The Legend of Zeldaseries could face similar controversy on the Switch 2 as it did with the GameCube years before. A newZeldaentry on the Switch 2 will cause huge excitement in the fanbase as the arrival of more powerful hardware comes with untold possibilities. While many fans will be looking forward to how theZeldadevelopers take advantage of the new hardware for the scale and gameplay of a future title,some may also place importance on how a new entry will take advantage of the Switch 2’s graphical capabilities.
Although theZeldaseries is known for its many groundbreaking titles, it’s often more concerned with reinventing gameplay staples rather than its graphical achievements. ManyZeldagames often forego realism in favor of a more distinct art style that hasn’t always sat well with fans. Of course, with the Switch 2 around the corner, thenextZeldagamehas a chance to avoid the same controversy the series found itself in with a certain game years before. However, such a move could end up hindering futureZeldagames as a result.
The Wind Waker Was A Divisive Zelda Game
Fans Were Desperate For A More Realistic Zelda Entry
It’s safe to say thatThe Wind Waker’s release in 2003 was not what fans were expecting, especially considering what Nintendo originally promised. The few seconds of theZeldatech demo shown during SpaceWorld 2000 were nothing short of spectacular, as attendees witnessed Link and Ganondorf locked in an intense duel. Taking inspiration from the design ofOcarina of Time,the demo showcased the graphical prowess of the GameCube while promising a more mature, dramatic tonethat was enough to sendZeldafans into a frenzy over what the new title could look like.
Alas, the end result was far from what the tech demo had promised.Wind Wakerinstead opted for a cartoonish direction, with a cel-shaded art style and an overall lighter tone to what previous titles had gone for. This switch-up did not sit well with a sizable portion of the fanbase who had prepared themselves for a full-scale version of the SpaceWorld demo.Wind Waker’s less demanding art style felt like a step backwards for many, limiting the potential for a large-scale fantasy epic that the demo had seemingly hinted towards.
Such outcry was a huge contributing factor inTwilight Princess’s direction, as the game’s existence seems almost entirely based on giving fans what they had demanded from a newZeldagame. This new entry included a far more realistic art style, alongside a darker and more mature tone, while also fulfilling the promise made in the SpaceWorld demo with an intense duel between Link and Ganondorf.Nintendo’s pandering to fans paid off in spades, withTwilight Princessquickly becoming the best-selling Zelda entry at the time, serving as a course correction for many who opposedWind Waker’s direction.
Nintendo Switch 2 Presents A New Graphical Opportunity
A Realistic Zelda Game Could Help The Switch 2 To Stand Out
The outcome of theWind Wakercontroversy and the success ofTwilight Princessis a showcase of how important graphical enhancements are to someZeldafans, concerns that will only get bigger with the upcoming Switch 2. While the power of the new console is still unclear,it’s safe to assume that it will be a major improvement over what its predecessor is capable of. Such a big upgrade will certainly have some fans anticipating aZeldatitle that takes advantage of the graphical opportunities the Switch 2 will offer.
AdirectWind Wakersequel was plannedfor the GameCube before focus was shifted toTwilight Princessdue to the former’s underperformance financially.
Realism and impressive visuals are likely of high importance to many fans as theZeldaseries often serves as a benchmark for each generation, with a new game being used to show off the capabilities of that title’s respective console. For example,Skyward Swordfelt like a culmination of the Wii titles that came before, taking advantage of the system’s motion controls to create a fully immersiveZeldaexperience. Moreover,Breath of the Wildfelt like a perfect starting point for the Switch, demonstrating the huge gaming experiences this hybrid console was capable of.
It’s Time To Let Go Of Zelda: Wind Waker & Twilight Princess On Nintendo Switch
The perfect Switch ports probably aren’t happening, but that sad fact doesn’t mean that these classic Zelda games will never be seen again.
It could also be of huge importance as graphics tend to be an area that Nintendo falls behind in. Many exclusive titles for consoles such as PlayStation or Xbox adopt a realistic style to demonstrate the power of their respective console that Nintendo’s hardware isn’t always shown to be capable of. Therefore, a realisticZeldagame will be important for fans as the Switch 2 approaches, becauseit could prove that the console is capable of running a similar experience to what you would find in the company’s major competitors.
Chasing Realism Might Not Be To Zelda’s Benefit
Zelda Games Have Always Prioritized Gameplay Over Everything Else
Despite the numerous calls from fans,chasing realism has never been of interest to Nintendo. Art direction inZeldatitles varies greatly between so many games as it’s in service to the overall experience that the developers want the player to have. When Nintendo forgoes realism and chooses a more distinct, stylized direction that compliments the actual game and its story, that title is made better as a result.
For example,Wind Waker’s cel-shaded style, as inferior as it may be to what other major titles were displaying at the time, is a perfect compliment to that game’s charming narrative and the general childlike wonder that the sea-faring adventure exhibits. That same sense of wonder and optimism that is at the core ofWind Wakercould not have the same impact if the aim was to make a Zelda title that was realistic.
It’s worth noting that many groundbreaking Zelda titles are held in such high regard for anything but their graphics.Ocarina of Time’s main appeal comes from the jump to 3D and how it laid the groundwork for so many other action-adventure titles to build upon.BOTWwas so successful because of how it neglected so much of the well-establishedZeldaformula and instead created a world that the player could explore anyway they wanted to.
Zeldatitles are so well-received because of their focus on challenging a player’s approach to gameplay, something that could be at risk in futureZeldaentries if Nintendo instead focused on realism. As upsetting as a lack of realism may be to certain fans, it’s often necessary in order forZeldatitles to reach their full potential on a gameplay level, where the series excels. Whether Nintendo attempts a more realistic approach toZeldaon the Switch 2 or not, a potential controversy regarding visuals should not stand in the way ofThe Legend of Zeldaexperience it wants to create.
The Legend of Zelda
The Legend of Zelda franchise follows the adventures of Link, an elf-like Hylian, and Princess Zelda as they protect the land of Hyrule from the evil warlord-turned-demon king Ganon. The series is known for its mix of action, adventure, and puzzle-solving elements, often revolving around the collection of the Triforce, a powerful relic left by the goddesses who created Hyrule. Each game features different incarnations of Link and Zelda, maintaining core elements while introducing new characters and settings.
