70°

What Legend of Zelda Can Teach Us about Dungeon Design

The dungeon: One of the big staples of tabletop RPGs.

While the word conjures up images of a Tolkien-esque band of treasure hunters looting a medieval crypt full of skeletons, the term “dungeon” could just as easily apply to a corporate research lab in Shadowrun or a supervillain’s secret lair in Mutants and Masterminds. Once the context is taken away, a dungeon can be simply defined as:

"A closed-off space made up of interconnected rooms which will be full of enemies to fight, puzzles to solve, treasure to find and, most importantly, some important MacGuffin the party needs to obtain."

But all too often dungeons end up being rather tedious and formulaic affairs. The party shows up, kicks down the door, fights a bunch of little monsters and really big monster at the end, takes the treasure and leaves. While there is nothing wrong with this design and such a design can even be quite fun, it lacks a certain originality and depth that makes a dungeon really stick out in a player’s mind.

Read Full Story >>
gnomestew.com
abzdine4704d ago

Everything !
Zelda's level design is the best in class !

claud34704d ago

Zelda is awsome in that way

CouldHaveYelledUiiW4704d ago

I agree-
But of the Zelda's I have played Zelda 1,2, and Skyward Sword had the best dungeons.

Xof4704d ago

I totally disagree on that point. SS had some nice dungeons, but they were too segregated. I'd rate Twilight Princess, Majora's Mask and Ocarina of Time and maybe even all three WW-esque games higher. Probably with MM in the top spot.

Anyway, Zelda (unfortunately) didn't seem to teach anyone much about anything, because so many of the series' innovations (as is often the case) were ignored for so very long, not really catching on until several years after release.

We're talking basic stuff, here. Like the health meter, the DUNGEON MAP (jesus ****ing Christ this took too long to catch on) and the quest journal.

Hell, in that last case even the Zelda series itself decided not to learn anything and abandon the concept.

60°

Link Should Talk, but Choose His Words Carefully in The Legend of Zelda Movie

Link should have a voice in The Legend of Zelda Movie. While he mostly stays quiet in the games, he canonically does speak but usually holds back on expressing his thoughts. In a movie format, it is better for the character and the story itself that Link speaks.

Read Full Story >>
gamesandwich.com
got_dam91d ago

I just hope it's not a bunch MCU Snarky McJokeface dialog. Started playing veilguard free on PSN (would not recommend) and it's a perfect example of how dialog in contemporary entertainment is garbage.

Relientk7791d ago

It's gonna be Chris Pratt again lol

"It's a me Link"

50°

Nintendo Hopes To Continue Making Both Top-Down 2D & Dynamic 3D Zelda Games

Nintendo is hoping to continue working on both top-down 2D and dynamic 3D The Legend of Zelda games in the future.

Read Full Story >>
twistedvoxel.com
229d ago
70°

The Winds of Time mod combines two Legend of Zelda classics

A Legend of Zelda fan has been modding various aspects of Ocarina of Time into The Wind Waker over the last few years. They recently gave a big update on the project and it looks great.

Read Full Story >>
gamesandwich.com