I'm sure some people would answer differently depending on different games, but I'm speaking "in general" here.
I'm a dungeons man. I think that is where the tightest puzzles are, and of course the boss fights. I like the overworld too though, I'd never want it to be just one or the other. (Though in 4 Swords it was probably wise to have "levels" instead of an overworld and dungeons, albeit many levels were in overworld-like areas...)
I wonder if Skyward Sword is really going to change the whole progression up?
I agree that they basically need to become less like they're all based on a template. I guess the nice part about the overworld is that Nintendo has been slightly more interested in changing up how you progress through the overworld, how big it is, etc...but they've been incredibly stagnant with the dungeons, which are all still following the same template of Ocarina of Time (or really the original Zelda, but since OoT they all feel like OoT dungeons on steroids).
In order for dungeons to become more engaging, I think they just need to become more predictable. I don't want to find something odd in a dungeon and then think to myself "Well, I guess I'll come back when I get the item for this level." It's such an unrealistic thought process. I'm not saying I want them to completely reinvent the wheel, but maybe they could be more subtle with dungeon elements (rather than throwing a hookshot target into a wall). Maybe the hookshot can simply just only attach to wooden objects, so they place things that are made of wood all around the dungeon..and not circular shaped targets.
I have to say dungeons. In one of the latest GI vids they show that there are puzzles outside of the fire temple that are more involved. That could change the pace up a bit.
I'm just still really shocked to see some recent footage where Link is using the hookshots/clawshots, and he's aiming them at these arbitrary targets scattered about the world. Really, why? It seems so stupid to me. I'm not saying that everything in Zelda needs to be logic based, but it's a trope they've been using since Ocarina of Time. They're literally giant targets on the wall. Can't we figure out a different way to show that you can grapple to something? I guess it would be too much to just make the hookshot a late game item and let it grapple on to practically everything? I like it when Link grapples onto trees and stuff because that makes sense...I'm not left thinking to myself "Why on Earth is there a target on the wall?" I'd love to see a more creative job on their part to create the illusion that the world is more 'realistic' in that regard, and that there aren't just conveniently placed things around because it's a video game puzzle.
When I have sausage/hash browns/eggs/toast, there's much more of everything else besides sausage. But I wouldn't eat the other stuff if the sausage wasn't there. However I would eat the sausage by itself. It's the same for zelda dungeons.
Granted, with sausage, what you see is what you get. Other items can offer discovery. Hash browns could be hiding a cockroach, or the eggs could be holstering a hair.
@Simbabbad Overworld doesn't have boss fights. Or many puzzles, for that matter, although I do like (especially in Twilight Princess) how a lot of heart container pieces and such involve mini puzzles now.
Actually Majora's Mask had a ton of puzzles outside of dungeons. So many awesome side quests.
@Jargon Really? I feel like Twilight Princess had a much more realized overworld than Ocarina of Time did. Maybe not more than Wind Waker and Majora's Mask, but those didn't have many dungeons. Seems give and take.
Where's the option about both? But if I had to pick one, I'd go with the overworld over dungeons, simply because there's so much more than can be done with it and not a whole lot more that can be done with dungeons at this point, other than breaking the item + big key -> boss formula.
Is there anything wrong with that? Overworld is still Zelda's main weakness as far as I am concerned. I'd love to see a Zelda game that has a 100% utilized overworld like ALTTP and MM had in their days (my 2 favorite games in the franchise, 2D and 3D respectively).
@gencid No, I agree that overworlds are the main weakness of the franchise. I see what you mean now, it wasn't clear from your original reply that you loved the overworlds in (certain) Zelda games.
Yes, sorry for the confusion. I like the overworld more than dungeons in principle, and I'd like Nintendo to focus more on filling it up in future Zelda games, just like they did in almost all 2D Zelda's and maybe only one or two 3D Zeldas.
Overworld has been "too" open for me lately, but Dungeons have been downhill since SNES for me. I mean, Ocarina of Time had some cool stuff, but I didn't really like anything in Wind Waker, and I hated everything about Twilight Princess.
When you hit a dungeon in Zelda [NES], you just knew it was about to hit the fan. You're walking into a giant mouth most of the time!
@carlosrox I like the sense of adventure that it offers; I enjoy finding hidden items and locations, and completing subquests for people. Having to enter a dungeon just brings all of that to a halt until I beat it.
