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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@Zero
I think you're right, it probably started out as a straight remake but they had a bunch of ideas and ended up adding some items and mechanics and basically remixing the dungeons.

Posted by

deathly_hallows

on: 04/18/13, 07:28

Hmmm. Yeah, I can see that being the case, actually... but it doesn't necessarily bother me all that much. As long as the decision to make it a new game was made relatively early in development, it shouldn't effect the end design all that much. Sort of like how Super Mario Galaxy 2 was originally supposed to recycle a lot of content from the original and then eventually became a complete, if familiar, game.

Posted by

Hinph

on: 04/18/13, 07:29

It doesn't bother me, but it's tough for me to get as excited as I would if it was clear that this was just a brand spanking new LTTP-style Zelda game. I mean, I guess we will know more about this game soon enough (or once E3 hits anyway), but at the moment it seems like it might be some weird in-between remake / sequel thing to me.

Posted by

Zero

on: 04/18/13, 07:32

I don't care. It's a new, portable, non-stylus, Zelda game set in my favorite 2D Zelda universe! Even the sound effects sound similar.

Posted by

sirmastersephiroth

on: 04/18/13, 07:36

@Simbabbad

Sure! Super Metroid for instance. Screenshots fooled people back in the day I'm sure.

And looking at this, no, things aren't at the exact same place. And it ain't the same style. And let's not overlook the puzzles and the "drawing" power, which are new. And yes, enemies repeat in the Zelda series. Crows, skeletons, green thingies, that miniboss you hit the tail of? Oh my, it's a Link to the Past/Link's Awakening/Oracle of Seasons/Wind Waker remake!

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 04/18/13, 07:43

Edited:

04/18/13, 07:49

But what those images show is that like 98% of things are in the same place. I mean, of the parts of the overworld that we have seen.

I really don't think Nintendo was sitting there thinking let's make a brand new Zelda, but here is the twist... we'll use the exact same overworld as Link to the Past and just change a few minor things around! Nah. I'll bet that it comes out that this started as a remake. Actual money*, who wants to take the bet!










*Negative World currency

Posted by

Zero

on: 04/18/13, 08:07

Edited:

04/18/13, 08:09

I do have to say, the wall-flattening thing

A) Really disputes the remake argument
and
B) Doesn't look all that interesting and seems to actually detract from the rest of the areas being shown...

Posted by

Cubed777

on: 04/18/13, 08:18

I don't think it disputes the remake argument at all, when you consider that Metroid Zero Mission was a remake. There are a billion different levels to remake.

Except, really... I think the idea of a binary remake / sequel might not always apply. If a project starts as a remake, turns into something more, but still utilizes a lot of the original game at its core... does it make sense to say that it has to be either one or the other?

When you really think about it, Zero Mission was like 90% a new Metroid game... what do we even call that? Re-envisioning maybe?

Posted by

Zero

on: 04/18/13, 08:21

Edited:

04/18/13, 08:21

@Zero

Thing is, it can have started as a remake and still be brand spanking new.

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 04/18/13, 08:22

@Guillaume I'd argue that reusing the overworld and having it be essentially the same would make it not brand spanking new though. And it might just be small parts of the overworld that are the same, but the fact that the part they showed was almost exactly the same as it was in LTTP and Bill Trinen specifically said "new dungeons" instead of new everything kind of makes me think that much of the overworld will not be new.

Of course, I'm sure some of it will be. They will want to let you use the new power, for one.

It's all speculation at the moment, but that is what I'm thinking.

It also occurs to me that "new dungeons" could mean all new dungeons or some new dungeons. Hopefully all, but if it did start as a remake, as I think it probably did, who knows.

Posted by

Zero

on: 04/18/13, 08:29

Bill Trinen also said it's a sequel. I don't know why you focus on some things he said and not the main point he was making, which is that this is a sequel. Am I really the only person here not confused by the idea of a sequel being set in the same place as its predecessor?

Same overworld? Yes. But things are slightly off. Reworked. I guarantee you you won't be traversing it in the same way, in the same order, and you won't find the same secrets in the same places. It's a new game, and we've seen its overworld for all of 10 seconds. We've seen more new stuff than we've seen old stuff. I'm all for healthy skepticism but you're not being reasonable. You're being the people who kept thinking NSMBW was a port of the DS game despite all the evidence to the contrary.

Posted by

Guillaume

on: 04/18/13, 08:34

Edited:

04/18/13, 08:42

They're wording this thing curiously though, I don't think it's a direct SEQUEL. And the fact they tote some new mechanics and dungeons and story tells me there's something going on. They specifically say "set in the same world". Why not just fucking come out and say it's the direct sequel to A Link To The Past?

I don't really mind, but this must be something different. I don't think it's LTTP2, that doesn't seem entirely accurate. Maybe it's some kind of remix? Like a Master Dungeons/Master Quest type thing?

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 04/18/13, 08:46

Edited:

04/18/13, 08:47

Bill Trinen never used the world sequel, and he ended his statement with a "..." (not literally, of course, but it appears he just trailed off.) His statement is weird and wishy-washy and in no way confirms anything for me. Talking about how they're putting a 2 on the title in Japan is a weird answer, saying "I think as I described it today" is a weird answer, etc. If it's obviously a brand new game you don't talk about numbers in Japan and say "I think", you say "Yeah, it's a completely brand new game."

I'm focusing on all kinds of things. I already listed them. Same overworld, dungeon though obviously containing new stuff heavily reminds me of a specific LTTP one, no new enemies shown, Bill's vague statement about one gameplay element making it new, wishy-washy non-quite-confirmation of a totally new game...

I'm kind of curious though, Joystiq says this comes from their interview with him but hasn't actually posted said interview. I'd like to see the full interview.

I think I'm being totally reasonable in saying that this might have started as a remake and it might contain a lot more from the original than a brand new from scratch game would. We already know it's borrowing at least part of the overworld. I wouldn't be surprised to see more items, characters, maybe even dungeons returning than a typical sequel would have.

No one ever said anything about a port, that's a completely false comparison.

Posted by

Zero

on: 04/18/13, 08:52

Edited:

04/18/13, 08:59

@shinriley

You know, I'd love to find out the story behind that commercial. Just to know what was the thought process.

Posted by

chrisbg99

on: 04/18/13, 09:40

Aonuma in Miiverse:

Aonuma said:

Hello everyone, Eiji Aonuma here! In the latest Nintendo Direct, we announced an entirely new Zelda game for Nintendo 3DS that takes place in the world of The Legend of Zelda: A Link to the Past! I’d like to introduce it to all of you in the Miiverse community, too. We announce it towards the end of this video.

I’m sure that those of you familiar with A Link to the Past could imagine what kind of game this would be – but I think that you’ll be surprised at quite how different it is when you actually play it!

Still, that’s quite a difficult sentiment to convey through just an announcement alone, so we’re releasing a 3D video in Nintendo eShop for Nintendo 3DS as well.

Experience Hyrule reborn in a highly realistic three-dimensional world. A new story and new dungeon puzzles await you in this brand-new Zelda game! Development is progressing well, so look forward to hearing more about it soon!

Posted by

Hinph

on: 04/18/13, 09:41

chrisbg99 said:

@shinriley

You know, I'd love to find out the story behind that commercial. Just to know what was the thought process.

Here. "Michael Jackson sure is cool. He could probably sell some games if we imitate him."

Posted by

Xbob42

on: 04/18/13, 10:01

@Zero
This this this this and more this.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 04/18/13, 10:11

It looks like it started as a LTTP remake to me too but I don't treat it like a stigma. I was hoping the 3DS zelda would get a nsmb type makeover. It will be healthy for the IP.

Posted by

Renjaku

on: 04/18/13, 11:58

@Renjaku
Yeah. Majora's Mask sprung out of the development of Ura Zelda, and that turned out alright.

I can't believe that this discussion has gone this far based on things that haven't been seen or said.

Posted by

r_hjort

on: 04/18/13, 12:21

Edited:

04/18/13, 12:22

What if this is a sort of Zelda 3.5? What if it's all of LTTP, plus a built in mini sequel/expansion to the game? Like the story gets tweaked a bit and you do a BUNCH of new stuff before fighting Ganon, OR, we have more content new mini villain and story after you kill Ganon? Something like that?

Is that possible? That'd be an easy way to make a pseudo sequel and also alleviate any pressure in making a FULL ON sequel. I'd actually be down for something like that.

Posted by

carlosrox

on: 04/18/13, 12:34

Edited:

04/18/13, 12:35