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[TDLink]

They don't need to be in every game but I wouldn't mind seeing the idea again. The main thing they should take away from the masks, which you also mention here, is that they really make sidequests feel rewarding. A piece of heart can only be rewarding so many times and rupees are an absolutely awful reward. Yet typically those are the only two things you get in Zelda games outside of the dungeon weapons or occasionally one item found outside of it. The sidequests in Majora's Mask were above the other games and memorable because of the 3 day cycle. However, they were also worth doing because you got something else out of it often. The masks gave the game a good reward system and in most cases those masks were used for further sidequests and/or had utility of some sort.

Whether it's the masks or some other item (or set of items) sidequests need to reward the player with something unique and interesting and not always just more life or rupees.

That's the take away from MM for Zelda U and beyond.

The Bomber's Notebook is a great idea in general and a quest journal type system should definitely be employed in future titles if they are going to have extensive sidequests again (which they should). Not every Zelda has those kinds of sidequests though. For example, I didn't really think Twilight Princess would have merited a Bomber's Notebook type of feature. For the big open world that Zelda U appears to be though, I kind of expect it.

 

[James Scott]

For those that say "I'd rather rings come back" is there any particular reason you don't want masks back? They are pretty similar in function, they just don't provide the cosmetic change which makes masks feel a bit more unique

 

[EatChildren]

I'd like them to give masks another crack, but I don't want them to become a staple. The less game feature specific staples any series has the better. What I'd like to see more is new, significant ideas/items integral to the design and themes of each game to make them distinct in the same way Majora's Mask is relative to the rest.

 

[ReyVGM]

You can expect Zelda WiiU to have NPCs with schedules and the game will have a "bomber's notebook" of the sort to keep track of everything.

But masks? I doubt it. However, the recent "interview" with the Happy Mask Salesman hints that he might be coming back and that he has new masks for you to try on. So who knows.

 

[Dark Ninja]

Masks did become a part of Links normal items but have not been the main focus or as useful as Majoras Mask.

Wind Waker

Hero's Charm

Twilight Princess

Hawkeye

Then other gameplay elements from Majoras Mask such as Wolf Link transformation and Midnas Mask which complete resembles Majoras Mask eyes

 

[James Scott]

Masks did become a part of Links normal items but have not been the main focus or as useful as Majoras Mask.

Wind Waker

Hero's Charm

Twilight Princess

Hawkeye

Then other gameplay elements from Majoras Mask such as Wolf Link transformation and Midnas Mask which complete resembles Majoras Mask eyes

Yeah, basically every 3D Zelda outside of SS has masks implemented in one way or another and they seem to fit in the Zelda universe pretty well which is why I suggested it should be a staple.

 

[Rootbeer]

I love the masks concept especially as it is executed in MM, but all I care about is that the games have a fun mechanic to let Link use a variety of cool skills and abilities.

if it were masks each time I think that's limiting the creativity and I don't think masks would be the best fit for every concept they dream up. I like when the games have their own feel. Wind Waker was a wonderful reimagining and I'd like Nintendo to make bold choices like that again with some future games. Masks will probably always be something they look at, but having it be a very pivotal part of the game shouldn't be a requirement.

 

[LegendofLex]

Nothing should be a given, not the Master Sword, not a bow, not a shield, not even Link's green hat.

I would say the essentials are:

- A sword and shield
- A large fantastical world
- Dangerous enemies and dungeons
- Magic (either magical items or an actual magic meter or both)

 

[zigg]

Something that silently tracks progress would be awesome. The invasive "pop up" style in MM3D is pretty annoying though.

Not stopping the game would be great, yeah.

 

[James Scott]

Not stopping the game would be great, yeah.

I didn't find it as invasive as I thought i would in MM3D, but yeah.
Maybe "!" shows up on the corner of the TV and you get the updated notebook on the gamepad while the cutscene is playing

 

[Spring-Loaded]

Nah. At some stage a series needs to have an identity, and respect it. Take away Link and his sword and the genre that Zelda is in and is it really Zelda any more?

Yeah, it is, so long as it plays like a Zelda game and, to a lesser degree, "feels" like one (which is mostly subjective). Zelda never appeared in Majora's Mask iirc — that definitely plays like a Zelda game. You could have drastically changed Link's appearance, or played a different kid in that game and it would've still "felt" like an alt-world Zelda game.

There really shouldn't be any notion that every "Zelda game needs [insert surface-level detail here]" because if Aonuma/Nintendo starts adhering to any one of those, Zelda games would be limited in some capacity as to what they could possibly be or do. I'd rather not feel as if the series is retreading ground in any way, especially stuff outside of the core gameplay which is where some of the safest, yet still interesting changes could take place.

 

[Mango The Magician]

No.

Nothing should be a given, not the Master Sword, not a bow, not a shield, not even Link's green hat.

Yeah no. There are some things that are fine staying in place as if you took them away you'd be changing the series. Hell this has been proven time and time again with AoL, MM, and LA, and its not like Zelda having swords or keeping the design of its mascot character is going to somehow inhibit its creativity; that's just silly.