An M rated Zelda game, could it work?

[blackcherry]

One of the reasons that I like being at The Escapist forums is because I have no need to post my opinion as much, since there are several other people who already have. I'm still posting my opinion, but it's nice that I don't have to do so all of the time.

I think Twilight Princess is about as "adult" as the series will ever get. Zelda doesn't need to be more mature; most of the games have storylines much deeper and enriching than "save the princess," TP especially. Besides, it's totally unnecessary, and would really only appeal to the people who think they're mature because they only enjoy "adult" things like blood, guts, and sex.

Really? I have always thought of Majora's Mask as being a darker game, just a little more subtle about it.

Eh, just a thought.

Nowt wrong with that As it is, well I think a game with some of the elements could work. No need for gore or swearing and especially no sex/nudity. Just build the characters more convincingly and make them three dimensional.

Watch this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv7_lcT_C4U] and this [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpgN_XlwK8M&feature=channel_page]. Now these cutscenes (don't forget to watch the part at cutscene right at the end of the second link, its heart breaking!) were from what people brand as a kiddy zelda game, yet they feature some pretty good characterization and deconstruction. Sure its slightly campy, but its a lot better than most 'mature' games with two dimensional characters that have 'attitude' and swear a lot as it makes them 'grown up'.

As it is, the games in some places do this already, but on a level that isn't immediately noticeable. It sails over most kids heads and entertains the older player.

 

[SLy AsymMetrY]

NO. WAY. At the moment, developers idea of a 'mature' game seems, (to me at least) to be one that has sex and/or violence.

But besides that, making a mature zelda would rob it of its most important quality. Charm. The Zelda games charm you, make you believe in a colourful world full of colourful characters. A world of adventure.

While i'm interested in new ideas for the series I don't want to see Hyrule sterilised. Maturity is something The Legend of Zelda will never need.

Maybe I sound fanatical?

 

[blunted]

I'd rather see developers work towards getting the damn characters to speak before trying to make the series more "mature" or "adult".

 

[lacktheknack]

There's no point to that. If your trying to turn it into a joke, then at least go all the way and make it AO.

 

[Ursus Astrorum]

This is what happened to Jak and Daxter.

We all know what happened there.

 

[bowserboy26578]

No.
Seriously, that would be like making M-rated Sonic, or M-rated Mario. It just wouldn't work.
It'd be hilarious, but it wouldn't work.

so true

 

[todd10k]

While we're at it, give the Teletubbies shotguns and send them to Darfur.

I almost lost bowel control on that one. good show, good show *claps*

 

[Avatar Roku]

I'd rather see developers work towards getting the damn characters to speak before trying to make the series more "mature" or "adult".

I'm not even so sure that would work well. With voices come shitty voice actors, I'd only get on board with this if they could get Jennifer Hale for one of the parts.

 

[Fablaam]

Lots and Lots of "E"

Haha fulfilling thousands of fanboy fantasies

 

[Irridium]

While we're at it, give the Teletubbies shotguns and send them to Darfur.

I would pay money to see that.

so would I.


And an M rated Zelda game seems more pointless than bad.
Sure, it would be entertaining, but it just would feel pointless.

 

[clicketycrack]

I think it could totaly work. There wouldn't be much difference aside from the gore would be ramped up and the female characters would wear a lot less clothing. Now that I think about it, Midna was naked through almost the entire game.

 

[Azeban]

Nintendo wouldn't even experiment with one of their cash cows like this. Remember the outcry over Wind Waker's image change? Fans were so disgusted, it went right back to OOT-style for TP.

Sorry, another nit-pick. That's not what happened. Fans were, for the most part, disappointed with WindWaker not because of it's cel-shaded art style, but because it was rushed and incomplete. And Nintendo didn't switch back to a realistic art style because the fans were pissed off at WindWaker; they did so because they wanted to make a Zelda game where you played as a grown-up Link, and that couldn't quite be done with a cartoony art style. They also did it because "many, many, many, many people asked for it," but more for the first reason.

And they do take risks with the Zelda series once in a while. That's how we got Majora's Mask and Phantom Hourglass.

I severely disagree. I loved Windwaker. It was a great game...I didn't detect any aspect of it that felt rushed. You are misinformed. It was as critically acclaimed as any other Zelda game, with the exception of OoT. But fans still complained of the change of art style from realistic to cel shaded. The same type of gamers who think the PS3 and 360 are superior because "the graphics are better." The same kind of gamers who forget what's important in a game...fun.

 

[Avatar Roku]

I think it could totaly work. There wouldn't be much difference aside from the gore would be ramped up and the female characters would wear a lot less clothing. Now that I think about it, Midna was naked through almost the entire game.

She was also an imp.

Nintendo wouldn't even experiment with one of their cash cows like this. Remember the outcry over Wind Waker's image change? Fans were so disgusted, it went right back to OOT-style for TP.

Sorry, another nit-pick. That's not what happened. Fans were, for the most part, disappointed with WindWaker not because of it's cel-shaded art style, but because it was rushed and incomplete. And Nintendo didn't switch back to a realistic art style because the fans were pissed off at WindWaker; they did so because they wanted to make a Zelda game where you played as a grown-up Link, and that couldn't quite be done with a cartoony art style. They also did it because "many, many, many, many people asked for it," but more for the first reason.

And they do take risks with the Zelda series once in a while. That's how we got Majora's Mask and Phantom Hourglass.

I severely disagree. I loved Windwaker. It was a great game...I didn't detect any aspect of it that felt rushed. You are misinformed. It was as critically acclaimed as any other Zelda game, with the exception of OoT. But fans still complained of the change of art style from realistic to cel shaded. The same type of gamers who think the PS3 and 360 are superior because "the graphics are better." The same kind of gamers who forget what's important in a game...fun.

I agree completely. I just finished WW for the first time and it actually felt incredibly polished to me. I'll never understand the people who complain about cell shading. It was good in WW, it was absolutely gorgeous in Okami, and overall it just has more potential than photorealism.

 

[waggmd]

Why are so many people shooting the idea of mature Zelda down. It sounds like a great concept to me. By adding just a simple blood splash or bone crack could add some serious bite to Link's weapons. I'm not talking about washing the screen in red just make it look the enemies are being hit by a sword. Tits and ass would be pushing, but sex itself isn't a bad thing. Again I am not implying that the developers should make Debbie does Hyrule, but if it appears Link is invovled in a relationship with a character(could be Zelda or a girl in the starting village) he cares about it could give his character more drive to save the land. Dark story elements have always been apart of the Zelda franchise and with a M rating Nintendo could go deeper into these themes. What Iam trying to say is that a mature Zelda game done right which appeals to a more 17-20ish crowd could be a great way for Nintendo to show us how deep and wonderful the Legend of Zelda can be.

 

[Avatar Roku]

Why are so many people shooting the idea of mature Zelda down. It sounds like a great concept to me. By adding just a simple blood splash or bone crack could add some serious bite to Link's weapons. I'm not talking about washing the screen in red just make it look the enemies are being hit by a sword. Tits and ass would be pushing, but sex itself isn't a bad thing. Again I am not implying that the developers should make Debbie does Hyrule, but if it appears Link is invovled in a relationship with a character(could be Zelda or a girl in the starting village) he cares about it could give his character more drive to save the land. Dark story elements have always been apart of the Zelda franchise and with a M rating Nintendo could go deeper into these themes. What Iam trying to say is that a mature Zelda game done right which appeals to a more 17-20ish crowd could be a great way for Nintendo to show us how deep and wonderful the Legend of Zelda can be.

Yeah...that's what a lot of people were saying. Again, though, as someone else said, the art should dictate the content, and the content the rating, not the other way around.

 

[XUnsafeNormalX]

Zelda is already the same story over and over. God forbid they change anything.

 

[mhitman]

Wouldn't work, the zelda universe just wouldn't work. It might as well be a totally new game

 

[weirdaljedifan2]

It would be interesting, unless it's rated M for the conservative reasons without any rhyme or reason.

 

[samsprinkle]

No. That's would be like the virgin Mary starring in a porno, or something...i wouldn't work in my opinion...

 

[waggmd]

Wouldn't work, the zelda universe just wouldn't work. It might as well be a totally new game

Actually I believe Zelda is one of the few Nintendo franchises that could go mature but still be Zelda. All the set pieces were there for much darker game in Ocarnia of Time and Majora's Mask, and Twilight Princess shows that Nintendo could make LoZ darker but still be true to itself. Combine a M rated Zelda game, and the cel-shaded Link Nintendo could create two Zelda franchises, which is sorta of what they're doing to appeal to different auidences heck I wouldnt put it past them.