Zelda Pixel Art Dreams Of a Turn-Based RPG Spin-Off Game
A piece of fan art for The Legend of Zelda series reimagines it as a turn-based RPG. The pixel art features several references to the Zelda universe, which has taken on many forms and genres in it's 35-year history, but there's never been an official turn-based Zelda RPG.
The Legend of Zelda franchise is predominately an action-adventure series, with each game tasking its incarnation of Link with traversing the world and clearing dungeons. That said, RPG-inspired elements aren't uncommon to the series either. Managing supplies like arrows and potions are often key to optimal play. While Link doesn't level up in a typical fashion, finding Heart Containers increases his overall health. New abilities in the form of items are also typically granted with progression. The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has some of the most obvious RPG influences of the bunch, with its upgradeable armor and scaling enemy encounters being staples of the genre.
Fan art posted by Nekocrocodile on Twitter takes those RPG inspirations in Zelda and runs with them. The pixel art is a collaboration between her and Zeoarts, with the latter designing the characters and Nekocrocodile creating the detailed isometric background. This unique perspective, in addition to the turn-based combat on display, makes it look like something akin to Final Fantasy Tactics.
The art is chock-full of references to existing Legend of Zelda titles and spinoffs. The largest influence appears to be Majora's Mask - unlike Breath of the Wild 2, which Nintendo has intentionally distanced the upcoming sequel from. The depicted battle is located at a recreation of the Clock Town laundry pool, features a party including Kafei (who was turned into a child by Majora's Mask villain Skull Kid), and the game's iconic clock is visible in the corner.
However, other elements of the fan art are taken from future entries. Link's design looks more similar to his appearance in The Legend of Zelda: Wind Waker or The Minish Cap. He's wielding his sword in his right hand, as well. Link is typically left-handed, and right-handed incarnations have only appeared in Skyward Sword, Breath of the Wild, and the Wii version of Twilight Princess. Linkle, a character created for the Hyrule Warriors series, also makes an appearance in the pixel art as the third party member.
As the fan art imagines, the Zelda series' emphasis on fantasy, exploration, and combat puzzles seems like it could make a great fit for the turn-based tactics genre. Hyrule Warriors may have been the series' closest brush with exploring the RPG space yet, with its characters having distinct stats and leveling up. A full turn-based experience is still a far cry from the hack and slash combat of both the main series and Hyrule Warriors, though. Nintendo has made multiple turn-based RPGs out of the Mario franchise, so there is some precedence for how the company might go about it with Zelda. Although those RPG prospects remain little more than a figment of fan imagination for, Nekocrocodile and Zeoarts' depiction of what such a game could look like is at least pleasant to look at.
Source: Nekocrocodile/Twitter