Daily Debate: Should the Next Handheld Zelda Game Be a New 3DS Exclusive?

Ever since the New Nintendo 3DS was announced a few months ago, we’ve all been wondering exactly what kinds of exclusive games the console will have, and the kinds of extra features it could bring to normal 3DS games. As Zelda fans, this begs the question: will we ever see a New Nintendo 3DS exclusive Zelda game?

It’s not that far-fetched—we’ve already heard that Majora’s Mask 3D will feature extra content on the New Nintendo 3DS, even if the game itself will be accessible to regular 3DS owners—so it’s not like the Zelda theme has forgotten about it entirely.

The enhanced technological capabilities on the New 3DS could allow for better graphics on a new game, a more complex and flexible control scheme, or maybe some kind of extra content; it’s very likely that even if the next handheld Zelda isn’t a New 3DS exclusive, there will be tons of features exclusive to the game, in order to add more market appeal to the console and to take advantage of the technology.

Personally, I wouldn’t mind the next Zelda being a New 3DS exclusive. Nintendo needs to sell their new console, and a title as huge as the next Zelda game could easily be one of the greatest system sellers. In my case, which I assume that I share with lots of other Nintendo fans, I don’t have any plans to own a 3DS, nor do I particularly want to at all; almost nothing has been announced for the console, and extra content on a few games won’t be enough for me to want to spend hundreds of dollars. A Zelda game would almost definitely make me, and lots of others, want to buy the system; and I want the system to sell as much as possible, because I want Nintendo to make more money.

There’s also the fact that, as usual, we all want to get the best Zelda game possible, and taking advantage of the New 3DS’s technology would go a long way in that regard. While extra features on the New 3DS would be nice, having the game as a console exclusive would give Nintendo a lot more freedom with the game, as they wouldn’t have to downplay any content or graphics to try to get the game friendly for both consoles.

What do you guys think? Would you want the next Zelda to be on the New 3DS? If not, should it at least hold extra content? Would you be willing to buy a New 3DS for a new Zelda game? Let us know in the comments!