Last year's Zelda HD experience was certainly graphically impressive, but as always Nintendo was keen to stress it was just an example of what's possible; we know from past experience Zelda tech demos often vastly differ from the finished product. Nintendo's main man Shigeru Miyamoto told Entertainment Weekly there are various Zelda Wii U experiments on the go, but nothing he's ready to talk about.
Miyamoto discussed the increasing trend towards "more casual experiences", musing on how Zelda might fit in:
But one thing that’s interesting is we’re seeing how the way that tastes are broadening in video games and you have some people who prefer more casual experiences, and you have some people who prefer sort of those more in-depth experiences. Obviously, as a company that’s been making games for a very long time, we tend to be more on the deeper, longer game side of things. But really what we continue to ask ourselves as we have over the years is, “What is the most important element of Zelda if we were to try to make a Zelda game that a lot of people can play?”
Miyamoto and team haven't settled on an answer yet:
So we have a number of different experiments going on, and [when] we decide that we’ve found the right one of those to really help bring Zelda to a very big audience, then we’ll be happy to announce it.
We have a feeling we might be happy too. Until we see more, you'll have to get your Zelda fix in the The Legend of Zelda: Battle Quest game in Nintendo Land.
[source popwatch.ew.com]
Comments 69
I kind of like the Zelda series just the way it is.
I wish I had a time machine, that's all I can think right now
As far as I'm concerned, carry on as normal. Zelda is the best franchise Nintendo has going, and it is highly unique. I know that Nintendo will gauge Lin k's Wii U outing just right in terms of what classic elements to keep, and which new elements to throw in - They have been doing it for decades.
Just don't make it feel as shallow as Phantom Hourglass again.
Hhhmmm, I'm not sure Miyamoto-san...can we have both?
I know...have Aonuma make the casual one, and have Retro make the deeper one! Problem solved, cue item get music!!! Yay, me!!
Please... Bring me a Zelda game ASAP!!!
I'm ready! Nintendo never disappointed me.
You can't please everyone. Zelda should be a hardcore game.
What if they launched a new 2D zelda TWICE in consoles lifetimes, once at launch and once when the consoles fading out (So it can go out like a bang like the Wii ) and have a MASSIVE 3D zelda on the third year, so every other year we get a zelda and with 2D titles being much easier and cheaper (and quicker) to produce Nintendo could make a LOT of money with that strategy and we'll get LOT'S of zelda games... everyone's happy .
Zelda is not a casual franchise and don't have to please everyone, only it's huge fan base. Please Miyamoto-san, go experimenting with a new franchise...
I don't see why they need to make Zelda a franchise that casual players can enjoy.
It's not like they're going to change the games that appeal for casual players to appeal more to core players.
There should be different franchises that appear to both.
Whatever they end up making, I'm sure it'll be a great experience though as Zelda games always are.
@BenAV This is what I'm afraid of. Nintendo were so concerned with appealing to the casual gamer at e3 2012 there was nothing left for me as a Nintendo loyalist of over 20 years. Zelda is my favourite Nintendo franchise and if they turn it into one of the "New" Mario games I will consider giving up on Nintendo altogether.
@battLeToaD - Phantom Hourglass wasnt shallow. Not compared to Ocarina of Time.
I'm not a casual gamer, but my friends are. Nintendo is not a part of their angry birds bejeweled world. They don't watch E3 and Nintendo icons don't show up on their Mobile devices so I don't see how reformulating Zelda is gonna change that. What N needs to do is start making products everyone buys that also have games in them i.e. a literal Nintendo/Sharp TV
Zelda, of all the franchises they have, I think could most use an update. Metroid already got a pretty good makeover w/ the Prime trilogy and Mario started the whole 3D thing w/ 64. Look at Galaxy graphics compared to Skyward Sword, yet Mario still gets his share of 2D games as well. Starfox had it's update attempt w/ Dinosaur Planet. Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword were not all that different, and they were both the same as Ocarina of Time. Why not finally make an HD modern day game w/ voice acting on par w/ Halo or Uncharted or Skyrim? They could still use motion controls and the Gamepad screen - look at what Batman Arkham City does w/ the batarang, it's almost a straight rip-off of Link's flying beetle. Not that I want Link in a city, but Skyrim is close, and Uncharted has it's share of mountains and deserts and caves. Zelda should be THE flagship game on the WiiU.
The next Zelda game would be awesome if it could toggle between a 3D Zelda game on the TV and a classic 2D Zelda game on the Gamepad. It could like that Zelda game's light/dark world. And it would be awesome.
Love the face >
Give us an amazing Zelda game! Just don't make it casual and give it graphics like no other Zelda game has ever had.
I like that they're trying to bring Zelda to a wide array of audiences, but the more people you try to please, the fewer people you actually will. Kinda think they should pick the in-depth players to please with the main-series Zelda stuff and give spinoffs to the people who want a casual experience, but that's just me as an in-depth player talking :3
Zelda is my favorite series. I think the controls should be easy to get a hold of yes, but I don't want the game itself casual. I want more exploration personally in the next one as well. Nothing like running across an open Hyrule Field, finding things on your own.
@Geonjaha
Nah, it was. The shameless travel aspect (filler) in those games are enough to tell you so.
why don't they just make a zelda game using that graphical art style shown in last year's zelda demo at E3? i thought it looked wonderful.
I really really look fwd to a new Zelda game on the Wii U.. Will probably take like 2 years before we see anything from it.. Hopefully also a Skyward Sword HD re-release..
Zelda needs a major change for sure.
Big Mistake! Make Zelda into a casual game and R.I.P Nintendo. What they need to do with Wii U is make the ultimate versions of there best franchises HD Metroid, Mario, Zelda, Earthbound etc! Casual gaming wont last forever
Turn Zelda into a .hack// type of game!
Seriously Nintendo. Just let the player choose the difficulty. Good lord you are being stupid. At the beginning let the player choose between "casual" — with few moves during combat, puzzle assistance and guidelines on where to go, and "in-depth — with proper gameplay.
I do like a good hardcore Zelda.
If they change Zelda I will not be pleased. The formula is perfect as it is, just leave it the heck alone! D:<
You can't make Zelda casual, it's the kind of game that has a deep gaming experience with hours of fun. It's not meant to be played as a 5 minute dungeon game!
If they change it drastically and ultimately ruin the series just to cater for the casuals, then they won't have my support. Go play with Mario or Metroid but not my Zelda!! D:<
they will combine 'zelda', 'raving rabbids' and that 'sing' in an attempt to get everyone on board.
r.i.p.
Dont ruin Zelda !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
He's science-ing as fast as he can!
One mention of something "casual" and every gamer out there freaks out. Just because they try to make it more appealing to casuals doesn't mean they can't plese core gamers. Mario can do it, why not Zelda?
Edit: Also, "casual" doesn't mean "mini-game collection" or "Angry Birds". They are not going to make Zelda like that, just making it easier for casual to play the games. Heck, SS kinda did that with its hint-system and the ability to search for stuff with your swords so you would never get lost. They are not going to make the games really simple and shallow, just more inviting for people that doesn't play much games.
Those saying Zelda needs an update act as if the franchise is completely stagnant, which it's not. Twilight Princess was stagnant, but Skyward Sword is a major step in the right direction. I agree that Nintendo needs to keep evolving the formula, but to say it needs a major update after the masterpiece that is Skyward Sword, is to ask too much. If you stray too far from the formula it ceases to be Zelda.
I say give an inroad for casuals to Zelda but do it as a support role. In other words, let the "hardcore" gamer play Link with all the depth of previous Zelda games (heck, give us more depth, tactics, strategy, exploration), but let a second player control Navi with the Wii U Gamepad. The role can be more casual and a real aid to the player and now everyone is happy.
Either that, or go Zelda Four Swords or some other casual take on Zelda IN ADDITION to a Zelda proper game. I absolutely loved that Skyward Sword battles gave me a challenge from time to time. Really amped up the fun. I'd hate for the franchise to head in the other direction.
There are casual gamers that play Zelda already. I've met 50-year old people that have a Wii and only play Wii Sports and Zelda. This won't change anything.
ya know what .-. i dont really care as far as im concerned this casual and hardcore stuff is all just a bunch of a pointless labels. as far as im concerned all the zelda games have been great (well unless were counting the cd-i in which case 3 bombed >.> but nobody seems to want to acknowledge that system at all so ... yea) so im sure this one is gona be great too.
Nintendo since wii came out has been on a quest for outreach to redefine who plays their games as a strategy to sell a ton of hardware. None of this matters to me as a long time Nintendo fan since the 80s. It's clutter between the stuff I really care about which have been the classic, deep Zelda games that will always be just video games no matter how you play them. The masses need to come to Hyrule, not the other way around in a package that's more marketable along side what's 'viral' at the time. Zelda games need to be great for its roots reasons and that's all Zelda will ever be.
The last time they tried to appeal to ''casual gamers'' with Zelda, the horrible DS games came into being. Don't dumb down the main Zelda games for people who might not even play them, Nintendo!
That's an awesome shirt. I need him to start his own style and clothing line so I can look that cool.
Hey Shiggy, where's that Link to the Past remake you keep dangling in front of us fans, like a carrot before a greyhound?
As much as A Link to the Past is my favourite Zelda game, I'd rather have the Oracle series in the e-Shop right now!
I'd prefer a hardcore Zelda, but it doesn't matter as long as get to see Zelda in HD like at E3 2011.
@Xilef Exactly.
Funny enough until quite recently I had only ever played Zelda II: Adventures of Link but it was enough for me to claim to be a fan of the series (Link being my fav character in Smash Bros) - so with the Wii I played the original, Link 2The Past, Ocarina and Majoras Mask (see... fan!) and I love the way it works and how rewarding this franchise is! The weird thing about the games is although it tells you where to go you still feel like you're stumbling into what to do and when it does present you with a problem you feel better once you've worked it out!
Why should it change? Despite having the same formula throughout it's a game that remains timeless in its own right! Have a main zelda game then maybe a spinoff like you had with Link's Crossbow training but maybe a bit less... repetitive...
@Scarlet5683 I love your avatar
@LavaTwilight Thank you!
This kinda worries me...but we'll see what happens.
Twilight princess and majoras mask 3DS remake
please
it is incredible. one of my friends send a requst at nintendo.de about the release date of ac3d and the answer was wait till the next nintendo direct. you know what this means?!
Nintendo is heading in a terrible direction. The more 'casual' Zelda sounds like something I would not like to play, especially if it is something as bland as Battle Quest. Currently, it appears that Nintendo is no longer seeking to appeal to the 'hardcore' gamer, and is still attempting to attract 'casual' players. This is extremely problematic as their video games become short, gimmicky, and an utterly flat experience. This direction to appeal to a broader audience in order to have MASS SALES is disheartening. I am not looking forward to the future of Nintendo, if this is the direction they are wanting to continue on. If that is the case, then forget it.
As far as I'm concern, Skyward Sword had alot of instances of casualness, one of such is upgrading weapons and items... to a common pro (and not even necessarily a seasoned pro) a person ought to be able to beat SS w/o the upgrades which will make the battles for one VERY easy. All just my opinion of course, but I think SS made a step in that direction. I just hope Nintendo doesn't try to "gimp" the experience and challenge any further to the point it hurts the hardcore. Guess we'll wait and see, eh?
@12 - BWAHAHAHAHA! Good one!
...That WAS a joke, right?
@24 - Oh god no.
@27 - Yeah, but if Nintendo don't change the Zelda formula, people will complain about the series becoming stale. A little from column A, and a little from column B, IMO. Skyward Sword is a great example.
@31 - Thank god, someone gets it! Miyamoto is not saying Zelda should regress into Wii Fit/Sports/Music - but rather, he desires as large an audience as possible. Contrary to what many may think, he has ALWAYS thought like this with his games.
@37 - The DS games were horrible? Someone should've told that to everyone who gave them glowing reviews...
@49 - I didn't know you played NintendoLand! How was it?
@SageofShadow I seriously hope you are being sarcastic or something. :/
WOW i can't wait till kingdom hearts 3D comes out???
Hope they don´t make it more casual than Skyward Sword, which had a great balance but still bored Zelda fans(at least me and a couple of friends) until the first dungeon was done. Still one of my favorite Zeldas
Ok, well this completely contradicts what he said in the Pikmin3 presentation. He said that Nintendo were keen to show that gaming experiences with depth are still relevant in a world where casual mobile gaming was gaining great prominence..
So what's this all about?? To my eyes, it appears to be hinting towards dumbed down versions of key franchises like Zelda, which would be a horrible path to go down. I mean, it's not exactly Dwarf Fortress difficult is it?? There is no way that they can appease both hardcore devotees of the Zelda franchise and casual gamers who don't even really like games tbh. There is no happy medium here, and I think that's why Nintendo are struggling for an answer to the question being posed by Miyamoto.
Seriously, make a dumbed down Zelda game for the casuals, and make a separate hardcore title for the gamers who buy Nintendo's new hardware come rain, hail or shine. Like most others here, i've been excited about what Nintendo can do with the big titles like Zelda, Metroid, Mario 3D, and F-Zero in HD. I was hoping for deeper, challenging and more immersive experiences, but statements like this leave me feeling somewhat pessimistic as to the overall direction Nintendo is taking with its key franchises..
As others have said before, Miyamoto's ALWAYS thinks like this. He's not going to turn it into a casual game.
@SuperSonic95
I hope you're right.
I think some people on this page need to learn the difference between "HD" and "better graphics". Seriously some of the posts just make people look very naive. W
ith emulation on a computer NSMBW and Skyward Sword can both be output in High Definition resolution, it doesn't magically make the poly count of models and texture look a lot better, it just renders at a higher resolution.
I am all for trying new things with Zelda, but I'm not enthused about dumbing down the game for a casual audience. Didn't you already do this with the zelda game in nintendo land? If you make something for a casual gamer, make it a sidequest, or DLC, but not the next major entry. I like the idea someone suggested of an old school 2D zelda for casual gamers, and the traditional 3D gorgeous epic for deep gamers.
I hope the next Zelda game will be very dark! Chaos everywhere! Dark music as well. love love love love
I don't think the series needs a major change, I do want to see more Zeldas like Majora's Mask that tries something very different while still keeping what makes the series great.
Anyway, Miyamoto can do no wrong so I wouldn't worry about Zelda being "ruined".
Miyamoto, go and do a Zelda for iPhone, for sure Zelda's audience will be multiplied by 1000.
Now it happens that Nintendo forgot what Zelda was in the past. It is like EA debating about how to make their football more attractive for FPS fans. They already tried a Zelda for casuals with SS, and the sales talk by themselves ...
Zelda REALLY shouldn't become even more casual!
Sorry that I have to say it, but I have a feeling that the main problem is the big amount of women working on the last 2 console Zelda's. Don't get me wrong: A mix of men and women working on a game is good! But now it seems there are more women working on home-console Zelda's then men! Since most Zelda players are men and want a harder Zelda, you need more men on the team! Just a thought!
@Henmii, just for your information, statistically are males these looking for more fast paced and quick casual games than females.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Women_and_video_games
I find that really, REALLY hard to believe! Males want kick-butt games and competition, while females are just happy with simple social media games!
Concerned.
hi hier im a verry big zelda fan and just wanted t leave a thought with nintendo bot a new zelda game theyannmake something 4 veryone right well remember the collecters addition four the gamecube wll why not make a zelda game with every single zelda game all onone disk on one big mape where you can walk with your link charecter to the differnt zelda games and on your way find secrets with story lins or other zelda games to unlock like game they were goona come out with before majoras mask butnever finishet it but make it so you have to unlock these games byfndig secrets in the elda game pluse other new zelda games aswell make that game along with whutever zelda game he wil come out wt next u mself hopeit is along game with lots of puzzels likemajoras mask whe you lso got to be almost every othert charcter frm zelda using the mask they should make a game like that 4 the hardcoe zelda gammers just an idea amd of all else fails please mk it the 2 world like oot or a link to the psttos were the best zela games an they both have the 2 wold experinc to them i myslefam a big zelda fn so wold like a very long and intense zelda game wit a good story line to i with many secrets -puzzle and side games as well.
@battLeToaD...and as shallow as spirit tracks
@3DSonicPizza I am 76 years old and have loved Zelda games for longer than many game players have been around. The one exception was Skyward sword. That game is laying unfinished. Instead of creating a lot of great new ways to play a game, lets hope for a new story to wrap a game around. Lately that is where Zelda is falling flat. Standing on the couch jumping up and down while waving your arms around doesn't make up for a poor story line..
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