VIDEO GAMER X AND A GAMER DISCUSS THE STATE OF ZELDA GAMECUBE
What follows on the page is an excerpt from a AOL Instant Messanger conversation I had with another gamer. I felt that the conversation itself is expresses well what gaming is all about and how the new Zelda falls far short from many people's expectations. This gamer, a true Nintendo/Miyamoto supporter may not share in my or some other gamers, usually in their late teens to early twenties, vision of Zelda. Mind you, I'm not saying any of his points are invalid, rather the counterpoints to his argument are more comprehensive than he realizes. I've respectfully changed his AIM Name so he doesn't get any unwanted messages. After reading this I would like you as a gamer to read the conclusion I've written to better understand the direction that gaming, and Zelda should take.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I can't beleive that you hate Zelda Cube's look so bad
vgx441991: I'm sorry but there is a huge gulf of change between what we saw at SpaceWorld last year, and the Direction nintendo is doing this year is truly a rather tragic end for the vision of Zelda, and the potential of the series.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I too loved the demo shown at last Spaceworld
vgx441991: I don't know if you understand really. I've seen this game equated to Link to the Past, but what people don't realize is that LttP looked like it did because that was all the SNES could handle.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Let me ask you something: when had Miyamoto steered us wrong before?
vgx441991: The N64 was hindered with memory constraints on carts, but Ocarina turned out rather well despite those odds. Mind you Ocarina could have been hugely better had it been a CD based game like the PS or FF series.
Mandrake Ganondorf: The man is a genius. He said that the demo was just not what he felt was right for the game, and I trust his judgment
vgx441991: I for one didn't care for Majora's Mask's premise and plot construction all that much, the game was adequate at best, but it lacked a lot of the implied ambiance that Nintendo bred in the early games.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I loved Majora
Mandrake Ganondorf: Did you not like it because it was too similar to Ocarina of Time?
vgx441991: No, rather it was in many ways cheezy, lacking what I could consider more mature plot devices and developed characters. When the same guy says the same line, and does the samething so many times, it's boring. I'm a huge fan of storylines that compell you to get into the characters, to watch them develop and change. Zelda deserves to have a very Scottish Medieval feel, and over time it has deviated far from that.
Mandrake Ganondorf: But Majora allowed you to change peoples lives, not just watch. Doesn't that say something about the ingenuity of Nintendo?
vgx441991: It wouldn't hurt it if they added more mysticism regarding such religious objects like the Triforce.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I love the new Zelda. I could care less if Link looks like a 5 year old. It's one of the most graphically impressive titles I've ever seen. The worlds greatest game maker is behind it, and there is no doubt in my mind that when it is released it will surpass Ocarina in every way
vgx441991: Where are the temples devoted to the Triforce, where are the ancient ruins and scrolls from previous ages.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Mind you, that's not to diminish Ocarina in any way, because I still consider that the best game ever made
vgx441991: Ocarina is ONE of the best games ever made, certainly in it's genre it is the best hands down.
vgx441991: Shenmue, Xenogears, Soul Calibur, Crazy Taxi, and Final Fantasy VII, fall at the top with Zelda 64 as well.
Mandrake Ganondorf: MM was the first step in deviating from the Zelda premise, and Zelda Cube will do so even more. It will change the way we look at game, just as Ocarina did, and be just as revolutionary.
vgx441991: You don't understand though, Nintendo openly and publically admitted that they will only be focusing their first party games for small children with the continuing production of Pokemon, Kirby, StarFox, and this watered down version of Zelda.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Did you consider Ocarina a game for small children?
vgx441991: Animation is great, but THAT animation was bad. I prefer the Japanese Anime style that conveys a very accomplished artistic style not this psudoDisneyAMerican plagarism.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I had no problems with Nintendo's first party N64 game (save for Yoshi's Story) and I can only hope they perorm as well on the Cube
Mandrake Ganondorf: How can you say it wa bad? It was the best use of cell-shading I've ever seen. Not a tear or a seam in sight. It was absolutely gorgeous.
vgx441991: No, Ocarina fell at the mental level of about 13 years of age, containing simplicity yet enough complexity to attract older gamers to the game, and characters like the Gerudos, and even some allusions to Homosexuality to keep people intrigued and providing discussion.
vgx441991: Big deal, no tears and seams. I would think at least they could do that. Do you watch the good anime?
vgx441991: There is a game for PS called Retro Helix I believe. There's a game that uses CelAnimation well but not immaturely mimicking such child cartoons as the "Power-Puff-Girls".
vgx441991: It's not the best mind you considering the technology restrictions of the original PS, but it's very well done game for what can be done on that system.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Nintendo will be focusing on the same type of games as they did on the N64, with the description you provided above. That's what they mean by "family games".
vgx441991: That animation on the Zelda game is like something you would see on a saturday morning cartoon, not a deeply involved Anime, or even worthy for a title as potentially epic as Zelda could be.
vgx441991: To be honest many family games have HORRIBLE plots.
Mandrake Ganondorf: But if the gameplay is as deeply engrossing as Ocarina's was would the graphics prevent you from liking it?
vgx441991: GamePlay isn't the only factor in a game my friend, there is so much more that goes into the difference between "playing" a game, and "experiencing" it.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Ocarina and Mario were both family games, yet they are two of the greatest games ever made.
Mandrake Ganondorf: It's the most important factor, because it controls the fun factor
vgx441991: In my imagination, I want to actualize my fantasies albeit Zelda fantasies as realistic as possible, this Cartoon stuff may be quaint and all but it's no where near where I invision Link's world to be.
Mandrake Ganondorf: When you get down to it, games are about having fun, and that's what Nintendo will provide as it has always done.
vgx441991: GamePlay comes third after Plot, then Graphics, Followed by Sound, and finally Challenge as far is the weigh of importance each carries.
vgx441991: Do you play a lot of decent RPG's or Adventure RPGs?
Mandrake Ganondorf: A good amount
Mandrake Ganondorf: So wait, you consider pretty graphics more important than the fun factor?
vgx441991: I say that they make two Zelda games, dummy it down for the sheltered Christian kids coddled by their parents, and make the true version for hardcore Zelda fans who want to become immersed in the experience of being in Hyrule and part of Link's reality.
vgx441991: To be honest on many of the games I've played, well performed Graphics have been a great part of the fun factor. When I go WOW when I am running down a spiriling traintrack in Sonic Adventure, a game with little plot, I'm impressed enough to enjoy the game, it's a thrill to play it, same goes with Soul Calibur, the game has no plot, but wonderful Graphics, Musical Score, and Gameplay, but plot is not something that should be applied to the Fighting genre.
Mandrake Ganondorf: But I don't think you get what I'm saying. Nintendo will focus on delivering games like Ocarina, which you loved. Games that appeal to all ages. As long as they keep up the flow of qualty titles, I'll be a happy gamer
vgx441991: If I see a multimillion polygonal guy implale another guy with a katana and he crumples to the ground in real time, I'm impressed to say the least.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I feel the me way sometimes with the graphics, but lately, I haven't been.
vgx441991: How many times I say WOW to the graphics, the score, or the plot, ususally makes me like the game moreso than just nifty button configs and spiffy jumping techniques, they are an added bonus but if the game is well portrayed it's not necessarily required. I've played some RPG's with generally mediocre gameplay and enjoyed the game immensely for what it accomplished as a total package.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I've been looking at 3D games for years now. Games now bring nothing revolutionary with graphics. Just refinments. It wasn't like the jump from 2D to 3D, where I would say WOW every time I saw a new 3D game. I want the next big thing. I want a graphocs revolution.
vgx441991: Many of the N64 games I have I'm disgusted with. Those games rarely get replayed by me. Once you complete Banjo Kazooie, there's little dynamics in the plot to want me to "Experience" it again because there is little to grab onto.
vgx441991: It's a fun game to play, but once you master it, there's no story there to revist and get immersed into.
Mandrake Ganondorf: When we were in the 2D era, it was crystal clear that 3D was the next place to go. Now however it isn't. I feel that cell-shading is the way of the future.
vgx441991: Albeit, there are some PS games like this as well, mostly Platformers are like this, Platformers have been relagated to children now.
vgx441991: I don't particually care for the cell shading unless they do something like full featured Anime style.
vgx441991: And I mean the GOOD anime, not the mediocre stuff like DBZ.
Mandrake Ganondorf: If you'll notice, with every new Zelda game on a new platform, Miyamoto will revolutionize the genre. He's looking to do the same thing with Zelda Cube. To set a new precedent, and to usher in a new age as he's done before.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Don't get me wrong, I don't think cell-shading should replace 3D games all together.
vgx441991: Nintendo 64 is riddled with platformers, and no Miyamoto isn't the God of VideoGames he once was, too many other companies are fully capable of eclipsing his creations with far broader works. Squaresoft tried to be innovative and new with "The Bouncer" but that game was horrible, mind you I think they just didn't try on that one, it was a total loss outside of the Graphics, it lacked a plot, and gameplay.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Miyamoto is still the God of Gaming in my book
Mandrake Ganondorf: How can you say he still isn't
Mandrake Ganondorf: Wait for Mario Sunshine, wait to play Zelda, then you can judge
vgx441991: There are sophiticated titles from other developers out there that go far beyond anything I've seen Miyamoto produce, mind you I don't even think he can fathom some of the darker impressionistic views of reality that exist within a writers mind.
vgx441991: He's a guy for puzzles, and making up new creature characters, and noted for exceptional gameplay.
vgx441991: Plot is where he seriously lacks extensive depth.
Mandrake Ganondorf: And revolutionizing gaming
Mandrake Ganondorf: You forgot that one
vgx441991: Music has usually been done by Koji Kondo so that usually doesn't count into the Miyamoto factor. Indeed he revolutionized gaming early on, and bringing Zelda to 3D was a huge step forward, but the watering down of Zelda in ambiance, appearance, and plot is nothing of merit to be proud of.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Kondo is just as good as Noranobou, or whatever his name is that does the music for Final Fantasy
vgx441991: Zelda has never really suffered from any issues with the BGM, that's always been pretty much on target.
vgx441991: It's Uematsu
vgx441991: Nobuo Uematsu.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Whoops
vgx441991: How many games do you have?
Mandrake Ganondorf: For what platforms?
vgx441991: PS2, PS, Nintendo 64, SNES, NES.
vgx441991: Oh, and of course Dreamcast.
vgx441991: Sigh, Dreamcast, now there was "The Little System that Could"
Mandrake Ganondorf: Can't give an exact number because I don't know, but I think somewhere around 100
Mandrake Ganondorf: Truly a sad thing that it was shunned
vgx441991: Okay, what titles for each system stand out in your mind. What games do you have for PS, might I ask? Or Dreamcast or PS2?
Mandrake Ganondorf: Hmm, PSX, probably the best game would be Metal Gear Solid, followed by Chrono Cross, Final Fantasy 9, 7
vgx441991: You played Chrono Cross, there was a game that used Artistic Hand Drawn backgrounds beautifully, lightyears beyond this new Zelda game.
vgx441991: How would you compare the overall look and feel of ChronoCross to the Look and Feel of the new Zelda?
Mandrake Ganondorf: I feel that Chrono Cross had a much darker premise than the new Zelda will
vgx441991: Going beyond that, which game do you think will have a better plot?
Mandrake Ganondorf: I would say Cross
Mandrake Ganondorf: But RPG's have always depended more on plot than any other genre
vgx441991: You can not live on GamePlay alone, you COULD back in 1990, thats what games depended on because there just wasn't room for extensive plot. Zelda is more or lest Nintendo's RPG, rather Adventure-RPG.
vgx441991: Final Fantasy 1 did it's best to try and a few other early RPGs and adventure titles, but those creators then could only imagine of things today. Miyamoto lives in a retro world, unkeen to today's standards.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I can survive with the classic "damsel in distress" plot, although I admit I prefer larger stporylines
Mandrake Ganondorf: Miyamoto lives in a world where he revolutionizes constantly and tried time and again to make games that appeal to all again, a la Ocarina
Mandrake Ganondorf: Square has never done this, and I doubt they could
Mandrake Ganondorf: *all ages
vgx441991: GamePlay is great for the kids, but when it comes down to it, having read the work of various authors and understanding more about personalities and portrayals of characters, it is not where many of his games have ventured.
Mandrake Ganondorf: You can't deny that Miyamoto is much more capable at developing games that appeal to the genral public than Square
vgx441991: Ocarina of Time was partially there in terms of plot, there were a lot of things that could have been expanded upon.
Mandrake Ganondorf: It had a simple plot, yet it was a masterpiece that in my eyes has still not been toppled two almost 3 years after its release
vgx441991: All Zelda games thus far have been - Find the Item, Kill the Boss, go to the Next Dungeon, and repeat. Then he gets key item, and repeats, and fights Ganon and saves Zelda and it's done. Now is the time to venture beyond this boundary, these cliche's are dated now, and they make fun challenging games, but they lack lasting artistic appeal. There is a difference between a "Game" and a beautifully orchestrated collaboration of various factors to create a true masterpiece. The Bar has been raised and anything short of that bar will not meet gamer's expecations anymore.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Yet I never get bored of it
vgx441991: Have you ever played Shenmue?
Mandrake Ganondorf: Yes, and for some unexplicable reason I hated it
vgx441991: There's a game that utilizes Graphics, Gameplay, and Plot flawlessly. I loved that game for what it accomplished and how boldly it set a foot forward.
vgx441991: How old are you?
Mandrake Ganondorf: 14
Mandrake Ganondorf: And please don't take my age as any indicaion of my intelligence
vgx441991: That might explain it, not because of your intelligence mind you but your gaming experience is concerned. You've never lived until you were laying in wait for Super Mario World just after seeing the graphics alone. You were 3 when I was playing that game in Middle School. There is a feeling a veteran gamer at my age bracket looks for, something akin to the visions from our imaginations as children.
Mandrake Ganondorf: True, I haven't been into gaming as long as you, but I got into it at a very early age and it's a very important part of my life
vgx441991: I'm not sure how much you're read or gotten into development of characters but as you get older you learn a lot about how writers and movie directors capture the essance of the moment and convey and draw emotion from the audience.
vgx441991: There are cinematic devices and various emotional ties that are developed, some games do this in written format, i.e. RPG's, FF7, ChronoCross, XenoGears all do this exceptionally well, moreso than some novels I've read.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I've seen how writers and directors can capture a moment. Miyamoto has worked his magic and done this for me as well
vgx441991: He's done a lot for the early days of gaming, but his influence now in many ways is subdued because Nintendo isn't #1 in the eyes of a matured gamer anymore.
Mandrake Ganondorf: The problem is that while the public at large is becoming more and more aware of videogames, they are still looked upon as childrens toys, and not as a legitimate form of art
vgx441991: I've remembered the days of being a kid after playing Zelda II: The Adventures of Link and thinking about what it would be like to be a Knight chosen to awaken princess Zelda with a kiss, and defeat monsters and carry medieval weapons across vast lands meeting people and exploring areas discovering amazing things and having magical abilities.
vgx441991: Did I invision myself as a deformed cartoon character with a stubby sword clobbering funny piggys, no.
Mandrake Ganondorf: There's more of his magic at work: he completely engrosses you in the game, so that even after you've stopped playing it''s still in your mind
Mandrake Ganondorf: Can't you at least give the game a chance?
Mandrake Ganondorf: Wait and play it before you bash it.
vgx441991: It has been moved from "No doubt about it I must have this one" to "Rent before I buy"
Mandrake Ganondorf: What list would Mario Sunshine be on?
vgx441991: I don't think you've seen Zelda CDI either, it was an interactive Zelda title produced by Phillips.
vgx441991: Mario Sunshine? "Need more info before I buy very cautiously"
Mandrake Ganondorf: I've seen the CD-i, and I know what it is
vgx441991: There were 3 actually, these used cartoon versions of the characters.
Mandrake Ganondorf: You can't compare the two in terms of visuals
Mandrake Ganondorf: If you can find some screenshots I'll gladly point out the dramatic differences
vgx441991: There are quite a few actually, but the idea is the same.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Yes, but who could make the game better? Phillips or Miyamoto?
Mandrake Ganondorf: The obvious answer is the second one
vgx441991: This is nothing as innovative as they are making it out to be. The idea is stolen from Phillips original concept. They had nowhere near the development power N does, so of course what they produced will be far inferior to what Nintendo has, but it doesn't detract from the fact that the idea is not new for Zelda, and that looking for something to do with the series N took it from Phillips.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I think Mario Sunshne might not appeal to you either because it's another of Nintendo's family games, albeit very different visually from Zelda Cube
Mandrake Ganondorf: Phillips didn't invent cell-shading. And I really, really don't think that Nintendo would take any pointers from Phillips on making games
vgx441991: The Mario classics I remember were best suited for 2-D, when it went to 3-D it was very quaint and fun and the novelty of it was great, but it just wasn't the same thing. 2-D mario has a hugely different strategy and gameplay than 3-D Mario.
Mandrake Ganondorf: You don't think that Mario 64 is one of the greatest games ever made, and that Miyamoto perfectly updated Mario for the new generation?
vgx441991: I'm focusing on the idea here, not the actual products. Creativity required spontinaety, and This Zelda shows comparable points to an idea already accomplised on the Phillips CDI.
Mandrake Ganondorf: All it shares in common is the cell-shading
Mandrake Ganondorf: No gameplay whatsoever
vgx441991: Mario 64 was a very fun game yes, the greatest Video Game ever made? I wouldn't say so, but in the Platformer genre (catagory) it's probably close to #1 with similar Platformer games like Banjo Kazooie and DK that appeared on N64.
vgx441991: If you are grading titles it's best to grade them in their same genre or class.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I know it's not the greatest game ever made, but it's up there
Mandrake Ganondorf: Alright, would you say the new Zelda is the best looking game to use cell-shading so far?
vgx441991: i.e there is Platformer, Strategy, Real Time Strategy, RPG-Classical, RPG-Modern, Adventure RPG, Adventure, Shooter, FPS, Puzzle.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I know what you mean
vgx441991: Well, Retro Helix was pretty good. Yes, it (Zelda GameCube) probably is the best use of Cell-Shading, but that doesn't negate the fact that it's been applied in a very detracting way to a game that shouldn't look the way it does in Cell Shading. The two things don't equate to each other in any form.
Mandrake Ganondorf: You don't think it adds sort of a retro look to it?
vgx441991: No way. Does that look like Zelda: LTTP? Heck no.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I'm talkign about the more childish appearance, not a downright copy
vgx441991: Still not really. The graphics on SNES for LTTP were the best they could do at the time, thus they had no choice but to make it look cartoony, because that's all sprites allowed for at the time.
vgx441991: And it wasn't nowhere near as cartoony as the new Zelda is.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I don't think Zelda was ever intended to be what the Spaceworld 200 demo showed
Mandrake Ganondorf: It's always been a game for the family, that appeals to all ages, and the demo shown was far to dark. Miyamoto admitted that it just wouldn't be the same if he had to go in that direction with Zelda
vgx441991: I loved the Spaceworld 2000 demo. I want to see Link run a dirty Moblin through and his body rot away in an acidic pool or a dark cloud of smoke denoting some kind of illusionary control by Ganon's evil control. Don't need to have *gasp* blood to show that, but no, N doesn't think depth, they think profits, and kids tugging on thier parent's shirtsleeves asking, "Mommy, buy me dat game peez cuz it's cartoonz"
Mandrake Ganondorf: I loved it to, but it wasn;t meant to be
vgx441991: Or watch a huge rock fall on a tektite and it's interior "guts" get squished out from under the rock.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Miyamoto is going in the direction he thinks he will be able to best create the game for
vgx441991: i.e. little kids.
Mandrake Ganondorf: No, just not as dark the the demo shown
Mandrake Ganondorf: Zelda was never that dark, never that mature
Mandrake Ganondorf: It was never supposed to be
vgx441991: Well he went WAY on the other side of the spectrum to too pollyanna and entered the dreaded realm of "cute"
Mandrake Ganondorf: I hate it when people despise games because of cute characters
Mandrake Ganondorf: Anexample of that would be Banjo Kazooie
vgx441991: I don't know about that, In LTTP ganon cursed the Dark World, just the name itself denotes intense evil and depth of hatred.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Yes, but the game was never as foreboding as it was in the demo
vgx441991: I'm sorry but I've never been a huge Yoshi, Kirby, Pokemon, fan, it's way too "cute" for me.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I found Pokemon to be a very innovative idea, and I enjoyed the game
vgx441991: And in Ocarina of Time, when you see Kakariko burning down, and the Dark clouds surrounding ganon's castle, how did you feel emotionally about it? That was where Z64 showed what plot development and setting can do for an Adventure RPG to evoke a feeling from the player.
vgx441991: You grew a dislike for ganon much as link really would.
vgx441991: If ganon was a disney character with distorted cute features, I would be appalled that my emotional expectations of the villan were not met.
Mandrake Ganondorf: To be honest, I always wanted to play a game from the other perspective
Mandrake Ganondorf: Like in Ocarina, I wanted to play the game again, only through Ganon's eyes
Mandrake Ganondorf: We never truly get to see the so-called "bad guys" emotions as clearly as if we were playing as them
vgx441991: Well, to know evil you have to study it, read about the history of WWII, and Hitler, as well as his SS, also referancing Stalin, those men were truly evil. They evoke emotional hatred toward them for their atrocities.
vgx441991: To enjoy in the torture and pain of another person is true evil.
vgx441991: Thus defines some of the parameters of a good villan in a story or game.
Mandrake Ganondorf: I'm not getting all philosophical about it, I'm just sayign we could understand the driving forve behind the villain much better if we played as him/her
Mandrake Ganondorf: Ah, but you see, we never learn this about most villains
Mandrake Ganondorf: If they enjoy the pain of others I mean
Mandrake Ganondorf: Kuja from FF9 was an exception though
vgx441991: Indeed that's very true. Ganon had his motivations. OOT's plot define his life, and his association with the gerudo, something I found very intriguing and perhaps one of the best points of the plot in Z64.
vgx441991: I like games to have two sides, a very superficial exterior with a more sinister and convoluted interior that the hero must uncover before he can understand the true meaning of what's going on and find resolution for the problem at hand.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Like FF9
vgx441991: What would be a very awesome twist to this new Zelda would be the implimentation of the art of perspective in terms of fantasy when link is young and his reality when he is old. Think about it, when he is a little boy his world is all magicial and toonlike and when we see him as an adult it's that fully rendered reality seen in the earlier demos, a change in dynamic mental perspective.
vgx441991: That would be a very beautifully orchestrated plot device.
Mandrake Ganondorf: Well isn't Ocarina like that to some degree?
vgx441991: His young world is very bright, but it soon twists into his future which is filled with turmoil he must overcome.
Mandrake Ganondorf: As he matured his wolrd and perspective matured too, right?
vgx441991: Yes, Zelda64 is.
Mandrake Ganondorf: What I would like is more insight into Link's personality
vgx441991: That's why the game was very successful and so many gamers enjoyed it.
Mandrake Ganondorf: That can't be accomplished if he never says a word
vgx441991: So would I. He has never spoken for himself in any Zelda game.
vgx441991: Everyone's always spoken to him.
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And so there's where our conversation basically concluded. I wanted to post this on the website because it truly shows and answers a lot of misconceptions about gaming. First of all, GamePlay in the new era of gaming is not the only factor in creating a total "experience" of a video game. It's certainly an important factor, and games that seriously lack decent gameplay are usually lacking in other traits as well lending to the creation of a very inferior "shovelware" title. The weight of importance on GamePlay also falls more heavily on different Genre's. RPG's, (both Classical and Modern) can get by with clunky menus and insane customizations and still be considering astounding because of beautiful visuals, impowering musical scores, and dynamic storylines. There are two Genre's of gaming that exist right next to RPG's on the spectrum - Adventure RPG's and Adventure Games, the difference between the two is certainly depended upon GamePlay, but within each the new standards of gaming require the other elements (Graphics, Storyline, Music and Aural Ambiance, Challenge and Replay) to be there to create a total experience. Cartoons and Video Games are two different media formats, and a serious broadly focused game can not depend solely on cartoons to deliver the content to all audiences however there can be exceptions to this when the more adult oriented style is employed. The New Zelda has been designed to emulate such things as lower end Disney cartoons and contemporary American animation like the "Power Puff Girls" Cartoons like Cat-Dog, PowerPuff Girls, Dexter's Laboratory, etc. are what I call Junk Cartoons because their drawing style shows little attention to depth and detail, and their plots are hugely pointless and often times immaturely comical they are designed to be acceptable to child audiences with far less sophisticated refinements in terms of "getting" the joke, or utilizing "slapstick" situational comedy to make people laugh. Having aged, I still enjoy cartoons especially The Simpsons, South Park (Poorly drawn, but that is part of the comedy of it), Spawn, Beavis and Butthead, Bugs Bunny and the Classics, and a lot of the truly innovative and feature length japanese animation that has been created. I've seen things in Anime that give cinematography strong competition.
There are what I call the "Power Puff" cliche's that I saw in the new Zelda that made me want to cringe when I saw Link winking at the camera. Zelda is not meant for this kind of immature comedy, albeit some portrayed comedy as a small event oriented component of the plot is acceptable but basing an entire Zelda game on comedy is a very sore mistake for the "feel" of the series. Zelda is not supposed to be a happy romp through a childs toy box. Ganon is a very sinister character, with a serious hatred toward the society that foiled his goals, and twisted desires. He's not a nice guy who will simply say "I'm sorry about that, let's be friends" like a Barney video. In no way does the new version of GameCube Zelda look to me like a "return to the series roots" Final Fantasy IX figured out how to do this well, very well, but in no way can I say that applies to the Zelda scenario. Want to make it feel like the past? Make it more like a Fantasy Novel like Lord of the Rings, add a Medieval ambance to the sorroundings and create dark forboding dungeons with treacherous monsters seething inside, THAT would be a return to the series roots.
I want to see the Hylians rendered in 3-D with their pointed ears, their unique cultural clothing styles, a fully interactive 3-D town with cats licking their paws and dogs chasing them away, a massive Hyrule with roads interconntecting towns. I want to see Hyrule Castle complete with banners swaying in the wind towering over the fields, and the blue of Zelda's eyes as she see's link rescuing her into her arms. I want to see the turmoil in link's manerisms as he must face challenges and endure trials of his courage and fortitude. I want to see staffos grow out of the dirt and wicked poltergeists haunt link at the graveyard. Zelda must become an Epic. Part of the wow factor in modern gaming are the immensely impressive visuals and with a unit as capable as the GameCube Link's world could expand manyfold over what we saw in Ocarina of Time. What I saw at the SpaceWorld 2000 demo fell right into the correct direction Zelda should head in to achive that next step, however this year's SpaceWorld 2001 demo shows a very flawed premise for this game and if Nintendo continues in this direction they will lose the company of a LOT of fans of the Zelda "experience".
Back to the Odyssey of Hyrule
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