Marc Franklin: Zelda U Will be an Entirely New Take on the Series Compared to Wind Waker HD
Posted on April 23 2013 by Nathanial Rumphol-Janc
I’m not sure this comes as a big surprise to many of, but Zelda U won’t really be anything like Wind Waker HD. That is if Marc Franklin, Nintendo of America’s head PR man, knows anything about it. From a Nintendo Life interview:
NL:
There are different Zeldas: 3D and 2D. Even within them are the sub-types, like
motion/stylus-controlled versus buttons, realistic and “Celda.” How do you fold
fans of each into the same enthusiasm for a new game?
MF: If
I may borrow your words, I don’t think we want to fold everyone into a similar
path. I think each game is unique on its own and each one has an opportunity to
create a distinct experience. You look at Wind Waker,
we’re remastering the game in HD, that’s going to be a great experience, and
we’ve announced Zelda HD for Wii U, which is going to be an
entirely new take on Zelda (in comparison). That’s what people appreciate:
being able to have those different experiences.
He talked a bit about Zelda 3DS as well:
NL: The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, an all-time classic and fan favourite, is getting a sequel…ish? How would you characterize Zelda 3DS’s relationship with the SNES game?
MF: The most important point is that it’s an entirely new game. It’s not a remake, it’s not a reimagination, it’s not a remaster, it’s brand new. It takes place in the world of A Link to the Past and the story happens after A Link to the Past, so that’s the way to look at it. There’s so much unique about that game, you know, if you’ve played the original game I think there’s great respect for that (16-bit) look and feel, but then takes it to, if I can be literal, another level as it really looks at the game from a vertical standpoint. You’ve got the 3D visuals and the verticality of the game; it really enhances that whole dynamic. Most interesting about the game right now is the new mechanic of Link being able to form into a chalk drawing and move along the wall to be able to get through to different areas. That’s a fresh approach to puzzle-solving when you’re dealing with a franchise that is so esteemed and so long-running. We hope that fans are going to like it.
NL: What does Nintendo consider to be the key characteristics of A Link to the Past, and how do those characteristics inform Zelda 3DS?
MF: There’s going to be a great amount of respect and understanding of the past game. There’s a nod to the graphics but it’s really taking it a step further and enhancing it. It’s the way that we look at many of our established franchises: how do we take that franchise, create a new, fresh experience that is going to bring a new experience to the consumer? People love Zelda, for example, they always want to see a Zelda come out, but they also want to see it slightly differently. That’s what we’re doing with A Link to the Past: having respect for the franchise and the original game but doing it in a way that we think fans are going to love.
I like how Nintendo is hammering home that Zelda 3DS is a new experience rather than a rehash, and that they feel the various different types and styles present in Zelda games tend to really hit home with different crowds. It’s true that Zelda offers a lot of variety and it should continue to do so in the future. What do you think?
