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Zelda director won't quit until he bests ‘Ocarina of Time’

November 26, 2008 in Interview comments 45

In the latest issue of Nintendo Power magazine the longtime director of the Legend of Zelda franchise, Eiji Aonuma, made it perfectly clear that he will not quit his post as director until he surpasses 'The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time'.

I'm happy that a title I worked on some time ago remains highly praised to this day, but that also shows how none of the subsequent games in the series have surpassed it. As someone who is still working on the series, I have mixed feelings about that. Because I haven't yet surpassed it, I can't quit. Surprisingly, that simply motivation may be the reason I continue to work on the Zelda series.
PacoDG via bingegamer.net »
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  • 4
    Big A2 Nov 26, 08
    He never will, the critics are assholes these days.

    But I think Wind Waker and Twilight Princess are both better than Ocarina of Time, and A Link to the Past is better than all of them.
    • 2
      PacoDG Nov 26, 08
      Twilight Princess isn't even better than Zelda II on the NES (which actually wasn't that bad of a game).

      I wish they would all set their goals higher and try to top the best of all Zelda games, Link's Awakening.
      • 1
        chautemoc Nov 26, 08
        Glad to see someone appreciates that game as much as I do.
    • 1
      Capn Droid Nov 27, 08
      A Link to the Past was the best game out of the series? Ah, wise choice, my friend. I'll be honest with you, I hate the series; but I've always had a special place in my heart for that game. It just has so much potential, so much win.
    • 0
      Fatal Error Dec 16, 08
      I indeed loved A Link to the Past a most of all the games, though the biggest issue with Ocarina of Time for me was simply having to deal with one of the most annoying "helpers" in history. -_-

      I absolutely loved A Link to the Past though.
  • 2
    bbb7002004 Nov 26, 08
    I agree with Big A2. Nostalgia is a very powerful thing, and is nearly impossible to overcome in a case like Ocarina of Time.
  • 0
    Zerpent Nov 26, 08
    Twilight Princess was an awesome game. Don't know if it is better than Ocarina of Time, but it's at the very least as good as it. Well, I'm looking forward to a Zelda that's made directly for the Wii. Should be awesome.
  • 0
    dwg14390 Nov 26, 08
    Thing is that when people think of ocarina, they think of the feel of THE FIRST TRUE 3D ZELDA GAME EVER.

    The next zelda can have the most in-depth story, with unbelievable new items, dungeons that blow your minds with a plot twist here and there and it still won't live up to nostalgia, why?

    Because most critics only remember the "feel" of the game. Having playing ocarina being the first zelda game made it an unbelievable experience.

    Heres hoping your retirement party is soon, the sooner that is the sooner we get the next great zelda game.
    • 0
      Big A2 Nov 27, 08
      quote
      Heres hoping your retirement party is soon
      Oh, so you don't want good Zelda games?
      • 0
        Shadow of Death Dec 16, 08
        I know this is ancient, but still....Clearly the person meant 'I hope you release that game real soon' >_>

        Meaning, dwg wanted the next Zelda to be as good as or better than Ocarina....
    • 0
      Linkerd101 Dec 16, 08
      most critics forget about 'theme' and Replay value too.


      That means you, X-PLAY.
  • 0
    Relient K Nov 26, 08
    i hope they make a wii remake of ocarina of time
    • 0
      Big A2 Nov 27, 08
      Not a chance. They've already released it on the Virtual Console.
    • 1
      bbb7002004 Dec 15, 08
      They did, its called Twilight Princess.
      • 0
        Big A2 Dec 16, 08
        ZING!

        Sorry, I couldn't resist.
      • 0
        Murray3 Dec 16, 08
        Twilight Princess doesn't deserve to be in the same franchise as Ocarina... HAIL WIND WAKER!
        • 0
          Big A2 Dec 16, 08
          Like I said before, I liked Twilight Princess better than Ocarina. It had a better story and the gameplay was a more fun. But that's probably because I never played Ocarina as a kid.
        • 2
          Zero and X Dec 16, 08
          Big A2, Murray3 is acting as if his opinon is fact, theres no arguing with him. He just lets the nostalgia of Ocarina and Wind Waker blind him, its as simple as that.
  • 0
    FinalFantasyFanaticc Nov 26, 08
    I'd like to see a Zelda game were at the end you save Zelda and then she turns on you and your like, WTF?! then you gotta go after her and beat the hell out of her XD
    Now that'd be original!
  • 1
    Killosity Nov 26, 08
    This is the best mentality the man can have; he will keep producing high quality Zelda titles for us all to enjoy, in his attempts to surpass Ocarina of Time. Awesome plan.
  • 0
    Storm Nov 27, 08
    My favorite Zelda game will always be the first I played, A Link to the Past. OoT and Twilight Princess fill up the top three.
    • 1
      Big A2 Nov 27, 08
      quote
      My favorite Zelda game will always be the first I played
      It leads back to that nostalgia thing again. People's fond memories will always make newer games look like crap compared.

      Ans anyway, Oracle of Ages was my first Zelda, and while it's a great game (we need more Capcom Zelda games!) it sure as hell isn't my favorite.
      • 1
        Capn Droid Nov 27, 08
        What we need is more Philips CD-i.
      • 0
        Storm Nov 27, 08
        Oh yeah, I have that too, great game no doubt.

        Well...I do give newer games a chance. I did mention that Twilight Princess it my third favorite Zelda game. With the Final Fantasy series, FFIV was my first game, but FFVIII is my favorite.

        It's true, though, nostalgia comes into play with just about all forms of entertainment, be it music, films, games, etc..
  • 0
    Aussie Legend Nov 27, 08
    Good.

    He doesn't have a chance in hell at bettering OoT.

    But at least he's trying.

    Note: My fav is still MM.
  • 0
    Bale Fire Nov 27, 08
    As long as he doesn't try to just copy and paste Ocarina of Time with a few cosmetic changes (as what many believe happened with Twilight Princess) then good for him.

    EDIT-Also Duplicate
    • 2
      Dark Arcanine Nov 29, 08
      Mine was done hours before this one.
      • 0
        Big A2 Nov 29, 08
        Sorry about that, but is seems that this one generated more popularity.
  • 0
    Zero and X Nov 27, 08
    Why is it always Ocarina of Time? Why does everyone have such a ridiculous erection for that game? Its probably more overrated the FF7. I like both of these games mind you, but seriously people, you're all being clouded by nostalgia.
    • 0
      Final Blade Nov 27, 08
      Cause oddly enough it seems that game, like FF7 for most fans, is the cream of the crop; Icons.

      However, nothing is impossible, although it doesn't look probable.
      If OoT and FF7 were to be remade you can guarantee big numbers.
    • 0
      Big A2 Nov 28, 08
      I have the same problem with that game. It's not as good as those fanboys make it out to be. SMB3 is far superior.
      • 0
        Dio Dec 15, 08
        SMB3 is overrated, tbh. Super Mario World is far superior.
        • 1
          Fatal Error Dec 16, 08
          I'm not too sure about that. SMB3 had more special abilities for mario and the like. The again, I still play SMW a lot even today, and it was one of the first games I played and actually owned myself (i.e. played to death). On the other hand, I can beat SMW in about 15 minutes...I can't do that with SMB3.

          WHY MUST THE CHOICE BE SO DIFFICULT?
  • 0
    yugiRULER Nov 27, 08
    People always are saying OoT is the best one ever, but I really wouldn't say that. Yeah its got in to the best few zelda games, but not the best. You'd have to take in a lot of opinions on that to get the real outcome. I would have to say Links awakening is my favorite. Its long, hard, and has the original get 8 things and then use them to kill the last boss. Its black and white, and awesome. But its not the "best" its more of a liking. The best I would say hasn't been made yet. But OoT and wind waker sure made it pretty close. Based on the interviews from this guy already out on this game, I think its going to be insane!. A new train system, an environment 3 times as big as Twilight Princes's. So big that they needed new ways to travel other than the horse. And theres going to be unbelievable amount of story line, and side quests and extras thrown in to this game that when all put together with the new wii controls and new stuff added to it and graphics, it will make the "Best Zelda ever." title.
  • 0
    Zeon I Nov 28, 08
    Well he better get his ass to work, then.
  • 0
    McClubbin Nov 28, 08
    At least th guy's motivated. Being motivated in your workplace isn't an easy task. Of course he is working as a game developer for Nintendo and doesn't have a desk job. But still, you have to appreciate his zeal.
  • 0
    Linkerd101 Dec 16, 08
    A Zelda Game that is OoT's geography, except bigger and more expansive, Items from the entire series, along with dungeons and far superior online play.
    (battle mode, free roam, co-op)
    but the question is....

    What Link will they use?
    Twilight Princess,
    Ocarina of Time/ Majora's Mask
    Or Toon Link?
  • 2
    Zero and X Dec 16, 08
    Has anyone given the thought that maybe he alread has? Twilight Princess is technically a superior game.

    Better graphics, better gameplay, better plot, better plot execution, more dynamic boss battles, just a whole lot better, in a technical sense. However people will never admit the game is better than OoT, and they never will no matter how superior any other Zelda becomes, because people are in love with the past and are always convinced that things were better before than they are now.
    • 0
      Murray3 Dec 16, 08
      Better graphics, yes, hardware pushing? No.
      Better gameplay, yeah sure, only two sidequests don't invlove rupees or exploring boring unimaginative caves.
      Better plot, don't make me laugh, case in point: Ganondorf, at the end he sits on the throne doing nothing, there's no logic behind that... At all.
      Dynamic Boss battles, yes.


      Wind Waker on the other hand had a Cel shading better than any former game and without the ugly outlines.
      Other than the sailing better gameplay in both puzzles and combat (enemies have different reactions to several different items).
      A plot that makes sense and created the whole 'split-timeline' which does nothing less than cause Majora's Mask to become even darker (for reasons I won't explain here).
      Some of the Bosses were a bit rinse and repeat but which Zelda has ever perfected its bosses? (Majora's Mask came closest but lost the plot with the final battle)

      People will never admit Wind Waker's superiority to Twilight Princess' for one main reason 1. The graphics make people see OoT in TP, but Wind Waker's, instead of making them think of 2D Zeldas, make them think it's a kid's game.

      All that without mentioning the in-exhaustable side-quests in Wind Waker and the huge amount of NPC developement.

      TP disappointed me, at first I thought I was getting bored of 3D Zeldas but Phantom Hourglass proved that wrong (although PH isn't exactly a 2D or 3D Zelda so I can't be sure) TP isn't a bad game it just doesn't live up to the Zelda name.

      Rant Over.
      • 0
        Big A2 Dec 16, 08
        Gameplay doesn't mean side quests. Gameplay how the game engine functions itself. Compare Super Mario 64 to Ocarina of Time, or Super Mario Bros 3 to Kirby's Adventure. You'll see what I mean.
        • 0
          Murray3 Dec 17, 08
          True, however side quests have always been a big part of the Zelda series. Not everything about Wind Waker was decidedly better than Twilight Princess, Twilight Princess had a greater arsenal of items, and compared to Wind Waker alot of them were much more practical (but more were used in a single dungeon then almost forgotten about, ball and chain, spinner...)

          I've been playing Zelda since ALttP, I enjoyed Ocarina of Time alot, then Majora's Mask came out and I found it to be a better game, despite the lower amount of Dungeons the higher amount of side-quests made it alot more enjoyable.

          After Oracles (Ages is to me the most difficult Zelda yet) I wasn't too excited about Wind Waker, but I found it to be a Zelda game like nothing I had experienced before. The side-quests and the dungeons were very unique and not even Majora's Mask had that much NPC developement.

          Handhelds came and went and then TP came out, my hype slowly turned to hope as I kept hoping that the Zelda I loved was just a dungeon away. But instead I found the hopelessly simple dungeons and unchanging enemy battles to be a bore. Before Yeto's mansion I took a tour through Hyrule looking for something else to do, after collecting a few bugs, poes, traversing boring caves and giving up rupees for heart pieces I went back to the quest at hand, Yeto's dungeon proved to be the second hardest part of the game until I discovered the secret to the sub-boss (the hardest part is rollgoal by far).

          I won't continue but I will agree that this is an opinion, I have many, like 'Square Enix isn't very good at making RPGs' but none will agree with that, I can bring my argument in about why I find Kingdom Hearts to be repetitive and Final Fantasy 6 being the only decent one but that doesn't make it the same thing for everyone.
  • 0
    Murray3 Dec 16, 08
    He did... Twice, Majora's Mask and Wind Waker.

    Then Twilight Princess ruined the run of good Zeldas...
    • 2
      Zero and X Dec 16, 08
      This is something the world calls, a subjective opinon. It varies from person to person depending on their taste.

      The things I stated however, are not subjective, but objective, on a TECHINICAL level, Twilight Princess is a superior game on most fronts, wether or not an individual perceives the game as the superior or inferior game compared to Ocarina of Time however, is subjective.

      Also, you merely perceive Wind Waker as the superior title, its purely subjective.

      I'd like you to think about the differences between subjective and objective reasons as to why one game is better or worse than the other.

      Preferring Cel shading is subjective, a longer game compared to a shorter game is objective.
    • 2
      Zero and X Dec 16, 08
      Btw, just becuase you didn't like TP, doesn't mean its a bad game, you just don't like it for your own personal reasons.
      • 0
        Big A2 Dec 17, 08
        That's odd, there was a similar discussion going on on Starmen.net today. A lot of people who said that EarthBound was their favourite game agreed that it wasn't the greatest game ever. I guess the same thing applies here.

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