Miyamoto interested in a Zelda game by Retro Studios

**Valigarmander** · 12-13-2011, 05:01 PM

Shigeru Miyamoto Knows Some Americans He'd Make a Zelda With

Quote:

The Legend of Zelda is one the most successful video game franchises to ever come from Japan. It's been mostly made by Nintendo studios in Kyoto, with some added efforts by Capcom, which is based in Osaka.

Shigeru Miyamoto, Nintendo's top game designer and lead creator of the 25-year-old Zelda series now sees a team of Americans he'd be interested in tapping: Retro Studios.

"We have already collaborated with Retro for the Metroid Prime series in the past," Miyamoto told Wired. "And I think when we talk about any other franchise, Zelda might be a possible franchise for that collaboration."

Retro is based in Texas and is fully owned by Nintendo. The studio did most of the development for the three acclaimed first-person Metroid Prime games, the last of which was released in 2007. Following the departure of three of its top creators, Retro nonetheless collaborated with Nintendo's Japanese home office to create the well-regarded 2010 Wii side-scroller Donkey Kong Country Returns and played what appears to have been a junior role in collaborating on the creation of this year's Mario Kart 7.

It is hard to nail down just what the meaningful differences would be from having an American studio work on Zelda rather than only Japanese ones, but Miyamoto himself was vague in telling Wired what he thinks the difference may be: "People often say that videogames made by Western developers are somehow different in terms of taste for the players, in comparison with Japanese games. I think that means that the Western developers and Japanese developers, they are good at different fields. And that resulted in a different taste in [their games]." He said that Retro was assigned the development of certain tracks in Mario Kart 7 that suited their style.

Retro's output has been well-reviewed. It's hard to say what their hallmarks are, aside from impressive graphics. All of their games have been among the most visually-striking released by Nintendo in the last several years.

Miyamoto's comments about Retro doing a Zelda confirm nothing, of course. But he is the guy who has said in the past that it was his idea to offer Metroid to Retro and suggested they make a first-person game.

***Marilink*** · 12-13-2011, 05:59 PM

Oh man...that sounds awesome. I've loved everything Retro has done with Nintendo series, and I have a lot of confidence that they'd do Zelda well, too.

Robotazy · 12-13-2011, 06:44 PM

That would be interesting.

***Cosmonautical*** · 12-13-2011, 08:00 PM

Yes, I already had this idea. I feel that Retro have been more respectful of continuity and what makes up the success of previous games, which would make them a good match for the Zelda series. If Miyamoto wants to do his 3D LttP or a Zelda II update with them, I suppose that would be the best place to go.

ahuambachano · 12-18-2011, 07:10 AM

I wonder if they'll be able to handle Zelda's character properly in their games, because every potential that Zelda is given ever since Ocarina of Time (Zelda becomes a Sheikah warrior, wasted; Zelda wields a sword, wasted; so on) is always wasted by Nintendo. I ask this becasue of how they handled Samus properly compared to what Team Ninja did.

The Missing Link · 12-18-2011, 04:13 PM

Well on he plus side, Retro has been able to give Metroid, a game that ordinarily should get lumped in with every FPS ever with its crappy story lines and standard mechanics, and has made it a rather impressive and amazing series. I can't help but think they might treat Zelda better than Nintendo might.

Chaos Deviot · 12-18-2011, 04:42 PM

You mean that they'd make more games like the first Zelda, which was freakin' awesome? Yes, please. When I get more interested in the Zelda Fangames, something is wrong.

Not to say the newer games are bad, but they really just aren't as epic as they used to be. Most of them are hit and miss these days. It seems they're getting better thanks to Skyward Sword, though.

***Cosmonautical*** · 12-19-2011, 12:06 AM

Yeah, the Zelda games they've been making are fun but have very little sense of wonder about them. Everything in them is some intricate game device.

Insert obligatory "arrow to the knee while making Zeldas" joke.

**X-3** · 12-19-2011, 08:07 AM

Nintendo used to be able make Zelda epic...but then they took a Deku Seed in the knee.

Console Zeldas have always been able to feel epic for me. The handheld games meanwhile always felt less important.

***Ace Mercury*** · 12-19-2011, 08:55 AM

So, does this mean that Team Ninja is going to make the next Zelda game after that one?

***Marilink*** · 12-19-2011, 10:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X-3

Nintendo used to be able make Zelda epic...but then they took a Deku Seed in the knee.

Console Zeldas have always been able to feel epic for me. The handheld games meanwhile always felt less important.

I dunno, Link's Awakening has the most epic and disproportionate-to-its-hardware scope of any video game I've ever played. For a gameboy game to feel that big was an amazing accomplishment.

Chaos Deviot · 12-19-2011, 04:00 PM

Outside of the DS games, I thought the handheld ones were more epic. Albeit, the DS games were good too, but the controls kill it for me. I love the idea, the items, just can't stand the meh controls.

As for the console games, the only one I really found meh was Twilight Princess, IMO. It felt bland in some ways. Was definitely a very fun game, but I don't know, it just didn't have enough soul to it. I blame the art style. It puts me off.

***Cosmonautical*** · 12-19-2011, 09:33 PM

The handheld games (beside the touch-to-win DS ones with little to no environment or combat to speak of) are generally much more gameplay-focused. Skyward sword has stepped up much of the gameplay on the puzzle-side, although it still feels a bit like a chore to go through some of the motions toward the end of the game. I genuinely think console Zeldas will never feel as strategic in battle as they used to, and there's no helping that with the current linear model they've been employing.

I think if they made a new console Zelda with as little NPC interaction as possible, like Metroid: Prime, it could easily be the best Zelda ever made.

Although, honestly, I'd probably give higher marks to an Elder Scrolls installment with Hyrule as the subtitle.

My favorite recent Zelda game is RAGE, though.

**X-3** · 12-19-2011, 10:08 PM

Dark Souls is pretty good Zelda-like game. I think I got more into it than Skyward Sword.

***Marilink*** · 12-20-2011, 12:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by the Octopus

Although, honestly, I'd probably give higher marks to an Elder Scrolls installment with Hyrule as the subtitle.

This. Ever since I've played Skyrim, I've been dreaming of an open-world Hyrulian RPG. Just the thought of being able to choose what race I would play is sooooo awesome to me. I've always loved the Kokiri, and that'd be great, but playing as a Goron would be a lot of fun, and Zoras are really cool, and Gerudo are neat, and gah that is such a pipe dream but I would LOVE LOVE LOVE It.

And, Skyward Sword spoilers,

Spoiler Below

since they've established that the hero is more of a spiritual entity and not, like, an inherited title, it's totally feasible for the "dovahkiin" of a Zelder Scrolls game could be from another race. oh, man, the possibilities. The possibilities!

Kargath · 12-20-2011, 03:09 AM

The one concept that keeps floating around in my head is Stallord.
Look at all the weapons embedded in its skull, and all the dead soldier corpses it has access to. It looks like it took a lot of killing in the first place....

Maybe a squad combat game with mechanics similar to Pikmin or Chaos Legion? You play as a Sheikah hero, acting as a free agent for the Hyrule king/queen. You travel around, putting down rebellions, taking down evil monsters (defeating them or sealing them away as necessary), and in general acting as a royal enforcer. You being a Sheikah would give justification as to why you have higher rank and skill than your personal retinue.

Gameplay could vary as well - in some missions you would lead an ala taking on the Bokoblins in Hyrule Field, others a small elite squad to navigate a dungeon and seal away some evil, and some missions might be solo infiltrations such as assassinations, spying and sabotage.

12-19-2011, 08:07 AM	#9
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,947 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	twist Nintendo used to be able make Zelda epic...but then they took a Deku Seed in the knee. Console Zeldas have always been able to feel epic for me. The handheld games meanwhile always felt less important.

12-19-2011, 10:08 PM	#14
X-3 Useful as an Owl Join Date: Jan 2004 Gender: Posts: 15,947 Thanks: 753 Thanked 1,213 Times in 790 Posts Blog Entries: 10	so yeah I guess Demon's Souls would be good too Dark Souls is pretty good Zelda-like game. I think I got more into it than Skyward Sword.

12-13-2011, 05:59 PM	#2
*Marilink* Gotta catch 'em all! Supermod! Join Date: Aug 2001 Location: Location, Location. Gender: Posts: 29,118 Thanks: 2,536 Thanked 1,823 Times in 1,008 Posts	Oh man...that sounds awesome. I've loved everything Retro has done with Nintendo series, and I have a lot of confidence that they'd do Zelda well, too.

12-13-2011, 06:44 PM	#3
Robotazy PRESS ANY KEY TO PANIC! Join Date: Sep 2000 Location: A Tiny Shed Gender: Posts: 16,484 Thanks: 529 Thanked 1,254 Times in 897 Posts Blog Entries: 46	That would be interesting.

12-13-2011, 08:00 PM	#4
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,103 Thanks: 2,158 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Yes, I already had this idea. I feel that Retro have been more respectful of continuity and what makes up the success of previous games, which would make them a good match for the Zelda series. If Miyamoto wants to do his 3D LttP or a Zelda II update with them, I suppose that would be the best place to go.

12-18-2011, 07:10 AM	#5
ahuambachano Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: I don't know: Hyrule or Mushroom? Gender: Posts: 2,668 Thanks: 26 Thanked 23 Times in 13 Posts	I wonder if they'll be able to handle Zelda's character properly in their games, because every potential that Zelda is given ever since Ocarina of Time (Zelda becomes a Sheikah warrior, wasted; Zelda wields a sword, wasted; so on) is always wasted by Nintendo. I ask this becasue of how they handled Samus properly compared to what Team Ninja did.

12-18-2011, 04:13 PM	#6
The Missing Link Professional Lurker Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: New Hyrule, Washington, US Gender: Posts: 17,128 Thanks: 405 Thanked 606 Times in 368 Posts	Well on he plus side, Retro has been able to give Metroid, a game that ordinarily should get lumped in with every FPS ever with its crappy story lines and standard mechanics, and has made it a rather impressive and amazing series. I can't help but think they might treat Zelda better than Nintendo might.

12-18-2011, 04:42 PM	#7
Chaos Deviot The Betrayer Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt. Moon Gender: Posts: 1,813 Thanks: 171 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts Blog Entries: 1	You mean that they'd make more games like the first Zelda, which was freakin' awesome? Yes, please. When I get more interested in the Zelda Fangames, something is wrong. Not to say the newer games are bad, but they really just aren't as epic as they used to be. Most of them are hit and miss these days. It seems they're getting better thanks to Skyward Sword, though.

12-19-2011, 12:06 AM	#8
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,103 Thanks: 2,158 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	Yeah, the Zelda games they've been making are fun but have very little sense of wonder about them. Everything in them is some intricate game device. Insert obligatory "arrow to the knee while making Zeldas" joke.

12-19-2011, 08:55 AM	#10
*Ace Mercury* Marshmallow Knight ☆ Supermod Join Date: Jun 2000 Location: Southern Ontario Gender: Posts: 23,275 Thanks: 568 Thanked 3,297 Times in 1,582 Posts Blog Entries: 1	So, does this mean that Team Ninja is going to make the next Zelda game after that one?

12-19-2011, 04:00 PM	#12
Chaos Deviot The Betrayer Join Date: May 2004 Location: Mt. Moon Gender: Posts: 1,813 Thanks: 171 Thanked 52 Times in 49 Posts Blog Entries: 1	Outside of the DS games, I thought the handheld ones were more epic. Albeit, the DS games were good too, but the controls kill it for me. I love the idea, the items, just can't stand the meh controls. As for the console games, the only one I really found meh was Twilight Princess, IMO. It felt bland in some ways. Was definitely a very fun game, but I don't know, it just didn't have enough soul to it. I blame the art style. It puts me off.

12-19-2011, 09:33 PM	#13
*Cosmonautical* Join Date: Aug 2002 Location: I rub my tilde all over your asterisk Gender: Posts: 28,103 Thanks: 2,158 Thanked 5,338 Times in 2,433 Posts	The handheld games (beside the touch-to-win DS ones with little to no environment or combat to speak of) are generally much more gameplay-focused. Skyward sword has stepped up much of the gameplay on the puzzle-side, although it still feels a bit like a chore to go through some of the motions toward the end of the game. I genuinely think console Zeldas will never feel as strategic in battle as they used to, and there's no helping that with the current linear model they've been employing. I think if they made a new console Zelda with as little NPC interaction as possible, like Metroid: Prime, it could easily be the best Zelda ever made. Although, honestly, I'd probably give higher marks to an Elder Scrolls installment with Hyrule as the subtitle. My favorite recent Zelda game is RAGE, though.

12-20-2011, 03:09 AM	#16
Kargath et in Arcadia ego Join Date: Jul 2001 Gender: Posts: 8,334 Thanks: 1,226 Thanked 780 Times in 488 Posts	The one concept that keeps floating around in my head is Stallord. Look at all the weapons embedded in its skull, and all the dead soldier corpses it has access to. It looks like it took a lot of killing in the first place.... Maybe a squad combat game with mechanics similar to Pikmin or Chaos Legion? You play as a Sheikah hero, acting as a free agent for the Hyrule king/queen. You travel around, putting down rebellions, taking down evil monsters (defeating them or sealing them away as necessary), and in general acting as a royal enforcer. You being a Sheikah would give justification as to why you have higher rank and skill than your personal retinue. Gameplay could vary as well - in some missions you would lead an ala taking on the Bokoblins in Hyrule Field, others a small elite squad to navigate a dungeon and seal away some evil, and some missions might be solo infiltrations such as assassinations, spying and sabotage.