Should Nintendo Stick to ONE Link and Zelda for a While?

[DuelMark]

For those who haven't figured it out yet, I'm a Transformers fan. When Transformers Prime came out, Hasbro decided that for the next few years almost all of the material they are releasing for Transformers take place in the same universe instead of rebooting the franchise every 2 years. This "Aligned" continuity got me thinking about how Zelda games, with half a dozen exceptions, always star a different Link saving a different Zelda. With that in mind, it got me wondering how people always talk about wanting the next game to be a sequel game to, say, Twilight Princess. Now I'm hearing they want one for Skyward Sword. So, let's say, hypothetically, for at least 5-8 years, all the game that are released in that time frame, let's say 3-4, revolve around the same Link and Zelda as opposed to establishing new incarnations or a sequel to previous ones? The first game is the traditional Zelda game of saving the princess from Ganon and his forces who try to claim the Triforce. The rest can be their own Majora's Mask or Zelda II.

Would you all be cool with us dealing with one Link and Zelda for some time, see their adventures together and them expanding on their relationship? I'm not saying each game should have her kidnapped. This is just an interesting idea.

 

[JuicieJ]

I don't really give two craps about Zelda's story and/or its continuity, so...

Spoiler

 

[A Link In Time]

I'm not a fan of direct sequels in the Zelda universe. They've certainly worked before but a new narrative featuring a different Link and Zelda has traditionally produced greater originality. I loved Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks for what they were, for example, but they felt uninspired after titles like The Wind Waker and The Minish Cap. The same applies to games along the lines of the Oracles which reuse previously incorporated graphics.

Nintendo should never create a prolonged story branch. Luckily, the only games which fell into this pit hole thus far were Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks. I'd grown delusional with Toon Link by that point. When Nintendo creates future sequels I'd like the company to follow the example set forth by Majora's Mask-a successor in name only with original ideas lurking around every corner.

 

[Ventus]

Yes, Nintendo should stick to ONE Link and ONE Zelda for a few games. LoZ/AoL did it, ALttP/LA/OoX did it (although we didn't really know that OoX Link was ALttP Link initially), OoT/MM did it, TWW/PH/ST did...I think it's time to go further into TP Link's story; we don't know exactly what happened after he left his beautiful little village at the end. While Zelda doesn't have much importance in TP, perhaps we could expand upon her character [meaning: give it depth and a soul] a bit within these few sequels. I think it would be an interesting proposition, as TP's ending suggests that particular Link's tale is not yet finished.

 

[Igos du Ikana]

I actually would like to see different ones. Once storytelling takes the forefront of the game, it is no longer a game.

 

[Linknerd09]

Well, if Nintendo only stick to one Link and Zelda and everything else, there could probably be no new stories to tell, new characters, new gameplay. Everything will probably be the same.

I, myself, don't like the idea of Nintendo stick to one thing only. It would be good to use new things that can reference or be it's sequel, etc. if Nintendo stayed with one Link and Zelda and actually start their new life, then Nintendo would actually take their time and show us the days of their life, day by day.

Then again, it would be nice for one Link and Zelda for only for some time, not forever. It would be nice for their friendship and/or relationship to grow. If OoT was the only story Nintendo sticked with, then I would like to see Link's rest of life after his battle with Ganondorf. Link, starting anew...so would Zelda.

 

[DarkestLink]

I'm going to be really disappointed if they don't make use of the Wii U and use the realistic styling of graphics.

 

[New Link]

Uh, its been done a lot.... lol it be cool to have another Oracle style game though!

 

[The Wanderer]

I would like to see a few Zelda games featuring the same direct continuity, whether it's to continue one long tale or to use the same characters for several different stories. Every sequel in the Zelda series except for the black sheep, Zelda II, barely pulls from the original's material at all. The story of Majora's Mask barely has any relation to Ocarina of Time whatsoever, reused character models aside; it's not even proven (to my knowledge) that Link was looking for Navi in the beginning. It's just a theory.

Therefore, creating several games with direct influence on one another would be a new direction for The Legend of Zelda. As I've said before, I can appreciate fantasy worlds more when they actually go out of the way to make it feel more real and more tangible. Frequent historical events that influence future games are a big part of that. I'm referring to more than the Master Sword and some vague references to an ancient hero. I'm talking about things like the events of Twilight Princess shaping a sequel that involves Hyrule recovering from the Twili attack, constant references to Midna, and the fate of Telma's resistance group. This way, you know Hyrule's history really does matter, making it feel even more tangible.

I know you weren't suggesting every Zelda game take directly off one another, but I feel obligated to say that's not the path it should take. It would be nice to have a few games pull straight from one another, but new stories with new beginnings are part of Zelda's charm and allow it to have infinite lore and an eternal future. So I want a "pocket" of Zelda games that all reference one another, then a move to a completely different story that may or may not bear much relation to the last one. I'd be satisfied with just one pocket.

 

[caleb11roy]

I would like to see a few Zelda games featuring the same direct continuity, whether it's to continue one long tale or to use the same characters for several different stories. Every sequel in the Zelda series except for the black sheep, Zelda II, barely pulls from the original's material at all. The story of Majora's Mask barely has any relation to Ocarina of Time whatsoever, reused character models aside; it's not even proven (to my knowledge) that Link was looking for Navi in the beginning. It's just a theory.

Therefore, creating several games with direct influence on one another would be a new direction for The Legend of Zelda. As I've said before, I can appreciate fantasy worlds more when they actually go out of the way to make it feel more real and more tangible. Frequent historical events that influence future games are a big part of that. I'm referring to more than the Master Sword and some vague references to an ancient hero. I'm talking about things like the events of Twilight Princess shaping a sequel that involves Hyrule recovering from the Twili attack, constant references to Midna, and the fate of Telma's resistance group. This way, you know Hyrule's history really does matter, making it feel even more tangible.

I know you weren't suggesting every Zelda game take directly off one another, but I feel obligated to say that's not the path it should take. It would be nice to have a few games pull straight from one another, but new stories with new beginnings are part of Zelda's charm and allow it to have infinite lore and an eternal future. So I want a "pocket" of Zelda games that all reference one another, then a move to a completely different story that may or may not bear much relation to the last one. I'd be satisfied with just one pocket.

Just so you know Link was looking for the Skull Kid... Not Navi!

 

[Castle]

The problem with having the same protagonists carry on through multiple games is that the games would have to take place in an identical time and place unless the characters' ages changed drastically or the game took place in another land. The series is a fantasy, through and through since its inception, and fantasy stories generally put an emphasis on a fantastic place. In TLoZ's case, the series' signature fantasy land is Hyrule. If Twilight Princess' Link showed up in a direct sequel set in Hyrule, not much would have changed unless the developers only added new regions. Sure, a few cosmetic differences could be afforded here and there, but all the dungeons and towns would be in the same place and there really isn't room for much more in the current geography that we haven't already seen in TP. The geography of Hyrule seldom leaves much room for expansion either.

The series has carried the same Link across multiple adventures before, but subsequent adventures have always taken place in Lands other than Hyrule. If Nintendo were to carry Link and Zelda across half a dozen installments set in Hyrule, then Hyrule would be the same place every time. Not exactly ripe for exploration and discovery on the first sequel.