Daily Debate: If a Zelda Tactics Game Existed, How Should it Play?

Posted on September 02 2021 by Andrew Millard

Tactical games frustrate and fascinate me. I have been enthralled by several of them over the years, but have never been good at a single one. And they seem to be having a moment: Mario + Rabbids is getting a sequel. Project Triangle Strategy will be a Switch exclusive. The makers of XCOM are tossing some deep cut Marvel characters into the breach with Marvel Midnight Sons. And even one of the most frenetic series of the arcade run n’ gun era, Metal Slug, is due to jump genre with Metal Slug Tactics!

The world of tactical turn-based RPGs has given us some of the greatest games in any genre. But because it serves a niche and fairly die-hard audience, they don’t often offer a good point of entry to new players. On the other hand, each entry in The Legend of Zelda series has welcomed a new generation of adventure fans.

So what would happen if Nintendo allowed one of those developers to tear loose and laydown a battle grid in Hyrule?

For my answer, a Zelda tactics game would opt out of the permadeath feature so often associated with the genre. Failing a mission can come with any number of punishments, but losing a party member for good would be a non-starter when using the cast of Zelda. Scale would be important, too. I would prefer skirmishes a la Final Fantasy Tactics over the larger battles of Fire Emblem. And finally, I wouldn’t want the player to assume a specific role in the game. Rather, they should act as commander and freely control all party members in any mission.

But what do you think? What gameplay features or mechanics would you want in Zelda Tactics? Get as specific as you care to! If you’re a tactical RPG fan, let us know your favorites, all in the comments.

Featured Art: @kisara_san