What did people who got into Zelda at BTOW think the sequel would look like?

[kite.hack]

I've been a fan of Zelda for a long time now. I remember the day my aunt took me to GameStop to let me pick out a couple of games. I remember getting Ninja Storm for my refurbished PS3 and LOZ Twilight Princess for the Wii. I ended up loving TP and would eventually go back and play OOT and MM.

I had a lot of love for that original formula, but I didn't dismiss BOTW, and when I played the game, I enjoyed it a lot, so I was ready to see what they had in mind for a sequel.

The ideas I had were simple: take BOTW and OOT gameplay and then fuse them together, and I think most fans of that OOT formula would agree.

But that made me think, what about people who didn't play those games? What did they think the future of the series would look like? So that brings us to the question: thoughts?

Sorry for any grammar errors.

Cya

 

[MemeAlert]

(Never played the game) I can't imagine someone getting into Zelda because of the Breath of the Wild.

 

[MasterEn]

probably more of the same. same assets and locations, minor changes.
majora's mask reuses a lot of ocarina of time's assets. totk dose that with botw.
they might also only keep playing botw after totk. tears of the kingdom handles its setting rather weirdly.

 

[Graw]

(Never played the game) I can't imagine someone getting into Zelda because of the Breath of the Wild.

I used to watch my old roommate play it sometimes. Man did it ever look boring. He said I could play it whenever I wanted. I never took him up on the offer.

 

[ciro64]

I expected better dungeons.

I haven't played the game for more than 30 minutes or so because I was already worn out of the formula with Breath of the Wild, but I have watched enough video essays to be informed on it

The ideas I had were simple: take BOTW and OOT gameplay and then fuse them together, and I think most fans of that OOT formula would agree.

I would be waay more reliant on OoT if I were in charge, but even just a moderate amount of OoT would already get my attention as a player.

 

[MemeAlert]

I would be waay more reliant on OoT if I were in charge, but even just a moderate amount of OoT would already get my attention as a player.

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... (Me everytime someone implies Ocarina of Time is entertaining)

 

[ciro64]

ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ... (Me everytime someone implies Ocarina of Time is entertaining)

bwAAAAAAAHHHP!

Wake up! I gotta tell you how entertaining Ocarina of Time is!

 

[MemeAlert]

bwAAAAAAAHHHP!
View attachment 81146

Wake up! I gotta tell you how entertaining Ocarina of Time is!

I won't believe you if you told me.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

I would be waay more reliant on OoT if I were in charge, but even just a moderate amount of OoT would already get my attention as a player.

I still think we already got 25 years of OoT in the franchise.

People say that Nintendo are making the same thing for decades so it'd be better to try something new than being stale.

 

[ciro64]

I still think we already got 25 years of OoT in the franchise.

People say that Nintendo are making the same thing for decades so it'd be better to try something new than being stale.

I disagree with the take that the OoT formula got stale, it's the games that came after the N64 that tried too hard with gimmicks and prolonged linear sequences. In my opinion.

 

[funkyrol]

View attachment 81122I've been a fan of Zelda for a long time now. I remember the day my aunt took me to GameStop to let me pick out a couple of games. I remember getting Ninja Storm for my refurbished PS3 and LOZ Twilight Princess for the Wii. I ended up loving TP and would eventually go back and play OOT and MM.

I had a lot of love for that original formula, but I didn't dismiss BOTW, and when I played the game, I enjoyed it a lot, so I was ready to see what they had in mind for a sequel.

The ideas I had were simple: take BOTW and OOT gameplay and then fuse them together, and I think most fans of that OOT formula would agree.

But that made me think, what about people who didn't play those games? What did they think the future of the series would look like? So that brings us to the question: thoughts?

Sorry for any grammar errors.

Cya

The oldest Zelda title I played first was Link to the Past. And I'm in the minority of those that didnt play the OoT/MM route. I mostly played the top-down ones and got back to the series much later with MC (finished it) and WW. . .which I didnt finish tho, I blame that on RE1Make and RE4 lol. Before the BOTW/TOTK saga hit, I played ALBW--when I got a 3DSXL (coincidentally, the "A Link Between Worlds" Edition 3DSXL, download code packed with it. Still running OFW on it btw lol) coz I thought MegaMan Legends 3 was gonna happen but yeah. . .2011 was a letdown. So I went with that, Luigi's Mansion 2, Kid Icarus Rising and Samus Returns. Granted I skipped a lot of the franchise, I was flabbergasted at the idea of an "Open-World" Legend of Zelda title back in 2017. That trailer really sold me on the Switch, and it took me 2-years to finish (with the DLCs) I think it worked out for the franchise, but I'm pretty sure I'm getting flak for saying that

As for the question about "what the future of the series would be like" question: I honestly thought it was going to be either another top-down style game, or something along the lines of "Metroid Prime" where it was going to be FPS-like. Coz I remember they were experimenting around that "Link's Crossbow Training" idea (which I also remember the fans overall disdain of it) But thank god, Nintendo didn't go there.

The most recent Zelda title I've finished is Links Awakening Remake (which I left dormant since 2023, I was swapped with work!) I've enjoyed BOTW and am currently playing TOTK (yeah, a bit "late to the party" but all is well--I am enjoying getting lost in Hyrule once again)

 

[MemeAlert]

I still think we already got 25 years of OoT in the franchise.
People say that Nintendo are making the same thing for decades so it'd be better to try something new than being stale.

Why make something original when we can rehash stuff that people love? (looks at StarFox Zero)

Post automatically merged: Jun 15, 2025

I disagree with the take that the OoT formula got stale, it's the games that came after the N64 that tried too hard with gimmicks and prolonged linear sequences. In my opinion.

You mean Wind Waker & Twilight Princess where they still use the same formula?

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Why make something original when we can rehash stuff that people love? (looks at StarFox Zero).

Starfox Zero was a rehash of a rehash considering how even SF64 was a reboot of SNES Starfox.

I wished the franchise could've actually evolved. Not saying it should take the Zelda route of being Open World but being a bigger scope entry and with higher stakes (maybe a new antagonist? Rehashing Andross like Ganon is already boring).

You mean Wind Waker & Twilight Princess where they still use the same formula?

Even if both had their own twists they are indeed the same formula.

And people also hated Majora's Mask for trying to be too unique with its progression...

Skyward Sword was the last straw about that formula maybe.

 

[KenaiPhoenix]

Im the kind of guy that always tried other Zelda games like OoT, Majoras, Wind Waker or TP and never got into it (We had them because my brother loved them).

But BotW... now that some gourmet shit, I finished twice, once when I got my Switch and other before ToTK come out.

Im not a "true" Zelda fan, but leaving that behing, it might be similar to the Switch games, after all, they sold A LOT.

Now, it is Nintendo, they are capable of just making the next big AAAAAAA Zelda game a top view adventure game like in the NES/SNES era.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

Im the kind of guy that always tried other Zelda games like OoT, Majoras, Wind Waker or TP and never got into it (We had them because my brother loved them).

It's funny because I've also started many Zelda games but always ended up getting stuck at some point.

Unless I force myself then the momentum naturally goes in, I've only done TP Wii and BotW Switch so far for the 3D ones.

Now, it is Nintendo, they are capable of just making the next big AAAAAAA Zelda game a top view adventure game like in the NES/SNES era.

Would it really be an issue?


I'm serious, if they actually make a game that expands even beyond what Echoes of Wisdom has brought up for the top down formula (but with Link this time) that would be really cool because most of the time the top down entries were more humble and on handelds since after A Link to the Past so they could finally do a greater scope entry like ALTTP was for the SNES back then.

 

[MemeAlert]

Starfox Zero was a rehash of a rehash considering how even SF64 was a reboot of SNES Starfox.
I wished the franchise could've actually evolved.

People bitch about controlling Fox outta his Arwing in StarFox Assault. Like do you want Nintendo to do something new or what?

And people also hated Majora's Mask for trying to be too unique with its progression...

That sentence right there is why we can't have nice thing.

Skyward Sword was the last straw about that formula maybe.

I like that they expanded the sword gameplay, thats it.

 

[Ikagura Ikagura]

People bitch about controlling Fox outta his Arwing in StarFox Assault. Like do you want Nintendo to do something new or what?

There are always people complaining about everything.

People say that Nintendo does the same thing for 30+ years yet when they offer a different formula we also get people telling that "it's no longer [video game series]... Why have they changed the formula?"

You can never win and honestly why would I play another SF64 style game if I could play that one?

Anyway, today you can hardly sell a rail shooter arcade game that only lasts an hour long at most (even if it's replayable). 64 managed to be longer than the SNES one mostly thanks to the medal system where you have to get a good score.

That's why Adventure, being an action/adventure game like Zelda, is the longest of the franchise.

That sentence right there is why we can't have nice thing.

Sometimes I don't get Zelda fans (even if MM's flaw is that you'd need an expansion kit and they nerfed the dungeon number down to 4).


Wind Waker was also rushed so there are content you couldn't get and the quest for the Triforce shards is also an annoying one to be honest as much as people who complained for the cartoony graphics were a bit ridiculous.

I like that they expanded the sword gameplay, thats it.

I do like that on paper but motion control overstayed their welcome imo. It would've been acceptable if it released a bit sooner).

I'd rather have a Zelda game where you'd only need one button to attack and motion control would only be required for the tools.

 

[Deleted member 58254]

Zelda BOTW = Zelda Big Ol' Titty Weiners

 

[moonbits]

When I heard that they were making a sequel I only thought of how they would solve some of the issues players had with the Breath of the Wild, like the dungeons and weapon degradation. Suffice to say I think they did a remarkable job in creating much more engaging dungeons and bosses alongside creating a rather unique way of addressing some of those complains.

Like making all the weapons worthless and made players use the fusion system, changing your "powers". The whole build your own vehicle/machine thing was a bit overwhelming and not interesting but after a while It grew on me a lot.

While I've enjoyed this era of Zelda a lot, I do think it's time for another refresh.

 

[MasterEn]

When I heard that they were making a sequel I only thought of how they would solve some of the issues players had with the Breath of the Wild, like the dungeons and weapon degradation. Suffice to say I think they did a remarkable job in creating much more engaging dungeons and bosses alongside creating a rather unique way of addressing some of those complains.

Like making all the weapons worthless and made players use the fusion system, changing your "powers". The whole build your own vehicle/machine thing was a bit overwhelming and not interesting but after a while It grew on me a lot.

While I've enjoyed this era of Zelda a lot, I do think it's time for another refresh.

i've seen some comments on some videos about totk and the devs have more or less said that they are done with the wilds era of the zelda series. hopefully the next game will be either something new and interesting or a revisit to an older entry in the series.

 

[moonbits]

They are mass recruiting for the next one so it's to be expected. I'd like to retain the freedom and exploration while also making it more like old ones. One of the things that I grew to dislike was the borderline excessive inventory Link had, endlessly scrolling through bows, swords, etc was annoying.

Also having 40 ways to heal yourself made the game so piss easy even in challenging areas.They should limit healing aggressively.

 

[Skeleben]

Yeah I assumed the sequel would kinda be like the Majoras Mask to BOTW's Ocarina. What we ended up getting felt like kind of an asset dump, where we just ran around the exact same world with some sky and underground stuff and new runes to equip. Tonally I was hoping Tears Of The Kingdom would go all scary and dark like Majoras did, but in the end it was pretty tame.

 

[Morgana Veil]

"What did people who got into Zelda at BTOW think the sequel would look like?"

Good question. Probably like a rehash of the last game, so the Mario company could ride another wave of cash and reuse the same assets from the last game, throw in a few different characters and story elements, and repackage it.

Holy shit, that's what they did. No, Zelda for the NES is Zelda. AOL is a Zelda game. ALTTP is a Zelda game.

Since the N64, Zelda hasn't really been Zelda.

 

[trickybus]

I'd rather have a Zelda game where you'd only need one button to attack

That was Wind Waker and it was boring as hell. I don't understand why all of Orca's fancy sword techniques exist when all you need to do for most of the enemies is flail in their general direction.

I swear I'm one of only a handful of players that actually liked Skyward Sword despite the motion-control nonsense. I liked the setting, I liked that Zelda was an actual character and not just a set piece, I liked the dungeons, the populated town with fun NPCs, the Imprisoned's adorable toes, the whole shebang. The motion controls were a small price to pay for something different.

As for what I expected for the sequel? I genuinely thought it was going to be a Skyward Sword-inspired entry. And then I landed back in Hyrule with a LEGO builder set and my interest evaporated like the morning dew.

 

[Morgana Veil]

That was Wind Waker and it was boring as hell. I don't understand why all of Orca's fancy sword techniques exist when all you need to do for most of the enemies is flail in their general direction.

Fuck, it's nice to finally meet someone else who doesn't think WW was good, aside from the cute look, which lost its charm ten minutes later

I swear I'm one of only a handful of players that actually liked Skyward Sword despite the motion-control nonsense. I liked the setting, I liked that Zelda was an actual character and not just a set piece, I liked the dungeons, the populated town with fun NPCs, the Imprisoned's adorable toes, the whole shebang. The motion controls were a small price to pay for something different.

Nah, I would love Skyward Sword with proper VR glove-type implementation, gloves for the hands and a VR helmet if you wanted first-person Zelda.

The thing is, if it had half the amount of control with VR-type gloves, where Link's hands moved exactly how yours did, you could wield the Master Sword in real time onscreen. Fuck yes, I'd love that

As for what I expected for the sequel? I genuinely thought it was going to be a Skyward Sword-inspired entry. And then I landed back in Hyrule with a LEGO builder set and my interest evaporated like the morning dew.

Yeah, BOTW was neat for what it was.

It was cool skyriming around Hyrule, but I would actually like a proper old-school Zelda game in 3D.
A full remake of Zelda 1, with no QoL improvements.

I mean a 1:1 remake, just in 3D. That would be fun