zelda-39-s-future.aspx

The Legend of Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma has told GameInformer that he personally wants to drive The Legend of Zelda series forward. Initially Aonuma was happy making small, individual changes to the series but he now feels it's time to seriously evolve the franchise.

"I started working on the series not at the beginning but part-way through its history. I think because of that, early on I was more looking objectively at the series and how we could change small, individual elements within it, rather than looking at how the series should evolve. As time has passed – particularly in the last few years – I've started to think a lot more about how I can take the series and really make it my own Zelda and evolve it further. As Mr. Miyamoto has allowed me to take the reins on the Zelda series, ultimately that's what I need to do. Perhaps some people will think it's a little bit late for me to start thinking about that, but as time goes by, that's becoming more of a theme in how I'm approaching the series."

"The most important thing about the Zelda series is that the player becomes Link. One of the challenges with full voice is that if we're trying to convey the player's emotion through Link, but you hear Link talking in somebody else's voice, that creates a disconnect between you and the role that you're taking on."

Aonuma jumped in at this point and clarified, "...if you create a game where everybody else in the game speaks but Link doesn't, it emphasizes the fact that he is silent and draws even more attention to it."

Interestingly, though, Aonuma was not completely opposed to the possibility of voice acting snaking its way into the series."

"Of course, this was the first time we went with fully orchestrated songs in the game, and we've seen what that can do to help bring the world alive and make the game that much more fun. We're continually looking at ways that we can evolve the series. We're not confident that we can find the right balance with full voice, so we'll see."

Aonuma also joked, "Everyone would be speaking Hylian, so even if you heard them speak, you wouldn't understand them."

D4W1L4H

I would actually not be opposed to everybody speaking Hylian, obviously it would have to be more than just moans and groans.

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/news/archive/2011/12/02/eiji-aonuma-and-koji-kondo-on-voice-acting-and-zelda-39-s-future.aspx

I think denying voice acting is being stuck in the past.

The VA talk doesnt really concern me. I think I want all NPC's to speak but not Link, but really I dont care either way as long as its done well. What I do care about it the rest of it. its going to be REALLY interesting seeing what they choose to do for Zelda WiiU (and even 3DS). I wonder how much change we will see and how much of the same. I hope it changes a lot...in ways. But not a lot in most ways :P. Zelda is amazing how it is, so I dont want the formula to become completely linear, or like TES games. It should always be an adventure with exploration.

Having everyone but Link talk is worse than having no one speak. It's obvious in the games that he's having conversations and going through dialog with other characters.

since the series began, it is obvious that Link is communicating and talking with people. He is not a mute; he chooses not to talk. SS showed this even more, with Link clearly explaining complex chains of events to Headmaster at the start of the game. When the technology advances to the point where they have to put voice acting in the games, I think Link should talk. I still think he should be a strong silent type, who will tell a shopkeeper what he wants to buy but has no interest in stopping for conversation or to give a monologue (Samus... sigh). Actions speak louder than words, and I think a character that chooses to be silent is a lot more interesting than someone who is literally unable to.GunSmith1_basic

[QUOTE="Litchie"]"...if you create a game where everybody else in the game speaks but Link doesn't, it emphasizes the fact that he is silent and draws even more attention to it." I thought it worked well for games like Half-Life or Skyrim..Sepewrath

I liked the voice acting in Metroid Prime 3.

In terms of instructions on how to do certain things, it could honestly be like Grand Theft Auto. You speak to a person, and then when on screen instructions are to be given, you just read them, nobody tells you anything. And the instructions come after the interaction with the NPC, so that it isn't awkward.

eh, voice acting would be nice but, we all know the english voice actor for link just isnt going to sound right.

I liked the voice acting in Metroid Prime 3.

In terms of instructions on how to do certain things, it could honestly be like Grand Theft Auto. You speak to a person, and then when on screen instructions are to be given, you just read them, nobody tells you anything. And the instructions come after the interaction with the NPC, so that it isn't awkward.

sonic_spark

eh, voice acting would be nice but, we all know the english voice actor for link just isnt going to sound right.

Gamingclone

They could have two dubs available,you know.

>_>

[QUOTE="Litchie"]"...if you create a game where everybody else in the game speaks but Link doesn't, it emphasizes the fact that he is silent and draws even more attention to it." I thought it worked well for games like Half-Life or Skyrim..Sepewrath

The Metroid comparison was the first thing that popped into my mind too.

Where's that guy with all the Zelda-related Japanese names when you need him?Nicksonman

eh, voice acting would be nice but, we all know the english voice actor for link just isnt going to sound right.

Gamingclone

As long as the VA is in Hylian I wouldnt mind it, but any real language being spoken is a no go.

What I want for the next Zelda

• 3 or 4 dungeons.
• Most of the game takes place outside dungeons.
• Subtle storytelling, exploring philosophical and/or psychological themes
• Much more personal storytelling
• Link not being a swordsman, but can choose between many melee weapons, he can use axes, flails, scythes, polearms, daggers, rods (for spellcasting), 2h swords, axes maces and even possibly dual wield. There will also be much more choice on how to equip him with rings and such making a return. Items like Bows, hook shots, hammers are quest items and will be carried at all times.
• Return of Multiple suits, improve the system over Twilight Princess's
• Keep the inventory system in Skyward Sword, But make it more limited. Perhaps link will only be able to carry 6 extra items max. the item pouch can carry shields, weapons, bottles, extra quivers, ect.
• Increase the difficuty, Hero mode should be the next Zelda's base difficulty.
• PLENTY of side quests
• No levelling or perks
• Complete redesign of the crafting system, some materials will not be infinite and be rewarded through side quests ect. There will be just enough items to fully upgrade link's arsenal.

As long as the VA is in Hylian I wouldnt mind it, but any real language being spoken is a no go.

What I want for the next Zelda

• 3 or 4 dungeons.
• Most of the game takes place outside dungeons.
• Subtle storytelling, exploring philosophical and/or psychological themes
• Much more personal storytelling
• Link not being a swordsman, but can choose between many melee weapons, he can use axes, flails, scythes, polearms, daggers, rods (for spellcasting), 2h swords, axes maces and even possibly dual wield. There will also be much more choice on how to equip him with rings and such making a return. Items like Bows, hook shots, hammers are quest items and will be carried at all times.
• Return of Multiple suits, improve the system over Twilight Princess's
• Keep the inventory system in Skyward Sword, But make it more limited. Perhaps link will only be able to carry 6 extra items max. the item pouch can carry shields, weapons, bottles, extra quivers, ect.
• Increase the difficuty, Hero mode should be the next Zelda's base difficulty.
• PLENTY of side quests
• No levelling or perks
• Complete redesign of the crafting system, some materials will not be infinite and be rewarded through side quests ect. There will be just enough items to fully upgrade link's arsenal.

Maroxad

Weak excuse. They need to revamp the series, and actually listen to what people want, not what they think we want.Magolorr

[QUOTE="Magolorr"]Weak excuse. They need to revamp the series, and actually listen to what people want, not what they think we want.BrunoBRS

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="Magolorr"]Weak excuse. They need to revamp the series, and actually listen to what people want, not what they think we want.Sepewrath

SotC doesn't really have much dialogue either, so that is why it works. Zelda has a ton of dialogue, it would be like watching a subtitle movie, you would spend all your time reading text boxes. So the situation would in no way be changed. There was no one constantly talking to Wanderer, the huge bulk of that game is spent in absolute silence, outside of "Agro"Sepewrath

[QUOTE="Maroxad"]

As long as the VA is in Hylian I wouldnt mind it, but any real language being spoken is a no go.

What I want for the next Zelda

• 3 or 4 dungeons.
• Most of the game takes place outside dungeons.
• Subtle storytelling, exploring philosophical and/or psychological themes
• Much more personal storytelling
• Link not being a swordsman, but can choose between many melee weapons, he can use axes, flails, scythes, polearms, daggers, rods (for spellcasting), 2h swords, axes maces and even possibly dual wield. There will also be much more choice on how to equip him with rings and such making a return. Items like Bows, hook shots, hammers are quest items and will be carried at all times.
• Return of Multiple suits, improve the system over Twilight Princess's
• Keep the inventory system in Skyward Sword, But make it more limited. Perhaps link will only be able to carry 6 extra items max. the item pouch can carry shields, weapons, bottles, extra quivers, ect.
• Increase the difficuty, Hero mode should be the next Zelda's base difficulty.
• PLENTY of side quests
• No levelling or perks
• Complete redesign of the crafting system, some materials will not be infinite and be rewarded through side quests ect. There will be just enough items to fully upgrade link's arsenal.

BrunoBRS

Actually, Zelda has done all of the above with the exception of the part of having multiple melee weapons to choose from. In many ways want I want is a game that combines and improves the elements from Skyward Sword and Majora's Mask.

Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Not buying into their Zelda PR crap where they either blatantly lie or do actually so what they say but in the most minimalist way possible.WreckEm711

I dont know, I felt Skyward Sword felt in many ways quite different from other Zeldas.

Whether it was the item progression, combat, level design, emphasis (far more combat oriented than other 3D zeldas and less focused on exploration) or puzzles. Skyward Sword was definately different from the rest.

[QUOTE="WreckEm711"]Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Not buying into their Zelda PR crap where they either blatantly lie or do actually so what they say but in the most minimalist way possible.Maroxad

I dont know, I felt Skyward Sword felt in many ways quite different from other Zeldas.

Whether it was the item progression, combat, level design, emphasis (far more combat oriented than other 3D zeldas and less focused on exploration) or puzzles. Skyward Sword was definately different from the rest.

That's correct,it was different.

Refreshing.

[QUOTE="Maroxad"]

[QUOTE="WreckEm711"]Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me twice, shame on me. Not buying into their Zelda PR crap where they either blatantly lie or do actually so what they say but in the most minimalist way possible.GreekGameManiac

I dont know, I felt Skyward Sword felt in many ways quite different from other Zeldas.

Whether it was the item progression, combat, level design, emphasis (far more combat oriented than other 3D zeldas and less focused on exploration) or puzzles. Skyward Sword was definately different from the rest.

That's correct,it was different.

Refreshing.

Some of the stuff I really like about it, but it also is a downgrade in sections. I am not TOO far from the end now (I am guessing, given the time spent and items gained) and I am really enjoying it, but it lacks in areas, and I hope they improve upon those in the next one.

well i'm not from an english country, so i've grown used to watching everything with subtitles. it's a matter of practice, with time you don't have to look away from the scene to know what they're talking (and i started watching movies with subtitles before my english was worth anything, and i've watched asian movies too... just making a point :P)BrunoBRS

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]well i'm not from an english country, so i've grown used to watching everything with subtitles. it's a matter of practice, with time you don't have to look away from the scene to know what they're talking (and i started watching movies with subtitles before my english was worth anything, and i've watched asian movies too... just making a point :P)Sepewrath

[QUOTE="Sepewrath"][QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]well i'm not from an english country, so i've grown used to watching everything with subtitles. it's a matter of practice, with time you don't have to look away from the scene to know what they're talking (and i started watching movies with subtitles before my english was worth anything, and i've watched asian movies too... just making a point :P)BrunoBRS

next logical is to have them speaking English, if they want to put speech...nothing wrong speaking English...some fans are just idiots..speaking Hylian :lol:, might as well have the dialog written in Hylian..wait what? ...

No point just putting everyone to sayin "bre bra bre bra po loo bre...haaaaa"...we already have that now. :P

[QUOTE="Sepewrath"][QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]well i'm not from an english country, so i've grown used to watching everything with subtitles. it's a matter of practice, with time you don't have to look away from the scene to know what they're talking (and i started watching movies with subtitles before my english was worth anything, and i've watched asian movies too... just making a point :P)BrunoBRS

This all reminds me of Star Fox Adventures, how you could have them speak english or the dinasour language :P.

[QUOTE="Magolorr"]Weak excuse. They need to revamp the series, and actually listen to what people want, not what they think we want.BrunoBRS

HA. You just summed up American Politics in 2 lines. Bravo.

If Aonuma can evolve the series right, then I'm all welcome for him to do so, but he better remember that the next Zelda game, MUST be a Zelda game.

Adding VA is pointless at this point as we know Link is the silent hero, now for the NPCs it would still make no sense for them to fully speak wether its Hylian or Japanese because text WILL be involed.

Aonuma better NOT pull off a "Other M", cause that would completly mess up Zelda completly. The terrible ideas in this board is why you are not developers.

If Aonuma can evolve the series right, then I'm all welcome for him to do so, but he better remember that the next Zelda game, MUST be a Zelda game.

Adding VA is pointless at this point as we know Link is the silent hero, now for the NPCs it would still make no sense for them to fully speak wether its Hylian or Japanese because text WILL be involed.

Aonuma better NOT pull off a "Other M", cause that would completly mess up Zelda completly. The terrible ideas in this board is why you are not developers.

WR_Platinum

Although I really like SS (not QUITE done with it) and it does some stuff incredibly well, I really do hope the next one has a bit more exploration and such. For me, the series has always been amazing and continues to do so, but it has been going a bit down with each release. Not by a ton, but noticeable. I say ALLTP = OoT > MM = WW > TP = SS. The first two being 10's, second two being 9.5's, and third two being 9's.

I bring this up because you said it better be a Zelda game. I completely agree there :P.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="Magolorr"]Weak excuse. They need to revamp the series, and actually listen to what people want, not what they think we want.TheBlackKnight3

HA. You just summed up American Politics in 2 lines. Bravo.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"][QUOTE="Sepewrath"] I watch a lot of subtitle stuff myself, that's why text doesn't both me. I can watch and read at the same time with no issue. The point I was making, is that them speaking some made up language would do nothing to change the current situation. For those complaining about having to read text, they would STILL have to read text. superbuuman

next logical is to have them speaking English, if they want to put speech...nothing wrong speaking English...some fans are just idiots..speaking Hylian :lol:, might as well have the dialog written in Hylian..wait what? ...

No point just putting everyone to sayin "bre bra bre bra po loo bre...haaaaa"...we already have that now. :P

and, again SotC, you can make up a language that doesn't sound like gibberish. hell tolkien wrote a trilogy just to have some use to his own fake language. i'm not saying they have to go on tolkien-levels of attention to detail and actually come up with a language, with its own grammar and everything, but if they do go for voice acting (which i'd rather have them not do that), i'd prefer a fake language rather than english.

[QUOTE="superbuuman"]

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]

next logical is to have them speaking English, if they want to put speech...nothing wrong speaking English...some fans are just idiots..speaking Hylian :lol:, might as well have the dialog written in Hylian..wait what? ...

No point just putting everyone to sayin "bre bra bre bra po loo bre...haaaaa"...we already have that now. :P

BrunoBRS

and, again SotC, you can make up a language that doesn't sound like gibberish. hell tolkien wrote a trilogy just to have some use to his own fake language. i'm not saying they have to go on tolkien-levels of attention to detail and actually come up with a language, with its own grammar and everything, but if they do go for voice acting (which i'd rather have them not do that), i'd prefer a fake language rather than english.

Somebody give this man a medal.

yes please no Other M treatment on the Zelda franchise. That is just Sakamoto selfishly flexing his artistic muscles and quite frankly he doesn't have the chops to do it. Gunpei must be turning in his graveGunSmith1_basic

How is this related? Sakmoto messed up the story, not the voice actors.

[QUOTE="BrunoBRS"]again, shadow of the colossus. dialogue flows more naturally when it's actually spoken and not presented by some gibberish followed by a textbox, even if in a foreign language. and the fake language adds to the fantasy of the world. it would work like a subtitled movie.

and, again SotC, you can make up a language that doesn't sound like gibberish. hell tolkien wrote a trilogy just to have some use to his own fake language. i'm not saying they have to go on tolkien-levels of attention to detail and actually come up with a language, with its own grammar and everything, but if they do go for voice acting (which i'd rather have them not do that), i'd prefer a fake language rather than english.

meetroid8

Somebody give this man a medal.

Although I really like SS (not QUITE done with it) and it does some stuff incredibly well, I really do hope the next one has a bit more exploration and such. For me, the series has always been amazing and continues to do so, but it has been going a bit down with each release. Not by a ton, but noticeable. I say ALLTP = OoT > MM = WW > TP = SS. The first two being 10's, second two being 9.5's, and third two being 9's.

I bring this up because you said it better be a Zelda game. I completely agree there :P.

NaveedLife

How is this related? Sakmoto messed up the story, not the voice actors.

meetroid8

it is completely relevant. Once you give the character a voice there will be 'artist' types who feel the need to express themselves (this is a particularly bad problem in Japan). I'm just saying that if they do evolve the Zelda franchise and part of that includes voice acting, that they do not feel the need to evolve the series by exploring Link as a character and give emo monologues that nobody is asking for. I just want nintendo to keep it simple. If they want a meaningful evolution in the series, make it in the gameplay

Just from purely a design perspective it's pointless to even try to begin to think about the evolution of the franchise, Nintendo probably has a myriad of ideas held secret ready to unleash next gen as the hardware won't hold them back.

I imagine that for every idea introduced in SMG2, there is one more they couldn't pull off on Wii simply because of hw restrictions.

I'm sure they can manage to squeeze out some great puzzles if they decide to go with the u-pad even though they already did two Zelda games on DS (u-pad = DS), but the combat would suffer and there is so much more you could do with SS' mechanics it barely scrates the surface.

I just find it weird how many are indifferent towards the control scheme, don't you think it's amazing to finally have 1:1 swordfight in video games? I don't get why this isn't appealing beyond "neat". I mean I have read IGN's review but the reaction from the industry as a whole is "meh". :/

[QUOTE="NaveedLife"]

Although I really like SS (not QUITE done with it) and it does some stuff incredibly well, I really do hope the next one has a bit more exploration and such. For me, the series has always been amazing and continues to do so, but it has been going a bit down with each release. Not by a ton, but noticeable. I say ALLTP = OoT > MM = WW > TP = SS. The first two being 10's, second two being 9.5's, and third two being 9's.

I bring this up because you said it better be a Zelda game. I completely agree there :P.

Sepewrath

[QUOTE="meetroid8"]How is this related? Sakmoto messed up the story, not the voice actors.

GunSmith1_basic

it is completely relevant. Once you give the character a voice there will be 'artist' types who feel the need to express themselves (this is a particularly bad problem in Japan). I'm just saying that if they do evolve the Zelda franchise and part of that includes voice acting, that they do not feel the need to evolve the series by exploring Link as a character and give emo monologues that nobody is asking for. I just want nintendo to keep it simple. If they want a meaningful evolution in the series, make it in the gameplay