General Zelda Does That "Field" Area Really Need To Be There?

[Sheik]

I'm talking about Hyrule Field, Great Sea, the Sky, stuff like that.

While these areas usually do have plenty of secrets to find... and awesome music... Let's face it, they're usually quite empty sometimes. There are things there, but not a ton of actual content. These areas are usually meant to be a hub world of sorts; they connect all the other locations in the game. But... do they really need to be there?

One could argue that the field areas add a layer of adventure and charm to the game, and I agree. Riding your horse around Hyrule Field with the heroic music in the background, heading toward your next destination does give you a sense of true adventure.

But are they just there to be... there? Should Hyrule Field be changed, whether it be made smaller or have plenty of things to discover added in? Should Zelda have overworlds more like Link's Awakening, where the "field" is pushed aside for more dynamic areas to explore like swamps and mountains?

Explain.

 

[Musicfan]

I could go either keep it the same or add small things to it. It's just that I prefer the journey aspect of wind walker and other games with big overworlds and have the days pass as I rode on a ship. One of the things I did not like about skyward sword is that it felt so stagnet in the overworld. So it may not be the feild size it's self it is the passage if time that I am attracted to.

 

[Kylo Ken]

I know exactly what you mean, and I agree. Hyrule's overworld has been a little boring. And I think there's one little feature that can make it a lot better, traffic. Realistically, there'd be people traveling to and fro, doing civilian stuff. In the various games, Link was alone in the field, with only monsters to keep him company. Made it kind of dull for me. I think adding some traffic would be great.

 

[Azure Sage]

I know exactly what you mean, and I agree. Hyrule's overworld has been a little boring. And I think there's one little feature that can make it a lot better, traffic. Realistically, there'd be people traveling to and fro, doing civilian stuff. In the various games, Link was alone in the field, with only monsters to keep him company. Made it kind of dull for me. I think adding some traffic would be great.

I really like this idea. The idea of seeing people in transit to other locations could be really cool. Maybe you could even save them from monsters sometimes and they'd give you rupees as a reward, or other stuff. It has a lot of possibilities.

---

I do think Hyrule Field should be improved, whether it's with traffic or more secrets. I don't want it to be taken away, though, because I've always loved the travel aspect of the games. It feels really adventurous and just going places is a lot of fun for me. A huge overworld with a lot of content and traffic would be a dream come true for me.

 

[JuicieJ]

I think Zelda overworlds should be like that of A Link to the Past, The Minish Cap, and A Link Between Worlds. There's no real hub area, and there's never a dull moment to be had. It's just one giant, open-ended gameplay space. (Skyward Sword's surface portions can also be described similarly, just without the "open-ended" part.)

 

[Heroine of Winds]

It kinda does to me. It wouldn't hurt that the overworld should have more activity in it besides a bunch of enemies. That'll make them more fun to traverse in & not let them be a complete bore all the time.

 

[PalaeoJoe]

This traffic idea sounds perfect, in TWW there were some boats on the sea and in twilight princess you had to escort some people through Hyrule Field, but there does need to be more development in that area. I have thought about that type of thing before, Maybe MPCs could move through the over world in real time (like how you could see some people moving through Clock Town like Anju).
As for adding more to the field itself I do think that spicing up the environments and landmarks seen could go a long way. There could be small villages scattered throughout the land as well as monuments and structures like old shrines or military outposts (which may or may not be completely abandoned and ruined). I would also suggest that the field essentially be broken up by other types of terrain/environments other than just being plains and grassland (but not replaced entirely). Some suggestions are things like rivers, swamps, small lakes an ponds, small mountains, lava caves or surface lakes, sections of forest.

 

[ihateghirahim]

I like the idea of a large overworld, containing both field and forest sections. The field really does need diversity. I mean I still want that epic riding across the field while a theme song plays, but it could use improvement. I mean I've liked various poe-collecting sidequests and other hidden areas. TP had a cool idea with the hidden caves you have to head into. I (unlike some) enjoyed exploring its vastness and finding secrets and but really there's work to be done to please.

I mean what if there are bushy areas where enemy monsters will occasionally set up ambushes that you have to fight out of? It's kind of dumb and predictable to have foes just sitting around. Kind of like mini versions of that ambush on the bridge in TP. These could force you to pay attention and add challenge to the game. What if enemies even move out across the field in force at night, forcing you to consider if it's even safe to cross from one part to another. It could add a lot of depth, and heighten a player's sense of urgency and peril. We'd see the horrors the people of Hyrule have to face. This would make us feel more connected to saving the land, and subtely increase the emotional impact of our quest.

I've also previously suggested overworlds that change due to the seasons. You could have lakes dry up, refill, and freeze. Snow banks could provide access to new areas but block access to others. Winter could either provide low visibility in a storm, or you could face a bright white area with high visibiltiy for both you and your enemies. Dry parched grass and leaves could catch fire easily, which leaves all sorts of puzzles and dangers possible. Leaves in fall could cover certain areas and hide things. Enemy variety would shift to match the seasons as well.

 

[SyG]

For me, I LOVE these areas. They give the game a sense of everything being fluidly strung together. Spirit Tracks' train tracks were obnoxiously, artificially long and stupid and SS's Sky was pretty sparse - the world underneath felt really separated. But n all of the othe games, I LOVE those areas... so many trinkets and secrets to uncover. the castle in Super Mario 64 also did this, as did Delphino Plaza in Super Mario Sunshine, but to a lesser extent.

 

[r2d93]

I don't agree with what you're saying, for me personally if areas like this weren't in a Zelda title I would be immensely upset. It would probably make me like the game less as well.

Take Skyward Sword. Yes you could say that the sky counts as one of these areas, but when I found out that the main areas on the surface weren't in any way connected, my respect and appreciation for Skyward Sword dropped a lot. It's an Adventure game and being as such you need to actually adventure not just travel through corridors and levels

 

[Beauts]

I think it's important to have those travelling places to make it feel like you're exploring an actual game and are part of the adventure, but I do think they've substituted content for size which is not necessarily a good thing.

 

[AbrahamLinkoln]

I think Zelda overworlds should be like that of A Link to the Past, The Minish Cap, and A Link Between Worlds. There's no real hub area, and there's never a dull moment to be had. It's just one giant, open-ended gameplay space. (Skyward Sword's surface portions can also be described similarly, just without the "open-ended" part.)

Dude you couldn't have said it better as you named 3 games in my top 5

 

[Spiritual Mask Salesman]

I for one think that the feild area should be there, it just simply needs to have more stuff to do in it, and it can be done if nintendo were to just sit down and take the time. I hope this is what they will do with Zelda Wii U, don't rush it, don't release it until everything feels complete.

 

[43ForceGems]

I think it'd feel kinda too bunched up if there wasn't anything connecting them. I mean if you just step out the door of Kakariko Village and are in the Hyrule Castle Market, step out the other side and you fall into Lake Hylia, step out and you're in Deku Forest, it'd be too close together. Also think about real life, you've got a city, maybe a lake or river, and then a long stretch of highway, or fields, until the next one. Or even a desert in some places. Having a big field in between everything you must traverse through is actually realistic, even if it might be bothersome sometimes. I think everything would be way WAY to compacted if there was no field.

 

[Farore's Chosen]

well unless we're playing in a completely different environment, I'm ok with it being there.