What Defines A Zelda Game, According To Miyamoto | Screen Rant
The Legend of Zelda is a gaming franchise that has undergone drastic changes over its 36-year history, which can sometimes make the games difficult to define - unless you're series creator Shigeru Miyamoto, who seems to have his own idea about what defines classic Legend of Zelda titles like Ocarina of Time. With each title often introducing new mechanics or graphical overhauls resulting in a different experience for the player with every game, it's perhaps unsurprising that the series doesn't have an entirely cohesive identity, and it would be easy to forgive the developers had some of the essence of Zelda been lost in the transition to 3D in 1998, especially given how Ocarina of Time changed throughout its development.
Since the release of Legend of Zelda on the NES in 1986, the series has gone on to establish itself as one of Nintendo's heavyweights, with at least one title released on every Nintendo system to date. It is a testament to the strength of the Legend of Zelda franchise and the dedication of its fanbase that the series has largely gone from strong entry to strong entry. Developers have often struggled to keep the identities of their games intact, especially when making the leap across consoles, and it has often resulted in some bad sequels to even classic video games. Yet Zelda's protagonist Link has been a frequent guest character in other Nintendo games, including Mario Kart 8, Super Smash Bros, and even a stint in the Gamecube release of Soul Calibur 2.
In a recently translated interview with Developer Shigeru Miyamoto, originally from a Japanese strategy guide and translated by Shmuplations, Miyamoto explains what it is that, in his mind, ties all of The Legend of Zelda titles together. When taken to task by the interviewer over the apparent lack of connection between Ocarina of Time and the original Legend of Zelda, Miyamoto says "When I consider the medium of video games, above intra-series continuity, it's far more important to me that the player is left with a satisfying 'aftertaste' once the experience is over." He then goes on to elaborate that this aftertaste is itself the connecting factor between these games. Many games have tried to recreate this feeling, and there are some that even come close to playing like Legend of Zelda.
Miyamoto goes on to say:
"For those who played the original Zelda and ALttP(A Link to the Past), I would ask you to compare how you felt when those games ended, with how Ocarina of Time felt when you finished it. If you focus on that 'aftertaste', then I think you'll understand: 'ah, yes, I see how it's a series.' ... in Zelda, you're confronted with puzzles and mysteries to unravel, and powerful enemies to face, and it's the immediacy of the experience that is more engaging, and that's what I want players to come away with."
It's clear that to Miyamoto, the story and timeline of Legend of Zelda are less important than the feeling the games ultimately give players.
For many, Ocarina of Time is considered one of the greatest video games ever created, with a good balance between combat and puzzle sections, plus an engaging story with memorable characters. In several ways, it laid the foundation for video games that would come later. It's likely that many gamers will be able to relate to the feeling that Miyamoto referred to in his comments, and it's an interesting insight into the minds responsible for the development of both Ocarina of Time and the greater Legend of Zelda series as a whole. Since its announcement, fans have been clamoring for information on the latest title in the series, with widespread disappointment that BOTW 2 wasn't in February's Nintendo Direct presentation.
Source: Shmuplations