March 29, 2005 - In any industry, established franchises open themselves to more criticism than isolated entries. It all stems from the fact that the longer something is out in the open, the better chance the public gets to dissect and scrutinize. In the case of the games industry, franchise titles appear on store shelves with each new system, and often more frequently than that. Many of these games (at least the good ones,) make a silent promise to deliver the best possible experience given the technology and talent of the time. Still, everyone's a critic. With each successive release in any series, there's always a horde of gamers ready to hurl a firestorm of suggestions on how to make things better. It's the same with The Legend of Zelda for GameCube, set to hit retailers by the end of the year. Below, a wish list of things we'd like to see in the latest chapter in the series.
The Return of the Fish
Actually, the return of the fishing mini-game. Those of you who loved the supremely addictive fishing game in The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time certainly missed its presence in The Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker. Considering the aquatic nature of the game, it struck many as odd that Nintendo chose not to include it. Which is exactly why the new Legend of Zelda should reintroduce Link as a full-time adventurer, part-time angler. Link could use a variety of equipment, including multiple fishing poles, lures and bait, each with their own strengths and weaknesses. Of course, the more advanced the equipment, the harder it will be to come by. Even cooler, would be the chance to sell the fish, or use your catch in conjunction with other ingredients to create salves, potions and other necessities. Different geographical areas would contain different classes of fish, with the rarest types boasting enviable medicinal or defensive properties; or just be worth a nice sack of rupees. Link could also use the fish to feed animals in the forrest as a way to complete puzzles, or simply to sway an animals loyalty for a short time.
Enter the Beast Master
The latest batch of media depicts Link as definite animal lover. He's spotted rounding up a litter of kittens, riding horses and oversized pigs, even attracting a pair of dogs as he leisurely rides his horse in the forest. We'd love to see Link command these animals to accomplish a myriad of tasks, such as solving puzzles. In the past, Link has gathered numerous animals to complete subquests, but we're hoping the latest addition in the Zelda series will expand on this to include animal-specific challenges, bosses and enemies. It's possible that certain obstacles will require Link to request the aid of birds, dogs, horses, cats and wolves, possibly with a new instrument, such as the kind seen in both Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker. Different animals would occupy specific parts of the game world, and perhaps each would require different methods to befriend. Also, there's little doubt Nintendo has chosen to keep many of the animals in the game secret, and given the amount of animals already made public, there's a good chance we could be looking at serious Wild Kingdom type stuff. We wouldn't be surprised if an animal granted Link limited flight capabilities, either, since this kind of thing has been done before in previous titles, such as the Deku Leaf in Wind Waker.
Let there be Sound
For many gamers, music and sound form an integral part of any game experience. It certainly helps create ambience and mood, and can sometimes make a good experience into a great one. And when it comes to the Zelda series, this is definitely the case. Everyone (and we do mean everyone) remembers how they felt as Link raced across that open field during the opening sequence in Ocarina of Time on Nintendo 64. The marriage of music and masterful art direction elevated that one particular scene from mere diversion to virtual art piece. And as is usually the case, the more the merrier. Legend of Zelda for GameCube will hopefully include more tracks of such quality. As for Link talking? Shigeru Miyamoto already went on record stating he doesn't want Link to talk much, but that doesn't mean he won't talk at all. And with the right voice actor and script, Link's voice could add a completely new layer to the Zelda experience.
All the Pretty Horses
You all know Link won't just walk around Hyrule. Looking at the official screens and trailers, it's apparent Link will once again mount a mighty steed and battle on horseback. While this fact alone gives fans plenty reason to get excited, Nintendo may be concealing the best part until E3 this May. What if Link could own an entire stable of horses, each animal with different attributes and capabilities? Sounds preposterous? Think about it. Not only would it work in terms of the established game world, it would also increase the level of depth in the game. Certain horses would boast speed over power, for example, while others still would claim very specific qualities, such as the ability to access certain areas or cross adverse terrain. Link could purchase lower level horses from a market or ranch, with the best horses concealed in relative secrecy to all but the most persistent of players.
Enter the Beast Master
The latest batch of media depicts Link as definite animal lover. He's spotted rounding up a litter of kittens, riding horses and oversized pigs, even attracting a pair of dogs as he leisurely rides his horse in the forest. We'd love to see Link command these animals to accomplish a myriad of tasks, such as solving puzzles. In the past, Link has gathered numerous animals to complete subquests, but we're hoping the latest addition in the Zelda series will expand on this to include animal-specific challenges, bosses and enemies. It's possible that certain obstacles will require Link to request the aid of birds, dogs, horses, cats and wolves, possibly with a new instrument, such as the kind seen in both Ocarina of Time and Wind Waker. Different animals would occupy specific parts of the game world, and perhaps each would require different methods to befriend. Also, there's little doubt Nintendo has chosen to keep many of the animals in the game secret, and given the amount of animals already made public, there's a good chance we could be looking at serious Wild Kingdom type stuff. We wouldn't be surprised if an animal granted Link limited flight capabilities, either, since this kind of thing has been done before in previous titles, such as the Deku Leaf in Wind Waker.
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Let there be Sound
For many gamers, music and sound form an integral part of any game experience. It certainly helps create ambience and mood, and can sometimes make a good experience into a great one. And when it comes to the Zelda series, this is definitely the case. Everyone (and we do mean everyone) remembers how they felt as Link raced across that open field during the opening sequence in Ocarina of Time on Nintendo 64. The marriage of music and masterful art direction elevated that one particular scene from mere diversion to virtual art piece. And as is usually the case, the more the merrier. Legend of Zelda for GameCube will hopefully include more tracks of such quality. As for Link talking? Shigeru Miyamoto already went on record stating he doesn't want Link to talk much, but that doesn't mean he won't talk at all. And with the right voice actor and script, Link's voice could add a completely new layer to the Zelda experience.
All the Pretty Horses
You all know Link won't just walk around Hyrule. Looking at the official screens and trailers, it's apparent Link will once again mount a mighty steed and battle on horseback. While this fact alone gives fans plenty reason to get excited, Nintendo may be concealing the best part until E3 this May. What if Link could own an entire stable of horses, each animal with different attributes and capabilities? Sounds preposterous? Think about it. Not only would it work in terms of the established game world, it would also increase the level of depth in the game. Certain horses would boast speed over power, for example, while others still would claim very specific qualities, such as the ability to access certain areas or cross adverse terrain. Link could purchase lower level horses from a market or ranch, with the best horses concealed in relative secrecy to all but the most persistent of players.
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