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4. Lack of Hand Holding
Have you ever noticed how bad hand holding has gotten over the years? I’ve played many games that have told me exactly how to kill bosses and solve puzzles without my own consent. What’s the fun of playing a game if it’s just going to play itself? Unfortunately, this kind of approach is adopted in many of my favorite franchises, especially modern Zelda games.
The Legend of Zelda: A Link Between Worlds was probably the best thing to happen to that series. The game was a huge return to form, boasting non-linear dungeon structure, an emphasis on exploration, and no annoying assistant that pesters you every five seconds with various hints. If you ever needed help, the game gives you an optional item that puts you in the right direction, which works rather well because you’re not constantly reminded about its existence.
I hope that the new Zelda on Wii U uses this kind of game design. As good as Ocarina of Time is, the introduction of helpers like Navi stained the Zelda experience for me with their constant and often unnecessary interjections. I get that their purpose is to help people who might be lost, but I don’t want constant alerts if I don’t need guidance.
In contrast, this is something I never have to worry about when I play either The Legend of Zelda or The Adventure of Link on NES. Upon starting either one of these titles, I immediately have control over Link and can do as I please without being interrupted.
