As a forewaord: I wrote this back in a time when I was somewhat dissatisfied with the continuity in the series. That is no longer tha case today as I am quite happy with all of it.
Like I said, this topic is here simply because Artuto believes it would make for an interesting debate.
So without any further delay:
Basically the idea is for each of us to describe what changes they would have made to the games if they had the final word (obviously Tingle wouldn't exist). I'll start.
LoZ: Considering the times, I guess my last word would have been just "Wow..."
AoL: I would have had the game made as an hybrid, half side scroller half top viewed (think of how FSA goes side scroller in the Tower of the Winds)
Also an extended happy ending, sort of like ALttP's one (the real one, not the one I'm going to describe here)
ALttP: The game itself is perfect, but if I had the final word, the in-game story (and some of the background) would have been developed differently.
First off, in the backstory, Ganon would have lost the Triforce at the end of the Imprisoning War. It would have remained in Hyrule where a King would have used it to rule justly 'till the beginning of the game: the day after his death.
Agahnim comes to the castle and manipulates the Prince (who could only obtain two parts of the Triforce) into locking up and interrogating his sister for the Triforce parts the prince didn't inherit, thus effectively gaining control of the castle.
From there, the game continues as we know it, saving Zelda hiding her in the Sanctuary and retrieving the Master Sword. Then Agahnim (having finished brainwashing the guards) imprisons the Prince, seizes Zelda and sends her to the Dark World together with the one of Triforce parts (the other was entrusted to Link by Zelda).
Again everything continues as normal, Link fights him goes in the Dark World, saves the Maidens and Zelda. However after the second fight with Agahnim, when he is dying and "releasing" Ganon, Zelda tries to seal away the latter, but Agahnim's magic is stronger and puts Zelda into eternal sleep. Then you go fight Ganon BUT using Light Arrows so he doesn't go splodin'. Ganon is assumed dead and Link returns to the Light World with the two Triforce parts.
There is no "Yay everybody revived with Triforce!!1" ending, the ending is bittersweet, starting with the fanfare (and showing the people living peacefully) and continuing over the music we have for the credits to show mourning for the fallen, Zelda being placed on her altar by Link and the Prince and (back in his pyramid) Ganon's ashes being carefully collected.
LA: Would have had a ship pick up Link in the end. That's all.
Oh and a hint should have been given in the owl's speech before you enter the egg so you know revealing the way to reach the last boss requires you to do side quests.
BS Zelda: Would have starred Link, expanded the story of the first game and introduced elements from ALttP (like say, a village)
AST: I think another villain could benefit this game. And one less baseball cap. Naturally I would have had the game make it to the west somehow (even with no scoring, no voices and just ALttP music) perhaps as a limited release or something like that, 'cuz I doubt marketing would have approved a normal release for a game so similar to ALttP.
OoT: I would have made it clear that the war which happened before the game was caused by the suspicion that other races could be close to finding the Triforce.
Navi wouldn't have stated the obvious so much, nor solved all the puzzles for you.
Gerudo guards would have stood besides Ganondorf and behind him when he appears to you after you first pull out the Master Sword (oh and it would have been possible to fight them in their fortress, to hell with stealth)
Also I guess Ruto and Darunia would have had different names and not have been Sages (because of the all-human maidens in ALttP. Dunno who the "new Ruto and Darunia" could have been though). They would still have helped Link in his journey though, of course.
In the ending Ganondorf is sealed without his Triforce part and Link is not sent back in time and either made a Knight, or goes back as usual by putting the sword back (best solution in fact)
Hyrule doesn't get a happy ending (read new timeline) in which it is spared those seven years. They happen as normal with Link appearing from the Temple of Time after Ganon takes over. The Link that went back in time leaves as in MM so no worries about them meeting.
MM: Should have taken place a few years after Link began his travels (so he's not a child but not quite an adult either, as in AlttP). Would have had at least 7 dungeons. Would have had no damned anachronisms, a better overworld map... and why not, a love interest for Link (like Marin was in LA). Maybe it could have been Termina's version of Zelda.
Also Skullkid could, perhaps, turn out to be Link's termina self that got lost into some enchanted woods.
Oracles: No Triforce, no Twinrova (since there is no split-timeline), but the games would still fit well as Ganon's resurrection before LoZ (and to explain where all the races of OoT went). Therefore, Ganon would of course not die at the end, but be somehow incapacited for several generations (trapped by his own madness?)
Oh and the game would have had all new music (remixes are good, re-usings are not) and the ending would not have tied in with LA.
And I would have not permitted many silly things like kangaroos and flying bears (note as of today: oh boy, Fyxe and Ricky are going to kill me...), or the re-use of characters other than Link and Zelda (Like Malon. Impa is okay because she's obviously a different character with the same name) this applies also for FSA and MC.
TWW: Would not exist. Seriously. There's just not enough worth saving in this one. I would just have had some of the ideas re-used for other games (like gliding) (Note as of today: again, I have since then changed my mind about TWW. There are still many things I don't like about it, but I'd love to see a DX version fixing them)
FS: Same as is, but allowing you to go solo.
FSA: With OoT changed the way I suggested, this game would probably have had a very different story. Perhaps it could be the prequel in which Vaati kidnaps maidens and is sealed in the sword?
MC: The Picori Blade would have looked differently. Again Ezlo wouldn't have stated the obvious so much and the game would have been twice as long (with perhaps the second half being set in the Minish Realm).
If FSA had not been made a prequel, in the ending Vaati would have been sealed in the Four Sword, not gone boom and he would have kidnapped some maidens during the game. The Light Force, revealed to be the Triforce, would have been taken back by the Minish into the Sacred Realm, and seven Sages (gathered during the -longer- adventure) would have created a sword to seal the entrance.
Obviously, without TWW, these last three games would have had a different style (not kiddy)
Well that was it. What do you guys thinks? Care to write something like this yourselves (even for just a few games)?
(Note as of today: TP wasn't out yet... and yes I know I'm going to be slaughtered for some of these comments...)
Edited by Duke Serkol, 14 March 2007 - 05:00 PM.