Guess what art was leaked?

[alexkenny]

I would love to see OoT Link again but i don't know if this game will be worthy of him...

I would too, but i want a sequal to MM more than ANYTHING! Like something where the Skull Kid is on your side!

[bastian]

Hahah, I love how someone said they could "guarantee" that she wasn't the Master Sword. Realllly? You are on the development team then?

I'm pretty sure she IS a Great Fairy who becomes the Master Sword. The way I see it is that there are three possibilites:

A) The origin of the Master Sword: the Great Fairy sacrifices her sentient life to become the Blade of Evil's Bane about halfway through the game (per usual, after collecting three relics representing virtues or some such).

B) Or, the Master Sword becomes enchanted by the gods this time around to help Link more directly and act as his guide (sidekick). She would become useful as the sword about half way through the game and would change into her Fairy form when giving him advice and such. Or follow him in her Fairy form and then when engaged in battle, change and leap into his hand.

C) Or a strange curse has befallen the Sword to prevent Link from destroying Ganondorf and he must spend the first half of the game finding a way to change it back from a girl into the Sword (via collecting said three relics).

In any case, it's a great idea and I really can't wait to find out!

But, I have to say, I really doubt this is OoT or TP Link. My guess is that this is an era which predates all the rest.

[Be_yourself]

this is kinda a bit far fetched, but follow along and decide for yourself...

Link doesn't always have the master sword, in each game he has another sword at first then later he gets the master sword(if at all, i.e MM).  therefore it may not be the master sword that he is missing...Miyamoto did not specify which sword, only that link is missing his sword, its just that we expect and that most art depicting link shows the master sword.

This is the far fetched bit:
Now, carry this further, if you were to paint a picture of a game/story where Link has no Master Sword would you actually draw a picture of him with just no sword? its a bit vague isn't it? even with a fairy that can be construed to look like a sword(i doubt anyone would have picked it if Miyamoto hadn't have said "where is his sword") it still doesn't mean anything...

Perhaps the Fairy is unrelated to the sword and Miyamoto's reference was to say a change in gameplay...perhaps link now uses the bow as his primary weapon instead of a sword?

[ashwinder]

I've been thinking, what if it isn't only the mastersword that has a sentient form. What if each weapon has some kind of fairy/god form which Link must find/rescue/defeat before being able to harness their abilities?

[Be_yourself]

I've been thinking, what if it isn't only the mastersword that has a sentient form. What if each weapon has some kind of fairy/god form which Link must find/rescue/defeat before being able to harness their abilities?

hmmm...perhaps magic would make a big comeback in Zelda??  Perhaps it is not that we won't see the master sword but we will see several magical holy weapons? perhaps holy artifacts to defeat a great evil? you could work it well into a boss battle too...hmmm

[hello_echoes]

That would make for a more interesting quest as far as the collecting X number of items to defeat ultimate evil in the end formula. Maybe they'll do a Link's Awakening thing where you have to collect eight different items and release their spirit/god thingy or turn the item back into their spirit/god thingy.

Not that I would neccessairly want that, it'd be a little anti-climatic as far as the expectation for innovation goes, but i guess it could be a possibility. 

[JC]

XD

Wouldn't be a more logical conclusion be to assume that the reason why Link is sword-less is because of a Wii Remote function that'll be specific to Zelda Wii?

Also, why would we even NEED another incarnation or form of the Master Sword? We've worked fine with it IN ITS ORIGINAL FORM in Alttp, OoT, TWW, and TP. What's the point of making the Master Sword into a woman/fairy/thing? "Oh, hey, Link, I'm a pivotal plot point that'll be accompanying you on your journey and just so I can be useful since the Zelda series just can't stop following the SIDEKICK FORMULA, I'm going to change into the Master Sword whenever you need it."

It'd be pointless. It makes more sense for Link to be sword-less so Miyamoto can preach his "controls/games for everyone". With an open hand and a shield, it doesn't look as intimidating to new players. Also, since veteran Zelda fans just bitch and moan about change, they'll take what they can get. Don't get me wrong: I'm all for change in the Zelda franchise just so long as the change is a GOOD idea. A pointless sidekick-feature is just a GIMMICK. The franchise has to ease up on this. Really. A THEME is good (light v. dark, etc.,) but when it's used constantly and it's tedious, then it's just a gimmick and it cheapens your product.

You know what would throw people for a loop? If that fairy was the fucking villain of the game. Holy shit! The Zelda franchise needs some radical new ideas to stay on top or to even stay a GOOD franchise. I'm sorry, but it's true. I'll always love Zelda and I'll buy the games, but goddamn. Just do something NEW. Some fairy turning into the Master Sword is just a gimmicky idea that's actually kind of cliche.

Aren't they doing this to some extent in Spirit Tracks? You'll have a sidekick that can basically do what you need him to with whatever range of skills it has. So not only is it cliche, but now it's being overused, which makes it even more cliche. And let me tell you, the last good sidekick Link had was the King of Red Lions. Then Ezlo. Midna is good...she's got personality, but if she didn't hold your hand and fucking STAR in Twilight Princess, then she'd probably beat out Ezlo. Not KoRL, though.

Also, why are all of Link's sidekicks out for some sort of revenge? The King of Red Lions wants to save his kingdom from Ganon and actually makes this perfectly clear in an awesome piece of characterization after Ganon is turned to stone. Ezlo wants to get back at Vaati for turning him into a fucking hat. Midna wants to retain her rule over the Twilight Realm again. Oh, and by the way, they all want to "save the world," too. See what I mean about cliche and overusing sidekicks?

LINK =/= BATMAN AND ROBIN. Link = Batman. They both work best ALONE. The best stories are told WITHOUT sidekicks, just like with Zelda AND Batman, both with VERY FEW exceptions.

So what happens if that fairy in the artwork IS the Master Sword? Well, I'm an asshole, then. I'd be wrong. But here's the difference: if she is the Master Sword and it turns out to be a sucky idea, then I win.

[Witless]

Or maybe it's not even an adventure game. Maybe it's a Zelda sim? Where you need to build a home for Link, and have a family. You don't need a sword for that, just a shield to protect yourself from your wife and slide from hills and such.

That girl could be his wife, because we know the love between Zelda and Link will never be.

[Be_yourself]

And seeing as we are all being negative, the game will not be hard like we all hope it to be, it will be yet another quater heart damage fest, the game will be as hand held as anything, and the end of the game will probably end up having the master sword turning into ganondorf...

and yes, i wholeheartedly hate the sidekicks...

[bastian]

Sidekicks . . . I hate to say it, but in 3D Zelda, they're necessary. How else are you going to learn all the basics you need to know to play?

Now, I did HATE Navi's annoying "HELLO!" and such. But I did really enjoy Ezlo and Midna.

Sometimes I get annoyed when the sidekick points out things that are WAY too obvious . . . but I think team Zelda is working on that. Even Okami had a sidekick ala Zelda that pointed things out way too obviously.

Remember that concept that Miyamoto trademarked recently based on levels of hints. I think We might have the option to turn them down by degrees or off. Current Zelda would be "Normal Mode" or you could opt for "Hard Mode" with less obvious hints or "Very Hard" with no hints whatsoever. And possibly an "Easy Mode" where the hints are more explicit.

@JC: I really don't see how the MS turning into a girl (or vice versa) is cliche. I certainly have NEVER played a game where the weapon was personified by a person. Maybe you have?

I think if they ARE going to have a sidekick (and they always are in 3D Zelda, there's no question about that) then at least it's something facinating like the origin of a sword we've known and loved for over a decade.

I'm excited about the concept.

[ashwinder]

I too am excited about the concept, and as we know nothing about how it will work maybe we should hold off the whinging for a wee bit, at least until we know more.

[alexkenny]

I'm excited about the concept.

So am I. I'm just kinda scared. Idk what the game is gonna be like. I'll never know (for a while at least)!
I'll kill myself (not really) if it sucks, and I'll kill someone else from hyperness if its awesome!

[JC]

I actually didn't consider Navi and Tatl sidekicks. Know why? Because they weren't really annoying and helped out. (More Navi than Tatl, though)

Thing is, you don't need sidekicks in a 3D Zelda. Navi/Tatl were good for enemy descriptions and locking on, sure. But what other 3D Zelda game were we able to lock onto enemies? The Wind Waker. Our sidekick? King of Red Lions. What did he do? Provide helpful hints from time to time or when you asked.

Who trained you in The Wind Waker? Orca.
Who taught the other "basics" in TWW? People on Outset Island and some on Windfall. Were they sidekicks? No.

When I say "sidekicks", I'm talking about characters you wouldn't even HAVE a Zelda game without. Those are King of Red Lions, Ezlo, Midna, Linebeck (he was a good sidekick and foil to Link, almost forgot about him..). Now, I don't mind CHARACTERS being in the story, so long as they serve a purpose. Navi was just there for guidance. Tatl was there more for story than guidance.

So, what am I trying to say? Sidekicks are NOT mandatory in 3D Zelda titles. If A Link to the Past can be such a fucking classic and you didn't have one sidekick in the game and you just go based off hints and whatnot, then you can EASILY do that in 3D and it HAS been done. I'm not against help, don't get me wrong. But what I don't like is hand-holding circa Twilight Princess.

@JC: I really don't see how the MS turning into a girl (or vice versa) is cliche. I certainly have NEVER played a game where the weapon was personified by a person. Maybe you have?

I think if they ARE going to have a sidekick (and they always are in 3D Zelda, there's no question about that) then at least it's something facinating like the origin of a sword we've known and loved for over a decade.

I'm excited about the concept.

Who says it's a girl? Who says she even changes? And are you trying to say that items/people have NOT been personified into other things in games, pop culture, literature, music, and film? Hell, even simile and metaphor turn people/things into other objects. What about anthropomorphic beings like werewolves or, fuck, even vampires (they can shift forms)? The T-1000 in Terminator 2: Judgment Day? Come on, you've heard of it before.

And we technically do have an origin of the Master Sword. Technically.

[JordAnime]

But what I don't like is hand-holding circa Twilight Princess.

Midna didn't tell you anything about enemies, if anything, Navi and Tatl did a LOT more in-game handholding than Midna. 

---

It's really too early to be too speculative about the game, I mean, at least with Twilight Princess we had two trailers before people starting saying "Link is the wolf", all we got is a picture and a few vague quotes from Miyamoto. 

I hope we see a trailer for the game before year's end, but I don't expect anything any earlier than E3 2010...

[JC]

But what I don't like is hand-holding circa Twilight Princess.

Midna didn't tell you anything about enemies, if anything, Navi and Tatl did a LOT more in-game handholding than Midna. 

No, Midna did not. Tatl didn't say much about enemies at times. Navi basically knew every enemy's weakness with few exceptions.

What I mean by "hand-holding" is that Midna told you really what to do constantly. I was rarely ever lost in Twilight Princess. Also, you didn't need to be told about enemies in Twilight Princess. They could all be killed with your sword. ;-)

[Witless]

Maybe she won't even be by your side during the whole game. Maybe Link loses the MS in the beginning of the game and gets it back at the end part of the game.

Or just gets it at the end part of the game, like WW.

[Be_yourself]

But what I don't like is hand-holding circa Twilight Princess.

Midna didn't tell you anything about enemies, if anything, Navi and Tatl did a LOT more in-game handholding than Midna.  

This is increadibly false, its rediculous.  Perhaps you may have a point if you mention the fact that Navi would repeat advice to you if you did not follow it whereas Midna would just let it be, but other then that its blatantly not true.

Midna constantly drew conclusions for you, i.e after saving Lake Hylia from Twilight we get "oh what did that Zora ghost say to do? we should do that now..." really, thanks Midna, seeing as it is really the only immediate goal i have i don't really have anything else to do anyway.
Another example is when in the forest temple right at the start of the game when the monkey wishes you to follow it, Midna pipes up with "i think it is beckoning us" really? well thats pretty obvious in the first place, not to mention that the only way forward is where the monkey is thus vetoing your pointless advice anyway.

Tatl i feel was the best active assistant(i.e not Korl because he didn't say much at all, thank god) her help was subtle at times but she still kept it up and it was actually usefull...
eg:"Lets go and see the great fairy again"  This might seem as bad as midna's advice but actually, if you go to the great fairy and talk to her, what you actually get is a mask and some advice about the collection of faries in temples... neither is this compulsury or something that you had to do anyway, but it helps you with the collection of faries later, which is also optional so the subject of the advice is clever.

Navi gives us advice like :Why don't we tell saria what we have been up too" or "lets investigate that cloud over death mountain" this is excellent because it is general enough to be of help but there is still much more for you to solve and do once you get there, if you wish too go there at that time.(although downside is navi will pester you if you don't...

EDIT:Also, What if it is a adulted up version of Navi? i.e OoT Link? its more relate able rather then a fuzzy ball with wings...

[alexkenny]

  Wow, everyone is getting into a huge serious debate about this. I'm not complaining... I'm just pointing out.
I think some of you guys' ideas are really complex! I'm probably just ganna wait until the game gets here to make my final decision about it
  I'm just thinking that the girl MIGHT be connected to the sword. Maybe she is a spirit that stays within the sword, maybe the sowrd is a replica of her, or somethin else. IDK!
  I'm exited to fnd out though...

[JordAnime]

What I mean by "hand-holding" is that Midna told you really what to do constantly. I was rarely ever lost in Twilight Princess. Also, you didn't need to be told about enemies in Twilight Princess. They could all be killed with your sword. ;-)

Like just about every other enemy in Zelda since Ocarina of Time?  I wasn't really bothered by any of Midna's comments, they were things that were designed to help retarded Zelda players who couldn't find their way out of the first dungeon, there wasn't any particular point where I was like "Man, I wish Midna hadn't told me that!".  She never told you how to solve a puzzle or complete any complex task. 

[Be_yourself]

What I mean by "hand-holding" is that Midna told you really what to do constantly. I was rarely ever lost in Twilight Princess. Also, you didn't need to be told about enemies in Twilight Princess. They could all be killed with your sword. ;-)

Like just about every other enemy in Zelda since Ocarina of Time?  I wasn't really bothered by any of Midna's comments, they were things that were designed to help retarded Zelda players who couldn't find their way out of the first dungeon, there wasn't any particular point where I was like "Man, I wish Midna hadn't told me that!".  She never told you how to solve a puzzle or complete any complex task. 

Tis true, its  more my anger that there wasn't really anything left other then Midna's hints, its like, you know you have to go and see the zora boy, but at the same time, what else might there be? but no...what midna says goes, it was a mix of her hints and the easy/closed off structure of the game...