The Legend of Zelda Series is Prime for a Reboot

The Hidden Triforce writes:

"With the release of Skyward Sword, the Legend of Zelda story was all but complete. We got the backstory on why a new Link and Zelda are born when Hyrule is in peril, how the Master Sword came to be, and the curse that Demise put under Link and Zelda to ensure his hatred is incarnated as Ganondorf. With this, the Zelda story was put to rest; or was it? After the release of Skyward Sword, Hyrule Historia came out, chronicling the story of Zelda into three distinct timelines which confused even the brightest of us. As Skyward Sword tied everything together from a background perspective, the Adult Timeline, Downfall Timeline, and the Child Timeline have all tied together loose ends regarding Ganondorf and the Triforce. What better time could there be to start a reboot of the series?"

[guywazeldatatt]

I think it would be interesting to scrap the whole three-timeline thing. Personally it's incredibly contrived and they could do better.

[3-4-5]

It doesn't need a reboot. That is what each new game is.

With LoZ on Wii U they have the most power ever to achieve more than ever before rather than just the same old stuff, which is still fun.

I just played through Ocarina of Time 3DS and it still feels like an awesome game to play.

A few things are dated, but some stuff is still more fun and better thought out then a lot of games already out now.

Rebooting a franchise to turn it into something that already exists or turn it into something it was never meant to be is the wrong idea.

Take what works, polish it up, and add some new elements to it that will push the series forward.

You don't need a reboot for that.

We are about to get to play the biggest Legend of Zelda game ever made.

[ChickeyCantor]

> I think it would be interesting to scrap the whole three-timeline thing. Personally it's incredibly contrived and they could do better.

Fans cried about it. There it is.

Nintendo never really cared until people started pressing them.

[pcz]

this is probably the most idiotic idea i have read in a long time.

the zelda games are famous for re-inventing themselves with every instalment.

what started out as a side scroller, evolved into top-down, then became 3D. now it looks like it is becoming an open world game..

why would it need a reboot when it is proven to be a very dynamic and unpredictable series?

[LegendZelda]

The games are limited due to past gameplay traits that are fully expected. Nintendo needs to explore new avenues with the series

[nottfadeaway]

I think Nintendo needs to overhaul both the timeline, which is crap, and the conventions of Zelda. They kinda did it in ALBW, but I want a more radical approach. I love dungeons and puzzles, but what about a completely outdoor dungeon, or puzzles appearing in the overworld and getting rewarded with gear in the overworld?

[Kalebninja]

I've been enjoying my Zelda games quite fine they don't need to reboot a series that people are still enjoying as is.

[DiscoKid]

Exactly. I don't think people truly understand what a reboot is or why it's needed.

[WildArmed]

This.
Reboot is necessary when you have stale-reoccuring characters (see Lara Croft).

Zelda has pretty much nothing in common in most games other than the fact you have "Link" and "Zelda" (I mean each game is an alternate "What if" scenario". It's not like they are direct sequel likes Uncharted 1 then 2. You never have to piece the timelines together because they tell the story of a different hero in a different time)

Most of them have very different defining characteristics (OoT - Time skip/rewind, Wind Waker - Sea Travel, Skyward sword- sky travel + wiimotion gameplay, twilight princess - dog gameplay)

That's more variety than any other single franchise like TR, Uncharted, DMC, MGS that follow a single character with the same set of personalities/set pieces/gameplay style. (To be clear, I love MGS, DMC etc etc. This isn't a dig against them)

Says Zelda needs a reboot is like saying Final Fantasy needs a reboot...
FF have nothing in common between games, much like Zelda games. So you could really just say each installment is a "reboot".

[3-4-5]

The people who mostly want it rebooted are the people who don't play it anyways.

Pandering to an audience who doesn't even initially like your product is always the wrong idea, as they will complain the most and move on the quickest to the new thing they want, leaving you with a product that appeals to nobody.

We see it time and time again.

And following 3 timelines is not confusing....you literally have to only remember 3 things.

Can you count to 3 ? ok then your all good.

[Philface]

Absolutely correct. Plus Zelda games are rebooted almost with every entry.

[LegendZelda]

People were still enjoying the Bond series, but it was definitely in need of a reboot. It was stale and formulaic. Every entry was the same thing with no original content

[FallenAngel1984]

Rebooting the Legend of Zelda series sounds just as ridiculous as that other article that stated Final Fantasy should be rebooted.

Every 3D Zelda game has its own characters, world, and protagonist. It essentially gets soft "rebooted" with every installment

[-Foxtrot]

The thing is you could literally just add more timelines.

This is a timeline where X happens

This is a timeline where Y happens

This is a timeline where Z happens

You already have three timelines. One where the hero fails and one where the hero succeeds. However the one where the hero succeeds is spilt into two it's self, one where Ganondorf escapes the Sacred realm and the other where he is executed

They could easily do more if they wanted.

What about if they split the one where the hero fails into two branches like the timeline where the hero succeeds. In this new branch you could have it where Zelda takes up the role to defeat Ganondorf and succeeds. This means that with the Hero defeated and Zelda being the one by some miracle to defeat Ganondorf they decide that all future descendants to the throne must be trained as warriors themselves to protect the realm. Call the hero's death a "wake up call" if you wish.

In the end this could create a timeline where the Hero is killed but the world is still saved thanks to Zelda.

All games in this timeline would make new reincarnations of Zelda as the main star of the game...you know instead of that Linkle crap.

She could still run into Link but because of things turning out different and future people not needing to rely on the Hero there wouldn't be a need for Link to rise up and become the hero. He could literally be a normal villager she runs into and he decides to help her.

[_-EDMIX-_]

no

[Pookandpie]

I agree with everything but the timeline where the hero is killed and Zelda saves the world.

The whole point of the Goddesses Trial, the Master Sword, and the soul of the Hero is that Zelda *can't* be the one to save the world because she is the reincarnation of the Goddess Hylia, forgotten throughout time. Hylia realized her power was not enough to defeat Demise, therefore she decided to lend her power to her creation in order to have them defeat this evil foe.

Your idea would have been fine had it been done *before* Skyward Sword made it so that defeating Ganon, the reincarnation of Demise, cannot be done except by the Master Sword, which can only be wielded by someone possessing the soul of the first hero to forge and wield it (Link).

The first hero's soul in a body of a different gender is one thing (I wouldn't mind the option for a female protagonist, or that being the only option in a timeline or something), but Zelda, the reincarnation of Hylia who was flat-out stated by Word of God to not be able to defeat Ganon by Herself, defeating him would contradict lore established by Skyward Sword.

Zelda's lore has at least reached the point where it has developed (IE, to the extent of separating 1980s game mechanics from story), so going right back on it in the next mainline entry would be asinine.

Again, I'd love a female protagonist, but I'd prefer if that protagonist didn't ruin the lore established by a game that went heavily out of its way to create said backstory. That was probably the only good, cohesive thing that Skyward Sword contributed to the Zelda franchise! lol

[Philface]

This timeline stuff never was intended to be there. Only because people demaned that, Nintendo started to put all games in a frame. IMO it's fine to have connected games like OoT and MM but there shouldn't be more to this.

[guywazeldatatt]

I just think that starting from a fresh slate, leading from SS into the new game, is the best way to go. Even if it is an alternate timeline, and just stick to it going forward. I'm just so tired of this timeline nonsense.

[GamerProfessionals]

Series definitely needs a reboot, and that timeline is just ridiculous, honestly. Hopefully with the advent of Zelda U things only improve from here!

[nottfadeaway]

Zelda U looks great and I think it will open up a whole new can of worms for the series. Hopefully they do away with the timeline and just make it a singular narrative. The three-timeline split just gives me a headache.

[Kamikaze135]

I don't see why. The official timeline exists, but it shouldn't be taken too seriously. I doubt Nintendo puts much thought into where the next Zelda fits into the timeline. If they reboot Zelda, what would happen? We'd get a new beginning and other sequels later on? They can just make a new timeline. Zelda games aren't focused on story enough for a reboot to make much of a difference.

[rjason12]

No way, we just finally got a concrete timeline a few years ago after fans have been wanting it for years.

[maniacmayhem]

Each Zelda seems to introduce something new. As different as each Zelda is I don't think this series needs a reboot of any kind.

[rjason12]

It's not like how resident evil has gotten.

[showtimefolks]

I don't think it needs a reboot. What Nintendo should do is what they did with zelda wind waker and what they are doing with twilight princess and that is to make a HD remaster of Ocarina of Time's and Majora's Mask

by doing these HD remasters they are basically introducing zelda games to a whole lot of new fans

[user6666047]

Just ignore the timeline stuff and bang, Rebooted every time.

[Pookandpie]

We finally got a concrete timeline, and I don't see the point in a reboot when in one game you're time traveling, then you're time traveling and it's depressing and creepy, and then in the very next entry, the world is flooded and you're sailing on a talking boat and everything is bright and cheerful and shiny (in stark contrast to the dark and depressing of Majora's Mask lol).

Nintendo has proved time and again that they will do whatever themes they want to do with Zelda. If they want you to play as a cartoon bobble-head, they just say, "An unspecified number of years have passed since the game where you did the timewarp again and kept the moon from falling on ugly people. Oh yeah, and the world is flooded, your boat talks, and now you have a sister, too."

They went right from Wind Waker back to depressing and creepy (Twilight Princess), and then decided to put everything in the sky and have you fly on birds in the console entry right after that- this is not even counting the ones on handheld where you have a train for practically no reason other than Nintendo thought a train would be a cool addition to the game.

I see no problem with maintaining just some small themes from one entry to the next, and all, but I'm pretty sure Nintendo's track record with the series has proven that they're not ones to shy away from picking literally any theme that sounds fun and running with it, even with their newly established 'timelines.'

[GameBoyColor]

I feel like they reboot the game everytime and at the end of production they find a nice way to put it into timeline canon. So an actual reboot is unnecessary.

[wonderfulmonkeyman]

I don't feel it needs a reboot.
Heck, we haven't even seen the war between Hylia and Demise; there's potential for a prequel in that.

Likewise, on the other end of the spectrum, we have yet to see Link or Zelda find some way, in any timeline, to end the curse with which Demise bound the ancestors of the hero and heroine.
Even in the timeline where the hero does not survive, a new replacement for the lost hero comes forth, the curse lingers, and Ganondorf returns, time and time again.

I think the series will only be due for either a reboot or a new arc, once the Hero and Heroine have found a way to sever Ganon's demonic soul from its eternal cycle of resurrection.
The Triforce might be able to accomplish that, but it seems every time it's involved at the end of a quest, it is needed for a more immediate issue instead.

I would honestly like to see Link and Zelda finally have to confront the soul of Ganon, AKA Demise, in a reawakened form, in order to finally put his era to rest.

After that point, they could either continue on with the same hero and heroine in a new arc with a new kingdom and new dangers, or do a reboot of some sort.

But in either case, without a proper end, I don't think the series is quite ready for a new beginning.

And besides, what with the major geographical changes that happen between most of the entries, it could be argued that, outside of core story elements, each new entry is sort of like a mini reboot unto itself.

[LegendZelda]

I would pay good money to have a prequel surrounding that plot

[Chaosdreams]

It doesn't need a reboot. It needs one thing.

Itself.

I don't think a series that stands on its own with each instalment, yet also has subtle connections, needs a 'reboot.' This isn't a series where you need to know what happened in the other games to be able to enjoy the one you are playing. Sure, having an actual knowledge of the timeline now makes things more, say, exotic, but before I knew what connected to what, I let my imagination fill in the dots. There's a sense of insane awe and nostalgia whenever you're a new Link.

There's certain set pieces, and sometimes a nice chunk of information that will appear, to newcomers and veterans, it delivers on both fronts properly. Why on earth would a formula like that need a fix? I don't know many series that work that well. We play the games because we love them, not because we're confused and need to know all the information. You're really confused? Use your imagination a little. After all, Link is our connection, and there's a reason the story isn't all compact into one installment.

Sigh, a reboot.

Honestly, nothing is safe anymore from unnecessary suggestions.

[Pookandpie]

Truly; I agree.

The Zelda series doesn't need rebooted simply because the series itself has never been one to lend itself to only a singular theme. If Nintendo has a new setting, story, or mechanic they want to try out, they try it out, come hell (in a lunar-induced apocalypse) or literal high water (the world flooding a la Wind Waker).

I mean, Majora's Mask was proceeded by Wind Waker; the most depressing and creepy game in the entire series had its next entry be the most colorful world full of cel-shaded bobble-headed characters and a giant sea. Twilight Princess was proceeded by Skyward Sword, a world inspired by impressionist painting styles, where you fly on a bird for travel, have a stamina gauge, and a completely new control scheme for combat and literally every weapon.

Nintendo isn't beholden to just one theme, therefore reboots are unnecessary because series themes aren't preventing them from doing something new. They have shown time and again that they don't let continuity get in the way of trying out something they think is cool- be it trains, boats, entirely different and unique graphical styling, air travel via birds, turning into a painting on a wall, or what have you.

[tweet75]

I would really like to see the original Zelda or link to the past redone with modern graphics in 3d.

[Stealth20k]

Things are fine the way they are.

[JunMei]

That's so stupid. Almost every single game is a reboot of sorts.

[Big_Game_Hunters]

Yes with an overweight strong female protagonist.

[guywazeldatatt]

Personally I just want to cut out the three split timelines. It's a joke. Start with SS and scrap everything else, even if it is in an alternate universe/parallel universe. There is so much they can do if they were to follow a continuity where Ganon is not dead (and not use the reviving trope). Ganondorf is the best villain in the series. I really don't want to see him go. SS was excellent in terms of story and gameplay, although I know motion controls was not for everyone. Get rid of the filler. From what we've seen Zelda U will be great. I'm sure hoping for it!

[LegendZelda]

I see a lot of comments saying that every game is a reboot of sorts, and I just do not see how that is so.

Every game is usually awkwardly pushed into a timeline in a way that vaguely makes sense. And every game follows the gameplay formula to the dot in almost every possible way. They might switch up a couple of minor elements here and there, but nothing in any meaningful way.

[guywazeldatatt]

The only game I personally want to connect to this new game is SS, as it is the foundation of everything. I say scrap everything else and reboot the series ala Bond. I think this is long overdue for Zelda. Or do some weird crazy game and converge all the timelines, lol, but really that would be convoluted.

[ZeekQuattro]

No. Nothing is wrong with the franchise other than the constant delays. Just because reboots are all the rage now doesn't mean every franchise has to chime in.

[TheOldSuitedMan]

This article is awesome, I love the way it was written!