Tanabe is Interested in Making a Tingle Game

Following their quick discussion with Venture Beat regarding hypothetical ideas for Metroid on Wii U, Retro Studios had a short brainstorming session about a bit more ridiculous idea. Apparently Kensuke Tanabe, a producer on Donkey Kong Country Returns: Tropical Freeze, would love to take on the challenge of making a Tingle game that can convince Western audiences to love Tingle. When you read this, keep in mind that what Tanabe says in no way reflects any real project currently in development; he’s just throwing out ideas:

“I know how hated the character of Tingle is in the U.S. I know that people cannot stand Tingle. But to me that challenge is: Could I take this character that is so reviled in the West and just [do] a complete turnaround and make him a beloved, fun character? The idea of that really just gets me going. I know we have made a Tingle game in the past, but maybe at some point down the road. …” — Kensuke Tanabe

And, judging from the next thing he’s quoted saying, it sounds like he’s actually really passionate about this idea:

“It’s like love. It’s like romance: You meet someone and you’re like, ‘Oh god, I can’t stand that person.’ And then three weeks later, you’re madly in love — it’s that turn, that quick whip, that motivates [me] a little bit. …If we we ever get a really successful Tingle game, maybe we will have like a big Tingle statue out there [points to Nintendo’s E3 booth outside the room’s walls].” — Kensuke Tanabe

Well, I really can’t say how I’d personally feel about Retro taking on a Tingle project. I just have no idea what it would look like, but I guess I’m interested to see. How would you feel in the unlikely event that Retro Studios was able to spearhead a standalone Tingle game?