Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

A Link to the Past sequel announced for 3DS - Destructoid

I'll just recap breifly, since there was lots of stuff today, mostly 3DS centric.

- Mario Golf, Mario Party, Mario Vs. DK Minis puzzler, zzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
- Mario and Luigi: Dream Team - the Mario game to care about - hits August 30th.
- New Yoshi's Island game
- Pikmin 3 for Wii U in August.
- DKCR 3D has an additional casual mode and an additional secret world for people that don't suck.
- Animal Crossing gets XL bundles for US and EU
- SE's Bravely Default will be published by Nintendo in 2014
- SMT IV's box set was shown off. 176 page Strategy and Design book, CD soundtrack covering selections from the entire series and a slipcase.
- Earthbound comes to US and NA Wii U Virtual Consoles later this year.
- New Super Luigi U DLC coming to NSMBU this summer.
- The latest Layton game arrives in EU later this year, 2014 in the US.
- All three Guild 02 games are confirmed for US eShop release.
- Zelda Oracle of Age/Seasons comes to 3DS eShop May 30 as one full game.
- A sequel to A Link to the Past was shown off, Link will be able to turn himself into paper to do various task. Comes out this holiday alongside Wind Waker Reborn.

Here's some video for the new Zelda game from the EU Nintendo Direct:

I have to admit the Yoshi's Island and LTTP follow-up ones took me by surprise. I mean, sure, we've seen enhanced versions of Yoshi's Island in the past and Four Swords borrowed a great deal from LTTP, but I never really expected to see direct sequels for either.

Also quite happy about the SMT IV box set, i was rather puzzled why a 3DS game was being listed on Amazon for $50. I think I'll pre-order two copies now.

Very happy about the new Guild 02 games coming over, too. Liberation Maiden and Crimson Shroud were fantastic little games. Aeroporter was more of an acquired taste as puzzlers go, but still good. I'm glad Level 5 is trucking along with this curious series of games.

[DakAttack]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Nintendo sure does know how to squeeze an IP for all it's worth.

[Armando]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Animal Crossing gets XL bundles for US and EU

Wait, wait, wait. Fire Emblem isn't good enough for an XL bundle but Animal Crossing is?

Also, I'm glad that they're keeping the original Link look for the sequel.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Wait, wait, wait. Fire Emblem isn't good enough for an XL bundle but Animal Crossing is?

Also, I'm glad that they're keeping the original Link look for the sequel.

New Leaf sold 3 million copies in Japan, so I guess they're hoping for a similar success in the west. To their credit, this game sold wildly in a time where freemium games like it nickel-and-dime people to hell and back, so they may be making the right bet.

I would have liked to see a 3DS XL for Fire Emblem, too, but then, I want the SMT IV one and that's not coming to the US either.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Does A Link to the Past really need a sequel? It seemed like a pretty complete experience to me. Why a sequel rather than just another Zelda game?

[Armando]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Does A Link to the Past really need a sequel? It seemed like a pretty complete experience to me. Why a sequel rather than just another Zelda game?

Don't know, but Majora's Mask and Wind Waker were both excellent and I've heard good things about Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks, so I'm willing to give them the benefit of the doubt.

I also happen to be partial to the younger Links, I think they make for better heroes.

[Malacite]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

So my favorite Zelda game ever is getting a 3DS sequel?!

... *cries*

So much win. Just need to get a 3DS now - hopefully snag one up cheap around Boxing Day this year.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Phantom Hourglass is an acquired taste. Spirit Tracks was much, much better but blowing on the mic to play the mystical instrument wasn't the ideal way to go about it, it does have the charm of Zelda as a Link's sidekick, though. She's a bit of a departure from her more collected and cool incarnations, even when contrasted against Tetra.

As for why follow LTTP up - its not like this is the first time a particular version of Link got another adventure. Miyamoto actually said soon after the 3DS's release that he was interested in either remaking LTTP for 3DS or having another game in the vein of LTTP made. LTTP did feature multilayered dungeons and overworlds and could be exploited with a 3D effect, after all.

[DakAttack]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

You guys are really good at ignoring my criticism of Nintendo.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

As for why follow LTTP up - its not like this is the first time a particular version of Link got another adventure. Miyamoto actually said soon after the 3DS's release that he was interested in either remaking LTTP for 3DS or having another game in the vein of LTTP made. LTTP did feature multilayered dungeons and overworlds and could be exploited with a 3D effect, after all.

That doesn't really answer my question. Like...at all.

"There were some elements from Link to the Past that would fit well with the 3DS".
Ok, so take those elements and run with them in a fresh Zelda game. That still doesn't tell me why there's a need to tie the new entry to Link to the Past.

[Malacite]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Probably because most of us don't really care when it's done well - Nintendo often re-invents their stuff well enough that it comes off as genuinely unique and different, unlike SEGA or Capcom...

And they've been mixing in some nice new IPs lately. I still would like to see them drop out of the console market altogether though, and go software only save possibly for handhelds as they've always been great in that department.

[Omgwtfbbqkitten]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

That doesn't really answer my question. Like...at all.

"There were some elements from Link to the Past that would fit well with the 3DS".
Ok, so take those elements and run with them in a fresh Zelda game. That still doesn't tell me why there's a need to tie the new entry to Link to the Past.

We actually don't know if its directly tied to LTTP storywise, its just within that world.

As for their reasons, i'm sticking the video for it up in the original post.

[cidbahamut]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

Again, neither of you seem to be able to offer a reason why it should be done that way.

- - - Updated - - -

We actually don't know if its directly tied to LTTP storywise, its just within that world.

Ok, scratch what I said earlier. If they're going with just re-using the world style and enemies or whatever then that makes way more sense than trying to tie it to the story of Link to the Past.

[Icemage]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

I don't agree with DakAttack's criticism of Nintendo, at least not in the way it's presented. Nintendo often does a fantastic job of innovating "inside the box" within their franchises.

That said, on a personal level, I do wish for more than the usual endless parade of Mario/Zelda/etc. It's not like Nintendo doesn't produce new IP from time to time, but it has been a very, very long time since they've created a new "pillar" IP. Whether that's due to the fanbase or Nintendo themselves, however, I have no idea. At least they're revisiting Pikmin, so baby steps I guess?


Icemage

[Yellow Mage]

Re: Nintendo Direct - A Link to the Past 2?

I agree, but at the same time, between Mario, Zelda, DK, Pokémon, Kirby, Yoshi, Animal Crossing, and, as of recently, Pikmin and Fire Emblem . . .

. . . I don't think Nintendo's exactly wanting of "pillars" to express fresh new ideas with. Creating yet another new "pillar" IP, even ignoring the risk involved that cynical corporate-types just love to avoid, yet yields diminishing returns when you already have roughly a dozen or so you can simply cycle through. I mean, in addition to the franchises I listed, there's really nothing stopping them from turning around and making another Metroid, Star Fox, or (again) Kid Icarus, and I don't think we can exactly ignore the rise of Professor Layton as a property, either.