Zelda: Spirit Tracks Is For A “Wider Age Group Of People”

"The Legend of Maetel: Spirit Express 999"? Hop on the engine and find the Rosy Rupeeland, while visiting all sorts of spirit-filled underworlds!

Coming to a store near you.

@Netnavi: Abso-effing-lutely. NOT. Another - well working - control scheme would have taken even more time to develop. So stop bitching about the really great stylus controls - you are in the minority.

@N●Gage Croal: You forgot Prince of Persia!! Possibly my favourite example considering how much he gets hit throughout the game.

@,D: BLASPHEMY!

We are the few, the chosen, the Gamers! Nintendo shall cater to our every whim! As we grow, so too shall gaming, and the developers shall leave behind those games which we loved as children, moving forward to new, better, more mature things!

Children be damned!

@jamesjohnson01: Really? Because I thought it had more life and was genuinely better than OoT, and perhaps the best Zelda ever, if you take each as a singular experience. (Of course, if you look at TP and say, "Oh, it's just OoT again," you're going to think otherwise, but, then, why do you like OoT, since it's just a LttP rehash?)

The controls were better than any other Zelda game. (I'm talking about GCN controls. They were better, without question.) The combat was better and more fluid than any other Zelda game. The story was told better than in any other Zelda game. The world was stronger, except for the fact that Hyrule Field was awfully difficult to navigate. (Difficult to navigate though it was, it was still superior to OoT's field.) The characterization was better. There weren't as many sidequests, but those which existed seemed more fully-developed. And, while there were less dungeons, they were stronger in design and typically took longer. I haven't played TP through since my first time, but I reckon I'd take longer to beat the average TP dungeon than the average OoT dungeon, even with the same levels of familiarity. Some of the OoT dungeons are incredibly short.

OoT was superior to TP in music. And, if you take it in the context of its era, it contributed more to the gaming landscape. But, aside from those two things, TP was better -- to me -- in every way.

All that said, you know the really depressing thing about Zelda games? Lots of us clamor for "different," but when Nintendo gives us something that isn't just the same damned game renewed for a new generation, we say, "This sucks!" MM was different from OoT, and people hated it. Same with WW. Now, admittedly, MM did suck, but it was really only because of the 72-hour clock. And WW had issues because of sailing, but it was otherwise a very good game. Yet, we hated them for not being OoT, for not being LttP.

What the fuck is wrong with us?

@Ghinn: It may be something to do with the trailer that Nintendo released a few weeks ago, which showed Link riding a train. Over and over and over again.

@Dangeresque Wants to Take You For a Ride: I must've played through it when I was 14 and no strategy guide was incredibly difficult still. It really did make OOT look like a walk in the park.
Especially when I went to get all the masks in the game, the wedding mask was just ridiculous. You had to be in certain places at certain times doing certain things, and it was very much a repeat and learn experience. Then right at the end of it, to get the mask there was an incredibly difficult time based puzzle. I think me and my brother attempted it 5 or so times before we finally got it, and it took over an hour each time.
Such a satisfying game though, and the mask mechanic was so good. Final boss fight was difficult as hell as well.
At the time I was actually kind of disappointed that there were only 4 dungeons compared to the number in OOT, but because there was so much stuff to do before the dungeons I guess it was probably equal.

Combine

@Ted:

...With the chicks ALWAYS winning!

@ZeroMX: I'm with ya on that, ZeroMX. I <3 the sailing. I <3 Shadow's horsey riding too. the music while sailing was one of my favourite musical tracks on a video game, EVER!

enderx

@Andsy:

We need to get over the 'casual crowd'. I don't give a shit if your grandma enjoys zelda.

I want a good zelda.
and not some crappy port from the cube, with some slapped on controls. (that weren't overly bad actually.) but, nonetheless.

enderx

@Schokobaer: agreed

Worried about a nintendo franchise!? How could you ever? With such great franchises like Donkey Kong and Starfox still going strong...wait..nevermind

For the first time ever, I became worried about a Nintendo franchise, maybe I am just slow...

celark

@Shippoyasha:
Games where dying is impossible:
-Katamari series
-Wario Land 2 & 3

I don't see death, or the lackthereof, being an issue for games.

Why does Thomas have the number 999? Thomas is number 1, am I missing something?

Reneg

@Dangeresque Wants to Take You For a Ride:

Majora's Mask actually had tough moments that required skill. Nowadays, you just button mash and just brute your way through puzzles for the most part. And the number of armor and potions are just silly in Zelda nowadays.

Also, you NEVER get hit for some crazy 3 or 4 heart damage attacks from enemies or bosses anymore. Just a lousy half-heart or a single heart.

Zelda games are now just without any challenge to them. I still love them, but it's not the challenging game we know. Imagine if Ninja Gaiden isn't tough anymore. It won't be the same experience.

Shippoyasha

@[cube.ign.com]

Reneg

I just hated the sea king temple.

@LittleDeadEpic! King of The Little Kingdom: someone clearly hasnt played link's awakening

I find it interesting that people start assuming that this game will be train based just because of the picture. it could allude to a heightened-sense tracking mechanic, a-la Twilight Princess. Nothing in any of the previous games would immediately lead me to believe that the title was referencing a train.

Of course, I could be totally wrong. We'll just have to wait and see.

Ghinn

@AZRoboto: That game kicked the SHIT out of me as a kid. As an adult, I find it's just the right difficulty... but yeah, when I was just a little lad, hard as fucking HELL. Me and my best friend two-manned Majora's Mask WITH A STRATEGY GUIDE (disclaimer-only game I ever got one for, cause it was just SO HARD without one), and we still had a hell of a time beating it.

My main problem with MM, though, was that the solutions weren't readily apparent. It's not like the puzzles were intuitive- often, you really had no goddamn idea what you were supposed to do. I felt like that was just bad game design. Then again, the game was pretty amazing in other ways, so I forgive it.

@ZeroMX: Exactly how I've felt for so long. Loved WW, loved sailing (still do), didn't even mind the triforce hunt towards the end. Did the same about Shadow of the Colossus as well. Sometimes there's more to traveling than just the destination.

@Foxstar is in love with Kotaku's two Brians.: TP would have been amazing if it wasn't so DESOLATE. There were nearly NO sidequests to do after the story was finished, except OOOOO look for RUPEES YAY! Less dungeons than OoT, and while darker and much more depressing, it was much less alive as well.

Of course. As usual, Nintendo wants to make a Zelda that's too easy for anyone with decent motor skills.

The game will probably have the five minute dungeons that the wind waker suffered from.

When I have witnessed 40 year old moms on the tube playing the phantom hourglass as well as my girlfriend. You can see the direction Nintendo is going with it's fabled franchise

It does not take a genius to see what coming next for the console iteration

I fully expect the next Zelda release to be watered down somewhat for the masses

Which saddens me somewhat, I am one of remaining few people who still on release on a new Zelda console game. Book a day off work so I play the game. I relish the challenge of Zelda games. I don't believe Nintendo will find a happy medium

bluem4gic

@,D: I can definitely agree with this. Sometimes we forget that we experienced these games when we were young and that our tastes have matured. So it is only fair to the young gamers of today to be the main target audience for games (nintendo games especially).

Given all the damn complaints about the sailing in Wind Waker, you people are starting to make me think there's something wrong with me. Either that, or you people really need to consider some ADD medication...

I for one LOVED the sailing in WW. I rarely teleported and just took in the sights and music of the game.

But as much as I loved the sailing in WW, the whole train-riding isn't sitting as well with me. But then again, I haven't seen too much of it in action. Ill await E3 for more details I suppose...

Also in a related note, in Shadow of the Colossus, I roamed aimlessly around the map for hours just to marvel at the stunning locales.

@tim rogers: DONT FORGET THE MANATEES

DONT EVER FORGET

As an enthusiast gamer (I like that better than hardcore, experienced gamer sounds ok as well), it's hard not to feel a bit left out every time Nintendo wants to expand their audience. I think that maybe sometimes we're the ones who might be asking too much. Not every game is going to be an extremely unique experience and not everyone is as experienced as we are. Sure there's still a lot of outright garbage out there but maybe we need to just shut up, let other people have fun, and move on.

@SketchyIndividual:That's one of the issues Nintendo runs into.

TP:"What the heck is this retread shit? This is just like OoT but with a wolf and annoying little imp! I want frush Zelda."

WW:"WAT. SAILING IS GAY! (Now foaming at the mouth) THIS LOOKS LIKE SOME KIDDY CRAP! WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO MY ZELDA!"

As you grow up, your going to find out that some games simply don't do it for you any more because they stick closely with what made them great in the first place. It's a sad fact of life, but none of the future Zelda may be for you.

@Combine:

Agreed on it being too hard. I was only 10 when I played it, and I never finished it. Trying to beat it in time was too hard for me back then, even with the slow time song activated.

AZRoboto

@LittleDeadEpic! King of The Little Kingdom: But diesel would scare the crap out of him.

@Avalon: Except nearly every Zelda is for a "wider age group." Gamers need to shut up and actually think about how the series has been. Nintendo makes games for *gasp* everyone! Did that stop Mario Galaxy from being super ZOMFG awesome? Oh my god no.

@Avalon:Because if you went before investors and said. "We are making Zelda for a group of selfish, self-centered loudmouthed people who talk as if their's 50 of them for every one person and very likely won't buy the game which we've had in development for who knows how long." you would be stoned to death.

When you talk to investors you relate to them how your focus is to expand your marketshare which means they should not only hold onto their stocks but buy more of them. It's how publicly traded places work. Sony does the same thing, so does Microsoft. So you can brush up on how stockholder talks are done or you can QQ.

@Duoae: Nintendo called at least Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass as for a "wider audience" so uh...unless you just have bad taste, you'll be just fine in picking this up.

And watch as all the Kotaku commentators run screaming, despite the fact that that was also Nintendo's overall tagline for Wind Waker, Phantom Hourglass, and even Minish Cap.

Oh hey look all of those games were awesome.

@Combine: too hard** not too easy.

Combine

@SketchyIndividual: i was thinkin more .. link to the past :/

There go Tingle's hard earned rupees...

"wider age group of people"?

what about the age group of dolphins?

this is what i hate most about nintendo! always branching out to people and ignoring dolphins! and chimps, and penguins! and other animals!

(seriously, press-release/investor-report-writing people, pay a little more attention)

@PsycheE:
This announcement leads me to believe this will be a rather vegan title as far as Zelda games go.

@Ted: QFT

Call me a fickle old elitist who desperately clings to the past, but I haven't considered anything since Majora's Mask a real Legend of Zelda game.

... well, okay that's not true, if you forget the sailing portion of the game Windwaker was actually pretty good in it's own way.

Problem: There was still that goddamn sailing.

@The Cap'n:

What I am is upset that they're making Zelda for "a wider age group."

Sounds like another casual gamer cash-in to me.

@Shippoyasha: Well, they made Majora's mask and too many people bitched about it being too easy. Ever since they haven't made one anywhere near as challenging.
Personally I thought OOT and MM hit the difficulty range spot on. MM was hard but was quite beatable even if you just stuck to doing hte temples. It only became really challenging when you went on the millions of sidequests.
But really, the number of sidequests and the depth in them has dropped considerably for the more recent zelda games.
I still enjoyed TP, just thought it was lacking in difficulty, length and sidequests, and the DS one I haven't bothered with because I don't own a DS.

Combine

@The Cap'n:
no, shia labeouf

khdownes

@Mr. Tambourine Man: Well, all Nintendo ones are the same now. Show target audience/target audiences family/a celebrity playing the game with smiles plastered over their faces and having an overly exaggerated good time.

I am all for meaty, gimmick-less Zelda on my handheld now. I really do not care for graphics, just something fresh and MEATY.

PsycheE

Can't wait for the TV ads.

Any suggestions?

ha.. you can forget Ganondorf be scared of henry the engine

Well, i guess that officially seals the deal - i won't be getting Spirit Tracks. Let's face it, a 'wider audience' means making the game easier and reducing challenge (two different things) and not what i would consider truly appealing to multiple age groups by including content to challenge each type of player*.

*An example of a game like this would be the classic: easy to play, difficult to master style of game.

That's probably how Nintendo describes 90% of their games to investors.

I don't see how this could be bad, unless it turns into a mini-game collection. Zelda is pretty all-ages friendly as it is. I mean, that's part of the appeal, the colorful environments and fun atmosphere.

It's not like I play a Zelda game for the brutal gameplay or controversial story telling.

Adramelech

As my avatar probably gives it away, I love me some Zelda. (I even have a triforce tattoo). I'm just hoping Nintendo don't ruin it for the casual crowd.

Ah well, there's still always Ocarina of Time <3

@Avalon: what are you? ben kingsley from Sexy Beast?

@eastx: The disturbing trend lately with Zelda games (lately as in the last 5 freakin years) is that they are made too easy.

Made to appeal to a wider audience, blah blah who cares, whatever.

I'm just sad that they will probably make another Zelda game where DYING IS IMPOSSIBLE.

Shippoyasha

@N●Gage Croal: TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THE MOTHERFUCKIN TRAIN

no no no no no.

I hope they'll include the functionality to control link with the dpad instead of the mandatory use of the touch pad.... i didn't quite got use to that in phantom hourglass.

i hate it when nintendo forces game controls like that into their key titles. just like twilight princess on the wii. even though i liked the control mechanism, i thought that it shouldn't be a problem to include the old functionality.. just like twilight princess on the gamecube.

@eastx:
Train replaces boat. Still kinda the same travel mechanism, it seems.

Not that I'm gonna complain.
BECAUSE I'M ON A TRAIN!

@eastx: Ugh. Sailing. :(

Now now, we get to ride a train. Don't count out boring travel yet.

GrYnder

@eastx: Yeah. Or maybe they mean it's a part game.

Hey_Blinkon

Maybe they just mean that removing the stupid sailing parts will increase its appeal. :)

Regardless, if it's easier to play but retains the quality, I'm all for it.

The Legend of Thomas: Tank Engine of Time.

...Then there was trouble...

arniejolt

That picture is gold.

GrYnder

@Marty: Thomas learns through his adventure that he doesn't need rails, he can be a free choo choo. He then proceeds to learn of his makers whereabouts and run him over numerous times...

The Legend of Thomas: Train Justice

Seems like Nintendo is losing their touch.

Booji-Boy

@Avalon: Just because a game is made for a wider age group, doesn't make a game bad. Maybe if the so-called "hardcore" gamers and so-called "serious" gamers weren't such closed-minded idiots, they would realize that a game can be fun regardless of how easy it is or who it is targeted to. Accept that you guys don't matter and move on. Companies will target the people and age groups where the most money is. That isn't you guys. Get over yourselves. This game will be excellent, regardless if it's aimed at a wide age group, traditional gamers, or at the incredibly narrow and small group of so-called "hardcore losers. Er, I mean gamers.

Jimbotron

@The Cap'n:

TAKE A PICTURE TRICK! IM ON A TRAIN BITCH!

yomachaser

Wow, Nintendo told their investors their new big DS game is going to appeal to as many people as possible?

Shocking!

ZELDZA IS TEH KIDDIE!!!

Nate_Birch

Riight. And the new Madden is for people that hate football.

@Kingofhearts589: You sir, have just came up with the greatest gaming cross-over ever! Nintendo MUST be informed!

Also, what drugs led Nintendo to decide Link on a train was the way to go? I know it will be great, but why didn't they just stick him in a car? At least then you wouldn't be confined to a set path with the rails...

@Ueziel:

Wind waker was fine - it was the same old Zelda gameplay but with a different skin. Phantom Hourglass was the easiest and most unchallenging Zelda game i've played to date.

@Babelfish: Yahtzee said it best.

curly haired boy

@Schokobaer: You know you could've just bought twilight princess on the gamecube.

@Kingofhearts589: would buy this title at least three times.

reuvenb

Sounds like Nintendo just lost another sale =s

@Dangeresque Wants to Take You For a Ride: I think I was about 12 when I had the game, and while it wasn't easy, I didn't find it too hard either. The swamp section at the beginning had me stumped, but that was because I was unaware you could use items during speech (having to give the witch the potion) as in Ocarina that wasn't the case. Apart from that, I don't remember it being too hard I couldn't do it.

However, it is obviously a problem where children and adults are concerned, somethings I found hard when I was young are now easy. Hopefully that Kind Code Nintendo patented will be used in the new Zelda.

@enderx: So people are saying they want a Zelda with less potions, more damage taken from attacks and slightly harder puzzles?

Ok Nintendo, add difficulty levels. BAM

Why do people even waist their money on Zelda games. witout playing it, I can tell you how it works.

You're a kid in a green outfit that has to collect 3 things in order to collect 6 things before he can get the light arrow to kill a guy who's name somehow reflects on the word "Gannon".

Along the way you'll get a boomerang, a bomb-bag, a hookshot, some boots, a new outfit or two, and a jar.

You'll travel to diffrent temples themed with diffrent things... including water, sand, and fire. You'll fight a tricertops and a sand worm. They'll also be a mosnter with lots of arms. You'll have to shoot targets on the wall and push blocks to get through the temple... but don't worry... targets will stand out like a sore thumb and the pushable blocks will sit in holes in the floor so it's painfuly obvious what you have to do. Also, you can't do it wrong.

The temple will look like a maze but it's not. You can only go one way because the other way is blocked off by impassible obsticles. You'll find a mini boss that opens up a chest to a temple prize... this prize will be used to pass previous impassible obsticles and also, to help kill the boss. The game claims there are puzzles... but the actuall puzzle aspect of the game is gone. No thought required.

The final boss will require you to play pong with his energy ball attack.

You'll get an annoying friend that yells at you all the time time and gives you the worst hints ever. You can't shut them up and it may be required to go spend $100 on another Nintendo based toy before being able to use them correctly.

You'll have to play a musical instrument... constantly. Also, You'll probably change shape a lot... be it a bush, a wolf, or a boat. Sure, you didn't techincally become the boat, but you might as well have... I'm assuming this time, it's a train.

It'll cost about $60.00 and will be beat able in 10 hours.

Fanboys will love it regardless of how stupidly childish the series has become.

Did I get it right?

lolomfgisuck

@Krytha: Oh shit!! I missed that! Don't I look like a fool now. Still, you could have informed me without the obscenity.

@KichiGuy: My apologies. As is customary in the way of the gamer I will commit facepalm upon myself.

-MasterDex-

@curtdogg: Clam down and learn2read. He isn't saying that only "hardcore gamers" should be allowed to play Zelda. I think what he's saying is that the continual watering down of the Zelda games will only end in failure for Nintendo and through the watering down process, the games will lose the thing that made them a success in the first place.

Think of a bar that waters down their beer. If that bar continues to increase the amount of water they add with each beer they pull, what are you going to end up with? It couldn't be called beer anymore because there's more water than beer in it. The problem is the flavour is gone and ultimately that pint you've just bought is nothing more than water.

-MasterDex-

@Krytha: LMAO...god...I want to heart you for that.

@-MasterDex-: Umm where have you been? There's vids of the game. Like I said, the on-foot sections actually look even better than the previous DS game. I like the new Statue item.

hmm.. while the jury is still out, that whole "wider audience" thing does make the long-time Zelda fans worry a bit. As much as I can't believe I'm saying this, I think things have been toned down enough. There's *MORE* than enough casual "pick up and play for 15 minutes" content out there. Some game play formulas and designs shouldn't be revised for the attention deficient, instant-gratification generation.

Reginald Atkins

@Jimbotron: I don't know where to start picking apart your comment.
I'll start with this:
Maybe if the so-called "hardcore" gamers and so-called "serious" gamers weren't such closed-minded idiots, they would realize that a game can be fun regardless of how easy it is or who it is targeted to.

You should look up the definition of the words in bold.

Accept that you guys don't matter and move on. Companies will target the people and age groups where the most money is. That isn't you guys. Get over yourselves.

If "us guys" didn't matter, I'd wager that there'd be a lot less FPS games, a lot less JRPGs, a lot less Survival Horror, etc, etc; Shmups, 2D fighting games in the 3D era, RTS, SRPG/TRPG, etc, etc would probably cease to exist; PAX and E3 would be tiny little 'gatherings' rather than the big conventions that they are today and you wouldn't be visiting Kotaku to post your rant.

This game will be excellent, regardless if it's aimed at a wide age group, traditional gamers, or at the incredibly narrow and small group of so-called "hardcore losers. Er, I mean gamers.

The first statement here screams naivety to me. Nintendo may have a great, near impeccable track record with their first party games but they can and have made mistakes when they've decided to change up the formula. You can't make a statement like that with zero real info on the game.

Finally, I find the last part of your comment to be very insulting to myself and a good number of my friends. "Us guys", us "hardcore losers" didn't give ourselves the "hardcore" moniker, society did and they did so because of the average amount of time and money we spend on gaming.

I game 40+ hours a week and I buy a game (or two) nearly every week. By definition, I'm a hardcore gamer. To call me and every other "hardcore gamer" a loser shows how immature you are and just how little you know of the culture you seem to want to be a part of.

-MasterDex-

So it's targeted for casuals.

@Marty: They should have named it just that Link on a train. THen and ONLY then would I buy it...

Psychopathic Assassin

@-MasterDex-: Wasn't there a gameplay video with Link riding around ON A MOTHERFUCKIN TRAIN. TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT THE MOTHERFUCKIN TRAIN!

whoa its easy to get lost in the mix

Krytha

@KichiGuy: Objection! Celda Link: Ace Train Conductor

Krytha

@schmixx: Say what? You're against the inclusion of alternative control schemes? I bet you're one of those guys that think people who invert their Y axis in FPS are just weirdos.

It should be a given for developers nowadays to include multiple control schemes to suit the controller and the one controlling it. It still saddens me that most console control configs still don't allow complete customization.

-MasterDex-

@bluem4gic:
Yeah, how dare new consumers start playing my precious Zelda. It should only be allowed to be played by hardcore gamers such as myself, bawwwww.

Seriously, get the fuck over yourself dude. As with anyone else that has this mentality. It's selfish and reclusive.

curtdogg

@KichiGuy: I don't mean to single you out here but why is everyone assuming the next LoZ is going to be on a train? All we have so far is that it will be called LoZ:Spirit Tracks and that it's aimed at a wider audience. The train is just a shop, don't take it at face value.

@Combine: I remember first hearing about MM only having 4 dungeons and I was thinking "WTF?! Seriously?!" but then once I actually got around to playing the game, the amount to do completely overwhelmed me and I found myself having to retry things over and over again. The game has one of the most frantic pacings in videogame history.

-MasterDex-

@Kingofhearts589:

Without the silky smooth scouse baritone of Ringo Starr, this game wouldn't work. He MUST be hired.

TheCorporate

@jamesjohnson01: It's kew, Ninty is now promoting that hardcore gamers knock a few back, decrease their motor skills, and enjoy the hardcore action!

@Winoe: GD I always just accepted that his name was Tingle without really thinking about it...then I made the connection to sexuality...EWW! I'm surprised there isn't some kind of rally against Tingle being in Zelda. It would be hillarious to see the gay community in SF do an anti-anti-tingle rally dressed as Tingle.

@ZeroMX:
I was starting to think i was the only one who genuinely enjoyed the sailing.

@Avalon: You heard the man, he wants some Link meat!

@Babelfish:
Now, admittedly, MM did suck, but it was really only because of the 72-hour clock.

I beg your pardon?

@Andsy: You mean that you hope Nintendo doesn't ruin Zelda for the hardcore crowd, right?

@eastx: I enjoyed the last DS game, and this one looks even better (on-foot stuff). I really don't care that he's on a train, although I also hope that there's an overworld that allows you to walk around too.

Nintendo thinks the Zelda games are too long, and that people don't finish the game. I read that Wind Waker had dungeons cut from it. That's why I'm glad they're making that helper thing for Wii; hopefully it'll allow the game to be long/difficult and the casual crowd can have their hand held.

I really don't understand why they don't just add difficulty settings to Zelda.

@Babelfish: People want a new game, which improves on the weaknesses of previous titles in the series, and holds true to what made the first game great. This is not a paradox, the problem is that most developers either do not really know what made the original great, or just do not have any fresh ideas to match the greatness of the original. The end result is that most developers either cling to the original, and make no updates, or try to move forward but screw up what made the first great. When this happens, fans will complain. It is not an impossible standard to meet, a fine example of a game that pulled off the sequel is Half Life 2, which was generally well received (despite the stupidly high expectations). Nintendo is scared at killing one of their flagship series, so they play it safe. Oh, and I thought MM was a blast, TP got old fast, WW was worth playing, but fell short of greatness, and PH had its strong points.

Ultraseamus

@RockyRan: Uh...so games MUST change styles within 6 years? Oops, Street Fighter must suck I guess.

appears as if Zelda has now taken the route of not being hardcore anymore. Glad I still have Twilight Princess.

casmith07

@Mr. Tambourine Man: We'll show those silly boys!

@arniejolt: Seriously. A WIDER agae group? How much wider can it get?

One thing I loved about Zelda was its agesless (or all ages if you prefer) demeanor. I thought Zelda was for everybody.

@GrYnder:
That picture made me laugh.

FlamingZelda

@Babelfish: MM is my favorite Zelda, because they only made it 3 days, but they're the deepest most fleshed out three days ever.

yea, cuz clearly no one here played video games as a kid.

I guess that would not have been cool?

I mean, seriously, what the hell, guys?

when you played Zelda I as a kid, did it have anything to do with Sesame Street? no. and trust me, that game was aimed "at kids" at the time.

wake up.

Crash__Man

:|

Well I do look forward to the next game "The Legend of Zelda: Let's Ride Tricycles" and its DSi followup "The Legend of Zelda: Three Wheels Adventures."

Mav

@Ultraseamus: Huh, apparently my little equation was formatted out, was supposed to say younger than 10, older than 40.

Ultraseamus

@Adramelech: Sure, but I think that is the problem. Their games already appeal to a wide age range, the last Zelda was rated E for everyone. So them saying this this game will have even more appeal to a wider group of people would seem to suggest that they are aiming for the 10 40 age group. In my experience, when Nintendo tries to appeal to that age group, it makes decisions that I do not fully agree with.

Ultraseamus

wonder where the story on this one will fit???

I have been reading several zelda chronological theories and i have a couple that sound pretty logic for me.

Gotta play this one when it arrives

@lolomfgisuck: If its not broken, don't fix it, just improve it

@Ueziel: When was Wind Waker released again? In 2003? It's been 6 years and they're still sticking to the same old and tired graphical style and the same old and tired "philosophy" of appealing to a wider audience range.

I liked the Wind Waker, but that was all the way back in 2003. You're acting like doing the same thing over and over again is good. It isn't. We'd like something new. And no, TP doesn't count considering it was essentially an OoT clone.

RockyRan

@gannon16: Sir Topham Hat would bring a terror unlike any seen before.

QualityJeverage

@jei: When we were young, Mario and Zelda on the NES were a hundred times harder than they are today, yet we grew up to be avid gamers.

Your point is moot.

RockyRan

Oddly enough, the reason for the graphics in The Wind Waker was precisely for "appealing to a wider age group of people".

Seriously, Nintendo, even your PR is stale and overdone. Are you even trying anymore?

RockyRan

@phicaluk: See, I told you I could be totally wrong.

Ghinn

@Schokobaer: As the other guy said, why didn't you just buy Twilight Princess on the Gamecube? Gamecube games work on the Wii you know. :P

a wider group of people!? as if Twilight princess wasn't already dumbed down enough...

@Reneg: A hit. A palpable hit.

@-MasterDex-: he wasn't insulting you, just participating in the "I'M ON A BOAT" meme.

laencythe

@AsWater:

Well hopefully that's just lip service for the investors. The wider the market, the more people who might buy buy the happier investors are.

Can you imagine the cluster fuck though if Nintendo did something, and I'm not even sure what they could do here actually as Zelda is already pretty much wide already, but the reaction would get if Nintendo somehow screwed up freaking Zelda by.. I don't know "kiddy-fying" or "casual-fying" or whatever nonsense term gamers apply to games meant only for kids and non-gamers?

I don't care how successful Nintendo is with their new buisness model, I refuse to believe that they're that stupid as to risk Zelda's (or Marios for that matter) standing with traditional gamers.

So the gameplay will consists of drawing rail tracks for the train to pick up triforces?

Gam3r

@-MasterDex-: Well said. I think that is exactly what all long time Zelda fans worry about, including myself.

Muisee

wtf, leave Zelda for us. Casual crowd can have all their Wii Musics and mini game compilations they want!

@Duoae: I agree, WW has a solid Zelda game but PH was just horrible. I just couldn't bring myself to play it and sold the game and my DS shortly after.

Muisee

@Kempatsu:More tears. They sate my thirst.

Help solve the mystery! NEW DS/Wii Zelda Game! Zelda and the Mystery Gang Solve the Generic Mystery/Puzzle! Rated M for Mature.

sentroshi

A train ::rolls eyes::

What a garbage company Nintendo turned out to be. I hope this game fails.

@ZeroMX: I loved the sailing in Windwaker too (same with SotC), but I HATED it in Phantom Hourglass. It lost any semblance of freedom and killed the fun of exploration, because, well, there was none. The fun of exploration used to be one of the things that made Zelda what it was, and in losing that it lost a great deal of its soul as well.

They've said that with every game since Windwaker, and the games have gotten progressively worse since then. Phantom Hourglass felt like a cheap imitation Zelda, it had no soul at all. I fear this one could end up being worse...

@The Forgetful Brain:

[www.southparkstudios.com]

@arniejolt:
I'm still trying to figure out how anyone at Gullane thought it was a good idea to eliminate all involvement of the Awdrys with the TV show. I wonder the same about Egmont and the Railway Series.

Jacob Morgan

So they're making it a hardcore football shooter? Or are they aiming for people in the NEGATIVE ages?

That's fine as long as they don't do the repeating dungeon like phantom hourglass.

Ryodestined

Then they will make the game easy and ruin it, please dont do that, something I like (and hate but more like) about zelda is difficulty!

Funny picture, but for some reason those trains have always creeped me out

@KichiGuy: That's the sequel.

@schmixx: I find your opinion to be very poorly thought out. D-pad controls would be a nice option.

@KichiGuy: I liked the DS game too, except for the sailing parts. I'd be much happier with a proper Four Swords sequel though.

You're right - difficulty settings (in which Easy is actually easy and Hard is actually hard) would be a great idea.

@Ueziel:

Those are usually considered 3 of the worst Zeldas >.>

SammyLiimex

"Make of that what you will."

I think you know what I will make of that: I'm bailing on the franchise after something like 20 successful years.

@-MasterDex-: But people who invert their Y axis in FPSs are weirdos!

little_dragon