N-Philes

Point: Dan
Counterpoint: Jared

Question: Was it completely wise to ditch the Wind Waker style for a more realistic Zelda game?

In yesterday's article (click here to read) Dan asserted that Nintendo should have made a true cel-shaded sequel to Wind Waker, due to Wind Waker's Earth-shattering pre-orders and impressive sales, and also for the sake of keeping a constant style and storyline throughout the Gamecube's lifespan, as was done on the Nintendo 64. Now for Jared's rebuttal.

Jared:

I don't know that Zelda alone is going to put Sony or Microsoft in their respective places, but that's not really what we're talking about here. We're talking about what kind of Zelda would make the best choice as a late Gamecube release, but you don't seem to have that solid a grip on this issue, either. First off, I'm only going to say this once but you should read it twice: no release bearing the Legend of Zelda name will do anything "quietly" on the Gamecube. Late in the game or not, Zelda is going to demand attention. That said, Nintendo only need concern itself with what kind of attention they want.

I might be stepping on toes here, but it's a firm belief of mine that turning to a cel-shading style for Zelda's Gamecube debut in the first place was one of the worst mistakes Nintendo ever made. Not solely because of the end result that was The Wind Waker, which while poor by Zelda standards was still a great game when against the entire industry, but because of its impact on Nintendo as a whole. When your company is losing rapid ground to its ever-growing competition on the basis that your products are too child-centered, "unwise" seems too kind a word to use for the decision to turn your hottest-selling franchise into a cartoon. I can, through gritted teeth, understand Miyamoto's feelings as an artist that let to the decision, but from a purely business sense, it was nothing short of retarded. The Spaceworld 2000 video of Link and Ganondorf doing battle, nothing more than a well-rendered technical demonstration of what kind of graphics the Gamecube could put forth, excited fans than arguably anything else seen before the system's release. So to pull a pillar like that out of their already-unstable foundation of mature titles dealt Nintendo a heady PR blow.

Okay, moving the point ahead now. Nintendo already went from the insanely popular and highly regarded style of the N64 Zeldas (Game of the Century anyone?) to create a schism in their fanbase with Wind Waker's artistic yet childish style. So what's their next move? They can rehash the cel-shading style, which would not only set another coat of paint on the kiddie image but also defeat the purpose of using cel-shading in the first place (which was to keep the Zelda series from becoming stagnant), or they could blaze an all new trail that's different from all previous Zeldas and yet hearkens back to the best days of the franchise. Seems like a clear enough choice.

You mentioned that Nintendo has no reason to fix what's not broken, but it's not a difficult argument to make that the Zelda franchise was, if not broken, in need of some mending. The Wind Waker sold well for a Gamecube game, but there's not much that's not going to sell well with the Zelda name. And while it had an impressive amount of pre-orders, those numbers were undeniably flexed by the fact that pre-ordering Wind Waker gave American gamers a free bonus disc featuring Ocarina of Time and The Master Quest. Overall any new fans won over by the toon style were vastly outnumbered by lost fans who were alienated by it. Keen example: I myself have a gaming buddy who flipped for Ocarina and Majora's Mask, sold his Gamecube by and large due to Wind Waker and the direction it suggested for Nintendo, and now is kicking himself because he knows he's going to have to buy another Cube for the upcoming realistic Zelda. He's only one guy, of course, but Nintendo's position in the console wars coupled with Wind Waker's lower sales suggests he's not an anomaly.

Really, I'm not seeing a convincing reason why departing from the cel-shaded style was a bad idea. The fact that Wind Waker sold fairly well is no consolation when it sold poorer than its predecessors, and your near-suggestion that Nintendo should just give up on the Cube makes even less sense. ALthough it's late in the game, a realistic Zelda can do the impossible, and do what a true sequel to Wind Waker can't--it can sell systems. Nobody is going to buy a Gamecube for another toon Zelda who didn't already buy it for Wind Waker, but Nintendo can make an ending-game grab at more gamers, especially those interested in more mature gaming, with a more mature adventure for Link.

The Revolution is on the horizon, and while that's something to consider it's no reason at all to stop thinking about a console that still has about two years of life left in it. If anything, the Gamecube should go out with a bang to herald in the Revolution with fans hungry for more (especially since any late games made for Gamecube will be playable on the Revolution anyway), not settle for second-best just to get this generation over with and forgotten. I'd rather make this a generation I wouldn't and couldn't forget, and with what looks to be one of Link's most unbelievable adventures to date looming ahead, it seems Nintendo is out to achieve that end. I, for one, say "good show."