New Zelda Game Ideas

[Calanon]

You all know you want to! So let's speculate on the next Zelda game!! ;D
What do you think will happen next? When will the next game take place? What would you LIKE to happen? How could another game fit into the story? What style will the next game be in? What is the future of Hyrule? xD

To start us off, here is one of my ideas on a new game, and how it could fit into the story.
A new Zelda game would fit nicely set some time after Wind Waker and Phantom Hourglass. It will be the "New Hyrule" that was mentioned at the end of Wind Waker. There could be some other continent or group of large islands that Tetra and "the Hero" colonized, say, 100 years ago. Not too far away, though.
And here's my idea for the villain....
It'll be Ganondorf, of course. Some treasure seeker... perhaps those four treasure divers in Wind Waker, or their relatives/descendants, would pull up Ganondorf's statue from the depths of the sea and very ignorantly and foolishly pull the Master Sword from his skull.
So now Ganondorf is free again--AND he has the Master Sword!! He can't use it, but he sure can keep Link from getting it. xD Now the next incarnation of Link will be in a real pickle. Ganondorf starts taking over the Wind Waker islands, and people flee to the new Hyrule.
So now Hyrule is being taken over, and there's not much anybody can do about it.
So that just leaves Link. I haven't worked that out much yet, but if we were to keep with Zelda style he'd have to come from a remote village. But maybe this time, soldiers come to the town searching for the one with the mark of the Triforce on his hand, find him, and take him to Zelda & Co.'s new headquarters (since Hyrule Castle is overrun by now).

That's all I got for now. What do you guys think?
And what are YOUR ideas? xD
Post, Post, Post!! ;D

[Twilight Prince]

Oooh, wow, cool idea, Calanon!

Yeah, I've kinda thought of "Post Wind Waker/Phantom Hourglass" stuff, too. It's fun to think about!

I thought that maybe, while Link is sailing with Tetra, the "Pirate's Charm" (Gossip Stone) would start to glow, and a mysterious voice would tell Link how to find the new Hyrule.

The ship would stop on islands with dungeons where Link would collect ancient Hyrulean artifacts that could open the entrance to the new land...somehow. (I'm making up some of this as I go.)

Soon the pirates would come across an evil monster too powerful for any weapons they have. The Gossip Stone would tell Link that he needs the Master Sword to defeat it.

However, the only way to get the Master Sword would be to remove it from Ganon's head.

Then the mysterious voice from the Gossip Stone would tell Link that the ancient Hyrulean artifacts he had collected were the old Sage Medallions (from OoT) that were used to banish Ganondorf into the Realm of Evil. So, Link and Zelda would use the medallions to place a bind upon Ganon so that Link could take the Master Sword without worrying.

Then, Link and the pirates would return to the other evil creature, and Link would defeat it with the Master Sword. He'd then learn that the creature was created by the gods as another seal to keep Hyrule--and Ganon--under the sea, much like the Master Sword.

Since the seal was broken, by some strange magic, the old Hyrule would rise from the bottom of the sea, with huge land masses that would connect the Great Sea's islands. All of the old Hyruleans who died when Hyrule sank would come to life again, and Tetra's pirates would turn into brave knights, the knights who you can see in the painting at Hyrule Castle in Wind Waker. Tetra would also turn back into Zelda.

And since the King of Hyrule was tied to the fate of the land, since the kingdom returned, so did he. And then he would reveal that he had been helping Link through the Gossip Stone. Because even though his body had been locked away with Hyrule, his soul continued to exist, and from this, the king was able to talk to Link. And then he would tell him the truth:

"There is no new Hyrule."

Yes, the old Hyrule was the true Hyrule, and the king had been helping Link to raise the kingdom again.

Unfortunately, since Ganon was also tied to the fate of Hyrule, his power grew until he could break the bind upon him. Then Ganon would command a huge army of monsters to attack Hyrule once more.

While the knights (who were once pirates) fight Ganon's army, along with Orca, Sturgeon, the Rito, the Koroks, and the spirits (Valoo, Jabun, and the Deku Tree), Link and Zelda would fight Ganon, and finally take him down, absorbing him into the Master Sword. Then Link would place the sword back in the pedestal at Hyrule Castle, and all would be right again.


.......Or something like that.

[Rafa]

There's a rumor going around that the new Zelda game that's to be released in 2009-10 is going to be based around this time period.
I really doubt it, but if it were real, I'd think it'd be the same as the transition from something like Final Fantasy V (medeival-like time) to Final Fantasy VI (some mention about modern technology).

I don't believe much about this rumor, though. I'm sure Nintendo isn't even worried about the story yet.

[Twilight Prince]

rafa said:

There's a rumor going around that the new Zelda game that's to be released in 2009-10 is going to be based around this time period.
I really doubt it, but if it were real, I'd think it'd be the same as the transition from something like Final Fantasy V (medeival-like time) to Final Fantasy VI (some mention about modern technology).

I don't believe much about this rumor, though. I'm sure Nintendo isn't even worried about the story yet.

Ah...

I hope they don't put modern technology (or some mentions about it) in Zelda...I've always loved the medieval setting.

[Rafa]

Getting back to the bigger topic, it'd be neat if there was a game that was set at the time before Wind Waker.
It'd be nice to see a game that explains why the old kingdom had to be sealed.

At the end of the game, rain would just start falling.

[Calanon]

I thought about a game like that too, but then I realized that it would be impossible.
In Wind Waker, it clearly says "but the hero did not appear."
So yeah, it's too bad, but I'm pretty sure we won't see a game from that particular era. Or, if we did, I don't think Link could be in it.

[Rafa]

Well, things in the story have changed with different games before...
Someone at Nintendo said Ocarina of Time was the first in the timeline, but then Minish Cap came out.

[Twilight Prince]

It's very confusing.

Hmm...that would be an interesting idea (about a game during the time right before Hyrule was sealed)...a problem would be with the ending, though...I mean, that would be a very sad and depressing ending, right?

Unless it ended with Link leaving Hyrule to do other great things...

Oooh, another idea I've had:

Since Twilight Princess was a lot like Ocarina of Time in some ways, I thought maybe a cool idea would be a sequel to TP, except in another land, like Termina in Majora's Mask! If it was Termina, they could re-do the whole landscape, and make it look really awesome!

But we probably wouldn't want a complete re-make of Majora's Mask...so maybe something different...

Like, it could be like MM in that there would be people from TP in the game, but they'd be different characters.

Like, Link could meet a character who looks EXACTLY like Ilia, but she's really a different person.

[Calanon]

well, they got away with re-using characters in Majora's Mask, and it worked pretty well, but I don't think that's gonna fly now.

OOH! But maybe you guys are on to something!
Maybe Hyrule sinks beneath the waves because Link is in another land, similar to Termina!
The only problem is, why would Link go anywhere? He'd probably rather settle down (with Ilia!! xD) in Ordon village, become the next mayor and all that.

And another thing, the pre-Wind Waker catastrophe seems to be Ganon breaking from the seal specifically from Ocarina of Time. Twilight Princess almost certainly comes between them (Hyrule's landmark locales are clearly based off of OOT). This would add about hundred years to the timespan, but Ganondorf seemed to die in Twilight Princess, so how does he come back to wreak havoc before Wind Waker?
Either they change the story, or there'll have to be another game wedged in where Ganon comes back and becomes Sealed in a fashion similar to Ocarina of Time.

Incidentally, I think there's something about Zelda Timeline theories at Gametrailers.com.
I'll try to find it if you guys want.

[Twilight Prince]

calanon said:

well, they got away with re-using characters in Majora's Mask, and it worked pretty well, but I don't think that's gonna fly now.

OOH! But maybe you guys are on to something!
Maybe Hyrule sinks beneath the waves because Link is in another land, similar to Termina!
The only problem is, why would Link go anywhere? He'd probably rather settle down (with Ilia!! xD) in Ordon village, become the next mayor and all that.

And another thing, the pre-Wind Waker catastrophe seems to be Ganon breaking from the seal specifically from Ocarina of Time. Twilight Princess almost certainly comes between them (Hyrule's landmark locales are clearly based off of OOT). This would add about hundred years to the timespan, but Ganondorf seemed to die in Twilight Princess, so how does he come back to wreak havoc before Wind Waker?
Either they change the story, or there'll have to be another game wedged in where Ganon comes back and becomes Sealed in a fashion similar to Ocarina of Time.

Incidentally, I think there's something about Zelda Timeline theories at Gametrailers.com.
I'll try to find it if you guys want.

If you want.

Yeah, I see what you mean...Would Ganon just be...invincible? I mean, he could be "defeated", but he'd always somehow come back?

I mean, in OoT, he wasn't killed. Come to think of it, TP seems to be the only game in which he died...

The whole timeline thing really confuses me...I wonder if the developers even had a specific timeline in mind...or maybe they did, but eventually it got to confusing for them, too.

Hmm...MAYBE...

Maybe TP came AFTER Wind Waker...like, after the new Hyrule was found...or rebuilt...or something...

Wait a minute...no, that wouldn't make sense...never mind!

[Calanon]

That entered my mind once, but then I saw the pictures in the hut at the Fishing Hole, and the one of the master fisherman from Ocarina of Time, who the TP fishing girl is supposedly decended from. So it's definitely after Ocarina of Time.

edit: here's the link to the Gametrailers Zelda Timeline Theory

www.gametrailers.com/player/15194.html

[Twilight Prince]

calanon said:

That entered my mind once, but then I saw the pictures in the hut at the Fishing Hole, and the one of the master fisherman from Ocarina of Time, who the TP fishing girl is supposedly decended from. So it's definitely after Ocarina of Time.

edit: here's the link to the Gametrailers Zelda Timeline Theory

www.gametrailers.com/player/15194.html

Ah, yeah, that's true.

Oooh, that's interesting...yeah, that makes more sense.

[Calanon]

I just thought about it some more, though, and I'm starting to question my earlier opinion that Twilight Princess comes before Wind Waker.

If only we knew what actually happened to Ganondorf at the end of Twilight Princess.

[Calanon]

OK, I though long and hard about it, and I think I have a solid theory of my own.

First off, there is the creation of Hyrule, the ages of peace, the ages of war (including the dark sages that produced the Twili), and the war's resolution through the efforts of Gustaf, who becomes Hyrule's first King.
Later on, there is the incident which produced the actual "Legend" of Zelda.

Then there was the Minish Cap. Vaati is sealed in the Picori Sword (or Four Sword, or Master Sword), and the appearance of the Hero is established with the green clothes and the strange hat.

Now then, a long time after the Minish Cap, I think it goes like this, starting in the version of Hyrule where Link comes back from his adventure in Time to warn the King about Ganondorf's evil plot:

Ocarina of Time: His evil plot exposed, Ganondorf is cast out of Hyrule, and young Link's adventure in Time becomes legend.
Majora's Mask: All things made right, Link finds himself in Termina while looking for Navi.
Link's Awakening: Link tries to return to Hyrule by sea, but is shipwrecked. He survives and drifts toward Hyrule's shores, warned in a dream along the way that Ganon has returned.
Legend of Zelda: Ganondorf has invaded Hyrule while Link was away, obtaining the Triforce of Power and becoming Ganon. Young Link comes back after saving Termina, just in time to rescue Impa from Ganon's minions. Link eventually manages to kill Ganon even though he is still young, since he has experience from Ocarina of Time. All is well again, and the triforce returns to its original form.
Adventure of Link: While Ganon's minions search for a way to revive him, Link turns sixteen and saves the original Zelda. The original Zelda takes her rightful throne, so Ocarina of Time Zelda is free to be with Link. (Yay! xD)
Twilight Princess: Ocarina of Time Link and Zelda move to the area of Hyrule that will become Ordon Village, and they eventually have a daughter. By the time their daughter is of age, Link is past his prime. Ganon's minions deem the time is right, and finally manage to kill Link and Zelda. The daughter escapes and the enemy doesn't pursue, assuming that a girl can't become the Hero. The minions use Link's blood to revive Ganondorf, who immediately gathers his forces and launches an assault on Hyrule. Since he acted in haste, the Triforce of Power had not yet returned to him, so he was easily defeated by the sages that the original Zelda had newly put in place. But then, as Ganondorf was about to be dealt with, his Triforce of power returned and he broke free, only to be banished to the Twilight Realm. Years pass; Link and Zelda's daughter grows up and marries, but she then dies giving birth to a son, who she names Link after her father. (The identity of the husband, the father of new Link, isn't important to the theory: he could be anyone and could disappear from the scene any number of ways; what matters is that the new Link is now alone, growing up in Ordon village.) By the time Link has grown up, Ganondorf has gained Zant's cooperation, and Zant has now overcome a new Zelda and is bringing Twilight to Hyrule. Link, with help from the Triforce of Courage, the Master Sword, the training from the spirit of Ocarina of Time Link, and the powers of the Twilight Princess and the new Zelda and the Light Spirits, eventually defeats both Zant and Ganondorf.


Now instead of the other games going in this Hyrule, they go in the other one, in which Ganondorf is sealed, but there is no more Link.
So in this Hyrule, I'm not as sure as the last one, but I think it goes:

Ocarina of Time: Link, Hero of Time, defeats Ganon, weakening him and allowing the Sages to seal him inside the Sacred Realm.
A Link to the Past: Shortly after the Ocarina of Time Zelda and Sages have passed on their power to the new zelda and the other maidens, Ganon manages to operate and wreak havoc from within the Evil Realm and eventually escape. But a new Link defeats him and puts everything back to how it was.
Four Swords Adventures: Rather soon afterward, Ganon tries the same thing again using a stronger puppet: Vaati. This time, instead of simply putting things back, the same Link defeats Vaati and seals Ganon inside the Four Sword in Vaati's place.
Wind Waker: Ganon's power builds up over time, eventually overwhelming the Four Sword's seal. With the Four Sword in his possession, there is no way that any new Hero can obtain it to use against him, and so none appears and the Triforce of Courage splits into eight pieces and is scattered. The people appeal to the gods, who flood all the land to the mountaintops, keeping Ganon under the waves and leaving the Hyrulians to forge new lives on the islands of a great sea. Ganondorf manages to craft a portal from the submerged Hyrule to the surface, but he cannot yet fully escape because of the power of the Master Sword that holds his true self inside his Tower. When Link pulls out the Master Sword, he allows Ganondorf to fully escape his prison. Nevertheless, Link still manages to gather the Triforce of Courage, recharge the Master Sword, and use the Master Sword to turn Ganondorf to stone.
Phantom Hourglass: (I haven't played this, but I hear it doesn't alter anything significant.)

Oragle of Ages and Oracle of Seasons probably come waaaaay later, and like Gametrailers says it probably resets the triforce and rejoins the two split timelines.





What do you guys think?
Questions, Comments, Suggestions, Proofs and Disproofs, all welcome!

[Twilight Prince]

Wow! That's really good! ;D

I especially liked your theories about Link and Zelda's daughter...

Hmm...I noticed something, though...

Well, I had always heard that Link's Awakening was a direct sequel to A Link to the Past, because I THINK I had heard that at the end of LttP, Link sails away...or something like that...

Oh, what exactly do you mean by:

calanon said:

Later on, there is the incident which produced the actual "Legend" of Zelda.

What is the "incident"?

Because I remember how, at the beginning of Minish Cap, it says that the hero defeated the evil force, who looked a lot like Ganon.

So that would mean that one of Link's triumphs against Ganon took place before Minish Cap...

Ah, I'm so confused!

Well, I like your theories, Calanon.