The Future of Zelda

Considering the onslaught of Zelda-related content we received in 2011 thanks to the franchises 25th anniversary, it's likely Nintendo will lay low on the Zelda front in 2012. We may, if we're lucky, see a global release for that gorgeous piece of Zelda lore called Hyrule Historia (the source of all the recent Zelda timeline news we've all been buzzing over). Otherwise, expect it to be a much slower year for the land of Hyrule... sort of.

While you probably can't expect to get treated to seven Zelda releases again (2011 gave us Ocarina of Time 3D, Skyward Sword, Link's Awakening DX, the free 3DS download of Four Swords, and the Ambassador releases of the original Legend of Zelda, Zelda II, and The Minish Cap), there's certainly still a lot in the works, and exciting stuff at that.

Below we take a look at the Zelda titles Nintendo is working on, what we know about them and what we can hope to learn more about this year. 2012 may not be as eventful as 2011 on the Hylian front, but if the stuff below pans out, it should still be damn exciting.

Late last year Zelda producer Eiji Aonuma confirmed what we all pretty much suspected, that a new Zelda adventure for the Nintendo 3DS was already in the works. Not much was revealed, save that the game will not be a direct sequel to the DS Zelda titles - Phantom Hourglass and Spirit Tracks - and that it will be closer in design to the console Zeldas.

While we love cel-shaded Link, the idea of a fresh start and some sort of new style for the series' portable outings is rather exciting. Perhaps something in the painterly style of Skyward Sword would be a good fit for the 3DS hardware, or perhaps this new game's visuals will provide something new altogether. Whatever form Zelda 3DS takes, considering how incredible the 3DS debut of Nintendo's other flagship franchise was (hint: it involved a mustachioed plumber), we expect big things.

Considering Nintendo is already working on the title (though we admittedly don't know exactly how long ago they started or what stage it's in), it wouldn't be unheard of to hear a few more details about the game. Would it be too much to hope for a teaser trailer or piece of concept art at E3? Don't count on the full release for a while though - given past development cycles, we'll be lucky to see the game any time soon if the company is really making it a more console-like experience.

Wii U, which will see a full reveal at this year's E3 press conference, will mark Nintendo's very first HD home console. As such, it also portends the debut of HD entries in the company's most popular franchises - and the first series to come to many gamers' minds when they consider HD Nintendo is The Legend of Zelda.

We got our first taste of what a high definition Zelda adventure could look like on the show floor of last year's E3. The Zelda HD Experience was a playable tech demo that showed off gorgeous, crisp graphics, impressive lighting and textures, and a realistic Link fighting an armored Gohma. It was everything Zelda fans have been dreaming of ever since the concept of an HD Link first entered our minds - but there was a catch. Aonuma-san made it perfectly clear that the demo was just a proof of concept, and it was neither a game that was in development nor was it necessarily an indication of what HD Zelda will actually be like.

Given the yet untitled Zelda for Wii U will be the company's first attempt to create a fully HD Hylian adventure, it's a good guess that the game's actual release is a few years out (or more, given the series' tendency to push back release dates in its quest for gameplay perfection). It's doubtful we'll see any more on this title this year, and if we do it seems likely it'd be an off-hand mention in an interview. Then again, Miyamoto did say Retro Studios might be a good candidate to collaborate on a Zelda game... Hmmmm...

One thing we do know is that the next console Zelda will stick to motion controls rather than returning to a more traditional control setup. Given how much depth the 1-to-1 precision of Motion Plus added to Skyward Sword's gameplay, this is undoubtedly a good thing. In terms of graphics, it's entirely unclear whether the title will closely resemble the HD demo, return to the impressionistic style of Skyward Sword or offer something else entirely. All we know is that whatever form it takes, it will be something Aonuma and company believe is the best fit for the new hardware - and for the design of the game itself. With Zelda making the jump into the HD generation, it's an exciting time to be a Zelda fan - and we can't wait to find out more.

Aonuma has already confirmed that he wants to release an original 3DS Zelda before releasing another 3DS remake, so don't expect any huge developments on this front to happen in 2012. Still, what we do know is that Aonuma is considering Majora's Mask for the next 3D remake if the interest is there (which it is, as far as we're concerned). Given that a lot of the assets from Ocarina of Time 3D could be reused, this seems like a logical next step.

But then there's Shigeru Miyamoto, the legendary game designer and creator of the Zelda series. Miyamoto has recently stated that he'd like A Link to the Past to be the next Zelda title to receive the 3D makeover treatment - and we all know Miyamoto-san has a tendency to get what he wants (not that we're complaining, as an A Link to the Past remake would be epic, to say the least).

Either of these titles would be worthy additions to the 3DS library, and both would be even better. Again, since an original Zelda is at the top of the Zelda team's priority list, don't expect either of these to come out this year, or even next year. Still, perhaps 2012 will bring some clarity on whether Majora's Mask 3D or A Link to the Past 3D got the official go ahead.

While we're on the subject of remakes, a Zelda HD collection seems a great candidate for some early Wii U content to bolster sales of the system and tide fans over until Zelda HD's debut. Keep in mind that absolutely no hint of such a collection has been given - but come on, it's not that far-fetched. Besides, who doesn't want to see Skyward Sword, Twilight Princess and Wind Waker in HD? Just saying.


Obviously all of these games would be great, and we hope all of them make it to market - but if you had to choose, which of these titles would you most want to see next? Vote in our poll and expand on your thoughts in the comments section below. As a note, we excluded the aforementioned 3DS remakes because Aonuma has already confirmed that an original 3DS Zelda will be released before another remake.





Audrey Drake is an Associate Editor of IGN.com and a proud member of the IGN Nintendo team. She is also a lifelong gamer, a frequent banisher of evil and a wielder of various legendary blades. You can follow her zany exploits on MyIGN and Twitter. Game on!

• More 3DS & DS Features
• Latest 3DS & DS News, Reviews, and Videos