With many gamers having already beaten The Legend of Zelda: Spirit Tracks, fans of Nintendo’s popular fantasy action-adventure series now eagerly await the upcoming Legend of Zelda title for the Wii. First hinted at in April of 2008, nothing had been confirmed until July of that year when Shigeru Miyamoto announced that a new Zelda game was in the works for the Nintendo Wii.
Since then, not much has been heard regarding the new Zelda game which has currently garnered the monikers Zelda Wii and Zelda 2010. Recently, Nintendo of America president Reggie Fils-Aime stated that the upcoming installment in the Zelda franchise would not be released until it was perfect. Just what that means, however, is up for speculation.
A Look Back at the Zelda Series Beginnings
Since its debut in 1986, The Legend of Zelda has managed to captivate audiences around the world as well as capture their imaginations. The first game in the series broke new ground by introducing a save feature—created to accommodate to the game’s lengthy quest—and an open world that gamers could explore freely. The Legend of Zelda for the Nintendo Entertainment System was a truly revolutionary endeavor by Nintendo.
The Zelda series would see many 2D outings, and one that many fans consider an all-time favorite is The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past for the Super Nintendo. The game featured colorful graphics, a longer quest than the previous games, and two separate in-game worlds that complimented one another: Light World and Dark World. These two environments would have a big influence on future Zelda titles.
The First 3D Zelda: Ocarina of Time
In 1998, The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time was released for the Nintendo 64. It didn’t take long for the title to reach mass success, and fans of the series got exactly what they had hoped for: a tried and true Zelda game in 3D. The game carried all the classic elements of the 2D installments and flawlessly incorporated them into a 3D world.
At the time of its release, the game received praise from fans and critics alike and was awarded perfect scores across many video game websites. To this day, Ocarina of Time is considered one of the greatest games of all time. The title has seen re-releases across Nintendo’s GameCube and Wii consoles, and gamers continue to play the game loyally.
Zelda: The Wind Waker Blueprint
Since the release of Ocarina of Time, more Zelda games have made their way to Nintendo handhelds and home consoles. The Wind Waker on the GCN was a change for the series, delivering cel-shaded graphics never before seen in a Zelda game. The game featured a new look, but the gameplay was true to the Zelda formula, and it made for an excellent addition to the series.
Two DS titles have been released thus far, and they both have the look introduced in Wind Waker. The gameplay is once again Zelda fare, but the games have often been compared to the 2D titles in the series as they feature an isometric viewpoint. It’s this meshing of styles that has made for two completely engaging Zelda entries on Nintendo’s dual screen handheld.
Twilight Princess: An Ocarina Tribute?
In 2006, The Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess was released as a launch title for the Nintendo Wii. Originally developed for the GCN, the title would later be ported to Nintendo’s last-gen console, and it would gain a large following and mass praise by both fans and critics on both consoles.
Twilight Princess has often been compared to the N64’s Ocarina of Time. The game’s look is very reminiscent of the N64 classic and features an older Link akin to the adult version in Ocarina of Time. Additionally, a lot of the music and dungeon themes returned in Twilight Princess. Despite its large following, many fans believe that Twilight Princess was too similar to Ocarina of Time.
Zelda Wii – A Perfect Game
Nintendo has stated that Zelda Wii will not be released until the game is perfect. This has caused much speculation amongst fans of the series, and gamers are already wondering what changes Nintendo will implement into the much lauded franchise. Changes to the gameplay and dungeon design have already been mentioned, and one can only wonder what other elements the Zelda team will focus on to freshen up the series.
The series has yet to feature a fully orchestrated soundtrack. It is very possible that that is one of the many changes the series will see this time around. It could also be that Zelda Wii will feature a change in its puzzle design. With many fans considering Ocarina of Time the perfect game, it’s interesting to hear Nintendo say that they plan on bringing changes to the series while making the best possible gaming experience.
The game is currently slated for a late 2010 release, but that may not be the case if Nintendo decides to work longer on the game in an attempt to bring a fresh new Zelda experience. One thing is certain: loyal Zelda fans will wait as long as they have to if it means a new, engaging, and exciting Zelda offering on the Wii.
David Sanchez - David Sanchez is a college student and freelance games jounalist. What was once a hobby for him is now a passion, and he looks to someday ...
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