On the Nintendo Direct, Reggie just announced a sequel to Link to the Past. Amazing. Will post new details as they arrive.

A New Game in The Legend of Zelda Series: Nintendo developers are working on a new game set in the world of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past, which launched for Super NES in 1992. The game makes use of the 3D abilities of Nintendo 3DS, and allows Link to become a drawing and move along walls. A 3D video of the new game is now available to download in the Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS. The game is scheduled to launch this holiday season.

From Polygon:

Reggie Fils-Aime, president of Nintendo of America, says the 3DS sequel will "reinvigorate the flat 2D world of A Link to the Past with a sense of height and volume" by utilizing the stereoscopic 3D capabilities of the Nintendo 3DS. The game, which does not have a final title in North America, will feature "an original storyline and all new dungeons."

Update: Nintendo confirmed to Polygon that the new Zelda game set in the world of A Link to the Past is being developed by series producer Eiji Aonuma and his team at Nintendo EAD.







Source: Nintendo Direct / Nintendo press release | Polygon

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I'm sure there has to be some changes to the overworld... I'm not worried about it. I wonder if a darkworld element will play a role.

I hope that this game manages to be a proper sequel to LTTP without bringing in any of the modern things about the series that annoy the hell out of me. Please, no hand-holding and babbling sidekicks! Please!

Posted by

Hinph

on: 04/18/13, 01:46

LTTP is my favorite game of all time so I am glad they are revisting the game world. Wonder what they can do with the story and the setting now for the sequel?

Posted by

NinTemple_Maxi

on: 04/18/13, 02:24

The video on the eShop really looks a lot better than the 2D videos and screens.

Posted by

achhibbar

on: 04/18/13, 02:35

@achhibbar That's typically the case with 3/DS games, they look best on the screen for which they were designed.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 04/18/13, 02:38

I hate how unexcited I am about this, but unfortunately the 3D is the only thing impressing me right now.

All items using magic (or whatever it is) sounds like a terrible idea. No new items in the trailer gives me PH flashbacks. And ALttP already got a direct sequel, Link's Awakening, and that game ended with Link being stranded in the middle of the ocean, so I'm more than a little disappointed that they seem to be completely ignoring that right now, but maybe they'll address it in the final game. (And the fact that this game takes place in the same overworld as ALttP confuses the relation to LA even further, I feel like. Are we just to assume that he made it back to Hyrule somehow, or that he didn't leave Hyrule right after defeating Ganon, forcing us to ignore the inconsistencies in LA's back story? (Or that this is an entirely new Link just in the exact same land as an old one?))

I do really like the 3D, and I like some of the inclusions like the sword beams, not being limited to 8 directions of movement, and I think the drawing thing has potential, but I feel like I was expecting more than this for the first 3DS Zelda. I'll try to stay hopeful, but I am a little bummed right now.

Actually, if this is an Imprisoning War-esque prequel taking place in the same Hyrule as ALttP, that would make me quite a bit more excited about the news. They were calling ALttP "Zelda 3" before it was released, right? And it ended up being a prequel. (I know TP was called Wind Waker 2 for a while before they eventually decided it took place before TWW instead (and then on a different timeline or whatever).) So maybe I can hold out hope that this game will actually lead into ALttP rather than mess with the ALttP/LA connection by taking place after it. (But again, I'm totally open to a LA sequel if we get Link out of that ocean he was stranded in at the end of that game.)

Posted by

V_s

on: 04/18/13, 02:49

@V_s

Nothing is more liberating than not giving a shit about any of that.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 04/18/13, 02:51

I'm excited for this, but not as much as I would've thought. I think the art style looks... weird. Maybe it's because it's specifically recognizable areas, but it looks like something I'd expect from a fan-made 3D remake of A Link to the Past. Not bad, just... off, somehow.

Or maybe bad.

I also don't know how I feel about it taking place in ALttP's world. Not because I give a damn about the fiction anymore, but because exploration is my favorite thing about Zelda games. A game with a new storyline, and new dungeons, but the same overworld, is less exciting to me.

I'm worried this is going to end up New Legend of Zelda, with this ugly, bland art style, that tries to be a throwback but just ends up being boring.

...

On the other hand, this is a new 2D, EAD-developed Legend of Zelda, that's a sequel to A Link to the Past, which is in itself super exciting. So despite my trepidation for the game, I know I'll really enjoy it and of course be buying it day 1.

Posted by

rebonack

on: 04/18/13, 02:56

I just realised something: Link doesn't have pink hair like he did in the original Link to the Past.

No sale.

Posted by

Mop it up

on: 04/18/13, 03:02

@Mop it up That always pissed me off SO bad. Why was his stupid hair pink?!

Posted by

Xbob42

on: 04/18/13, 03:05

@rebonack

Yea, I'm hoping there's gonna be some twist. Like maybe the overworld starts out the same but something happens that changes it in big ways or least takes you somewhere new. Could be an interesting take on the formula where instead of gaining access to the Dark World or the future, there's something that allows for a lot more exploration.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 04/18/13, 03:08

@Jargon - I'm sure. Unfortunately, I've never been able to find my lore/mythos/not-liking-poor-ideas off-switch.

Posted by

V_s

on: 04/18/13, 03:28

I'm actually hopeful that the game will be full of new shit... it's clear that they are only showing a tiny fraction of the game here, and this 2D wall crawling thing is an interesting new item already.

The regenerating magic meter? Perhaps it is for the best. If they balance the items properly, it could be a very fun gameplay element.

Posted by

Hinph

on: 04/18/13, 03:30

@Xbob42

It was something technical with the SNES. Like his head would look weird as shit in the sand-areas or something.

Posted by

missypissy

on: 04/18/13, 03:33

@Hinph

Honestly, it's about time that they got rid of limits for arrows and stuff when you could just break a pot and get them whenever you want. Or sometimes you'd just have to make an annoying run to another room to get them. Really added nothing to the games.

Posted by

Jargon

on: 04/18/13, 03:35

missypissy said:

@Xbob42

It was something technical with the SNES. Like his head would look weird as shit in the sand-areas or something.

"His head might look kind of weird on sand... better make it look stupid 100% of the time! CRISIS AVERTED."

Posted by

Xbob42

on: 04/18/13, 03:35

Ugh.... I might have to buy a 3ds to play a sequel to one of my all time fav games.....

Posted by

Wellsy529

on: 04/18/13, 03:40

@Wellsy529

Buying a 3DS sounds like a bad idea to you? Why!? Do you like Animal Crossing? Pickup the bundle!

Posted by

DrFinkelstein

on: 04/18/13, 04:05

ludist210 said:

It's being developed by EAD. Very nice...

Whew!

Posted by

Griptor

on: 04/18/13, 04:12

I wonder if Tezuka will be overseeing it at all. Being that it's a sequel to LTTP, I really don't want it to feel anything like an Aonuma Zelda. He shouldn't have anything to do with the project at all.

Posted by

Hinph

on: 04/18/13, 04:15

Edited:

04/18/13, 04:16

Wow, so when you think about it, this is the first Nintendo-developed 2D Zelda with traditional controls since Link's Awakening, right?

Posted by

Jargon

on: 04/18/13, 04:16