It’s unclear what the future ofThe Legend of Zeldawill look like on the Nintendo Switch 2. With the series having just recently brought new major 3D and 2D entries to the Switch, there will likely be a bit of a wait for futureZeldagames. Not only that, but the upcoming arrival of the Nintendo Switch 2 and its possible enhancements in power and performanceprovide a wealth of opportunities for the series to embark in an even more ambitious direction than before, potentially resulting inZeldagames that are far beyond what fans could possibly come to expect.
That being said, the imminent launch of the Switch 2 provides theZeldaseries with an opportunity to revive a canceled sequel to a beloved entry in the franchise. While theZeldaseries isno stranger to game cancellations, this one title was particularly crushing, as it possessed a tremendous amount of potential. Not only could this game finally receive the treatment it deserves,but its release on Nintendo’s latest hardware could expand thisZeldatitle far beyond what was originally envisioned for the project.
What Happened To The Cancelled Zelda Game?
A Wind Waker Sequel Was Abandoned In Favor Of Twilight Princess
At one point, a direct sequel toThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Wakerwas in development at Nintendo. This was discussed during an interview in 2016 withWind Waker’s design manager, Satoru Takizawa, that was translated byNintendo Everything. According to Takizawa,theWind Wakersequel would have included some pretty considerable changes to the original, such as the game having “…a more land-based setting” while reintroducing the ability to ride a horse fromOcarina of Time.
AWind Wakersequel was initially discussed years before the Takizawa interview. Eiji Aonuma confirmed it during the 2004 Game Developer’s Conference before the first trailer forTwilight Princesswas shown at E3 later in the year.
Unfortunately, the project never came to fruition for a multitude of reasons. Takizawa mentioned a major issue during development with the implementation of horse riding, as “…Link’s proportions in Wind Waker weren’t very well-suited” for the feature. Furthermore, Takizawa noted the “…demand for a more Ocarina-like game” at the time, alongside the popularity of fantasy movies thatresulted in the development team refocusing their efforts on a new project altogether, resulting in the release ofTwilight Princessin 2006.
After Nearly 4 Decades, The Zelda Formula Is The Last Thing Nintendo Should Care About
The Zelda Formula gave Nintendo some great hits, but nearly four decades later, Nintendo should leave the formula behind and embrace a new approach.
While this news would have been disappointing to many fans, it’s not all too surprising.Wind Wakerwas met with controversyduring its initial release,as many fans took issue with the lighter tone and cartoonish art direction that contradicted the more mature elements seen inOcarina of Timeor promised through theZeldatech demo that was showcased at SpaceWorld 2000.Twilight Princesswas a necessary course correction for theZeldaseries, putting the franchise back on track while sealing the fate of theWind Wakersequel.
Fans Are Desperate For Wind Waker On Switch - But A Sequel Could Be Better
The Timeline In Which Wind Waker Resides Deserves More Attention
Thankfully, the general opinion onWind Wakerhas changed over the years, becoming one of the most beloved games in theZeldaseries. This was most evident during the Switch era, withWind WakerandTwilight Princessbeing some of the most highly requested ports for the console.The massive demand for the game during this time showsWind Waker’s impact on theZeldaseriesand the importance of putting the title on the same pedestal as other classic entries.
However, as beneficial as a more accessible version ofWind Wakerwould be,reviving the previously canceled sequel to the game might benefit theZeldaseries overall. This is mainly due to the severely underutilizedbranch of theZeldatimelinein whichWind Wakerresides. The few games that make up this branch mean that many of the unique ideas ofWind Waker, from its entirely new world to its original characters and stories, have yet to be fully expanded upon despite the mountains of potential they possess.
The lack of truly ambitious titles in this particular branch has prevented the core ideas ofWind Wakerfrom reaching their full potential.
Wind Wakereventually received two sequels,Phantom Hourglass,andSpirit Tracks, both of which served as entertaining follow-ups in their own right. However, their release on the DS limited the scale of both games overall, resulting in two generally engagingZeldaentries that failed to truly expand on whatWind Wakerhad previously established.The lack of truly ambitious titles in this particular branch has prevented the core ideas ofWind Wakerfrom reaching their full potential, showing the need for the canceled sequel to be revived, as it could have achieved this on more powerful hardware.
Switch 2 Would Be The Perfect Home For This Zelda Game
The Console’s Improved Power And Performance Would Be Hugely Beneficial
With that in mind, there are several reasons why theSwitch 2 would be the perfect placeto revive the canceledWind Wakersequel. Of course,Nintendo’s latest console will likely have much stronger power and performancecapabilities than previous consoles, including the Switch itself. This gives the canceled sequel huge potential to rapidly expand on the world and gameplay ofWind Waker,which was initially intended by Nintendo, in a way that the DS simply couldn’t provide forPhantom HourglassorSpirit Tracks.
It’s Time To Stop Worrying About The Future Of Zelda
Recent trends in The Legend of Zelda have left some players unsatisfied, but nothing suggests that all future games will be in the same mold.
Furthermore, theZeldaseries has undergone significant changesover the past few decades, which aWind Wakersequel could take advantage of. For example, it’s no secret that theZeldaseries has adopted a more open, non-linear approach with titles likeBreath of the Wild.This emphasis on player freedom could be used for the canceled sequelto expand onWind Waker’s focus on exploration demonstrated through the many islands of the Great Sea, showing how a potential sequel could take inspiration from the series overall to expand on the original’s best aspects.
Of course, there’s no way of telling whether the canceledWind Wakersequel could see a revival on Switch 2. Despite this, it’s something Nintendo should definitely consider for its latest console, thanks to the rejuvenated popularity ofWind Waker andthe possibilities that a direct sequel possesses. While it’s important for theZeldaseries to continue in an original, ambitious direction,that doesn’t deny the huge amount of potential and creativity within previous titles that can still be utilized, and in no other game is this more apparent than withThe Legend of Zelda: The Wind Waker.
