Ronnie

I thought that third timeline was just to chuck all the older Zelda games that don't fit into Nintendo's post-OOTera storytelling Great post Zech. One of my biggest issues with TP as well. There was no real impending sense of doom and I even wondered what Ganondorf's agenda actually was. It felt very disconnected, like they rushed through the second half of the game and tacked on a Ganondorf storyline on at the last minute.

The way the game was laid out though "Collect three pearls" made it seem like it was a fairly last minute change though. If it was early enough it would have just been collect two and also go here to get a map from Jabun, or whatever.

Why would it mean re-writing the second half of the game though? I understand the first two dungeons are linked with the latter two in terms of Medli/Makar but dropping in a third dungeon early on shouldn't HAVE to effect the second half of the game. It could stay as is, including the triforce hunt. I agree it probably won't happen, but I suppose it may depend on how much work they'd done on the missing levels before ditching them. I like the rest of your suggestions though The end of the year can't come quick enough!!

I agree but it would be a missed opportunity IMO. It'd drive sales up for sure, and I can't believe there isn't concept art/level designs from the missed dungeon(s) sitting around somewhere. There must be something to work on. I suppose it'd shine a light on the GameCube version as being incomplete and probably not something Nintendo want to advertise. There's also the question of what item would you get in said dungeon and how it would fit in with the rest of the game, but I suppose they could come up with something.

Wind Waker tackled co-op play like that pretty well with Medlii and Makar, although it was pretty basic implementation. I don't agree that TP needed 'fire arrows and power gauntlets' to be improved. In more general terms what Zelda badly needs to bring back is a magic metre, and things like the wonderful Deku Leaf from Wind Waker. The series has sorely missed magic lately, literally and figuratively.

I sort of agree with you both. The blue filter, contrast and bloom don't look great, and it's lost a lot of the appeal of the original graphics. It's a bit like the OTT yellow filter and the strange green water in OOT 3D.

I'd rather it was just Sonic to be honest. 10 characters seems silly

The only negative I can think of in this wonderful game is the amount of things you need to do before it unlocks the final level. All the star coins in every level, and golden flagpoles as both Mario AND Luigi? Almost taking the piss there.

The trouble with Skyward Sword was, yes the areas had a fair amount to do in them (although still somehow feeling a little dead and barren), but the fact that they were all closed off from each other made the whole thing quite artificial-feeling. Like the sky was a glorified (and equally dead) level select screen. The closest a 3D Zelda has come to the original Zelda overworld of open-ended exploration was Wind Waker.

I suspect by the time these two games launch, this thread will be five times the size of the Wind Waker HD one will be at launch.

It looks like it's below freezing in that updated shot above, without the snow. Lighting is way too cold. Exactly, blue tint really does it no favours.

EASILY the best soundtrack of any Zelda game IMO. Skyward Sword's was nothing in comparison.

To be fair though they didn't really show off much, this allowed them to quieten a lot of the negativity around the Wii U, without actually revealing much at all. A few seconds of footage or a few stills, apart.

I guess the remake of Wind Waker means no 3DS Majora's Mask, at least in the near future. Looks like we may get a brand new 3DS Zelda game in the next year or two, which can only be a good thing

Exactly the reason why Wind Waker is such a joy to play. It even had dungeons you could do out of order, well two of them at least. I too found it very re-assuring they admit Skyward Sword was linear. It practically felt on-rails. In terms of formula and structure, OOT, TP and SS were identical and far too samey. I'm very glad to hear they're going to mix it up a bit. After Twilight Princess was released a few big name reviewers talked about how stale the franchise could get if they continue on this same OOT-style path. Skyward Sword flattered to deceive with how different it was. Now is the time for a total rethink. I just hope Nintendo don't play it safe like TP/SS and instead take risks like MM/WW.

Yeah I don't see what all the fuss is about re: the triforce hunt, I enjoyed it as well. But the bit where Jabun simply hands you the third pearl (at the expense of a third dungeon early in the game) felt very jarring and out of place. It's equivalent dungeon in the second half of the game would also be nice but isn't quite as necessary. Sadly I doubt we'll get any new content like that anyway.

They really need to tread carefully with the multiplayer aspect. Zelda is the story of Link, alone. I suppose they could tie it into whatever companion you'll with you.

Oops wrong thread

The more I look at the screens the more the horrible lighting really puts me off, but I guess they're just renders rather than in-game footage. I do like how they kept the wave pattern from the original in this shot though. I think you may be disappointed if you're expecting a proper Wii U Zelda next year, I think 2015 is probably more likely. Firstly, it wasn't. But more importantly, who cares if it's influenced by 'dumb fads' when the game looks as stunningly gorgeous as it does? You sound more like the dumb kids who got turned off because it supposedly looked so 'kiddie'. The game was a masterpiece of style, charm and gameplay. It really is your loss that you stubbornly refuse to play it because of some bollocks idea that Nintendo pandered to what was 'in' at the time. I'm incredibly jealous. You're in for an absolute treat! Spot on, that's exactly right.

Well said, I find myself agreeing with you a lot!

Mixing the formula up and getting back to basics sounds fantastic and much needed. They seem aware of the big game-wide issues and complaints from recent Zeldas, so hopefully this will get the series back on track. Multiplayer scares me though, hopefully it's similar to optional co-op multiplayer in Mario U. Pleased they're taking their time. I'm hoping for a new engine as well, hopefully not re-using the clunky TP/SS one.

You honestly didn't buy Wind Waker 'out of protest' because it was 'toony'? Oh dear. I didn't think ignorance like that still existed, certainly on this board.

The lighting is ridiculously OTT and they seem to have gone for a halfway point between the original Wind Waker and Skyward Sword in terms of visuals/textures. Still looks great IMO

My favourite Zelda game. Incredible news, and will more than make the wait for a proper Wii U Zelda worth it. I wonder what they meant about tweaking the gameplay. I suppose adding in the missing dungeons would be too much to ask for.

Wind Waker Wii U Oh. My. Fucking. God.