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Eiji Aonuma shares some details about Zelda A Link Between Worlds

http://www.ign.com/articles/2013/10...rlds-impact-on-zeldas-past-present-and-future

I don't want to quote the quote the whole thing, but there's more at IGN and it's pretty interesting. Here's a couple of quotes.

“As you probably know, after A Link to the Past, Link goes off on a trip. The Link in this game is a different one. So I think we can assume that it’s quite a bit farther in the future, ” Aonuma said through an interpreter. But according to the timeline, A Link to the Past is followed by the Oracle of Seasons/Ages games, Link’s Awakening, and the original Zelda games on the NES. Would there be any specifics callouts take place during the adventure? “I’ll leave that to your imagination. Although, for example, Link’s Awakening is not a game that takes place in Hyrule itself, so it’s not like it directly connects to that one. Maybe that’s the right track to get you there?”

We also asked if he had any other details to share about the villain named Yuga. We couldn't help but notice a visual connection to the Gerudo, a race of humans introduced in Zelda: Ocarina of Time that consisted solely of females, with one male born every hundred years. “I don’t think he’s a Gerudo, “ Aonuma clarified. “I think perhaps the designers were a bit influenced by the art from past games. One of things we did with him, actually, was to make him a little bit ambiguous gender-wise, whether he’s a man or a woman. Having the longer hair and all. He also actually sings in the game.”
 
lol, thought the villain was a woman completely. Hopefully he doesn't seem like a redo of Ghirahim, but then again, Ghirahim was fucking great so I wouldn't mind too bad.
 
So another effeminate villain...?

Like, why?

Because Nintendo. I thought everyone would be accustomed to the wacky world of Zelda characters after Majora's Mask and so on. This villain looks a bit less goofy though and more... well, villainous.
 
"But according to the timeline, A Link to the Past is followed by the Oracle of Seasons/Ages games, Link’s Awakening, and the original Zelda games on the NES. Would there be any specifics callouts take place during the adventure? “I’ll leave that to your imagination. Although, for example, Link’s Awakening is not a game that takes place in Hyrule itself, so it’s not like it directly connects to that one. Maybe that’s the right track to get you there?”

Why do these guys even bother saying this stuff? It's not like past characters appear in other games or have an overarching narrative. It just looks silly to me that they think there is anything worth trying to convey at this point narratively.
 
This game just doesn't look very appealing artistically, everything is bland and soulless looking, I'm really not feeling it at all.

I'm sure it will have some neat ideas and some nice dungeon designs but I just can't get excited for it right now, Zelda needs a change of direction honestly.
 
“What I wanted to do was make a game where you could get stuck and get lost and you’d have to think about things, but you’d have fun doing that. Obviously, If you just get stuck and stay stuck, that’s not fun. If you get lost and stay lost, that’s not fun. But if there’s a way out that you’re able to get to, that’s where I think the fun of a Zelda game lies, “ Aonuma explained. “In previous Zelda games, we've created the scenarios and linked them together in a line. But ultimately that becomes super linear. I think that’s not really that much fun. What I wanted to do with this new game, A Link Between Worlds, is to be able to give players lots of choices and let them be able to think about things for themselves.”

Stahp you damn teaser, stahp.
 
Some more info I haven't seen posted, The order you do dungeons will affect cutscenes (From mashable interview)

Aonuma: The other main thing, along with the item rental system and the order of dungeons, is this idea of linearity versus non-linearity. Recently Zelda games have been very linear, and the idea of being able to do things in any order is something that only games can achieve. When you watch a cartoon or a movie, you watch from beginning to the end and you have the story. If a game only tells a story linearly, it’s not really using that full potential of the game. The main thing we wanted to accomplish with A Link Between Worlds was to have that non-linear style.

Mashble: Does that mean cut scenes can’t be tied to starting or finishing a dungeon?

Aonuma: What we had to do was have multiple versions of cut scenes that could play based on what dungeons you’d completed, and obviously that was much more difficult.

“ Although, for example, Link’s Awakening is not a game that takes place in Hyrule itself, so it’s not like it directly connects to that one. Maybe that’s the right track to get you there?”

Could explain the change of the original artwork to a more OOX style link.

I think perhaps the designers were a bit influenced by the art from past games. One of things we did with him, actually, was to make him a little bit ambiguous gender-wise, whether he’s a man or a woman. Having the longer hair and all. He also actually sings in the game.”

Seems like a mix of ganondorf, Ghirahim and vaati which should be interesting. Can't wait to hear him sing for whatever reason he does so haha. Probably just for fun to troll link.
 
Could explain the change of the original artwork to a more OOX style link.

As always, they figure out the story as the development goes on, so I bet at one point they said "we need to make it different so it's clear its not the same link"

Aonuma says it takes place farther in the future beyond Oracle of Seasons/Age, Links Awakening, and Zelda?

Is a sequel to Alttp in the same sense TP or WW are sequels to OoT, the MM side story is still a side story. Just like LA.
Also since it takes place on the same overworld is much more connected than OoT to TP for example (and iirc is still called Trifoce of the Gods 2 in japan)
 
Sooo, it's kind of not a direct sequel to Link to the Past?

What do you consider a direct sequel? It takes place directly after LttP (even if it is many years after), takes place in the same Hyrule, and is following up the story with Ganon being resurrected again.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.

Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.

Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.

Cool, we got it.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.
 
I thought the villain looked pretty good, but never thought it was a woman. Seemed pretty clearly male to me, just obviously not build on a stereotypical male body type.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.
 
There can be only one.

image.php
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.

Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.

Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.

Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.

Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking one with all of the makeup, etc.

Thanks, guys.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.
 
Villain always looked like Ganondorf X Kefka, so I always thought of him as a guy. Just a very effeminate-looking with all of the makeup, etc.
 
Would be really strange if the villain is really a guy. Never thought that Ghirahim was a woman but I really thought this new character was one.
Because Nintendo. I thought everyone would be accustomed to the wacky world of Zelda characters after Majora's Mask and so on.

Yeah, no way would a boss in Majora's Mask fight you by dancing or throw a tantrum.
 
Why do these guys even bother saying this stuff? It's not like past characters appear in other games or have an overarching narrative. It just looks silly to me that they think there is anything worth trying to convey at this point narratively.
Uh... Every Zelda released since OoT has referenced previous games, especially Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Skyward Sword was a prequel to everything. MM, PH, and ST were all direct sequels, as were AoL, LA, and the Oracle games. Characters do sometimes appear in multiple games; like Ganon, Niko, Hero of Time's ghost, etc.

It doesn't hurt to ask, especially for a sequel set in a very familiar world map already.
 
Uh... Every Zelda released since OoT has referenced previous games, especially Wind Waker and Twilight Princess. Skyward Sword was a prequel to everything. MM, PH, and ST were all direct sequels, as were AoL, LA, and the Oracle games. Characters do sometimes appear in multiple games; like Ganon, Niko, Hero of Time's ghost, etc.

It doesn't hurt to ask, especially for a sequel set in a very familiar world map already.

It's all pretty self contained though, there's slight references sure, but never anything substantial. It's so minimal that it just seems ridiculous to me that anybody could even care.

There's next to zero character development in these games, so why everyone is so invested in the world is a mystery to me.

They are great games, but looking for some overarching narrative is fruitless.
 
Going to be shocked when it doesn't fit cleanly into one of the...three I think? timelines they supposedly work with.

e: the interview is worrying, though.

It confirms that the magic mirror is not in the game, and that the go between worlds ability is instead joined with the become-a-painting-in-the-wall ability.

Which means the freeform switch between worlds of aLttP is gone and we regress to a system with static portals (unless I am missing something, but I've only seen Link going between worlds by going into crevices as a painting).
 
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