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Next Zelda game will be easier?

January 10, 2009 in News comments 14

It looks like the next Legend of Zelda game will be more 'casual' than previous Zelda games. While veteran players can still enjoy the game's challenges, there will be an optional hint system for players who want to take an easier route through the game.

An interesting patent has emerged for what appears to be Nintendo's next Zelda game, sparking concern (in our office anyway) that the famous adventure series is all about to go all "casual".

Main game: Play through the game from start to end as normal with an optional hint system. Veteran players can enjoy the challenge while less experienced players can get an occasional helping hand.

Miyamoto has already expressed the Zelda series' need to become more accessible to a broader group of players, stating that "lot of people who bought the Wii are not necessarily the types of people who are interested in playing that kind of game."
Miss Razz via computerandvideogames.com »
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Most recently commented on by on Jan 12, 2009

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  • 3
    Miss Razz Jan 11, 09
    I just hope they don't make the entire game easier in their attempt to make it a more accessible game. Tbh, I wish they wouldn't try to make the series (or any of their established series) more accessible to a wider audience. If anything, the Zelda games need to be made harder than the recent titles... There was practically no challenge in Twilight Princess.

    Nintendo seems unfamiliar with the term "target demographic". They don't have to aim every game at everyone who owns a Wii. It'd be nice if they kept some series for the fans only, rather than trying to appeal to everyone. In doing so, they're only alienating certain people (mostly long-term fans) without realising it.
  • 1
    bbb7002004 Jan 11, 09
    A built in hint system gives no indication to the difficulty of the game. It would be more likely that the game would be made harder, since the hint system would be in place for newer gamers. Then again, Zelda will never be hard for the core demographic, since we have played that type of game for decades by this point.
    • 0
      Dio Jan 11, 09
      Exactly, bbb is right. There's a better chance of the next Zelda being harder than easier. The built-in hint system allows Nintendo to up the difficulty, while still keeping the game simple for the casual audience.
  • 1
    Mikstaslaya Jan 11, 09
    Where are they getting this idea that the next Zelda game will be casual?

    For one thing, it's optional, so hardcore players cal always simply turn it off if they want a good game. Miyamoto never said "it will be easier and more casual". Stop making up such assumptions over a mere feature that makes the game for casual gamers AND harcore gamers. I'd say it's better to appeal to more than one audience, hm?

    For another thing, you'd be surprised how many hardcore gamers (my brother, for example) thought Zelda was a little too slow and exploration based for thier taste. With the new hint system on, it may just speed up the traveling, puzzle solving, and "where-the-hell-do-I-go" process a little that some gamers happened to avoid LOZTP because of, while Zelda fans admired it.

    Think of Bioshock, for example. You can turn on quest arrows, and the option to turn on or off vita chambers (basically makes you INVINCIBLE) is there. So, is Bioshock a casual game?

    Fail article.
  • 0
    Exevier Jan 11, 09
    I hope they leave it at an optional hint system. I look to things like Zelda as essentially the only reasons I own a Wii. They're making enough money with the console as it is; there's really no reason to have to "dumb down" Zelda any further. Twilight Princess wasn't nearly difficult enough in my opinion. I'll be sorely disappointed if this next Zelda is insultingly easy.

    ...Of course, that's not to say I won't be playing it. But, regardless of this difficulty issue, they need to bring back magic.
  • 1
    Zero and X Jan 11, 09
    As long as its optional, I don't mind.
  • 1
    GirugaMarc Jan 11, 09
    pfft

    there should be an option to make it as hard as LoZ: OoT Master Quest
    • 0
      Insanity Prevails Jan 11, 09
      Master Quest hard? A better choice for difficulty would likely be along the lines of Majora's Mask or any 2D Zelda game that doesn't involve the four sword concept.
  • 1
    Zerpent Jan 11, 09
    Easier? I thought Z:TP was easy enough. I just hope there's something for the more experienced players, as well as the casual ones.
  • 1
    Insanity Prevails Jan 11, 09
    quote
    Miyamoto has already expressed the Zelda series' need to become more accessible to a broader group of players, stating that "lot of people who bought the Wii are not necessarily the types of people who are interested in playing that kind of game."
    Isn't this why we have a whole selection of games to choose from? It almost defeats the point of having that selection if virtually every game is targetted at the same audience.

    Regardless, there's not much to really suggest that the next Zelda game is going to be easy as such. With this I hope Nintendo will focus on bringing the challenge back in that has been missing since Majora's Mask.
    • 0
      Miss Razz Jan 11, 09
      quote
      quote
      Miyamoto has already expressed the Zelda series' need to become more accessible to a broader group of players, stating that "lot of people who bought the Wii are not necessarily the types of people who are interested in playing that kind of game."
      Isn't this why we have a whole selection of games to choose from? It almost defeats the point of having that selection if virtually every game is targetted at the same audience.
      Exactly. There might be alot of people who aren't interested in playing "that kind of game", but that doesn't mean that Nintendo should go out of their way to cater for those people. Because there are already plenty of people who do like "that kind of game".
  • 1
    Dine_Agoti Jan 12, 09
    Nintendo catering to casual players? About time! I for one am sick of all these hardcore Wii titles being released one after another. If I have to play one more competitive, matured rated, online-enabled Wii game I'm going to freak out, guys. >=[
  • 0
    Absolute Jan 12, 09
    Zelda games were hard?
  • 0
    Roy Jan 12, 09
    One Legend of Zelda game that was hard is Majora's Mask (because of the time thing).

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