The Legend of Zelda Series

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

I still have yet to play either of those games, myself. When I finally get around to getting a DS, those'll probably be among my top 10 must have games for the platform.

[gunswordfist]

I never got to play Ocarina of Time. I've never even seen some play Windwaker. I've never played Oracle of Ages. I've never played Four Swords. I haven't played any of the DS games. I never came anywhere close to beating Link to the Past or Majora's Mask and haven't gotten to far with the first one so:

1. Oracle of Seasons
2. Link's Awakening

Even then, my oldest little brother beat some, if not a lot of my playthrough of Oracle of Seasons and I haven't played the GBC version of Link's Awakening yet.

[talonmalon333]

I don't think anyone particularly cares, but Nintendo has been releasing a Zelda book in Japan. And from a source, we've gotten what could potentially be the Zelda timeline.

UPDATE: This timeline has been confirmed to be official.

[Spark Of Spirit]

So, then the first timeline is the one I should want more games from? Also, I thought Link's Awakening was a sequel to ALTTP, and I thought the Oracle games took place after Zelda 2.

We also need to see more of Vaati. So underused.

[talonmalon333]

So, then the first timeline is the one I should want more games from? Also, I thought Link's Awakening was a sequel to ALTTP, and I thought the Oracle games took place after Zelda 2.

We also need to see more of Vaati. So underused.

First timeline? What do you mean?

LA is a sequel to ALttP. But OoS and OoA are interquels... Basically, that Link gets to start in four games. Lucky dog.

[Spark Of Spirit]

By first time line, I meant the one on the far left.

I guess ALTTP Link is my favorite Link, then.

[Spark Of Spirit]

So here's the most recent (and almost definitely fake) rumor:

Nintendo is working on two separate Zelda games for the 3DS entitled "Fire Prophecy" and "Ice Prophecy" not too dissimilar from something they did back on the Game Boy Color. Now while this specific rumor is almost certainly fake, does anyone else think this something they should do next? Honestly, I think this would be just the thing the series needs to get a shot in the arm on portables again after the DS games killed a lot of its momentum.

Plus, who wouldn't want two new Zelda games instead of one? 

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

I'd very much like for Nintendo to pull off something very similar to what they did for Oracle of Ages/Seasons. I think that would probably be a good route for them to take with respect to the handheld Zelda games, as opposed to just making sequels to The Wind Waker, which from what I can tell have received very mixed reactions from fans (which I think by default makes them the least liked of all of Zelda's handheld outings, even if they do still get generally positive reception).

[Foggle]

They should have a bunch of 2D games on the 3DS and a legit Wind Waker sequel on the Wii, then make the next big 3D adventure for Wii-U.

[gunswordfist]

I want a downloadable new 2D Zelda. They don't even have to HD it up. Just give me rooms that are larger than one screen a la Oracles and a New Game + that emphasis using all your equipment to get through the game and I'm set.

[Spark Of Spirit]

New Legend Of Zelda? Sweet! I hope it's 2D!

[talonmalon333]

Soon after Skyward Sword's release, they said that two Zelda games are in the works (presumably one for the 3DS, and one for the Wii U), so I expected something like this.

[talonmalon333]

By the way, what did some of you guys think of Skyward Sword?

[Spark Of Spirit]

Actually, Skyward Sword did prove one thing to me and that was that I'm not into the Ocarina Of Time style 3D Zelda games. For a series that everyone complains is stale, there really are more than one style of game in there.

You have the classic 2D games started with Zelda 1 that evolved through A Link To The Past and tweaked with Link's Awakening, Minish Cap, and the Oracle games. Clearly these are my favorites, but that doesn't mean I hate the others. We haven't gotten one of these since the GBA, and we're about due.

Then there's Zelda 2. While I'd LOVE Miyamoto to make a full blown exploration platformer (NOT a Metroidvania, something closer to Clash At Demonhead meets Zelda 2), this is probably unlikely. I would not turn this down at all, though.

Next is Ocarina Of Time, which took the LTTP formula and basically made it more straightforward. This continued with Twilight Princess and Skyward Sword, where it was the same basic formula, just built on and refined. This is arguably the most popular style, and probably the most controversial (IE fans of one game of this style tend to hate on the others in it) since it is the most well known in the last how many years.

And then you have the "experimental ideas". Majora's Mask, and Wind Waker. This is my favorite of the 3D Zelda style because both of those games were completely unpredictable to me and for completely separate reasons. Majora's Mask is tighter and more closed in, and Wind Waker is by far the most wide open Zelda that captures the spirit of adventure from the original game, you can criticize the sailing (and yes, it could be faster) but it adds a lot of breadth to the world while keeping it simple in Zelda terms. The two games are opposites, but are Zelda through and through. This is what I'd like to see revisited again.

Last and certainly least is the Phantom Hourglass formula. Taking the 2D overhead style and simplifying it for minigame touch gimmicks and a side "project" like boats or trains on the side. Spirit Tracks bombed in Japan and under-preformed here, so this style is probably done.

See? There are multiple styles here. Honestly, I want more of the classic and experimental 3D ones. Those are my absolute favorite games in the series.

[Dr. Ensatsu-ken]

Well, I'm a huge fan of the OoT style so I personally can't complain any Zelda games following that style. That said I agree that we should get a return of both the classic 2D style Zelda games as well as the more experimental 3D ones (though to be fair they were still heavily inspired by OoT's style, but they just strayed further away from it in some areas than TP and SS did, since I hear that those games relied heavily on OoT's tried and true formula in comparison to MM and WW).

Honestly I could never really get into LTTP no matter how much I tried, but I still respect the style that it set up and I'm a huge fan of the Oracle Games and I liked what I've played of Minish Cap and various other 2D Zelda games, so I wouldn't mind another great title in the vein of those games.