Retro's Cancelled Zelda Game Starring Sheik Resurfaces In Nintendo Gigaleak

That concept art looks amazing, what a shame it was cancelled.

That's a huge shame, sheik is one of, if not, my favorite zelda character, so it would've been so cool to have a game starring her

The same list also has the cancelled Gamecube Kirby game that was more or less split up and reworked into later stuff like Return to Dream Land and Star Allies

The only thing is that this game isn't based on the Sheik we know from Ocarina I'm pretty sure. I think it was just the last Shiekah male in general, and not Zelda dressing up to hide from Ganondorf.

Looks like it was a spin-off game, what I want to know is why does shiek have a beard

Looks like a more darker action heavy title? Sheik gonna go all Kratos on everyone.

Release the robotic Richard Simmons!

I REALLY wanna see the Sheikah culture fleshed out, seeing how the tribe worked and all. Zelda in the past... but not link to the past style, I mean ANCIENT ancient. It would be so so so cool... and maybe they all go extinct except for like 1 or 2 sheikah at the end, which leads up to OOT or something?

Sheik seemingly with a full on beard. Either that’s a different Sheik or we’re going full on Dina from TLOU2.

I would think with a name like Zelda, she would be the main character... at some point 😄

@blindsquarel Different Shiek. The game was odd, taking place in the downfall timeline, where Shiek ends up turning into the Master Sword.

@Papichulo There are two special CD-I games where she is

Too bad, this game would be overdo for a remaster about now

@Longondo Hey that's strange, everyone I have met has had an uncle that works at Nintendo. I wonder if it's a job requirement to have a niece and/or nephew...

@PBandSmelly Story wise, that would be Skyward Sword. Going back earlier than that is quite useless, since it won't be about Zelda or Link.

@sanderev
Oh contraire! I think a zelda game featured around the cultures and lives of Hyrules folk exclusively would be amazing! Imagine a Zora or Gerudo game! Or flying around mountain villages as a Rito! The Zelda series has so many amazing species we see and learn about through visual storytelling, why not focus on that? Maybe even be a bad guy like a Bokoblin or Sheikah Clan in a tower defense?

@BloodNinja We don't know how good a game it was lol.

I wonder if this was the game Mr Aonuma alluded to when he said he was interested in making a game with a thief? Also, I'm sure they will have taken some ideas from the game and used them elsewhere. They may cancel games, but ideas stay on the shelf. Really nice artwork, though.

How can have been a "JRPG" (Japanese RPG) when it would've been made by Americans? 🤨

It's about time we had some games set in the Zelda universe that don't feature Link.
As a protagonist, he's bland and paper thin.

Ohhh i would love a game based on the Sheikah! Jutsus, ninja fighting style etc. Mannnnn bring it lol.

Looking at the artwork, this could have been a competitor to Zelda Breath of the Wild, maybe that's why it was axed.

Despite not one for depressingly set post-apocalyptic stories, I wouldn’t have minded this for a Zelda game. Technically Breath of the Wild is post-apocalyptic but only feels that way in Hyrule Castle Town.

That and a Zelda game in a Sci-fi setting. Anyone for the Master Sword being converted into pure energy and stored in a beam sabre? All while travelling on the HSS Epona?

I do kind of wish that Nintendo opens up more with the Zelda franchise to give us something a bit more mature, just to diversify the series. This game could've been just that.

@GrailUK
That just turned out to be a hint towards the Link's Awakening remake.

@ModdedInkling ahhhh

@GrailUK Thats true! I guess that concept art is leading me to believe it was going to be something cool.

Wow, that Sheikah game looks awesome (concept wise). I wish Nintendo would make this a thing, I would love a spin-off game where I play as a Sheikah monk/ninja

This game was never cancelled. Even the guy that made all the art work said that it was a concept they were getting ready for Nintendo, but never got greenlighted.

Sheik as a protagonist version of Zelda in a standalone title would 100% be more viable than just making Zelda playable instead of Link. I would be really intrigued by the change in narrative, gameplay, etc in that. It had never actually entered my head as a way to do it and give Zelda her own game. This would work far far better.

It almost lends itself to becoming an alternative series of games. When a Zelda game comes out, and Sheik is involved... what did she get up to off screen? What adventures and battles did she face to help Link get to Ganon. That's an interesting series of games that could be explored. You could even retroactively go back and explore something like Ocarina of Time as a story. Seeing it from an alternative perspective, like Wicked is for Wizard of Oz.

I'm not too into modern feminist video games, but there isn't a better time to release a game featuring Shiek than now

God, SO many dyslexic people in here...

I'm always questioning these kind of "leaks" Was the leak really a leak? Or did Nintendo get hacked? If it was a hack, shame on you for rewarding that. How would you take it if someone looted all your info and dumped it online?

So... the mysterious game they were working on was a spin-off with Shiek? Interesting.

Nintendo should take more risk with the LoZ franchise and make more games starring characters other than Link. The world is so rich.

I have always wanted a stealth/action title starring Sheik. It doesn't even need to be part of the OoT timeline. In fact, I thought the design that was part of TP looked the best (and was used in Brawl, I believe).

So, yea, make it happen, Nintendo!

Also, I have like 14 more ideas for Nintendo games if they ever wanna hire me As I'm sure we all do ... which is the problem. Too tough to please everyone unless they stick to the tried and true. This issue exists at all levels of media production which is why all we ever see are rehashes and chasing trends. O_o

@ModdedInkling ehhh the idea of “mature” is just dumb. What you’re saying is that you just want something that’s plain and boringly dark. We’ve already had darkish Zelda games. This wouldn’t have really diversified anything. It would have just been a weird spin off with main character that inexplicably comes out of nowhere to fight. Cool concept, but the series didn’t need it and it honestly seems a little out of place

@hizaihazozhu
To be fair, franchises like Final Fantasy and Dragon Quest have had their share of bright games and dark games.

Don't get me wrong, I actually enjoy the current vibe that is set by Zelda games. It's just that everything is so implied and nothing is actually done