The Shrine

Traditional The Legend of Zelda:
- Find dungeon.
- Explore dungeon.
- Acquire dungeon item.
- Use item to solve most puzzles in dungeon, designed around said item.

A Link Between Worlds:
- Find dungeons.
- Explore dungeons at your own pace.
- Items no longer found in dungeons. Purchasable from in-game store with rupees.
- Purchase or rent. Former gives you the item permanently for a high price, latter gives you the item until you die for a lower cost.
- Buy items in any order.
- Take items to dungeons and experiment.

Thoughts?

I am thinking it is probably not going to have a very strong overall storyline. It will likely have a lot of mini-storylines.

Although one thing they could do is separate the storyline of Kakariko from the dungeon progression, and then it would work out.

I personally don't see anything special about it one way or the other though. There is likely going to be a preferred order of dungeons which most people will take anyway.

Isn't one of the only real complaints with Zelda is that it followed the formula too closely for too long? Ain't gonna kill us to try something new...

Zeus wrote:Isn't one of the only real complaints with Zelda is that it followed the formula too closely for too long? Ain't gonna kill us to try something new...

Well some people don't like major changes to a franchise.

Eric wrote:

Zeus wrote:Isn't one of the only real complaints with Zelda is that it followed the formula too closely for too long? Ain't gonna kill us to try something new...

Well some people don't like major changes to a franchise.

I like versions of the same thing with little to minor evolutions as long as it's done well, too. I am a Mega Man fan after all. But there ain't nothin' wrong with tryin'. And with Zelda that basic setup has been for so long that maybe a change will help

This structure sounds more like Megaman than a Zelda game.

Oooo... let's do Metroid:

- Start with all items.
- Lose all items because you're a dumbass.
- Find dungeon.
- Explore dungeon.
- Acquire dungeon item.
- Use item to solve most puzzles in dungeon, designed around said item.

Apparently Aonuma is no longer interested in repeating the formulas. He made that very clear when discussing the upcoming Zelda game for Wii U - which is rumoured to be Nintendo's largest project ever. I think a Link Between Worlds might be an exercise in putting some of the design ideas to use that didn't fit into the upcoming Wii U Zelda.

I somewhat agree, I think it worked between Legend of Zelda, Link to the Past, Link's Awakening, and Ocarina of Time because the platforms had such major differences between them. After Ocarina of Time, the Zelda games didn't feel like they had much jump away from the previous games. Majora's Mask was very different, and despite being graphically similar to Ocarina of Time - it felt much more fresh than Twilight Princess did. Even Wind Waker felt very fresh compared to Twilight Princess.

Although Twilight Princess had other issues: first of all the Wolf segments were not very interesting; the dungeon design seemed much less inspired than the previous titles as well; there was also the issue with the collect X number of pieces to enter a dungeon which made the adventure seem very fluffed up; and the graphical style, while based on Ocarina of Time, lacked the charm of the predecessor.

Personally I'd be ok if when I started a new Zelda game it was like "Hey have you played a Zelda game in the last 15 years and would you like to skip this boring tutorial to get you through the basics?"

I wonder if a game where you just started out awesome with all the tutorial like parts skipped would work. I guess it'd be like equivaelent of Lufia 1 where you started out as Maxim.

I am really excited to see what they come up with. It sounds like Aonuma is extremely excited about what they are working on with the new Zelda. He even mentioned that he wants people to kinda have that double take moment where they are like...is this really a Zelda game? Oh wait...it is a Zelda game. I have a feeling the new Zelda for the Wii U is going to be fairly epic, just a hunch I am getting.

As far as the changes in Link Between Worlds, knowing my OCD, I will likely farm rupies early so that I can get the items I really want to have, and go from there. Still really excited to get back to the idea that you can explore dungeons at your own pace, which you haven't really seen in a long time.

Bought the game, and I have hardly been able to put it down.

In short, it APPEARS as a re-imagining/sequel to Link to the Past. Where I place it in the timeline so far is in the spoiler box below:
Musically, it contains all of the tunes from Link to the Past, but also brings in tunes from ocarina of Time to fill in the gaps. It works VERY well the way they have it set up.

Graphically - this game should be played in 3D, it really adds to the life, depth, and shape of the world. Especially when you're in Lorule, where there's a lot of really interesting lighting effects and such.

Controls - the game is one of the most solid games I think I have ever played. It feels like the user has so much control over what the character can do, and in a very tight way. Merging into the walls is REALLY easy and intuitive - which I find surprising, because I thought it would be irritating and weird to play by the videos I've seen.

Area design and dungeons - this is Zelda at its best, it really is. The team has done a really outstanding job in terms of the design this time around. What I like is that there are puzzles many with multiple ways to solve them. I REALLY LOVE how this time around you have a wide access of items from very early on. I also really like how this game doesn't have the same type of handholding that have plagued Zelda games for the past three generations.

Dungeons are about the same length as LTTP, which is very refreshing considering how damn long Zelda dungeons have been in recent games. At this time, I am going to say that this game has THE BEST dungeon design in the history of the series. It manages to offer challenge, but at the same time remains LOADS of fun - unlike Windwaker, Twilight Princess, and Skyward Sword which would often irritate me when I got stuck.

Hyrule and Lorule? Let's just say the characters are really much more lively this time around. There's some remixing going on, for example - you can get to the Blacksmith's house by traveling a few screens from Link's house; the story starts with Link working here alongside his friend Gulley. The locations are familiar, and yet new at the same time. It is like going to a city, and then coming back and seeing a lot of changes, renovations, and new things, decades years later.

Characters: Link to the Past was fairly sparse, this game has many many more - including Impa. Some of the new characters are REALLY cool.

Overall - I have been playing this one quite a bit because I am finding it constantly on my mind. I even dreamed about it last night!
I have passed the first 4 dungeons, acquired 3 pendants, pulled out the Master Sword, and passed through Hyrule Castle to defeat a wizard - sounds EXACTLY like Link to the Past, but for a game that has such a similar narrative structure, this is somehow one of the freshest feeling Zelda games in years.

I really hope the approach taken with this game is a sign for things to come, it's really awesome.

Gamespot's take:

It's a great game, I particularly like the fact I can buy all the items at the start and never lose them because lol who dies in Zelda games?!

But yeah, I beat the 2nd tower and I already have the fire/ice wands, Pegasus boots, Zora flippers, boomerang, bombs, power gauntlet, hammer, hookshot, lantern, tornado rod, bow & arrow and net and a bottle, fun variety!

If I had one minor complaint, and this is stupid minor, it's that stuff that drops from enemies doesn't hit the ground fast enough.

Eric wrote:

WHAT????

Of course I need that!

Yeah that's a great deal, sexy 3DS

I may pick up another if I see it :-)

Of course, Walmart price matches Black Friday flyers.....

Just a note, those Shadow Links are actually incredibly difficult. Although a little bit of help from the boomerang does the trick; you can bring in a few thousand rupees per day on Street Pass bounty hunting.

Do you need to though? I just beat it, I found 18,410 rupees, and bought/upgraded everything I needed, and I never died once.

I liked the minor twist at the end. Fun game.