by Shadow
Well, while searching about through the Totally Zelda forums (www.tz.2ya.com), there was a thread called Wind Waker 2 in the gaming forum. I was like a Wind Waker 2? Nintendo wouldn't do such a thing, as so I thought. So the first few posts were about the realistic looking graphics from Spaceworld to be used in the new Zelda game. Then a member says that the next Zelda will have cel-shaded graphics again. The member said he got it out of his EGM. We wanted proof but we had none until another member posted a link to an article on IGN. Another member of the forums, Tripp posted the article. I copied the last couple posts we had about this article. Check it:
Tripp:
Realistic Zelda
Despite initial negative reaction to its new, cartoonish direction, Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker sold very well, especially considering its off-season release in March -- but not without a considerable effort by Nintendo, such as a fantastic preorder campaign that gave Zelda fans a previously unreleased version of Ocarina of Time, completely free of charge. While GameCube fans quickly fell in love with the top-rated title, the million seller unfortunately did little to jumpstart system sales and actually bring new audiences to Nintendo's under appreciated console. With most of 2002's and 2003's top sellers firmly rooted in more realistic styles and sporting grittier graphics, many Nintendo analysts said that Zelda's look was just too similar to the company's other flagship titles like Super Mario Sunshine, Luigi's Mansion, Pokemon and Pikmin to grow the GameCube's userbase.
Since then, persistent rumors about a darker, more realistic Zelda game starring a version of Link in the vein of Soul Calibur II's GameCube exclusive character have been circulating the web and even appeared in a few magazines. Has Nintendo really abandoned the cartoon look and is starting from scratch on its next Zelda game to craft a dark, more mainstream installment in the franchise?
Not yet, at least according to Nintendo's star developers Shigeru Miyamoto and Eiji Aonuma. The two driving forces behind Wind Waker already let it slip at E3 that the next Zelda title would use similar presentation and graphics. We've heard that although the second GameCube Zelda game will look and control almost exactly like Wind Waker it will feature some very different gameplay elements as well as a different looking Link. Cryptic stuff? Well, take a look at the differences between Majora's Mask (also Aonuma's baby) and Ocarina of Time, and you'll get the idea. Though the less cartoony Ocarina of Time remains the top-rated Zelda game in the series (we gave it a 10 when it came out in 1998 -- and your reader ratings have it at 9.8, versus a 9.6 for Wind Waker), Nintendo seems to believe that the cel-shaded style is an appropriate choice for the franchise. Whether you agree with this, or not, if the company had to start from scratch on an all-new look, the game would definitely have to appear on GameCube's successor. Instead, Nintendo is reusing the game system, style and models of its most recent achievement, and Zelda fans are getting one more installment in the beloved franchise without having to shell out more cash for a new system. Now about that next preorder bonus... We're thinking an emulated version of Majora's Mask (running at 60fps, please) and the unreleased BS Satellaview Zelda quests for the SNES thrown in for good measure.
As cool as the graphics were for Wind Waker, deep down I really wish they'd go back to the OoT/MM style. I do like what these guys think about the pre-order bonus though.
Me: I think Nintendo is a little too confident. Seriously when you think about. I mean they expected a lot of games to do better then they should have. I thinking using cel-shaded graphics was a big mistake because a lot of people still hate that graphic style. What questions me is why change the style to cel-shaded? Yeah Nintendo wants to be different but why do it with their biggest and best franchise?
Tripp: Your perfectly right if you think about it. Luigi's Mansion was supposed to be huge being Luigi's first own console game, but instead it swam like a brick. Pikmin was claimed to be the most innovative game of the year but it was just plain boring and repetitive in my opinion. Mario Sunshine was just a flat out failure as Miyamoto himself said that he wasn't happy with it. Animal Crossing didn't live up to its claim at endless possibilities, mainly because most people get bored after playing for a month and don't wait around to explore all those possibilities. And Wind Waker claimed to be huge, but truth be told it was on the short side, far from epic, and didn't draw any new attention to Nintendo. Instead, long time fans even turned and mocked the company.
Nintendo really needs a savior, but it looks like it won't be the new Zelda at this rate.
Me: You're perfectly right about that, Tripp. Those games did flop. I liked Super Mario Sunshine for some odd reason. Pikmin did get really boring, repetative, and quite hard. Wind Waker didn't really flop. I didn't think it was that short or easy. I thought sailing got REALLY boring though. I mean there was a lot to do on the seas but it took time. I thougt Luigi's Mansion was fun. It can be beaten in a day. I haven't played Animal Crossing but from what you say draws me away from the game.
When you said Nintendo needs a savior, you're right. Metroid Prime didn't do so great but it was a fantastic game. I talked to my friends who have the game and they say they die a lot and that it's hard. I can understand why they say it is hard, but I never really die. I mean my one friend won't even listen to me when I try to tell him some helpful hints that would really really help him. My friends seem to have not discovered the L button. That is the key to the game, and using your brain.
In my opinion, Nintendo needs to work up that special magic they haven't put to use yet and make a brand spakin' new franchise that'll kick some bum. It seems Zelda cannot do that anymore.
So after that I must conclude that Nintendo is too confident. If they want to hit the top, they have to listen to their fans, and they are not doing that. I think they are also a little too calm. Being too calm might slow them down and make them too confident. Nintendo also needs a savior, like said before. Zelda won't cut it, unless…. Well, we want a brand new game that'll open up a new path of gaming in the gaming world. Nintendo has something nice and big up their sleeves, they can do it, if they listen to the fans. Also, to make another conclusion about the article Tripp posted, the next Zelda will be cel-shaded.
