Should Zelda turn more "dark and mature" and with deeper combat system

I will not lie that I really liked the direction the Zelda series took with Majora's Mask on the 64.

It seemed that the Zelda franchise was finaly "maturing" and getting a deeper story, more complex characters, more interesting world and the like.

So I had high expectations for Ninty's next-gen system and it's illiteration of Zelda.

However, it turned out that Ninty took a little different approach.

They made a more "cartoony" type of Zelda with a more simplistic story and one-dimensional characters.

They also took out the challenge that Majora had.

Sure, it was still a good game and it terms of art design it's basically ageless.

However, it is not exactly what some of us expected.

It seemed that Nintendo would continue in the tradition set by OoT and MM but they have chosen a little different direction.

They then announced the "realistic" Zelda which turned out to be TP, and while still a quite good game, it did not deliver everything it could and fell a little short of it's premise.

And then they announced Skyward Sword, which was another drastical change for the series.

Gone were the times of traditional control and vast worlds, replaced with motion controls and limited, small worlds instead.

Of course things like voice-acting and the like wasn't present yet again and the graphical style was nice at times and bland at the other times.

What I think would be good for the series is that they made a more complex and interesting world in the vein of Majora, with a good sense of scale and diversity, an interesting story and diverse, interesting characters.

Likewise, the graphical style could be "sur-realistic" instead of just cartoony (WW) or impressionistic (SS).

Furthermore, they should improve the combat system, making it deeper and more complex (altho still accessible) and make the game a genuine challenge for the player.

Good voice-acting for the non-player characters is essential too in this day and time and would fit well.

They could also improve on some other shortcommings and bring some innovative gameplay elements to it and make a brilliant experience overall.

I think it's time for the Zelda franchise to move into areas yet unexplored.

uhm yeah

I hated majora's mask.

But I think the series would benefit from making a more dark game entry. Like a adult Zelda game.

Of course not. Zelda should become innovate, not blend in with the rest of the generic trash in the game industry. Besides, Nintendo gives Zelda a deeper combat system every game, no matter how dark or light it is.Willy105

I never said it should try to emulate the other games...

Here's a thought: Put yourself on a "one thread per week" diet. It's a win-win solution.

To have dark and mature atmosphere you pretty much have to have convincing graphics... Which is something Nintendo doesn't give a sh*t about.

Majora's Mask had pretty cartoony graphics so I don't think the graphic style is really of importance, but I wouldn't mind if they recreated the darker and often creepy atmosphere. But that doesn't mean that the game should be targetted towards an older audience exclusively. Zelda games are great because they are magical experiences that really appeal to our more child-like senses. I loved Majora's Mask when I played it at the age of 11 or so and I wouldn't want the next generation of younger gamers to be feel excluded from such experiences.

Majora's Mask had pretty cartoony graphics so I don't think the graphic style is really of importance, but I wouldn't mind if they recreated the darker and often creepy atmosphere. But that doesn't mean that the game should be targetted towards an older audience exclusively. Zelda games are great because they are magical experiences that really appeal to our more child-like senses. I loved Majora's Mask when I played it at the age of 11 or so and I wouldn't want the next generation of younger gamers to be feel excluded from such experiences.

_BlueDuck_

Of course, I never implyed I would like a M-rated Zelda with generic gameplay and senseless violence...

It should remain unique, sure.

Yes,thank you,finally!

Yes,it should be more mature and gory.

dark and mature? no, the industry is overcrowded with those. deeper combat? no. more challenging combat (more specifically, AI and damage)? yes.BrunoBRS

I think you're missing my point. I'm not saying I'd like it to follow other games on the market, just to continue in the direction set by Majora.

No, but it needs to really change up the formula. And not in a bad way like SS.

it only need to be more challenging.

You mean Westernized? No! Keep the Legend of Zelda series Japanese.

You mean Westernized? No! Keep the Legend of Zelda series Japanese.

mario-galaxys

It should indeed keep it's "Japanese touch". Never said the contrary...

To have dark and mature atmosphere you pretty much have to have convincing graphics... Which is something Nintendo doesn't give a sh*t about.

parkurtommo

Total bullsh!t statement.

It certainly couldn't hurt to measure its possibilities with a spinoff. It'd be almost guaranteed to sell, and if they played their cards right, and it was accepted by both reviewers, and gamers, possibly make a series out of it.

Ok I admit I didn't read the OP (come one who really did? Let's be honest here) but as a Zelda fan I can say I don't mind if it takes a more darker and mature route. However I don't want to see Link cut guys heads off with blood pouring out and have sex with Zelda or anything, that shouldn't be in a Zelda game lol.

Majora's Mask though was a pretty dark Zelda game all things considered.

Meh..zelda has never been about the combat to me. I've always just loved the dungeons and puzzle solving. Skyward Sword was pretty great imo. I think what they really need to do is change the Zelda setting. The fantasy setting is getting old for some people I think. Maybe have retro make it, and have them make a whole new world,new characters etc, while keeping Zelda and Link of course.

Follow the skyward sword plan of having the world being more interactive and more like a puzzle instead of boring locales that happen to have a dungeon where all the action is, and keep the combat similar. Just IMO

No! Long live wind waker!

Darker and more "mature"? Not needed in Zelda.

Deeper combat would be good, it's about the puzzles, exploration, and upgrades for me. Plus that Zelda charm.

But a deeper combat system would be good to have, I liked WindWakers counters and Skyward Sword but could be improved.

[QUOTE="mario-galaxys"]

You mean Westernized? No! Keep the Legend of Zelda series Japanese.

nameless12345

It should indeed keep it's "Japanese touch". Never said the contrary...

Why the hell eeryone relate dark and grayish atmosphere to being a mature game + for adults thats stupid for me I hate most pf western games because of their lifeless dark, brown and grayish environments I'd rather keep things colorful and thats why games like Uncharted is one of the few western games which appeal to me but I don't mind having a dark atmosphere if it actually benefits the game ilike in souls series and Dead space.

[QUOTE="nameless12345"]

[QUOTE="mario-galaxys"]

You mean Westernized? No! Keep the Legend of Zelda series Japanese.

Vanishandfade

It should indeed keep it's "Japanese touch". Never said the contrary...

[/QUOTE It's already westernized, there's a reason why Zelda does much better in the U.S. then any other country, even japan isn;t that interested in the series. Essentially Zelda is almost a Wrpg, the only think keeping it from that is the linearity and a few other things.

I dont know about WRPG **** which gamers are starting to spout recently but Action RPGs did in exist in Japan for more than 20 years just because its not turn based or animish it doesnt mean its WRPG.

I take offense to anyone who says that Wind Waker wasn't "mature" or "deep" because it had cel-shaded graphics. That game's world had more depth and character than Skyward Sword and Twilight Princess combined, if you ask me.

I think that, based on my preferences, I would like Zelda to take a more "mature" direction, but I don't think it's necessary, either. Part of Zelda's charm is its lighthearted take on big problems; the goofy NPCs that surface, the corny but cherished cliches that are constant, and the optimism it never fails to present by the end of a game. However, I do think basic things need to change. Voice acting should have been implemented with Skyward Sword, and Nintendo needs to realize that they don't need to make these games linear to make them more engaging. Part of my problem with Skyward Sword was the lack of an overworld. Flying wasn't in the least bit satisfying, because there was next to nothing to see.

If they could combine the overworlds of Majora's Mask, Twilight Princess, and Ocarina of Time, I would be happy. That is, the depth and character of Majora's Mask, the vastness of Twilight Princess, and the densely-packed content of Ocarina of Time.

A deeper combat system? Certainly.

More dark and mature? Nah.

Majora was that dark game but I wouldn't mind seeing the next Zelda being dark.

Majora's mask was fantastic... but if Zelda goes too dark and emo it wouldn't be Zelda No more.... that's why they should do a brutal spin off full of death and destruction.

I think combat is more important, but I'm a fan of the darker Zelda stories and atmosphere (MM and TP).

I like the darker tone of Majora's Mask, but Skyward Sword is my second favoirtie. As long as it is a good game i don't care.

I don't really care about "dark and mature", but I think the combat system should be deeper.

The only way I could imagine Twilight Princess any darker is if it had blood, and that'd be pulling a Conker's BFD.

About the same level of darkness as Ocarina of Time or Twilight Princess.