I'm really curious to see where Nintendo takes the franchise from here. I've unfortunately not played Skyward Sword yet, but from what I've read it has a much smaller world and is way more linear than what people were used to. The Wii U controller won't allow for the motion controls Skyward Sword introduced, and if the tech demo shown at E3 was any indication, we won't see Skyward Sword's art style return. So what'll Nintendo introduce to keep things fresh and un-Twilight Princess-y?

I'm expecting three things:

1. The combat system used before Skyward Sword (OOT, WW, TP) is getting stale and needs to move drastically forward. Nintendo knows people will be expecting it after Skyward Sword's fancy motion controls — they'll need to figure out a way to carry over SS's precision combat to the new game using traditional controls. Dual analog with the camera closer to Link's shoulder? Motion using the Wii U's new controller? A revamped/rethought z-targeting system? All three combined? There are a ton of different routes they can take.

2. I think an open world is a given. Zelda games typically push the systems they're on to their limits, and I'd bank on them making Zelda U as impressively massive as possible. I imagine if they wanted to do a Skyward Sword-like successor it'd hit the 3DS instead. (that will probably happen, actually.)

3. And lastly, I'm not expecting Link to speak, but I do think at least the main cutscenes will have voice acting.

Discuss!

I think the graphics shown off in the demo were just nintnedo saying "Look at us, we can do HD Graphics!" Although I do think the game will take more of a TP Look, and i think they will take the SS/WW art style to the 3DS Game (Although I'm hoping its not like PH/ST, the SS combat would be doable on the touchscreen) but i digress...

The skyward sword world is linear compared, and you do backtrack areas alot.. but there's always something new to do in the areas.. so its something unique.. As for the controls, Idk how that will work after the perfect 1:1 controls for SS, seems a step back to have buttons, but it's nintendo they show off weird and wonderful stuff, people get very sceptical, and then they turn out awesome

Well the Wii U controller will make for a great Lens of truth....that's pretty much all I got xD OH and the Graphics will be much better then what we saw at E3

Innerresting, alright:

• Oktorocks
• depending on other direction of other Nintendo (Wii U) games and convenience of mood and such, several or multiple worlds, pathways, stories, based on each other and off each other (different), or in other words, you select from multiple stories at the start like with 3DS Master Quest, and imagine Oracle of Ages and Seasons and more stories to play.
• in relation to that idea (read above) there may be more than one Link character (other characters entirely even) that start off in different areas or in same areas, and than after establishing character, controls and mechanics, then you select the story path to take.

Those ideas may play into the "open world"-ness of pixelguy there.

And yeah, voice acting is all you need to create having to know and listen to the story... it may be nice, but would have to be used in a unique way or what wasted resources/effort to produce, and have people just skip over them... so how about being able to play back those certain hints/ideas/etc. in ways that are fun in the Zelda world (after possibly having to record people to save preserve language, history, tools, ways, etc.. This may be into a form of help-system that isn't very used, so it would have to possibly be really important to what you had to do or something. :

Voice acting just expect to have it done enough to get by and not all the time. Or how about have a mail-in/download version for the game at some point, where it's like an item you get that permits you to experience the real language of the people and other people of other worlds/lands, and yes it would pretty much be adding capability of all characters/etc. have speech, or you can hear in the language (selected on Wii U or game settings)

Don't we have enough Zelda.

Just put the series to rest already.

There can never be too much Zelda, never.

I think the next Zelda will be unlike anything we've ever seen before. I look for Nintendo to really go off the rails on this one.

I can say the same for Final Fantasy and their....350 games?

That's what I heard the Zelda after TP was going to be... But it's still the same formula. C'mon Nintendo, change it up a little.
_{but change it too much and it'll suck}

How many Zeldas do you think they could put on the screen in a hazy background or outdoor small-island theme for Wii U?

Add one more Zelda and it would be too much. On portable device like GB the screen would be filled all black or as sprite tiled on screen. Depending on tv and settings, you the viewer and family and manufacturers etc. determine what is too much.

So, I thank you for imagined and grande idea of never too much Zelda. Nintendo should just create Zelda upon Zelda for the Wii U. Like over 15 main titles but well over 36 Zelda games for the Wii U.

They should make license for Zelda on PS3, Xbox360,VIta,Phones,Zelda in Classroom, Zelda board games, Zelda U,,,,,,, where are the Zelda roads, paid for by Zelda clothes, Zelda Homes....

.....Sorry, But seriously once they make a Zelda for the Wii U wait a bit then have countless any Zeldas (on Wii U only at least)

• Using the Wii U controller's screen as the Lens of Truth. Hold it up to the TV and move it around to uncover secrets and hints.
• Analog sword controls using the right analog pad. They would closely mimic Skyward Sword's directional attacks.
• Make Hyrule a vast, open world where Link has to wander around ON HIS OWN! No hand-holding, no helper characters, no linear pathways. Just a big world to explore at your own pace.
• More than one town (Skyward Sword, Ocarina of Time, Twilight Princess are all guilty of this).
• A multiplayer Four Swords-style minigame in 3D (meaning polygons, not 3DS-style 3D).
• Twilight Princess graphics like in the tech demo.
• Different tunics which bestow new abilities. (like in Twilight Princess and Ocarina of Time)
• A multi-level challenge dungeon with a miniboss at every 10th floor (like in Twilight Princess and Wind Waker).
• Orchestrated music for EVERYTHING (including item collection and opening treasure chests).

And if Nintendo ever decides to make a Skyward Sword-style game on the Wii U:

• Allow Link to travel from Skyloft to the ground in real time. No cutscenes showing him falling through the clouds (that completely broke the experience of skydiving for me).
• When skydiving, allow us to land where we want, not at some pre-determined location or Bird Statue.

I hope it's more like Twilight Princess. A more mture take on with Link. Have Link be in his mid to late 20s.

Something crazy like thought out cinemas, and something totally fresh. I'm sick of the stale formula being consistently repeated... _{Something new like Zelda 2 was or Majora's Mask.}

Twilight Princess is amazing, but the waggle controls don't hold up after playing Skyward Sword.

Skyward Sword is a good game, but it's atmosphere is nothing like Twilight Princess or Majora's Mask (which are much darker with "mature" themes). Skyward Sword's art style looks like Twilight Princess in a watercolor painting; it's unique, but it does little to differentiate itself from TP.

Smaller and more linear is what I want. Skyward Sword was just perfect... even with those things it was still 40 hours long with how densely packed everything was. Though I suppose I wouldn't say no if they could make it huge AND fill it with stuff everywhere, it just might take them nine years to do it.

And I would like tendoboy to stop talking.

I actually prefer TP's waggle controls. But I don't see how that has anything to do with really anything. TP's atmosphere, it's landscapes, it's story, all stomp every other Zelda in those categories. I even find the graphics to be better.

I even find the dungeons more thought out, and the twilight realm to be more exciting than bowling bombs or flying Lofts. _{Or whatever they're called.} I just hope they lean more towards TP with the next console Zelda.

Also, when just playing on the one screen (the controller) have them automatically show up without use, (think magnifying glass on Link's Awakening)

I haven't played Skyward Sword so not sure, though sounds fun and different with RIGHT slide-pad.

If there is to be any help hints, make it like the fun ones in Links Awakening.

Yeah, like an Animal Village, etc. (Link's Awakening)

WOW, that sounds rad! Be able to play in/out anytime and places where you HAVE to play with others perhaps?!

Something simple and crisp with Link's Awakening-style story and uniqueness would be alright. However, see next note.

Well, maybe more like suits in Majora's Mask for robustness/ rare times or certain areas, and different colours (think Link's Awakening DX) along the way for strength/defence updates..

like the smaller encounters and bosses in the Link's Awakening levels.

Digital/Ethereal music for space out of this world scenes too.

Ahh, real time-ness, and encounters ... meaning more time to develop and make such games....
a way to play an original release date game, but have it upgradeable with more items, actions, stories, worlds...

Uhm, to add a bit I'd also say:

Even have creatures, characters, items that will show up in other NIntendo U games.

I was about to pick apart everything wrong with tendoboy's posts, but at risk of sounding like Waltzy, I decided to quote this instead.

no voice acting, PERIOD, I cannot emphasize that enough, also, I think THEORETICALLY they could possibly come up with a system where you put down the Wii U remote and pick up the Wii Remote and nunchuck to use your sword, but that could get too complicated, so I'm not counting on it

I don't want voice acting. I prefer the simple gasps and screams. Also, after Skyward Sword's goofy birds, I'd prefer a more refined, dramatic element like in Twilight Princess. That one cut-scene in Death Mountain legit scared me for a second.

and I want plenty of "Link's Distractions" that involve using the tablet. ^_^

Voice acting is a must. They can pull it off. Just make sure Link doesn't talk.