Zelda Director Won't Quit Until He Betters 'Ocarina of Time'

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'.

[ngg12345]

Zelda TP was worse..

[AAACE5]

Based on the Zelda games he's made already... I would have to say, the only way he could make a better game than OoT, is to remake OoT with better graphics!

The last Zelda games just didn't have that "Gotta play it to the end" feeling! Which leads me to believe he lacks the magic that Miyamoto has/had for the franchise!

I am almost willing to say there will probably never be another great zelda game again! If you liked some of the others, then cool! But the last few didn't keep my attention. And I have been a zelda fan since the original NES one came out!

I hope he can make a better game than OoT... we need it!

[arngrim229]

he follows the same freakin formula all the time, im sick of ganon and sick of him reusing everything, he needs to start with a fresh new villain and story, not save zelda and kill ganon everygame, its lame already

[ChickeyCantor]

"not save zelda and kill ganon everygame"
Never played a zelda game have you xD?

[Gazman]

Good luck Ocarina of Time was freaking awesome

[lloyd_wonder]

but I respect his dedication and his appreciation for OOT. Which is a classic game till this day.

Good luck!

[ape007]

was like a bomb when it released back in 1998

achieving the same feeling once again is a difficult task if you ask me

but

eiji aonoma and myimotto are legends,they can do it once again,they need a truly powerful system to,don't jump on me I know graphics aren't everything(look at gta 4,it's nothing compared to 3 series)

in short:they need to do their BEST work yet on a powerful next gen system,to achieve that awe inspiring feeling that oot had in 1998

off topic,omg 1998 rules

zelda:oot
turok 2
star wars:roug squadron

omg 1998 holidays RULED,ownage man

n64 is a true legend

[Bigbangbing]

i agree

they really need a powerful console to do what they did on N64 ... N64 + OOT = like no other ... but that was on 1998 ... in the mean time with the Wii , i don't think they will achieve it ...

[lloyd_wonder]

I think you're on to something. I think the appeal back then for OOT was in part, the technology. I think in order for that feeling to be felt again, it has to be a game that is truly ground breaking; on the technology side and push innovation in gameplay.

[lloyd_wonder]

Seeds of Evil was a classic. Rouge Squadron, also.

[ChickeyCantor]

Did any of you ever noticed that their console was always around 200 dollars?
It just seemed that hardware at that time was just cheap enough, not only to create a powerful machine but also to sell it at a low price..
Now hardware is sh/t loads more expensive and they went for a 250 dollar console...and this is what you get this time around.

Their next console = HD, no doubt about it because the japans broadcasting is going to change(like any other country). They will be forced to go HD anyway. I think Wii would had at least 720P support IF japan was already fully broadcasting HD. But not everyone had a HD.
Lots of people still watching on their SD tv. But once television stations go HD people will need a HD tv.

[Monteblanco]

Sidar, the only thing I am sure about Nintendo next console is that it will cost about US$ 250.00 and will offer the best graphics possible at this price and still give Nintendo a few bucks at each sale. Fortunately, in a few years, this will includes HD graphics.

[ChickeyCantor]

You can be sure about it being at that price, since they want it to be affordable.
What the next Specs will be i don't know...who knows?...but the out put will be at least 720P, that's obvious.
If MS can sell 360's at the price of 150 euro ( and a wii is 250) then it should at least do what 360 is doing.

[Killjoy3000]

Exactly. I mean, look at MGS4. Kojima just needed the tech. Even if there were a Zelda game that embraced groundbreaking visuals and psysics and such, I would still go with Team ICO's next game.

[AAACE5]

GTA 4 is special!

People were expecting it to be like the other GTA games. So I can understand why they didn't like it! I felt the same way at first. But once I played it for what it was, and not compare it to past entries... I loved it!

The GTA franchise was always to get more realistic! GTA 1 was just mostly stupid fun. GTA 2 was a bit more exciting. Gta 3 brought 3-d environments. Vice city gave more variety. San andreas was the biggest with more activities and fun. GTA 4 is pushing to make a more realistic approach, by adding a dramatic story.

Alot of fans miss all the old stuff, but what you fail to realize is, this is a repeat of 3! GTA 3 was mainly to see how they could handle the technology. So the next couple GTA games should offer more variety. But I think the realistic physics are here to stay.

[ChickeyCantor]

Ok that's nice,
Just don't forget to make a new Kind of Windwaker too...The "magic" in that game tops OOT!
Majora's mask was special too though.

So basically this also means that when miyamoto said "making zelda more "accessible"".. .he wasn't talking about making it Casual shovelware. I just hope they make use of Motion plus -_- and make link left handed again...

[Foxgod]

he should raise the stakes, and say he wont quit until he betters "a link to the past".

[Gue1]

"A Link to The Past" was simply a return to the classic view of the first Zelda while Zelda OOT was a totally revamped Zelda.

A Link to the Past = Zelda(nes) on steroids

Zelda OOT = first 3-D zelda game ever

With the transition came a lot of new things like fighting mechanics, atmosphere, sense of exploration, puzzles, cut-scenes... It wasn't simply adding to an existing idea but to create a new one from out of nothing(well not exactly "from out of nothing" but you get my point right?). That's what we call innovation.

From what I understand he doesn't wants to just make a new Zelda derived from OOT. They already did that with Twilight Princess, but to create a new Zelda that for this time be as good as OOT was for its time. So good that 10 years later there's still a lot of people playing it and praising it.

Anyway, with so much people spoiled with HD graphics I don't think this guy could archive such a task with the Wii. Zelda OOT pushed everything from gameplay to graphics... So much that every Zelda after OOT are just OOT on steroids, the same as "A Link to the Past" with the first Zelda on nes.

[Foxgod]

you got a point, but i care about having fun with a game, a link to the past was the zelda game that provided me the most fun.

[AAACE5]

I've been noticing a trend with zelda games! The original one for NES seems like OoT is the remake for it! Majora's mask seems like the remake for Zelda 2, and Wind Waker seems like the remake of a like to the past!

I understand they have differences from the compared game, but they all seel really close to eachother for some reason!

Oh, graphics don't make a great game, but they help create the emotional bond which convinces the gamer.

[SprayandPreycom]

its called job security i wont quit and let anyone else work here untill its better than before lol ...

[pwnsause]

I can tell you this, it wont happen this Generation. There was so many things that Made Ocarina of time the Perfect Game:

1. Graphics- Yes it may be true that Graphics do not make a game Great, but Ocarina of Time was the Game that Pushed the N64 to its limit, to the point were they had to create the Expansion pack to add in more memory for the N64's Future games. Ocarina of Time's Graphics Were the Best of its Generation.

2.Gameplay- The change from 2D over the Top view Gameplay to 3D open World Gameplay was a shocker. The team that helped Developed Ocarina of Time were able to bring port the 2D elements of Past Zelda games (example Link to the Past) to the 3D open World Enviornment, and Boy was it effective. it was all there.

3. Story- Ocarina of Time's Story was very thought out, emotional, and spellbinding. The way they were able to put the story together and make it a story of a lifetime was amazing. It was a Perfect Adventure Story.

Those 3 elements made this game One of the Greatest games of all Time (#1 for me). But to make a New Zelda game and Make it better than Ocarina of Time is going to be pretty hard, especially when one of the elements are working against you, Graphics. The Wii is the weakest of the 3 next Gen Systems, although the Wiimote is the Biggest Selling point of the wii. They have to push the Wii to its limit. Not to mention not make another Zelda game that uses Cel "shaded" Link, People want a Realistic Link, like the the Link of Ocarina of Time and of course Twilight Princess.

[MK_Red]

Seriously, OOT is NOT the best Zelda ever created. That honor belongs to the true SNES classic, Link to the Past. Topping that should be the ultimate goal not Ocarina. WindWaker is easily better than Ocarina but to top Link to the Past is the real challenge.

[Godem]

he's not going to beat the quality of OOT on the Wii thats for sure..
He needs a console with HD capabilities and potentially much greater power..

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

fans already have it in their head that OOT is the best... even if they make a better zelda i doubt a lot of fans will accept it due to their sentimental attatchment to OOT... but yeah OOT is probably THE best game of all time

[Millah]

No, they just need to make another Zelda game that is as groundbreaking and perfectly executed the way OOT was in 98. I don't love OOT for nostalgia, I love it for how awe-struck it left me playing it.

The problem they have this generation is trying to capture that same feeling gamers felt after playing OOT. They need to make better stories, OOT had a great story that was simple and effective, watching Link fight a battle of more than ten years is epic. They just need to put more effort into them and reinvent the series the way OOT did. They need that magic again. Eiji and Miyamoto have done it once, they can certainly do it again, if Miyamoto actually gets back to designing games again like he used to instead of doing crazy ridiculous Wii stuff.

They also need to realize that Zelda is a series that is originally meant for the gamers, not the casual.

[djslapdash]

Trying to beat the best game ever is no easy feat.

One of the things Eiji Aonuma has to do, in order in trying to achieve this, is getting no feedback from Miyamoto-san. It has to be his game only.

One of the things these new directors need to stop lacking in is courage and conviction to follow their own ideas and not asking the producers (Miyamoto, Tezuka etc)for help.

[ChickeyCantor]

It's miyamoto's franchise...how can he not be involved?
I think the team without him wouldn't know what to do since they never worked without him.

Edit: i meant yesh, they could do something, but it would become something totally different as a zelda title.

[jtucker78]

Zelda is Miyamoto's, they have to get feedback from him.

But that doesn't mean they have to rely on him.

Look at Galaxy. Miyamoto didn't work on that. The Mario team had to run ideas by him and get feedback, but the physics and gravity ideas weren't Miyamoto's. I forget his name but it was one of the other guys that came up with all the ideas.
Miyamoto's involvement was: This has to be in a mario game, you have to include this somehow, but apart from that the other guys ran with it.

Miyamoto was off working on Wii Sports and Wii Music.

But I agree with you that Eiji Aonuma needs to follow his own ideas. Especially as Miyamoto has stated that he wants to make Zelda more approachable to the new casual audience. :/

[shadowfox6]

His work was amazing on Majora's mask, WW & TP. I'm looking forward to the next epic zelda adventure (on their next generation console, of course). I believe he will be able to better OoT (best zelda game
imo)he just needs a powerful system.

Nintendo really needs to work hard on the next Zelda game, I wish they never release anything Zelda on the wii & specially no spin-offs because they're ruining Mario's image now.

Nintendo please try to create new franchises & stop the spin-offs, do RPG, FPS, & completely new genres. Work harder on advertisements not for wii sport & music..but for Zelda, Mario, Metroid & new stuff.

[poeo]

i feel sad whenever OoT is mentioned, since i never got to experience it, i never owned an N64... :/ i have very fond memories of A Link To The Past and Windwaker though, some of my favorite games ever.. i can only wonder how it would've felt to play OoT in 1998.

[I_LOVE_MYSELF]

dont be down... i will bet my left testicle (my fave one cos it hangs lower) that you will enjoy OOT immensly even today... I first played it in 2003 / 2004 after I finished WW and personally I loved it...

You WILL like it if you pick it up... If you feel like you missed out you owe it to yourself to try it... Its still amazing to this day mate

[LethalToxins]

You could always get an emulator for it and play it on your pc...not that I advocate piracy or anything...

[Noctis Lucis Caelum]

I don't want an ocarina killer, i want something different.

[TheColbertinator]

Good luck

[Gr81]

Many are over examplifying the importance of graphics. TP has way better graphics than OoT or any zelda before it, but it is not a better game. I was thinking about this, the reason OoT is considered the greatest game ever (by me atleast) is because it felt so new, the GAMEPLAY was something we had never experienced before. Mario's transition to the Wii worked very well and graphically is very awesome looking. If Aonuma wants to make a superior Zelda than OoT, graphics is not going to be his single saving grace. If they can come up with a new play mechanic or control scheme (hopefully WM+) that makes the player feel something they've never experienced, that is what will help the game surpass OoT..or atleast stand side by side with it (and Majora's Mask). But all this talk about it needs HD graphics to be good..gimme a break.

[jtucker78]

"TP has way better graphics than OoT or any zelda before it, but it is not a better game."

Yes, but you are forgetting that OoT was brilliant graphics, draw distance EVERYTHING "for the time". Which is where the immersion came from.

TP was better graphically than OoT, true, but it was a fairly bland below average looking game for 2006. Compare it to Gears of War. That game got the wow factor.
By the time, we'd finished drooling over Gears, Zelda TP came out and it looked - meh.
It was a good game, but the first impression you got was:
"Oh :-( well, at least it will play well."

I don't think Nintendo need the most powerful console, they can get great results out of their hardware, but not only was TP originally a Gamecube game, but the Wii is way way way way below either of the other current gen consoles in processing power.
Sorry I didn't say "way" enough.
Way way way way way way way way way way way way way below the specs of the other two consoles.

If Nintendo's specs were even close to PS3 and 360, then I think that Nintendo would have a shot, but at the moment they're trying to tune a hair dryer motor to compete in the Indy 500.

[Gr81]

I'm just failing to see that logic, I'm sorry. DMC4 was worst than DMC2, and DMC4 had HD graphics on its side. Graphics don't and have never made the game. You are absolutely correct, TP was a gamecube game, which was probably the best looking game on any platform last gen (Prime and RE4 also in the running). So if a Zelda game made for the Wii ground up would look several times better than TP. TP was not a bad game by any means, I might add. But horsepower and graphics will never be the end all be all of what makes a game great. If we've learned nothing else from this gen, its that graphics have a limit as to how far they can enhance an experience.

[jtucker78]

You probably won't read this but...

You're right that DMC4 was worse than DMC2 but DMC4 wasn't particularly amazing graphics for this gen. Don't get me wrong, they're good, but not wow.

I don't claim to have a golden rule. Graphics does not "always" equal best games, but there is a significant relationship there.
There'll always be exceptions, but the exceptions are usually games where story isn't important so you don't need to be immersed in the virtual world.
Like World of Goo, Tetris, Boom Blox - stuff like that.

But why is it that the best looking games of the generation are always the best? Galaxy graphics are phenomenal for a Wii and IMO is far better than any other Wii game.

OoT was a gorgeous game when it released. It was dripping with atmosphere.
RE4 last gen on Gamecube - same thing - walking up that graveyard near the village, in the rain, lightning cracking in the sky lighting up the landscape - for the time it was immersive as hell.

I liken this effect to movie special effects. People used to freak out over Titanic because of how far ahead the special effects were. But watch the movie now and the effects look awful, in the final scenes the effects look so bad that it's a constant reminder that you are watching something computer generated and you're not part of the experience.

Look at Killzone 2 - I know the KZ1 didn't do well, but wait for this one. It will get phenomenal reviews, and it will be the graphics, animation, environment that will do it. At it's heart it is like COD4, but because it puts you right into a new world, with phenomenal visuals it will be regarded as a masterpiece.

I know in 10 years time we'll all be saying how basic and crappy it looks, but for right now it is amazing.
OoT when it came out was amazing.

What have we got next year for Wii? Which two games look like they will be the best?
Conduit - pushing Wii visuals, attempting HD console lighting effects.
Madworld - brilliant cell shaded visual style.
The two games that will also have the best visuals.

Maybe the reason all the best games have the best graphics is because if a developer puts effort into gameplay they often put lots of effort into visuals.

All I'm saying is that RPGs set in huge virtual world, need to look amazing to hook you and pull you in. Like OoT did back in the day, and I attribute that to it's visuals, animation and attention to detail. Hyrule field almost felt like a real place.

[Vizion26]

The best video game news story I have read for the past month.

In my opinion Ocarina of Time is the greatest video game ever. The game is revolutionary and the pinnacle of video gaming. If one game exemplifies art it is Ocarina of Time.

I say good luck with trying to surpass it. At least he has set high standards.

[Vizion26]

Ocarina of Time is such a great game because of the gameplay and the game had a sense of balance and newness. It was a very innovative game in its time. If he can push boundaries with the next Zelda then I believe it may be a great game. Better than Ocarina of Time? I doubt it though.

[IQUITN4G]

A Zelda as good and better than Ocarina is entirely possible on Wii but requires intelligent design.Scale does not come from huge draw distance for example but rather what lies beyond what you do see.Design can be dramatically changed while still remaining true

So much in truth that can be done to make Zelda once again the stuff of legends

TP was very polished and lush but i was happy to leave it at just the one play through.I have high hopes for Links next outing but more thought is required if they are to advance the series

Talk of playing as Gannon though is plainly not for Zelda

[TheDesperado]

Like Ico or Shadow of the Colossus.

Of course, that's impossible at Nintentrash HQ.

[linkmaster95]

I think that what Zelda needs is a larger world. This would allow for more levels (which is part of what made a Link to the Past great), and more classic Hyrule land features. Tp didn't even include Death Mountain.
Sadly, making Link left handed is now unlikely after TP introduced motion control to the series.

[jtucker78]

"Tp didn't even include Death Mountain."

Seriously? - Death Mountain was one of the first few levels! Next to Kakariko Village? Sound familiar?

"I think that what Zelda needs is a larger world. This would allow for more levels (which is part of what made a Link to the Past great), and more classic Hyrule land features."

I don't think Zelda needs to be bigger for you. Seeing as you haven't even got through the first couple of dungeons!
You certainly don't need more levels!

linkmaster95?? Yeah right!

I never thought I'd be quoting Captain_Sony, but you shouldn't be criticising a game that you blatantly haven't played!

[KnowitAll]

I hate this articles on the legend of zelda OOT. Because everytime I see them it makes me want to play that game again.

[Gr81]

I did read it (lol) and again, we just seem to have a fundemental difference at least in how we view the importance of graphics. For me as great of graphics RE4 had for the cube, what made it a great game for me, was the other things the game got right, cheifly the gameplay. The over the shoulder perspective was dope, and it was a fresh take on an aging franchise.

Killzone 1 was really...well, wack. Honestly, I can careless about games receiving "phenomenal reviews" because frankly, I'm in the camp that believes that many of the main gaming sites are "influenced" to review certain games favorably. But that's neither here or there. The conduit, for me is something I look forward too because it seems like a game the developers want to make as good as possible, and they seem to be focusing on all points, cheifly control.

Don't get me wrong, I hear what you are saying, I do think graphics help enhance the gaming experience, but only when the experience is there to begin with. Had RE4 not had the tight gameplay, I don't believe the great graphics would be enough to make it a great game. We've seen great looking games remain just that; great looking. I think of it like a hot chick..(and not in a sexist way) in that a very hot girl with nothing else to offer, is pretty bland. The ones I consider dimes are the ones that are not only hot but have personality, intelligents, sense of humor etc.

But again, I know with you on a post, even if we don't see eye to eye, I can respectfully disagree with you with no "beef" and vice versa. So that's cool, I look forward to the next disagreement..or (shock) maybe an agreement. (lol)

[jtucker78]

I can't believe I checked back again. I know I'm sad :-)

You can have an agreement today! And a bubble.
I like how you take my negative comments, don't take offense and give me an intelligent and articulate argument in response. I do often agree with what you say. But I often like to play devil's advocate - doesn't often go down well on N4G!
(especially with Captain_Sony - I've been called a Sony FBoy and a hater by him more times than I can count.)

There are always two sides to a story, and there are so many factors why sales are high for some products, why a game is good, that our simplistic reasons for why something is why it is are often only part of the reason. OoT for example. It just does so much right, and it was new, different.

I guess if you're a passionate developer you're going to make the game well rounded all over, which is why graphics often go hand in hand with gameplay.
I must admit I am a big fan of graphics - as you may have guessed. I guess we're all different. Maybe that is why OoT was universally well received. Every aspect of the game was so well rounded that different parts appealed to different people.

I'm really looking forward to the Conduit too. I really hope they nail the online. That is the only thing that worries me, because there isn't a beta, and there isn't the opportunity to patch if something doesn't work too well.
(I know patching is wrong. Games should work properly in the first place - but games are getting so complicated these days that chances of problems being introduced are really high)
I'd hate for the Conduit to be let down because of something small that got introduced in the final version but wasn't found. I work in software testing and I know how easily this can happen on complex software.
The guys at High Voltage are a passionate bunch and I'd like to see their effort rewarded.

Although I must admit I am looking forward to Killzone 2 more, and you can guess why - I know, I know I'm shallow. But only with video game graphics, not with women ;-)
I'll be picking up the conduit too, because even though I am a fan of dual analogue, I also got used to Wiimote IR in Metroid 3 and concede that Wiimotes are better for FPS. Should be fun in deathmatch!

Take it easy pal.