11 replies to this topic

[ganonlord6000]

I have thought about this idea and thought that it might be a good one. It would be different for a Zelda game, that's for sure. Since Link is usually a different character from game to game, it really wouldn't matter what the gender is. It doesn't even need to be a female Link. A female lead (not necessarily Link) would work as well. Now THAT would throw any villain used to a boy in green of guard. A little change to the green tunic would be in order, though. The best setting would probably be modern day. I can just imagine that one.

What do the rest of you think about this one?

[Selena]

Nintendo doesn't really do stuff like that. It'd be like a Mario game without Mario, or Metroid without Samus. Link is part of the Zelda legend, and, to an extent, is the heart and soul of the series. So I highly doubt that it'll ever happen.

Still, it could be interesting if handled right. Not a female Link, though. Link is Link.


Having Zelda as a main character could open the door to various fun possibilities. Zelda escapes from an invasion, then decides to liberate Hyrule herself in the absence of a certain green-clad hero. She dons her Sheik gear. Instead of having a fairy companion, Zelda's mastery of the Triforce of Wisdom could give her the power to read minds or have otherworldly intuition. That could inform her of quest hints and enemy weaknesses. Sheik is more ninja than knight, so fighting could be more rapid, and she could perhaps use gear to scale walls and sneak into enemy dungeons. Throwing knives rather than a bow and arrow, etc. Or give her the option of also equipping more knightly gear, bringing the gameplay closer to the standard games.



....However, as already mentioned, it wouldn't really be the same game without Link. The games would actually be about Zelda for a change, and we simply can't have that. People would stop being confused.


A modern day Zelda would be even worse than swapping out the main character. It works about as well as a medieval Metroid.

[ganonlord6000]

Nintendo doesn't really do stuff like that. It'd be like a Mario game without Mario, or Metroid without Samus. Link is part of the Zelda legend, and, to an extent, is the heart and soul of the series. So I highly doubt that it'll ever happen.

Still, it could be interesting if handled right. Not a female Link, though. Link is Link.


Having Zelda as a main character could open the door to various fun possibilities. Zelda escapes from an invasion, then decides to liberate Hyrule herself in the absence of a certain green-clad hero. She dons her Sheik gear. Instead of having a fairy companion, Zelda's mastery of the Triforce of Wisdom could give her the power to read minds or have otherworldly intuition. That could inform her of quest hints and enemy weaknesses. Sheik is more ninja than knight, so fighting could be more rapid, and she could perhaps use gear to scale walls and sneak into enemy dungeons. Throwing knives rather than a bow and arrow, etc. Or give her the option of also equipping more knightly gear, bringing the gameplay closer to the standard games.



....However, as already mentioned, it wouldn't really be the same game without Link. The games would actually be about Zelda for a change, and we simply can't have that. People would stop being confused.


A modern day Zelda would be even worse than swapping out the main character. It works about as well as a medieval Metroid.

Am I the only one who has noticed that the Zelda games have been getting pretty close to modern day as of late? We just got a game with trains for crying out loud! It really shouldn't matter who the main characters are and what time period the game is set in as long as the basic gameplay formula is still kept intact. I'm not saying Link should be replaced completely, he would just have a smaller roll in a game like this.

[Egann]

I think that a female Link has some potential for spicing the series up (OK, that didn't sound right, but you get my point) but I see it being one of those things either done well or quite poorly. Nintendo knows they'd probably do the latter and can't afford to slap one of their own flagship series like that, ergo they never will do it.

Unlike other fans, I DO see technology and Zelda working reasonably together in a limited dose. Epona the motorcycle? No, probably not. But circuit puzzles with water, light, or fire are nothing new, so why not electricity? Besides, Zelda is FILLED with anachronisms; the picto-box in Majora's Mask is basically a black and white polaroid; try doing THAT with medieval chemical technology. No, I've always understood Zelda to have quite advanced technology, but it's application is stunted because magicka is mixed in culturally.



Now how about an "adult" Link who's in his mid 40's early 50's, struggling to do once again things he USED to be able to do easily? An older Zelda? A family Link has to go back to? Arthritis in his sword hand? The dramatic stakes are raised, whether or not Nintendo has writers and puzzle-makers who are competent enough to capitalize on that is another matter.

[Wolf O'Donnell]

Or maybe we could just have an Emo Link.

[Twinrova]

"Arthritis in his sword hand?"

I'm sorry but this just made me lol. A lot. XD I think an old Link would actually be way harder for me to take seriously than a female Link. Or trains. >.>

[wisp]

An old Link would be amusing, but I don't know if I could take it too seriously. Maybe as a smaller part of a game? Ganon or whatever villain fills in for him casts a spell on Link that makes him age and part of the game is dedicated to getting some kind of item or spell that will change him back.

I think I could maybe get behind a female Link (well, maybe not an actual Link, but maybe a sister or cousin that takes his role?), or Zelda as the main character if it was done right. It has the potential to be so wrong, though.

[SOAP]

Well technically there are female Links in Japanese exclusive Navi's Trackers. Well you can name your Link either Mr. or Ms. whatever and if you squint your eyes you can pretend that the Ms. Links are short-haired little girls. *shrug*

I much rather either a game where you play as Zelda or a whole new female character (Ashei perhaps!) than a female Link. A female Link would be like a female Mario. Doable maybe, but too bizarre. Besides, a female Link is unneccessary. The only reason for it would be to draw in female players but gameplay in the Zelda series is pretty gender neutral enough to keep gamers of both genders pretty happy. Actually, I'd say it appeals more to girl gamers than boys as it is. The only thing I'd change is stop making Zelda so damn kidnappable. She's regarded as a tomboy in OoT. Let see Nintendo back that claim up more.

Now an old Link I'd like to see. Or rather one that keeps aging back and forth through different age groups throughout the game. Kinda like Sophie in Howl's Moving Castle.

Lena, your idea reminded me of Assasin's Creed. LOL.

Edited by S.O.A.P.R. China, 13 March 2011 - 04:47 AM.

[ganonlord6000]

I think that a female Link has some potential for spicing the series up (OK, that didn't sound right, but you get my point) but I see it being one of those things either done well or quite poorly. Nintendo knows they'd probably do the latter and can't afford to slap one of their own flagship series like that, ergo they never will do it.

Unlike other fans, I DO see technology and Zelda working reasonably together in a limited dose. Epona the motorcycle? No, probably not. But circuit puzzles with water, light, or fire are nothing new, so why not electricity? Besides, Zelda is FILLED with anachronisms; the picto-box in Majora's Mask is basically a black and white polaroid; try doing THAT with medieval chemical technology. No, I've always understood Zelda to have quite advanced technology, but it's application is stunted because magicka is mixed in culturally.



Now how about an "adult" Link who's in his mid 40's early 50's, struggling to do once again things he USED to be able to do easily? An older Zelda? A family Link has to go back to? Arthritis in his sword hand? The dramatic stakes are raised, whether or not Nintendo has writers and puzzle-makers who are competent enough to capitalize on that is another matter.

I've been trying to make the point in the second paragraph clear for quite some time, now. The only game so far in which technology is dominant is ST. That story idea is pretty interesting as well. What I had in mind is some new villain (pray for a good one besides Ganon and Vaati. Anyone for Onox or Veran?) comes into Hyrule to take over. Now this villain would be knowledgeable about the victories of nearly every Link. To ensure success, he/she would order his/her minions to capture any boy in his early to late teens that is wearing a green outfit and hat after killing the previous Link, providing he's still alive. Then a girl around the same age would notice this and try to do something about it. That's only the beginning. I will think of more later.

[Nameless_Joe]

I'm totally against a female Link, but I have no problem with a female protagonist in a Zelda game.

Having Zelda as a main character could open the door to various fun possibilities. Zelda escapes from an invasion, then decides to liberate Hyrule herself in the absence of a certain green-clad hero. She dons her Sheik gear. Instead of having a fairy companion, Zelda's mastery of the Triforce of Wisdom could give her the power to read minds or have otherworldly intuition. That could inform her of quest hints and enemy weaknesses. Sheik is more ninja than knight, so fighting could be more rapid, and she could perhaps use gear to scale walls and sneak into enemy dungeons. Throwing knives rather than a bow and arrow, etc. Or give her the option of also equipping more knightly gear, bringing the gameplay closer to the standard games.

I like these ideas. The basic framework for the moves could be similar to the SSB moveset. Might liven the series up.

A modern day Zelda would be even worse than swapping out the main character. It works about as well as a medieval Metroid.

Agreed.

Now how about an "adult" Link who's in his mid 40's early 50's, struggling to do once again things he USED to be able to do easily? An older Zelda? A family Link has to go back to? Arthritis in his sword hand? The dramatic stakes are raised, whether or not Nintendo has writers and puzzle-makers who are competent enough to capitalize on that is another matter.

I've thought about a Zelda game along those lines. Not with a completely haggard old Link, but, rather, one in his 50's who has seen battle and is combat experienced. He might not be as swift or agile as his younger self, but would be stronger/tougher and have more endurance. Wouldn't be so damn picky about acquiring a hidden fairy sword to defeat a given enemy, but picks up a rock or bottle and bashes it in the head. More of a brawler than a martial artist. Imagine fist-fighting an Ironknuckle (or some other hooligan) with Wii controls. Of course, Nintendo will never make such a game.

the picto-box in Majora's Mask is basically a black and white polaroid; try doing THAT with medieval chemical technology.

But it used Forest Fireflies! It was magic!

To ensure success, he/she would order his/her minions to capture any boy in his early to late teens that is wearing a green outfit and hat after killing the previous Link, providing he's still alive.

Agahnim issued a warrant for Link in LttP (apparently kill on sight, judging by the soldiers!), which is kind of a similar situation.

[Showsni]

When I think of Zelda as a protagonist I can't help thinking of two particular games...

Edited by Showsni, 16 March 2011 - 05:43 AM.

[CID Farwin]

When I think of Zelda as a protagonist I can't help thinking of two particular games...

You're not the only one

Really I've noticed these sort of ideas (female Link, older Link) go against what Zelda is. The problem is that a lot of people (including the people at Nintendo making these games) have no idea what Zelda is, so we get crazy ideas like a contemporary post-apocalyptic Zelda where Link ditches the tunic and sword and has a gun and skateboards et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, (go make that game if you want, 'cause it's not a Zelda game.)

I think more than anything, these things are a reaction to the fact that Zelda is going stale. Much like how the reaction to "dungeons in Twilight Princess were boring" is to merge the overworld and the dungeons (the problem with TP's dungeons was the fact that they were a series of puzzles, like a game full of Water Temples. As such, most of the interesting stuff went on outside of the dungeons.) There's been new characters, new stories, new gimmicks, but really since Ocarina of Time there's been nothing 'new' brought to the table.

I think I went a bit off topic there, sorry. <.<

Edited by CID Farwin, 17 March 2011 - 12:40 PM.