We've reported on several different attempts to immortalize gaming icons in LEGO form before, from Mega Man to Metroid, and one particular set detailing Link's battle with an Iron Knuckle managed to gain enough momentum to be put forward for official consideration by the LEGO team. The results have since come in, and unfortunately it's looking like the adventure is over before it started.
After reaching the required 10,000 votes from users of the Lego Ideas site, the project by Wes Talbott was put forward for approval alongside a slew of other potential products also voted in. Here, licensing issues are considered alongside a plethora of other aspects that ultimately form a final decision — whether or not the proposed set will hit store shelves. The hopes of Zelda fans everywhere were raised higher than ever as Wes' set made it through to a smaller selection of finalists, but as the Winter 2014 review came to a close it was the Female minifigure set that ended up with that all-important approval.
Despite Nintendo's new-found and open attitude towards licensing products of its major IPs, it's looking unlikely that we'll see any official Zelda LEGO merchandise soon despite the proven interest. K'Nex is currently under agreement with Nintendo and has released several sets from the Mario universe already, including Mario Kart and Super Mario 3D Land. Things might always open up in the future, but for now Wes can take pride in his efforts to spread some blocky Zelda goodness.
Was this something you'd have thrown rupees at to make happen? Let us know if you're among the disappointed in a comment below.
[source kotaku.com]
Comments 27
I don't live in India, but yes, I would have thrown my country's equivalent.
...Eh, probably wouldn't have been great anyway. Still a great idea though.
The last one was rejected for containing too many unique pieces.
This set is full of them.
Common sense people. -_-
Out of the new sets under consideration, Doctor Who isn't happening because they already have a license with Character Building and Big Bang isn't happening because it isn't a family show. They really need to have some limots on what can be proposed...
Bugger, I would have bought at least 3
Heh, I am in some ways glad it didn't happen - it has saved me some money!
@C-Olimar Number of pieces (438 for something fairly small) was my exact thought too.
Does anyone know if the failed creators ever release their plans so fans can buy the pieces themselves (and then find LEGO don't sell certain parts separately so have to exchange with fans for considerably more if certain pieces are only found in obscure sets).
Lego Zelda would rock.
(About as much as Zelda Sudocreme.)
Wow, Nintendo should be actively tracking down LEGO and asking to have their properties released in sets like these... it's no wonder Nintendo still has a problem with their image when they hand out licences to second rate kid's toys like Kinnex... but not with LEGO which bridges the gap between kids & adults.
Nintendo can't recognize a cash cow if one's sitting right there on top of their Mario Karts.
This was another missed opportunity by both Lego and Nintendo. Kinnex is no Lego. Nintendo Lego sets would have been huge. Actually all they would have had to do is release a Mini Figure set based off of Nintendo characters and they would have flew off the shelves. We're having trouble finding the Simpson mini figures that my kids are addicted to.
The K'Nex deal with Nintendo has always seemed like a missed opportunity to me. The sets look pretty cool, but I was a huge Lego fan as a kid. K'Nex got nothing on Lego, and I'd love to see Nintendo-themed Lego sets.
Took a look at the "Female Minifigure Set." Odd name, but apparently it has women working in various fields of science. There's a female chemist, and a female paleontologist. But where's the mathematician hunched over a table with a pencil and a stack of paper?
LEGO is the most visually versatile construction toy of all the major brands. As nice as K'Nex was as a kid, LEGO was the one that you could really make everything with.
Unique pieces? Really?
How many licensed Lego sets are out there, period? Not to mention the Ninjago, Bionicle, Chima crud.
This is just inane. K'Nex currently has the Mario/Kart license working, and they're fools to turn down Nintendo's other equally large property.
The lame female minifigure set beat out zelda? Are they serious? Wow.
So a Lego set promoting female rights beat zelda? I hate to be sexist, but no. just no.
Nintendo Lego set would be so cool.
Seriously? Here's what will happen:
Some Guy: "Will you make Lego Zelda or commit suicide?"
Lego Owner: "I'd Kill myself over Lego Zelda ANYDAY!"
Major disappointment that this got turned down and a set of a random woman looking at a random dinosaur skeleton got approved.
Although it was also disappointing that the scene was the Iron Knuckle fight. Who cares about that? It's not important. Pick an important scene from one of the games at least.
I would have absolutely bought this!
C'mon Back to the Future locomotive...
i would actually like to see a Lego Nintendo game made with various characters and worlds in a connecting cross over story or something.
@dkxcalibur It wasn't Nintendo's fault.
@supermario182, Lego Nintendo Dimensions, might work stranger things have happened. The gameplay on the Lego titles needs improvement though Dimensions was fun but the multiplayer was just plain awful.
Hmm...
Zelda & Metroid Legos, yah, that would have probably sold better than Star Wars Legos (percentage wise),
but I don't think it had anything to with licencing costs, the Licences for Star Wars are ridiculous, I'm sure Nintendo would not try to be that vain, so I think it's something else
can you a Lego reboot of the original NES Legend of Zelda 1 ???
yah, AWESOME !!!
I can't say this actual scene is iconic enough to make me want it - aside from the awesome Link minifigure (I also love the artwork for LEGO Link on the box)
Would like to see a set containing a few more Zelda elements - maybe even just a scene inside the Deku Tree with a Skulltula and a treasure chest, or of course just have Link vs Ganon with Ganon being a multi-piece construction based on the final fight of Ocarina. Or what could be more iconic than the Master Sword chamber in the Temple of Time?
I've really loved the idea of a LEGO Zelda video game for a while now. Maybe now Nintendo are more open to allowing third party games using their IPs (like Hyrule Warriors), it could be more of a possibility. I can see the two working well together, with Zelda's emphasis on puzzles.
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