Do You Have Any Unpopular Gaming Opinions?

[Tanooki]

Yes it has a map on the other screen with parallel world portals, and if you find a dungeon it will mark it after the first 2 it gives you. Those are linear like any Zelda going back to day one, but after that they all are open to do in whatever order which other Zelda games really were not because they kept you away with dungeon item required road blocks. This one you can rent or just buy all the roadblock items, the difficulty is quite low (which isn't a bad thing really I suppose), and the dungeons are all open world where you muddle around until you find one and do it. Yes it's a lot like the SNES game, but with no guidance, the key items already able to be had to get to any spot. It just bugged me, I like the faux linearity of Zelda titles. And then this upcoming one them talking how an inch on the gamepad is like a 15-20min walk and is super sized and open like some morrowind type setup -- not ever going to touch it.

[Sarge]

Oh, right, I forgot that it let you do things in any order. Honestly, though, I'm not even sure I took advantage of rentals for the most part. I was all about getting permanent upgrades. I'm sure that they were trying to imitate some of what the original game did. Different strokes and all that. I thought it was fantastic, if a bit easy, as you said.

[Gunstar Green]

Sandbox games are trying to fulfill the virtual world ideal that we've been chasing since the dawn of interactive entertainment. Like any other genre you've got your excellent examples and your dire ones and like any other genre the dire ones outnumber the great ones.

One of the problems that I think is endemic to the genre is it's often just used as an excuse to create an "insert brand here" theme park. If you're going to make an open world game it takes a lot more effort to keep things interesting and immersive or else the game will quickly feel empty and shallow. The best examples however will make you feel like part of a living breathing world.

With the Minecraft generation in full swing the sandbox game isn't going to go away, but I do wonder what kind of new heights those kids will take it to when they grow up and start making games themselves.

On Link Between Worlds I agree it was an easy game but it was so clever and delightful I didn't really care.

[Tanooki]

Oh, right, I forgot that it let you do things in any order. Honestly, though, I'm not even sure I took advantage of rentals for the most part. I was all about getting permanent upgrades. I'm sure that they were trying to imitate some of what the original game did. Different strokes and all that. I thought it was fantastic, if a bit easy, as you said.

I didn't rent in the least bit, felt like a waste of money if you got popped on accident as you'd lose it all. I only did it early on for an item or two that seemed(was) kind of really helpful, but bought it before I'd lose it. I still have it, even found a cheap copy of a prima guide for it later last year. Probably if I get motivated eventually I'll end up erasing the old game and just starting over and perhaps just running the dungeons in the order the book goes so I can get something out of it.

Odds are though since I found Minish Cap last weekend I'll probably want to do that first though as it's a cool little game I quit on because I ran out of time to play it when it came out a decade ago.

[Damm64]

I will agree the game is pretty easy, though.

Thats why every zelda game from now on should have the hero mode unlocked. My first try with LBW was on hero mode with a used copy. The game was kicking my ass several times and i was loving every second.

[Gunstar Green]

I didn't rent in the least bit, felt like a waste of money if you got popped on accident as you'd lose it all.

I wasn't a big fan of how the rental system worked for two reasons.

1. Dying in that game is an achievement. You had to try pretty hard to die if you have even the slightest Zelda experience.
2. On the off chance you did die it was a pointless waste of time having to go and re-rent the item. Even then it wasn't much of a punishment because rupees are freaking everywhere and you could quick travel. For a little extra effort you completely remove this slight punishment for dying completely so it was practically pointless.

[PartridgeSenpai]

I will agree the game is pretty easy, though.

Thats why every zelda game from now on should have the hero mode unlocked. My first try with LBW was on hero mode with a used copy. The game was kicking my ass several times and i was loving every second.

Yes! There is no reason to have difficulties locked at the start of a game. If a player wants to jump in and get totally murdered on Brutal-difficulty right off the bat, let them. That's their choice, and a developer should have enough faith in the player that they'll just choose a different difficulty if it ends up being too hard.

Like I had a LOT more fun with La-Mulana (the remake) than I think I would've because I (accidentally, btw) activated hard mode after the first boss. That game was life or DEATH, and it was great. Soooo excited for La-Mulana 2~!

[corn619]

Ok here's a few randoms. Nintendo is washed up. They've been riding the Mario/Zelda train for far too long. It's time to create another franchise as great as those to were. I enjoyed ActRaiser 2 more than ActRaiser 1. Quite frankly, I think Dragon Quest was boring as f**k until Pt 8. Any entry of Earthbound is boring as hell. The Zelda and Mario franchise is tired. That should start a few fires. It's my slightly tipsy, yet honest opinion.

[Exhuminator]

The original Advance Wars is boring and repetitive.

[Sarge]

Ok here's a few randoms. Nintendo is washed up. They've been riding the Mario/Zelda train for far too long. It's time to create another franchise as great as those to were. I enjoyed ActRaiser 2 more than ActRaiser 1. Quite frankly, I think Dragon Quest was boring as f**k until Pt 8. Any entry of Earthbound is boring as hell. The Zelda and Mario franchise is tired. That should start a few fires. It's my slightly tipsy, yet honest opinion.

Wow, you managed to say pretty much everything I disagree with. Awesome job.

(I wouldn't mind them creating another franchise... but the question is, will people embrace it? Personally, I'd rather see them go back to the well on some previous stuff. In particular, freaking Metroid. Also, F-Zero for 'xumy.)