Timeshift Thursday: Traditional 2D top-down perspective in Zelda

Hi Zelda fans and avid Zelda Dungeon readers from across the globe! It’s great to have you join me for another Timeshift Thursday feature as today we will take a look at an intriguing aspect which has defined the Zelda series from its launch 27 years ago. Two major viewpoint perspectives have been utilized since the Zelda series became existent; a behind the character 3D environment as well as the traditional 2D top-down viewpoint. In this modern tech day and age many may think that gaming is all about the 3D model experience. It envelopes games with realistic visuals, graphically enhances the environment, and witnessing a targeted object from a great distance is far easier. Yet, this evidence did not disturb Nintendo from creating another 2D top-down title known at this point as Zelda 3DS.

Why would Nintendo choose a 2D top-down perspective for its first original Zelda title on 3DS? Surely, what we’ve seen from Ocarina of Time 3D should be reason enough to warrant a full 3D modeled environment for Nintendo’s next handheld Zelda title. I know a few people who are equally disappointed that Nintendo aren’t showing off the 3DS’ full potential with Zelda 3DS and can’t believe they’ve waited four years from the time Spirit Tracks was released to see that all they’re getting is another 2D top-down title. It’s set to divide opinions between old and new Zelda fans as E3 2013 should give us plenty more info as to how Zelda 3DS will further look.

Would you like to take an in-depth look as to why I think the 2D top-down perspective was still chosen for the next handheld Zelda? If yes is your answer then click the jump!

What we know about Zelda 3DS is that it’s set in the world of A Link to the Past which also happened to be a 2D top-down Zelda title. It seems as if Nintendo wanted gamers to reminisce on their past experience with A Link to the Past and feel the nostalgia which may come from playing Zelda 3DS in the same way. Because Nintendo has chosen to go with the same layout, at least a few journalists, including Alex Plant from our sister site, GenGAME, are concerned that Zelda 3DS is just a remake of the original SNES classic. Not exactly the “new” game we were all hyped up for before the revelation of Zelda 3DS occurred. What we saw in the first trailer, however, is that the 2D top-down perspective will provide some great 3D depth; especially in the dungeon demo we saw the journalists experience firsthand. Maybe Link will feel more alive, as if he’s actually breaking through the virtual barrier separating him from the real world.

Is it time for the 2D top-down perspective to be discarded in the wake of this graphically enhanced gaming industry we now live in? It certainly worked so well back in the 90s’ and early 2000s’ when plenty of games used that visual style but times have changed and the gaming aspect redefined. What we do know is that Zelda 3DS will easily stand out from the rest of the competition with its unique gameplay and layout, unlike most titles being released on the market in this present time. My good friend Alex Plant recently discussed with me how Zelda 3DS is a risky move for Nintendo yet in ways other than its viewpoint. He believes the viewpoint will stand up well for Zelda 3DS and we should be more concerned with the handheld title turning into A Link to the Past’s official remake. Going back and playing old titles such as the original Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, A Link to the Past, Link’s Awakening, Oracle of Ages/Seasons, and even Minish Cap prove that the 2D top-down view can be a delight to play! Yet, time will tell whether Nintendo needs to change its tactics for future Zelda handheld titles. If the sales are as appalling as Spirit Tracks’ then consideration should be taken to determine the fate of handheld Zelda games.

What do you think of Nintendo’s decision to utilize the top-down perspective for this new 3DS handheld Zelda title? Are you excited for Zelda 3DS? Do you prefer the 3D gaming environment for Zelda titles? Let me know what you think in the comments!