Inspiration from a Trans-gender hero

[Loggymonster]

I was really inspired by the article, "Dude Looks Like a Lady" by Brendan Main. The piece that is really digging deep into my imagination is the simple statement, "During this time [when Link sleeps], it is Sheik, not Link, who is the hero of the tale."

I started thinking, wouldn't that make an incredible Zelda game? Break free from the "Save-teh-Princezz!!!" mold and make the Princess the one saving the world? The Metroid series has proven that women can make very strong and relatable heroins in video games and I think it's time Zelda got her share.

There are many ways this could be done and I'd like feedback on the communities ideas as well. Some premises I could think of were:

-Zelda's kingdom is threatened by some new evil. For some reason Link is out of the picture and it is up to her to take up kunai and scarf again for her country.

-It could be a double story line. Have certain elements of play such as an area that only Shiek's skills could infiltrate while there are other areas that require the might of the Hero's Sword (though this would have to be done VERY well or it might get offensive... Girls can kick butt too ya know)

Can you come up with more? Also i think Shiek's gameplay could barrow from "Prince of Persia" style acrobatic hacking rather than some sort of clunky brawler or sword swinging.

EDIT: Also just read an interview with Shigeru Miyamoto where he stated the next Zelda game will be "completely different." Does anyone else think this little bit of dreaming could come true?

 

[TaborMallory]

The only concern I have with your idea is that it could end up like Super Princess Peach. Not good.

On the other hand, it would be totally kick ass if they pulled it off with Metroid-esque grace.

 

[Paladin426]

This thread was done less than an hour ago.

I think I would play a game as Sheik, if they made it right.

 

[Kuchinawa212]

Sounds really fun, but yeah, it needs to be done just right or else it'll get buried XD

 

[LimeJester]

The way you are pitching the game doesn't really come off as a "trans-gender hero". Never in any of the games does Shiek claim to be male, it is just an assumption of mostly the audience and the characters that because she doesn't look bubblegum girly, that she is male. And I think several of my friends in gender studies could write quite objectionable essays about whats wrong with female heroine who is assumed to be male because of her appearance. It's not really the most empowering image any way you cut it. I can hear the "social construction" battlecries now...

 

[Loggymonster]

That's EXACTLY what I'd worry about too... but i don't see it being THAT hard to just make a girl into a hero... Samus did it... haha

 

[Loggymonster]

The way you are pitching the game doesn't really come off as a "trans-gender hero". Never in any of the games does Shiek claim to be male, it is just an assumption of mostly the audience and the characters that because she doesn't look bubblegum girly, that she is male. And I think several of my friends in gender studies could write quite objectionable essays about whats wrong with female heroine who is assumed to be male because of her appearance. It's not really the most empowering image any way you cut it. I can hear the "social construction" battlecries now...

I see what you mean, but the fact is, Shiek has NO gender. Assuming it's male or female is part of it's perfection. Also, the fact that it is even arguable means that the character was modeled very well and fleshed out in a way that made it very rare and intriguing.

Also, the hero doesn't need to be trans-gender. I just thought the premise would make for a really deep game in a series that is becoming very... predictable... (at best)

 

[LimeJester]

The way you are pitching the game doesn't really come off as a "trans-gender hero". Never in any of the games does Shiek claim to be male, it is just an assumption of mostly the audience and the characters that because she doesn't look bubblegum girly, that she is male. And I think several of my friends in gender studies could write quite objectionable essays about whats wrong with female heroine who is assumed to be male because of her appearance. It's not really the most empowering image any way you cut it. I can hear the "social construction" battlecries now...

I see what you mean, but the fact is, Shiek has NO gender. Assuming it's male or female is part of it's perfection. Also, the fact that it is even arguable means that the character was modeled very well and fleshed out in a way that made it very rare and intriguing.

Also, the hero doesn't need to be trans-gender. I just thought the premise would make for a really deep game in a series that is becoming very... predictable... (at best)

Uhm... I am sorry to quibble about this but Shiek is a humanoid character and therefore has a gender, she's female and it isn't arguable. Shiek is Zelda is disguise, Zelda is a female, therefore Shiek is a female. People may assume that she is male, or female or whatever but it still doesn't make her genderless.

If you were to tackle the subject matter of a transgendered hero it would only be intelligent to start from scratch with a whole new character, instead of one who is obviously identified as one or the other.

 

[A Weary Exile]

I don't see why he considered Sheik transgender, it's just Zelda in a ninja costume. She looks awesome nontheless.

 

[PuppetMaster]

what about Samus? until Super smash bros let me zap her, exposing the polygons that were her breasts I thought it was a robot

 

[Internet Kraken]

Actually, it's already been made.


Yep.

 

[Loggymonster]

That game doesn't count... haha.

Also if you beat the first metroid Samus took off her helmet to reveal she was a girl. Until then most players just ASSUMED it was a boy or a robot, much like most assume Shiek is male.

I dunno, I guess i was looking for more brainstorming than debate. I am just kind of tired of the same Hero over and over and thought it would be fun to come up with something new. A kind of way to keep the big name and world we already love, but let someone else have a go at the fun.

Also, the Zelda games have at least tried to flesh out Zelda more. Making sacrifices for her country, taking up arms when needed, helping to defeat Ganon with her mighty bow... to me this seems like a HUGE step up from Peach. I mean, the most she's ever done to help Mario that I can remember is to deal with some computer that was strangely attracted to her...

**Might be a tiny SPOILER if you haven't played Twilight Princess**
Oh one more thing before i let someone else talk or let this thread die: I don't think it would be a good idea for Zelda to just have a sword. I thought it was pointless in Twilight Princess how they played up her having a weapon just for her to spend about 10 minutes overall in the game... I don't want a female hero wearing a dress while swinging a sword. To me that screams, "Trying to hard."
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Also, Samus is pretty much the SAME thing as Shiek. Until the storyline or certain elements of the game (especially in the Prime series) start SHOVELING the fact that she is a girl down your throat, it's really not hard to see her as both. Again, the metroid series did a little more to model her more femininely but I mean, she has narrow hips... so do emo boys that wear their sisters pants to school. Her chest plate is just on single piece. I thought it was VERY tasteful that they have never once given her "Robot boobs" on her power suit.

Shiek may just be Zelda playing dress up but I don't see it being any different than a soldier dawning his gun n gear for battle. He can no longer be Steven Mawer, he is a soldier.
Zelda is a princess but Shiek is a soldier. I think both characters have what it takes to have their character explored just like Samus does. I just don't see how it could be that hard to make an amazing experience out of it.