If one were to talk about the Switch games that helped further strengthen the Nintendo brand, both The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom would surely come to mind. The two games have raised the standards for the open-world genre due to the amount of content and innovations they brought. While The Legend of Zelda has always been one of the best franchises of Nintendo, these two recent titles have been particularly unforgettable, so perhaps the company should try a new approach for the next mainline entry instead of sticking to the same formula.
It’s clear that Nintendo has done nearly everything possible with the open-world genre when looking at The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom and its predecessor. Making a third game with the same style will likely not be as grand or met with as much praise compared to the previous two open-world outings, as there’s not much left to improve upon or innovate. Knowing that, Nintendo could use the next game as an opportunity to produce a new take on Zelda, one that pushes the property in a direction the franchise has yet to take. Specifically, the next title could be entirely built around a bold shift to first-person.
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One Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom Switch 2 Edition Feature is a Game Changer
Nintendo Switch 2 will not only introduce new titles, but also enhanced editions of several popular Switch games. Among them are The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, both of which will feature improved visuals and a new “Zelda Notes” function. This tool, accessible via the Nintendo Switch app, allows players to store and share information, including Auto-Build designs in Tears of the Kingdom, making it easier for players to recreate and exchange vehicle or weapon blueprints.
Why the Next Legend of Zelda Game Should Go First-Person
Given how people are willing to glitch or mod a Legend of Zelda game into providing a first-person perspective, it’s safe to say that there is an audience for a mainline entry that plays from that point of view. Also, such a game would open up many interesting possibilities and benefits that can help propel that franchise to new heights:
- It would allow players to finally feel as if they themselves were the protagonist, getting fully immersed in the world of Hyrule or whatever kingdom they’re meant to explore.
- The game could lead to innovations within the first-person genre, doing what BotW and TotK did for open-world games, especially since it could take advantage of the upcoming Nintendo Switch 2 and all of its features.
- Being playable via a first-person perspective gives the next game the opportunity to be a shooter, simulation, or something in between that allows the franchise to branch out and bring in a different audience.
Going the first-person perspective route might be what the mainline Legend of Zelda entry needs, as it provides so many opportunities that can help it remain popular and relevant. Hopefully, Nintendo will consider pushing through with the idea, as the franchise and its fans have something to gain from doing so.
How an Interesting Opportunity Presents Itself if the Next Legend of Zelda Goes First-Person
A future Zelda game could go completely off the rails by going first-person, and if it does, then Nintendo can take it a step further by trying something different other than just a shift in perspective. Given that players almost always control Link in a mainline entry, the next one could allow for a different kind of protagonist, one that would benefit from gameplay that has a different point of view. Perhaps it could be a member of the Rito clan that allows players to marvel at the sights from the skies, or someone from the Zora clan who lets everyone better appreciate the majestic aquatic environments. Given that the Zelda franchise has many different races, Nintendo should have no problem figuring out the best possible option to act as the representative protagonist for a mainline first-person title.
The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild and Tears of the Kingdom are definitely good examples of games that have changed one of Nintendo’s biggest franchises the most, and as great as they may be, it might be time to move on from their formula. Going the first-person route would be a dramatic shift, but would be an interesting move that could lead to numerous creative opportunities that will excite fans. If the next mainline entry chooses to go in such a direction, then it’s possible the Zelda franchise may find itself in another position of taking on a fresh genre and making a game that goes on to set the standard for it.
- Released
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May 12, 2023
- ESRB
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Rated E for Everyone 10+ for Fantasy Violence and Mild Suggestive Themes
- Developer(s)
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Nintendo
- Publisher(s)
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Nintendo