Skyward Sword is out, anybody else played?

[Chronoboy]

Zelda in a sense is an RPG game with elements that can give other developers ideas for their own games. What new ideas in this new Zelda game interest you for a future RPG game you may make?

Skyward Sword introduces an interesting story, where Zelda is not in her usual role. New elements, such as equipment upgrades and potion mixing.

Overall, the most interesting features that I may borrow will be from the story, and perhaps the various sets they use.

New features which I haven't seen used much:

- There is both a sky to explore(above the clouds), and a surface to explore(below the clouds).
- Timeshards are a really neat concept(won't spoil what it is though).
- Cubes on the surface can unlock new areas in the clouds.
- Day/Night only changes when you sleep(not automatic), he's finally not constantly up for 60+ days straight(how does a hero do it).
- Link can actually use a toilet for the first time(he's been waiting 25 years to take that dump).
- Cannot save anywhere, Link now uses FF-style save points.
- Many side-quests to complete, not just 2-5 like usual.
- Link starts with 6 hearts... Not too happy about this one.
- Can finally refill bomb bag with bomb flowers laying around.
- Links new "Navi" is seriously something else.
- When an NPC says not to do something, it's a hint to the player to definitely do it.
- Link can now get in trouble for breaking up interiors and NPCs re-act accordingly, and hilariously(still love Zelda humor).

Geez, I may have left some new stuff out, but I don't want to spoil it for anyone. Anyways, the point of this thread is to entice some ideas for your next RPG project. Sometimes looking at other games with new and interesting features can help in that regard. I've always enjoyed the story in the Zelda series(Twilight Princess kept me up for too many hours at nite).

The only thing which Zelda and an RPG game have in common is that they are both story driven, although their battles play out differently. Story elements from a Zelda game can definitely make it in an RPG game, and the latest installment of Zelda does bring some new and interesting story elements to the table, which I wouldn't mind playing around with.

I would personally like to make an awesome port of every Zelda game to an RPG, with full character dialog and story elements. Various gameplay elements would have to be tweaked, such as leveling up instead of gaining a heart piece. An attack list for various sword attacks and items such as the bow and boomerang. I believe it can be pulled off if done right. The maps would be different to fit an RPG world better, but the underlying story will remain.

What are everybody's ideas on these new story/gameplay elements in the latest game, and do you plan on using any of them in your RPG game? Also, do you think a proper port of Zelda to an RPG style game can be done right? How would you feel "done right" being? I say just taking the story/characters/enemies/items would be enough, and use new maps for the sets which go with the story. Copying the game's maps would be very stupid as Zelda map designs don't really suit an RPG much, but rather an action/adventure. Obvious elements would remain, like requiring the hookshot to unlock access to the forest temple, as that's part of the story.

[ncw64]

I just got this game earlier in the week and am up to the Desert Entrance right now. I'd like to share my two bits on your couple cents!

The whole world in the sky and below the sky isn't really anything too special- it makes Skyloft function as essentially a quest-hub, but scenery wise it is truly amazing.

Also, flying is a lot more fun than sailing, as much as I loved windwaker.

I don't know what time shards are yet (well, I have a pretty good idea) so that's awesome that you didn't spoil anything!

I definitely like the cube-chest system.

The 6 hearts thing isn't a big deal because things generally hurt you more, and there's a slightly bigger learning curve at the start. In general, I don't think 6 hearts hurt the difficulty at all- it's still a big pump up from TP.

At first I didn't think the refilling bomb bag infinitely would be a good idea, but in the context of the game, it works beautifully. I think one of the things I've liked most about the game is its extensive use of items especially compared to other Zelda games- one strike against making it an RPG.


But yea, TP had a good story too, and SS is DAMN awesome! I am definitely a big fan, and while i do think it's slightly over-rated, the sword motion control honestly does work more than amazingly provided you are willing to stand and actually put out effort.

Anyhow, I don't think Zelda would really make a great RPG. Could you do it? Sure. But it wouldn't make the RPG a zelda game... it would just be an RPG with the main character named Link. And I could do that in any Final Fantasy game.

[Chronoboy]

Anyhow, I don't think Zelda would really make a great RPG. Could you do it? Sure. But it wouldn't make the RPG a zelda game... it would just be an RPG with the main character named Link. And I could do that in any Final Fantasy game.

The storyline would come as well. As you know Final Fantasy is known for it's story, as is the Zelda series. Porting a game in the Zelda series to a RPG style game would be a hit and miss. The story would have to be ported nicely over, and the gameplay would be partly rewritten to compensate for the RPG battle system. The various items would be attacks inside battle, and outside battle used for solving a puzzle on the map. Of course the maps would not be directly copied from the game, they would need to be party redone as well to fit the engine.

I am in part thinking of remaking the orginal NES Zelda as an RPG, since it's story in the original game is almost non-existent besides the information in the manual, it allows some room to develop more of a story on top of it.

Basically, if I were to remake the original NES Zelda:

- Maps would obviously be different.
- The story will be there, where Link has to set out to locate the 8 Triforce shards.
- Enemies will be the same, but of course stats would be suited to an RPG game.
- Link's RPG stats would be suited for an RPG game.
- Heart container would not exist, as level ups occur.
- Various items will exist, such as bombs, the bow, and the boomerang.
- Item attacks like the Boomerang will cause Stun on an enemy.
- Bombs would cause fire elemental damage, and some enemies would be weak towards it(think dodongo).

If done right, a Zelda game could definately be made in RPG format. When playing it, don't expect a Zelda-like experience, expect more of a Final Fantasy experience with a Zelda story and items during battle.

[Master K]

Zelda can most certainly be done in RPG Format!
Just look at the early Zelda games for your answer.
Heck, even look at the GBA examples! The Minish Cap was in RPG format style, and I liked that game a lot.

Plotscripting would be needed to integrate some special features, like fighting in the overworld, using special items, ect...

[ncw64]

Actually, now that you bring up all of those ideas, I think that a lot of Zelda ideas could be used rather uniquely.

Each type of item could have a different effect, like the boomerang would obviously have a low chance of hitting twice, bombs hit spread damage, sword hits close targets, arrows hit back row, etc...

Also, you could do away with the Level-up system at all in order to make stat gains purely based on suits and heart containers. This way it would encourage exploration far more, and enemies would only drop rupees which would in turn be used for utility.

As for story-lines, I do love Zelda games... I really do, but I honestly can't agree that Zelda games are known for the stories. Sure, they're good and some moments left me wondering when I'd finally rescue Zelda, but at the end of the day, there's basically a random quest to collect 8 objects so you could unlock a final dungeon.

At the end of the day, there are some neat things you could do to make said RPG more zeldaesque, but for the most part (the way you're talking anyways) ANY old game could be made into an RPG technically, but I feel like we should be looking deeper into it if we were to try to really convert Link into a truly ZELDA RPG hero.

[Chronoboy]

Another interesting idea, which pulls some ideas from Nintendo Quest, is to make a cross-game with Final Fantasy and Zelda. For some reason or another Link gets transported into the Final Fantasy world, and instead of his hat, he has cool spiky hair... The story will center around Link adjusting to a Final Fantasy battle system and world, which he is not used to. Link would point out the obviously differences from his series, since he will actually be-able to speak for once(Link is silent in Zelda).

The idea of making cross-games would be very entertaining, to see how characters from one series would react in an world from another series. The cross-games would have to have 1 game being an RPG one, no Mario/Sonic cross-games for example.